Beyond UX Design

Your nine-to-five pays the bills, but it doesn't define your career, and if you think it does, that might be the thing holding you back. This week, I sit down with a lead product designer, community builder, and all-around multi-hyphenate to talk about owning your career before someone else does.What happens to your sense of identity when the job goes away? Have you built anything outside of it that would survive?My guest this week is Frank Bach, a lead product designer who's worked at places like Instagram, DoorDash, and Headspace. But honestly, the resume might be the least interesting thing about Frank. He also runs the LA Design and Dev community, teaches courses, fronts a hardcore band called Monk, and runs his own e-commerce shop, Sunshine Shop. Frank is someone who has clearly figured out that a career worth having doesn't fit neatly inside one little box.We get into a lot in this conversation, like the danger of tying your self-worth to a company name, why “personal brand” feels so gross to so many designers, and what it actually looks like to cultivate what you're known for without becoming a full-time content creator. Frank has a really practical way of thinking about all of this: treat your full-time job more like a freelance engagement, stay in “maintenance mode” when life demands it, and remember that your manager is thinking about their own promotion, not yours.We also talk about the other side of having a lot going on: how to decide when something's run its course versus when you just need a breather, how to balance side projects without letting them eat your life, and why starting something messy is always better than waiting for the perfect moment. If you've ever felt like your career is just happening to you, this one's worth a listen.Topics:• 03:20 - How Frank got into design and the multi-hyphenate mindset• 04:20 - The danger of tying your self-worth to a company name• 05:05 - Treating your full-time job like a freelance contract• 06:25 - The upside of big brand names on your resume• 07:05 - What happens to colleagues who lean too hard on “ex-Google, ex-Meta”• 08:17 - Why personal brand feels gross to so many designers• 09:35 - Personal brand isn't just posting on LinkedIn• 11:10 - Being memorable: your look, your setup, your presence• 13:40 - The Instagram hiring story: 15 years of showing up paid off• 14:45 - Internal brand: the designers who are legends without being online• 15:37 - Maintenance mode: you don't have to be 100% all the time• 19:38 - Does your day job have to fill your creative cup?• 21:05 - How side projects made Frank more valuable at work• 24:45 - How to have the side project conversation with your manager• 28:40 - How Frank stays consistent with so many things going on• 29:15 - The minimum viable version: where to start if you have nothing• 30:19 - Knowing when to cut something loose• 33:57 - Hiatus vs. done: how to tell the difference• 42:31 - Closing advice: you're in the driver's seatHelpful Links:• Connect with Frank on LinkedIn• Listen to Monk• Sunshine Shop—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠

Your brain is wired to find patterns. That's mostly a good thing... until it's not. This episode breaks down illusory correlation: why your team sees connections that aren't there, and what you can do to stop making decisions based on a handful of vivid moments dressed up as a trend.Have you ever watched your team make a confident product decision based on a pattern that, when you actually look at the data, barely exists?Illusory correlation is the bias that turns coincidence into conviction. When two things happen close together -- even just once or twice -- our brains quietly file them as connected. The concept was first identified by psychologist Loren J. Chapman in 1967, who noticed that trained clinical professionals were reporting patient behavior patterns that statistically didn't exist. The problem isn't laziness or bad intent. It's just how human memory works. Rare or distinctive events get stored differently, and when two unusual things co-occur, the brain treats that pairing as meaningful -- even when it's pure chance.In product and design work, this plays out constantly and in ways that feel completely legitimate. A feature ships and traffic ticks up the next day, so the launch gets the credit -- even though a competitor was down and marketing ran a campaign. Six user interviews produce two mentions of a feature, and suddenly that feature defines the whole persona. A few support tickets from one customer segment, and that segment becomes "a tough audience." The misses get forgotten. The hits stack up. And the team ends up navigating by a pattern that was never really there. This episode breaks down how illusory correlation sneaks into your metrics, your research, and your team dynamics -- and gives you a few concrete habits to start catching it before it shapes your roadmap. Give it a listen.Topics:• 02:20 – Personal story: the engineering lead I had all wrong• 04:29 – What is illusory correlation?• 04:46 – The origin: Chapman's 1967 research• 06:19 – Hamilton & Gifford: how the bias distorts how we see groups• 07:10 – Kahneman & Tversky: why illusory correlations stick• 07:50 – How it shows up in your product metrics• 08:23 – The A/B testing problem• 09:00 – How it distorts how teams think about people and segments• 09:26 – How it corrupts user research• 09:50 – Engineering superstitions and team dynamics• 10:27 – Why more data isn't always the fix• 11:00 – Five habits to fight illusory correlation—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠

