The gap between dreaming and doing has never been smaller

The topic of AI can be exhausting, as many conversations often revolve around theories and future possibilities that we can't yet realize.

So we invite you to build with us. Join the hands-on workshop to prototype an app with AI. Share what you’re building in #build-in-public to be featured on our next LinkedIn post. Bring your build stories and the lessons you learned along the way to our upcoming podcast.

– Eunji, Editor and Founder

When: Mondays @ 8-10 AM PDT and Fridays @ 10 AM-12 PM PDT
Host: Dhrumil Shah
RSVP: https://luma.com/designedminds

Freelancing, building your startup, or working on personal projects? Join other design-builders for accountability, community, and focused work time.

No preparation or presentations required—just bring whatever you’re already planning to work on. Check in, enjoy focused work alongside friendly faces, and celebrate the small wins together.

When: Thursday, July 9 @ 6-7:30 EDT/3-4:30 PDT
Hosts: Michelle Yi Hsu, Dhrumil Shah, Parys Khazaie
RSVP Required: https://luma.com/ynfsgloy

What does prototyping with AI actually mean in practice?

Yes, you can connect your design tools to coding agents and spit out a prototype. But how do you maintain brand consistency and a vision? How do you ensure the output communicates your design decisions, intentions, and logic?

In this workshop, you’ll create a working prototype using AI tools. Starting from given brand and design guidelines, you’ll build under tight time constraints—not just using AI to generate something, but steering it toward something grounded in the designer’s vision.

What you’ll walk away with:

• Hands-on practice prototyping with AI, from idea to working demo

• Best practices for brand consistency when generating design deliverables with AI

• A sharper eye for when AI output looks good vs. when it actually works for the user

No AI prototyping experience required. This one is hands-on, so come ready to build! 🛠️

👉 RSVP here

When: TBD — stay tuned!
Team: Sara Barber, Moyai Fujimura, and Jong Lee
Speaker: Khushali Parekh

More details coming soon. Apply to join Designed Minds to attend the recording event!

Michelle, Dhrumil, and Parys mapped how designers are actually using AI in their workflows today—what’s amplifying our abilities, what isn’t, and what it means for where the role is heading.

The findings are now published on our brand-new Substack. This is exactly why we built the collective artifact: so the learning doesn’t stay in the room.

Read the recap | Full resource library 💖

Andrea Nguyen, founder of Koi Studios, pulled back the curtain on going independent—not with a blind leap, but with a deliberate, risk-aware plan. Koi Studios has since grown to a team of seven, working with organizations like Coinbase and OpenTable. Proof that a calculated start can go far.

What stuck with us:

• Risk can be mitigated, not eliminated. Andrea saved a six-month emergency cushion and kept working full-time for five months while building the business on the side. She likens it to running: focus on the immediate small steps, not the distant future.

• Year one had one job: finding clients. No fancy branding, no website perfection—just testing services, messaging, and pricing with real people.

• Don’t be a one-stop shop. Specialized messaging is more effective. Hone your services based on market demand, not the temptation to offer everything.

• Her 30-day starter plan: Write a simple business plan, prioritize finding your first client through networking and outreach, then set up basic infrastructure once earnings justify it.

Koi Studios is a UI/UX design studio specializing in end-to-end product design, from early-stage concepts to full product buildouts. With experience honed across many industries, we pride ourselves in breadth, quality, and integrity. We don’t just execute; we tell you what we actually think you should build, how to design it, and why.

Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon Music! 🎧

Share it in #build-in-public. Progress, not perfection. What you share could be featured on our next LinkedIn post.

We want to hear your story. The lessons you learned along the journey could become an upcoming podcast conversation.

The gap between dreaming and doing has never been smaller. This month, let’s close it together—one build at a time.