Working in a cross-functional team for 10 weeks taught me the power of collective intelligence. When 23 creative individuals come together, the potential is limitless, but when it is guided by two things: a shared goal and a common language. A clear goal gives direction, focus, and motivation. And with diverse backgrounds, aligning on terminology helped us communicate efficiently, reduce assumptions, and minimize cognitive load. Alongside learning new approaches to UX and speculative design, these were my two biggest takeaways.