This talk challenges the belief that success requires early specialization, instead highlighting the power of exploring widely across disciplines. It argues that generalists, those who connect seemingly unrelated skills and ideas, are uniquely equipped to drive innovation and adapt in an increasingly complex world. Grant Kilgard is a multidisciplinary designer and creative strategist currently studying Industrial Design at the University of Cincinnati’s DAAP program. With a unique blend of experiences across mass-manufactured packaging at Procter & Gamble, agile product development at HUGE Design in San Francisco, and human-centered immersive experiences at Factory360 in New York City, Grant has built a career around the power of cross-disciplinary thinking. He’s a member of UC’s Next Innovation Scholars (NIS) program, a Creative Director for Section 001’s public furniture studio, and has led digital design efforts for a fashion startup in NYC. Passionate about bridging the gap between art and design, Grant champions the idea of the “generalist mindset,” believing that curiosity and adaptability are key to driving meaningful innovation. Whether he’s working on community projects, developing new product concepts, or exploring the intersections of design and technology, Grant’s focus is on creating impactful, human-centered solutions that resonate across diverse industries. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx