In this episode of Beyond the Interface, Will Thomas shares his extensive experience in user experience design, discussing his career journey across various industries and the importance of adaptability in a rapidly changing landscape. He emphasizes the significance of team culture, the challenges of managing diverse teams, and the impact of AI on the future of design. Will also highlights the need for continuous learning and the development of interpersonal skills to thrive in the evolving design environment.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-thomas-0356492/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Will Thomas and His Background

05:14 Professional Growth and Key Experiences

10:23 Diversity in Industries and Its Impact

14:39 Building and Maintaining Team Culture

27:38 Navigating Toxic Cultures and Team Disruptions

38:59 Managing Rapid Growth and Hiring Challenges

46:38 The Evolving Role of Design

54:47 Skills for Designers in the AI Era

01:01:46 Building Influence and Leadership

01:15:25 The Future of User Experience and AI

In this episode of Beyond the Interface, Jason Beck shares his diverse career journey in design, highlighting the evolution of UX and the importance of collaboration between design and other professions. He discusses the changing landscape of design, the significance of setting a quality bar, and how design can disrupt markets. Jason emphasizes the need for creativity within design systems and the importance of mitigating risk while fostering innovation. In this conversation, Jason and Warren explore the intricacies of design leadership, the importance of understanding problems before jumping into design systems, and the balance between speed and craft in product design.

Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-beck-6a68557/

Chapters: 00:00 Jason Beck's Career Journey 04:23 The Evolution of UX Design 10:57 The Changing Landscape of Design 15:29 Collaboration Between Design and Other Professions 21:45 Setting the Quality Bar in Design 25:24 Design's Seat at the Table 33:55 Disruption Through Design 39:27 Mitigating Risk in Design 45:38 Balancing Design Systems and Creativity 47:05 The Role of Design Systems in Problem Solving 50:22 Balancing Speed and Craft in Design 55:13 Fostering Creativity and Mentorship in Design Teams 01:00:41 Leadership Styles and Team Protection 01:05:06 The Importance of Hiring and Team Dynamics 01:25:41 The Future of Design in the Age of AI

In this episode of the Beyond the Interface podcast, Stephen Gates shares his extensive journey in the design industry, discussing his experiences from working with major brands like Apple and American Airlines to leading design teams and mentoring emerging designers. He emphasizes the importance of leadership evolution, the challenges faced in navigating corporate culture, and the role of design systems in fostering creativity. Stephen also delves into the significance of mentoring, the impact of layoffs on mental health, and the future of design in the age of AI. His insights provide valuable lessons for both aspiring and established designers.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stepdgat/

https://www.youtube.com/@StephenGates

https://thecrazy1.com/

https://crzydesign.com/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Stephen Gates and His Journey

