September 29, 2026
Michelle Ivankovic, industrial designer, owner of the patent for Food Huggers Inc. (reusable can covers), and winner of a Red Dot Design Award, has some great advice for high school students on preparing to be successful in an AI-driven world.
"First and foremost - stay social in real life. We don’t focus enough in school on how important it is to connect with people on a human level, our peers, teachers, family, friends, and people from all walks of life. These interactions are essential practice for the social skills that will benefit you throughout your career. When people hire you, they want to know that you’re someone they’ll enjoy working with - sometimes even before they consider your technical skills. Spending time with others teaches you how to be approachable, build trust, communicate, and bring a sense of warmth and charm to a room. Navigating disagreements teaches you how to resolve conflict, understand different perspectives, and collaborate successfully. These are skills you can’t learn entirely from a screen or a textbook.
Secondly, keep the things you love doing for yourself. Don’t outsource them to AI. Develop your own voice and point of view - whether that’s in writing, design, strategy, or something else. While you’re young, your brain is developing rapidly, and this is a powerful time to discover what makes your perspective unique. That personal style and way of thinking will become one of your greatest assets in any career.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to try things out. We often hear “fail fast and fail cheap,” but I prefer to flip that into something more positive: try to succeed quickly and at a cost that still leaves you free to experiment, learn, and try something new."