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Can we bin the word “networking” yet? 🗑️ Last we

Can we bin the word “networking” yet? 🗑️

Last week I headed to @theantisocialsocialites socialites’ 4th birthday evening, hosted by Liz Hamlet and Yolanda Sissing at Vallist.

The panel with @ange_lyons and @kier_adair got me thinking about networking, connection and, importantly, being in the right rooms.

It turns out it’s definitely not just me who wants to chuck the conventional idea of “networking” in the bin.

I don’t really want to "network". I want to meet interesting people, have proper conversations, hear what other creatives and business owners are working on, share ideas, make connections that might lead somewhere, or actually just have a really good chat about whatever people have got going on in their worlds.

I’ve been reminding myself recently that getting out from behind my laptop and into these rooms is part of the work too. Not just because connections can lead to opportunities, but because working for yourself can be pretty isolating if you don’t actively seek them out.

It was also lovely to see @joedgesocial there and briefly catch @londonbrandingphotos too.

Thanks Liz and Yolanda for creating exactly the kind of room I want to be in.

What do you call “networking” when you don’t actually want to call it networking? I’m taking suggestions. 👇🏼

I’m not coming to your event if you created your p

I’m not coming to your event if you created your poster with AI… and other design rants.

OK, I might still come, but I will judge your poster. 😂

A few things that have been bothering the designer in me lately: If I can immediately tell your image was generated by AI, it’s distracting me from whatever you’re actually trying to say.

The strange hands. The nonsensical text. The suspiciously perfect people. The slightly shiny, dream-like quality that makes everything look like it exists in a parallel universe, and that just classic AI look, particularly when it comes to event posters.

I can't unsee it. Not every business needs to look “professional”. If by professional we mean stripping out every ounce of personality until your business looks exactly like everyone else's.

Give me a poster with imperfections rather than that generic look any day of the week. Can we stop making everything look the same? Where did all the personality go?

Perfect design isn't necessarily memorable design. I'm becoming increasingly interested in things that look like a human actually touched them.

Maybe it's a reaction to how much AI-generated imagery we're surrounded by now, but I'm finding myself craving the opposite.

More personality, imperfection, weird little details.Basically, more Anti-Beige stuff.

Thank you for coming to my design rant. What would you add to the list? 💙

Designing with AI… my musings and rants… Read my

Designing with AI… my musings and rants…

Read my full thoughts over on the blog. Link in bio 💙

Never run out of ideas again... From a branding de

...leave the house! I’ve been working from home f

...leave the house!

I’ve been working from home for years... Which is great in so many ways. No commute, comfy clothes, coffee and snacks on tap…

But I’ve realised I can’t build the business I want entirely from behind my laptop. I need to get out more.

I need conversations, I need to meet people, I need to see what other people are doing, I need ideas that don’t come from staring at the same screen, and, quite honestly, I just need other humans. We all do, don't we?

Connection isn’t just good for business. It’s good for the soul.

Conversations turn into ideas, an introduction turns into an opportunity, someone mentions a business that needs a designer, I discover something that sparks a new creative thought, or the big problem I was facing doesn't feel so big if I talk it through with someone rather than letting it bounce around in my own head!

None of it is forced. It’s just what happens when you put yourself in the same room as other people.

So I’m reminding myself that getting out of the house isn’t time away from work.It is part of the work. It's just that it's not really something that comes naturally to me as a bit of a complicated, socially awkward, introvert type person who also loves people!

Here's to more saying yes to meeting people. And hopefully, more connection, more creativity and more work as a result.

Anyone else need this reminder? 👋🏼 Wanna be pals?!

A brand strategy tells me what your brand needs to

Helping businesses get online and get noticed with strategic branding and WordPress website design in London and beyond.

katie@studiolagodesign.com

Work with me * Portfolio * About * Blog * Get in touch

PRIVACY | TERMS | PHOTO CREDITS

© 2026 STUDIOLAGODESIGN

Can we bin the word “networking” yet? 🗑️ Last we

Can we bin the word “networking” yet? 🗑️

Last week I headed to @theantisocialsocialites socialites’ 4th birthday evening, hosted by Liz Hamlet and Yolanda Sissing at Vallist.