03:37 Career Highlights and Key Projects

06:23 The Evolution of Leadership in Design

09:33 Navigating Leadership Challenges

12:26 The Importance of Authenticity in Leadership

15:33 Adapting to New Environments

18:29 Creating Organizational Change

21:20 Strategies for Overcoming Resistance

24:26 Final Thoughts and Advice for Designers

28:22 Challenging Mediocrity and Embracing Risk

30:35 Cultivating New Leaders in Design

34:40 Leadership Lessons from Sports and Culinary Arts

38:24 The Balance of Systems Thinking in Design

41:33 Navigating Design Systems: Flexibility vs. Rigidity

48:47 The Passion for Mentoring and Its Impact

58:54 The Power of Vulnerability and Self-Reflection

01:01:14 Navigating Job Loss and Redefining Success

01:05:35 Building a Supportive Community During Tough Times

01:10:32 Creating Accountability and Momentum

01:13:27 Lessons from InVision: The Importance of Adaptability

01:20:53 The Future of Design: Embracing Change and Creativity

In this conversation, Jason Mesut shares his journey from industrial design to coaching, emphasizing the importance of personal growth and the dynamics of coaching. He discusses the challenges of finding the right coach, the common scenarios he encounters in coaching sessions, and the development of his Shaping Design series, which aims to help individuals understand their unique skills and growth paths in the design field. In this conversation, Jason Mesut discusses the unexpected applications of design frameworks, the debate surrounding designer skill sets, and the challenges leaders face in navigating the evolving landscape of design. He emphasizes the importance of allowing designers to explore their creativity without the constraints of traditional roles, while also addressing the issue of role dilution and the need for organizations to support individual designers in their career growth. In this conversation, Jason Mesut discusses the importance of embracing constraints in design to foster creativity, the evolving landscape for new designers, and the significance of building relationships and empathy in the design process. He shares insights on how curiosity and active listening can enhance design practices and emphasizes the need for designers to navigate their roles in a rapidly changing industry. Jason also talks about his future projects, including a podcast focused on creativity and resilience in a capitalist world.

Episode Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmesut/

https://medium.com/@jasonmesut

https://medium.com/shapingdesign

https://medium.com/@jasonmesut/the-exhaustion-of-designer-skillset-expansion-and-dilution-65fe61f2ada2

Chapters:

00:00 Episode Intro

00:32 Introduction to Jason Mesut's Journey

06:21 Transitioning to Coaching and Personal Growth

11:17 The Dynamics of Coaching and Accessibility

18:24 Finding the Right Coach

24:10 Common Coaching Scenarios and Insights

25:12 Exploring the Shaping Design Series

31:15 Exploring Unexpected Uses of Design Frameworks

36:34 The Debate on Designer Skill Sets

41:48 Navigating Leadership Challenges in Design

47:04 The Individual Designer's Journey and Role Dilution

01:00:37 Embracing Constraints for Creativity

01:08:51 Navigating the Future of Design

01:18:33 Building Relationships and Empathy in Design

01:21:19 Jason's Future Endeavors and Insights

Keywords

coaching, design, career development, personal growth, leadership, UX design, mentoring, shaping design, designer skills, team dynamics, design leadership, role dilution, creativity, nurturing designers, empathy, career growth, humanity-centered design, constraints in design, future of design, designer skills

Sham shares his extensive journey through the customer service and experience landscape in this conversation, highlighting the importance of data-driven insights and cross-functional collaboration. He discusses the evolution of customer experience roles, the significance of strategy, and the challenges of defining customer experience in today's business environment. The conversation also delves into the future of AI in customer service, exploring its potential to enhance customer interactions while emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human touch in complex situations. In this conversation, Sham from Sentisum discusses the integration of AI in customer experience, the challenges faced during career transitions, and the importance of networking and personal branding. He shares his journey through redundancies, emphasizing resilience and the power of relationships in securing job opportunities. Sham also highlights the significance of building partnerships in the B2B landscape and offers practical advice on finding one's voice and establishing a personal brand. Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shamasaziz/ Chapters: 00:00 Reunion and Career Journey 02:53 From Customer Service to Customer Experience 06:06 Data-Driven Insights in Customer Experience 09:14 Identifying and Solving Customer Issues 11:56 Cross-Functional Collaboration for Customer Experience 15:09 The Evolution of Customer Experience Roles 17:55 Understanding Customer Experience Definitions 21:08 The Role of Strategy in Customer Experience 24:13 Talent and Product Market Fit 26:56 Attracting Talent in Customer Experience 29:57 The Future of AI in Customer Service 32:56 AI's Role in Solving Customer Queries 35:54 The Balance of AI and Human Interaction 41:13 Harnessing AI for Enhanced Customer Experience 45:16 Navigating Career Challenges and Redundancies 51:04 The Power of Networking and Personal Branding 01:02:21 Building Partnerships in the B2B Landscape 01:11:42 Finding Your Voice and Building a Personal Brand

In this conversation, Ube Urban shares his extensive journey into the design world, discussing his academic background in industrial design and computer engineering and how these experiences shaped his career. He reflects on the challenges faced in agency life, including navigating client relationships and internal politics. Ube emphasizes the importance of authenticity in the workplace, particularly for individuals from diverse backgrounds, and how this impacts their professional identity. He also introduces his entrepreneurial venture, Ube's Ice Cream Shop, as a representation of his creative expression, personal values, and the learnings he took when running this business.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ubeurban/

https://www.ubeurban.com/

Chapters:

