Jason Mayden
Designer at Accel and Co-Founder at Slyce
Discussion
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Jason Mayden
@jaymay_chicity · Designer @ Accel + Co-Founder @ Slyce
What's Up! - I'm Jason Mayden, cofounder of Slyce, Designer-In-Residence at Accel and Media Designer at Stanford University's d.School. During my 13+ career at Nike/Jordan I had the great fortune of designing products for elite athletes, influencers and everyday heroes. From hardware to mobile applications, my experiences have all been centered around functional, inspirational and aspirational Design. As you will hear, I have a passion for leadership, youth culture and creativity, which of course are all connected by Design. I'm very excited to be here-- ask me anything!
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Vedanta Kumar
@vedantakum · Founder, SeenIt
Hi @jasonmayden - always been curious what does a designer-in-residence at a VC fund do?
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Jason Mayden
@jaymay_chicity · Designer @ Accel + Co-Founder @ Slyce
@vedantakum Hi! It depends on the fund and on the thesis of the designer. I tend to spend my time in a player/coach position. Helping to discuss and create strategies that enable and scale a creative culture, make introductions to interesting design lead companies and vet product ideas. Those are just a few examples of what I do from day to day.
COSTAS ANDRIOPOULOS
@candriopoulos · https://medium.com/strictly-curious
@jaymay_chicity In your expert view, which are interesting design lead companies?
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Jason Mayden
@jaymay_chicity · Designer @ Accel + Co-Founder @ Slyce
@candriopoulos @InVision @Slack @Nike @Target @Tesla @SweetGreens (It's very design driven surprisingly) @JohnElliotCo @BrooklynCircusSF to name a few....
COSTAS ANDRIOPOULOS
@candriopoulos · https://medium.com/strictly-curious
Hi Jason and thank you for answering our questions. Which are your favourite newsletters and websites?
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Jason Mayden
@jaymay_chicity · Designer @ Accel + Co-Founder @ Slyce
@candriopoulos I like @theFader @Accel @a16z Usability Geek @NiceKicks @grammarist @nerdist @InVision to name a few
COSTAS ANDRIOPOULOS
@candriopoulos · https://medium.com/strictly-curious
@jaymay_chicity Thank you very much for sharing your invaluable insights with us today.
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Jason Mayden
@jaymay_chicity · Designer @ Accel + Co-Founder @ Slyce
@candriopoulos My pleasure. Thank you for taking the time to vibe with me. I don't your time and willingness to participate for granted.
COSTAS ANDRIOPOULOS
@candriopoulos · https://medium.com/strictly-curious
How do you plan to find the next "cultural alchemists"? Which US cities do you plan to visit?
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Jason Mayden
@jaymay_chicity · Designer @ Accel + Co-Founder @ Slyce
@candriopoulos Thanks for joining! Its a long process that will require referrals, empathy interviews, going to places where cultural alchemist congregate but more importantly building a structure and program that allows for organic discovery and communication. Its all about authenticity and trust, which takes time to build!
Maurice Cherry
@mauricecherry · Principal, Lunch
What are some ways that we can help create a more diverse and inclusive design industry?
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Jason Mayden
@jaymay_chicity · Designer @ Accel + Co-Founder @ Slyce
@mauricecherry Great question my brother. I think it starts with exposure in early childhood education. Modern pedagogies eliminate the correlation between history and creativity. Thus producing a generation of young, brilliant minority students who see themselves as separate from design. Design can and should be inclusive and diverse. How can a few of us design for all of us?
Daniel Brusilovsky
@danielbru · Digital @ Warriors | Co-Founder @ imoji
Hey Jason! What was your favorite moment from your time at Nike/Jordan?
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Jason Mayden
@jaymay_chicity · Designer @ Accel + Co-Founder @ Slyce
@danielbru Calling my mom from MJ's bathroom because I couldn't believe that I had actually achieved my dream. He heard me speaking to her through the door (his house has amazing acoustics) and he politely told me to "tell you mom hello and flush the toilet"...I almost passed out. Lol
Thomas Stöcklein
@tomstocklein · FoundersFundersFuture.com
As the first Designer-in-Residence at Accel, do you get to work with all of the firm's portfolio companies or do you focus most of your time on the stealth startup you're currently working on?
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Jason Mayden
@jaymay_chicity · Designer @ Accel + Co-Founder @ Slyce
@tomstocklein I work with the port co's that align with my expertise and interest. That helps me supercharge my learning which of course I can apply to @TeamSlyce...Its all about learning, sharing and growing. Founders rise together as one. If they win, I win.
Corey Hubbard
@corey_hubbard · Founder - DreamHighr
Hi Jason! Thanks for hanging out with us today and I wanted to ask what was your best marketing hack when Slyce was at the pre-revenue stage?
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Jason Mayden
@jaymay_chicity · Designer @ Accel + Co-Founder @ Slyce
@corey_hubbard Great question. I think it was in how we initially positioned Slyce as a consumer facing app. We are really an enterprise focused product but having the ability to bring attention to our product/platform while building out our true product to sell into companies/brands helps us with how we position ourselves with customers and investors. It was risky play but something that we have saw work at Nike. We used to say "Zig while others Zag" So seeing how Apple and SAP are attacking enterprise gave us confidence that our perspective was in the right place. Now its time to under promise and over deliver!!!
Ophélie Castelot
@opheliecastelot · Communication Manager @SpaceDesigner3D
Hello Jason! What do you think is the most important thing to keep in mind when designing something?
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Jason Mayden
@jaymay_chicity · Designer @ Accel + Co-Founder @ Slyce
@laemeyy That somewhere, someone is experiencing your product for the first time...and that product should hold just as much value on the 1st usage as it does on the 100th usage.
Ophélie Castelot
@opheliecastelot · Communication Manager @SpaceDesigner3D
@jaymay_chicity Thank you for your answer!
devarispbrown
@devarispbrown · Product Manager
In underrepresented communities there are no shortage of ideas. What steps would you recommend people take to get closer to their ideas becoming a reality?
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Jason Mayden
@jaymay_chicity · Designer @ Accel + Co-Founder @ Slyce
@devarispbrown Great question. Share them. We atrophied a sense of "community" because of the fear of your ideas being stolen. As one mentor told me, "if you are worried about someone stealing your one idea, then you don't have a chance in h--l to defend that idea in the future." So sharing them is step one. Next, I would look to people who have achieved success and be bold enough to ask for a bit of their time, talent and/or expertise. Lastly, prototype, prototype, prototype. Building something brings it to life. Giving it a deadline brings it to market....