We're Democratizing Fortune 500 Design—Who We Are and Why It Matters

The Opportunity We Couldn't Ignore

After 15 years designing inside Fortune 500 companies, we learned incredible systems and workflows—but we also saw how that knowledge rarely made it outside those walls. The best design practices stayed locked behind enterprise doors.

Meanwhile, small and midsize businesses were being asked to pay $50,000+ agency retainers or settle for DIY templates that looked like everyone else's.

We knew there had to be a better way to bridge that gap.

Enter Open Session: Design Without Boundaries

Open Session is what happens when you combine enterprise-grade design expertise with the speed and creativity that thrives outside traditional structures. We're Karim Bouhdary and Morgan MacKean, and we're building the design company that makes world-class design accessible to everyone.

Our mission is simple but ambitious: Help the world make the most of design and technology.

We're not just another agency. We're a hybrid model—part design consultancy delivering Fortune 500-caliber work at SMB prices, part educational platform sharing our proven workflows and AI experiments across our social networks and with the global design community.

Our Design Principles (And Why They Matter)

Every decision we make filters through five core principles:

1. Constantly Curious 🔍
We don't just adopt new tools—we dissect them, break them, rebuild them, and document what actually works. Our AI experiments have already unlocked 10x productivity gains that we're systematizing for our clients.

2. Seek Solutions 🎯
Pretty pictures don't pay the bills. Every pixel we push solves a real business problem. We measure success in conversion rates, not design awards.

3. Foster Connection 🤝
Design happens in isolation; great design happens in community. We're building systems that connect teams, tools, and ideas across organizational silos.

4. Respect People & Technology 🤖
AI won't replace designers—but designers using AI will replace those who don't. We treat technology as a creative partner, not a threat.

5. Embrace & Protect the Wild 🌲
Creativity needs space to roam. We infuse every project with the exploration and fresh perspective that only comes from stepping outside the conference room.

What We're Building: Three Phases, One Year

Phase 1: Foundation (Now - Month 4)

• Proven Workflows & Templates: We're systematizing 15 years of enterprise experience into plug-and-play frameworks for strategy, product design, and team rituals—and sharing them across our social networks

• Adaptive AI Systems: Alpha testing prompt systems that actually understand context and adapt to your team's needs in real-time

• Instrumented Workflows: Every session we run captures insights, decisions, and next steps automatically—no more lost whiteboard photos

Phase 2: Community Building (Months 5-8)

• Highlighting Creators: Showcasing the best designers and their workflows, creating a space for genuine conversation about the future of design

• Collaborative Playbooks: Building guides WITH other creators, not just for them—because the best insights come from diverse perspectives

• Design Conversations: Hosting discussions about where brand is heading, how AI changes everything, and what designers really need to thrive

• Open Knowledge Sharing: Everything we learn goes public—creating a rising tide that lifts all creative boats

Phase 3: The Marketplace (Months 9-12)

• Designer Asset Repository: A marketplace where designers can contribute, collect, and expand their personal design asset libraries

• Community-Driven Growth: Every designer can share their templates, get recognized for their contributions, and build their own following

• Economic Opportunity: Creating new revenue streams for designers while making professional assets accessible to everyone

• Quality Curation: Maintaining high standards while celebrating diverse styles and approaches

Why This Matters Now

Here's what's different about this moment: Typically, when new technology emerges, businesses and governments are the first to embrace and afford it. But AI has flipped that equation entirely.

The affordability and accessibility of AI tools means we're living in a time where creators and small businesses can grow faster than ever—if they know how to use these tools effectively.

Think of it like Milwaukee power tools. They all work within the same ecosystem, but each one is specialized for certain jobs. Technically, you could build a house with just a screwdriver, but that's not how professionals work. You need the right combination of tools from the ecosystem—the drill for one job, the saw for another, the sander for finishing.

That's exactly what's happening in design right now. There's Figma for design systems, Claude for content strategy, Midjourney for visual exploration, Notion for documentation—but knowing which tool to use when (and how to make them work together) is the difference between struggling and scaling.

We want to help everyone understand exactly what tools they need to accomplish what jobs within the design space. Not just the tools themselves, but the workflows that connect them into a system that actually ships.

Join the Session

This isn't a pitch—it's an invitation. We're documenting everything: the wins, the failures, the pivot moments, and the breakthrough discoveries.

If you're tired of design theater and ready for design that delivers, we should talk. Share what's keeping your team stuck, what outcomes you wish happened more often, and what tools you're curious about but afraid to try.

Because here's what we believe: The future of design isn't proprietary—it's participatory.

Welcome to Open Session. Class is about to begin.Welcome to Open Session. Class is about to begin.