AI + Hermes (speed) worship

Tech’s obsession with speed and how it has the potential to strip quality and craft in Design.

Visual Electric AI rendering: Prompt: “Greek God Hermes running through a busy New York City street during sunset with boots that have wings holding a caduceus staff.” Sketch and prompt took ~10 min to produce each version.

In Greek mythology, Hermes (/ˈhɜːrmiːz/; Greek: Ἑρμῆς) is an Olympian God considered the herald of the gods. He is also widely considered the protector of human heralds, travelers, thieves, merchants, and orators. Hermes is often considered the god of speed and the fastest of the gods. He is the son of Zeus and Maia and is often depicted wearing winged shoes, a winged hat, and carrying a magic caduceus wand, which allows him to fly quickly and freely between the worlds of the mortal and the divine.

If you are not familiar with Greek mythology and you have kids I recommend this podcast: Greeking Out by National Geographic Kids.

What does Hermes have to do with the current state of Design? Well, there seems to be an unrelenting focus on Speed in the tech industry. Whether it be in, laying off designers, implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI), or the unrelenting beat of VCs and MVP culture. The goal seems to be about “speed”…