00:00 Ube's Journey into Design

09:05 Navigating Agency Life and Client Relationships

22:25 Authenticity in the Workplace

43:43 Ube's Ice Cream Shop: A New Venture

48:25 The Essence of Authenticity in Art

51:43 Creating a Personalized Design Framework

55:08 The Journey of Customization and Client Interaction

57:39 Bridging Personalization in Digital Experiences

01:01:45 The Importance of Hyper-Empathy in Leadership

01:12:59 Navigating Tough Leadership Decisions

01:19:40 Learning from Pain: The Path to Authentic Leadership

Summary

In this conversation, Amanda shares her extensive journey in the design and tech industry, discussing her experiences in contracting, transitioning to in-house roles, and her current position in the banking sector. She emphasizes the importance of a learning mindset, user testing, and stakeholder engagement in design processes. Amanda also talks about building an innovation hub and the future of design in the context of AI and evolving roles within the industry.

Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-cano-252bb03/

Takeaways

• Amanda has been in the tech industry since the early days of the web.
• Contracting offers a fast-paced learning environment compared to in-house roles.
• Transitioning to banking required Amanda to adapt quickly to a new industry.
• User testing is crucial for understanding customer needs and improving design.
• Involving stakeholders in the design process helps change perceptions of design.
• Building an innovation hub can significantly impact an organization's design capabilities.
• AI is set to change the design landscape, but the role of designers will remain essential.
• A T-shaped skill set is important for designers to be effective in their roles.
• Regular communication and team meetings help maintain a strong design culture.
• Quality in design is paramount, and leaders must balance detail with trust in their teams.

Chapters

00:00 Amanda's Journey in Design and Tech

09:57 Contracting vs. In-House: Insights and Experiences

18:37 Transitioning to Banking: Challenges and Learnings

26:58 The Importance of User Testing and Stakeholder Engagement

35:22 Building an Innovation Hub: Strategies and Impact

43:40 The Future of Design: AI and Evolving Roles

In this conversation, Nada shares her extensive journey in design, spanning over 15 years, highlighting her transition from consulting to in-house roles. She discusses the evolving landscape of design, the importance of building partnerships within organizations, and the need for designers to take on more strategic roles. Nada emphasizes the significance of community building in the design space, particularly in the Middle East, and the essential skills for leadership, including empathy and a growth mindset. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by product managers and the continuous cycle of maintaining high-performing teams.

Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katral/

https://design.alraedahdigital.sa/

Takeaways

• Nada's career began as an information architect, showcasing the evolution of design roles.
• The importance of outcomes in defining a designer's role.
• Problem-solving is a key skill for designers.
• The shift towards in-house product teams is changing the consulting landscape.
• Building partnerships within organizations is crucial for design success.
• Designers must maintain their 'design soul' even in squad models.
• Community building is essential for the growth of the design field.
• Empathy and growth mindset are vital for effective leadership.
• High-performing teams require continuous effort to maintain.
• Not all designers need to transition into leadership roles; growth can occur in various forms.

Chapters

00:00 Journey into Design: A 15-Year Odyssey

05:01 Consulting vs. In-House: The Designer's Dilemma

09:58 Building Partnerships: The Key to Successful Design Teams

15:02 Squad Models: Balancing Integration and Design Soul

19:49 Design Thinking Workshops: Bridging Gaps Across Departments

24:56 Community Building: Elevating Design in the Region

30:12 The Future of Design: Strategy and Leadership

34:57 Navigating Relationships: The Role of Design Leaders

39:48 Empathy and Growth: Essential Skills for Leadership

44:47 The Continuous Cycle of High-Performing Teams

50:09 The Role of PMs: Redefining Responsibilities in Design

55:05 Personal Projects and Future Aspirations