The panel with @ange_lyons and @kier_adair got me thinking about networking, connection and, importantly, being in the right rooms.

It turns out it’s definitely not just me who wants to chuck the conventional idea of “networking” in the bin.

I don’t really want to "network". I want to meet interesting people, have proper conversations, hear what other creatives and business owners are working on, share ideas, make connections that might lead somewhere, or actually just have a really good chat about whatever people have got going on in their worlds.

I’ve been reminding myself recently that getting out from behind my laptop and into these rooms is part of the work too. Not just because connections can lead to opportunities, but because working for yourself can be pretty isolating if you don’t actively seek them out.

It was also lovely to see @joedgesocial there and briefly catch @londonbrandingphotos too.

Thanks Liz and Yolanda for creating exactly the kind of room I want to be in.

What do you call “networking” when you don’t actually want to call it networking? I’m taking suggestions. 👇🏼

I’m not coming to your event if you created your p

I’m not coming to your event if you created your poster with AI… and other design rants.

OK, I might still come, but I will judge your poster. 😂

A few things that have been bothering the designer in me lately: If I can immediately tell your image was generated by AI, it’s distracting me from whatever you’re actually trying to say.

The strange hands. The nonsensical text. The suspiciously perfect people. The slightly shiny, dream-like quality that makes everything look like it exists in a parallel universe, and that just classic AI look, particularly when it comes to event posters.

I can't unsee it. Not every business needs to look “professional”. If by professional we mean stripping out every ounce of personality until your business looks exactly like everyone else's.

Give me a poster with imperfections rather than that generic look any day of the week. Can we stop making everything look the same? Where did all the personality go?

Perfect design isn't necessarily memorable design. I'm becoming increasingly interested in things that look like a human actually touched them.

Maybe it's a reaction to how much AI-generated imagery we're surrounded by now, but I'm finding myself craving the opposite.

More personality, imperfection, weird little details.Basically, more Anti-Beige stuff.

Thank you for coming to my design rant. What would you add to the list? 💙

Designing with AI… my musings and rants… Read my

Designing with AI… my musings and rants…

Read my full thoughts over on the blog. Link in bio 💙

Never run out of ideas again... From a branding de

...leave the house! I’ve been working from home f

...leave the house!

I’ve been working from home for years... Which is great in so many ways. No commute, comfy clothes, coffee and snacks on tap…

But I’ve realised I can’t build the business I want entirely from behind my laptop. I need to get out more.

I need conversations, I need to meet people, I need to see what other people are doing, I need ideas that don’t come from staring at the same screen, and, quite honestly, I just need other humans. We all do, don't we?

Connection isn’t just good for business. It’s good for the soul.

Conversations turn into ideas, an introduction turns into an opportunity, someone mentions a business that needs a designer, I discover something that sparks a new creative thought, or the big problem I was facing doesn't feel so big if I talk it through with someone rather than letting it bounce around in my own head!

None of it is forced. It’s just what happens when you put yourself in the same room as other people.

So I’m reminding myself that getting out of the house isn’t time away from work.It is part of the work. It's just that it's not really something that comes naturally to me as a bit of a complicated, socially awkward, introvert type person who also loves people!

Here's to more saying yes to meeting people. And hopefully, more connection, more creativity and more work as a result.

Anyone else need this reminder? 👋🏼 Wanna be pals?!

A brand strategy tells me what your brand needs to

Helping businesses get online and get noticed with strategic branding and WordPress website design in London and beyond.

katie@studiolagodesign.com

Work with me
Portfolio
About
Design Notes
Get in touch
Book a call

Where next?

© 2026 STUDIOLAGODESIGN

| PRIVACY | TERMS | PHOTO CREDITS