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Life and Leadership: Verònica Fuerte on the Design Next podcast

Where life and leadership meet: our podcast guest this time is Verònica Fuerte! 

Verònica is the perfect guest for our series theme of constant creative change, as somebody who continually inspires, who leads with style, and consistently challenges design industry tropes. Even down to her job title: Founder and Creative Directress of much-loved design studio, Hey, based in Barcelona.

As a design icon, Verònica has shaped her studio on the ideas, styles, passions and creative desires she’s always developing. In this conversation, she highlights the most epic shifts she’s experienced since founding her agency 18 years ago, provoked by both her personal journey, and inevitable shifts in the world.

The link between Verònica’s personal life and her studio practice is undeniable;

“Creatives, we are like very connected with our personal life… it’s very mixed all the time.”

It’s a wonderful positive, but managing a studio amongst the ups and downs of life, of course, comes with a negative impact sometimes. With great honesty, Verònica shares stories of when her mental health has taken a hit. Ever the inspiration, she takes this opportunity to highlight the importance of therapy, and of demonstrating empathy in your studio:

“Empathy is super important in working environments. I don’t like saying “no, this is not working.” Tell me why it’s not working, and tell me what could we do to make it change?”

Just some of the Hey projects we are completely obsessed with, at the moment!

And for the future? We can’t talk about change without discussing the impact of AI in the design industry. What can Verònica teach us about establishing a timeless style, and riding the wave of this huge creative landscape shift?

“Personal taste is going to be the most important value in our career.”

Listen to the full episode for more grounded advice, and both the constraints and freedom of creative leadership.