There's a gap between how designers see themselves and how everyone else sees them, and that gap has consequences. In this episode, a seasoned design executive shares what it really means to be a good corporate citizen, why design isn't the center of the universe, and how to show up differently.What if the biggest thing holding your career back isn't your design skills? What if it's the way you think about your role inside the organization?My guest today has spent years leading design within large, complex organizations—places like Truist, 3M, and Rocket—where designers are easily outnumbered by scientists, engineers, marketers, and businesspeople. He's navigated financial realities most ICs never consider, managed situations that don't appear in any design curriculum, and had to advocate for design without assuming it's automatically the most important thing in the room. The conversation we had is one I've been wanting to have for a long time.We got into what it actually means to be a "good corporate citizen," not in a corporate buzzword kind of way, but in a real, practical sense. We talked about the perception gap between how designers see themselves and how the rest of the team experiences working with them, why designers are sometimes seen as a speed bump instead of an accelerant, and what it looks like when someone on your team finally gets it. We also got into design systems as a business asset, the realities of design leadership that ICs rarely see, and a concept I've been thinking about for years: followership.If you've ever walked out of a meeting frustrated, dissented in the Slack channel instead of raising your hand in the room, or wondered why your work isn't getting the traction it deserves, this episode is for you. Hit play.Topics:• 03:58 - Andy's origin story: raising his hand at 3M• 05:30 - "Design wasn't the center of the corporate universe, it was a contributor to success."• 09:32 - Defining corporate citizenship• 11:15 - Why design education sets us up on the wrong foot• 13:25 - The two disconnects: hallway dissent and the speed bump perception• 17:22 - What it actually feels like to work with a designer who doesn't get it• 19:00 - Stop playing defense on ROI: start pointing to the metrics the org is already tracking• 21:10 - What a mature designer looks like: signals Andy watches for• 24:10 - Pair prompting with PMs and building relationships through AI tools• 26:00 - "You can't build great software without great relationships"• 29:19 - Design systems as a moat for the organization• 37:05 - Treating your design system like a portfolio piece vs. a business asset• 40:52 - What ICs fundamentally misunderstand about leadership• 44:00 - Context switching and the emotional weight of being a design exec• 47:55 - The case for async feedback: never wait for the one-on-one• 51:05 - Followership: having a point of view and showing up with swagger• 53:45 - The Sully Sullenberger story: "my cockpit"• 55:00 - "Own your shit."Helpful Links:• Connect with Andy on LinkedIn—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠

We've all been in that meeting: the one where everyone nods along and nobody says the thing they're actually thinking. That's not a personality flaw. It's a bias. This episode of the Cognition Catalog breaks down social desirability and what it's quietly costing your team.Have you ever walked out of a meeting knowing you should have said something, and then watched the project stumble over the exact problem nobody brought up?This week on the Cognition Catalog, we're talking about social desirability bias, and no, this one isn't just about user research. It shows up in every standup, every retro, every meeting where somebody asks "any concerns?" and the room goes quiet. Most teams deal with this constantly. They just don't have a name for it.Social desirability bias operates through two mechanisms: impression management, the conscious effort to present yourself favorably when you feel like you're being evaluated, and self-deceptive enhancement, a subtler, largely unconscious tendency to give positively biased responses without even realizing it. The tricky part is that it doesn't feel like a bias when you're in it, it feels like reading the room. It feels like being a team player. The cost shows up later, usually in a missed dependency or a launch that underperforms for reasons everyone saw coming.This episode gets into why honest cultures aren't built through value statements, why the HiPPO effect makes all of this worse, and what you can actually do to start closing the gap between what your team thinks and what they're willing to say out loud. If you've ever left a meeting with more to say than you actually said, this one's for you. Give it a listen.Topics:• 03:36 - What social desirability looks like at the team level.• 04:32 - Why it doesn't feel like a bias when you're in it.• 05:19 - The two mechanisms: impression management and self-deceptive enhancement.• 05:50 - The research behind the bias (Edwards, Crown & Marlowe).• 06:24 - When self-presentation slides into self-deception.• 06:49 - How team norms shape what people say — and remember.• 07:57 - The HiPPO effect and why it makes everything worse.• 08:27 - How toxic environments turn up the pressure.• 09:02 - Why honest cultures aren't built through value statements.• 09:29 - Notice when your team is performing instead of communicating.• 10:01 - Build structures that reward honesty.• 10:29 - Notice when you're performing agreement yourself.• 10:55 - Push past the summary and into the specifics.• 11:20 - Lower the social cost of being wrong.—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher

Your tools are solid. Your process is tight. But when a stakeholder pushes back, a workshop goes sideways, or a PM challenges your work, none of that matters. What matters is how you respond. Nikki Anderson joins me to talk about improv, structured play, and how to stay sharp when the messy stuff hits.What if the most important skill in your UX career has nothing to do with design?Nikki Anderson is a UX research consultant, founder of Drop-In Research, and one of those rare people who can draw a straight line between improv comedy and stakeholder management, and actually make it land. She started doing improv around the same time she got into UX research, originally to overcome a lifelong fear of speaking on the spot. What she found was that the principles she was learning on stage translated almost perfectly into the conference room.In this conversation, we get into the specific places where UX professionals tend to flail, and it's not where most people think. It's not the research plan or the prototype. It's the high-stakes meeting where everything's riding on one presentation. It's the design critique that spirals into defensiveness. It's the moment a stakeholder blames you for something and your fight-or-flight kicks in before your brain does. Nikki breaks down how improv—and specifically the "yes, and" mindset—isn't about blind agreement. It's about accepting reality, staying curious, and choosing to investigate rather than argue.We also get into structured play, the idea that creativity doesn't just need freedom, it needs a container. Nikki makes the case that the most productive meetings, critiques, and workshops aren't the loose, open-ended ones. They're the ones with clear intention, playground rules, and maybe a little "draw a duck" warm-up before anyone starts giving feedback. If you've ever felt like the soft skills side of this job was something you were just supposed to figure out on your own, this one's for you. Listen in.Topics:• 04:00 - Nikki's improv origin story.• 07:12 - Where UX professionals flail: the high-stakes meeting trap.• 10:30 - The skepticism around "yes, and" — and what it actually means.• 13:50 - Structured play and why it matters at work.• 16:20 - Ambiguity and mismatched expectations: improv as a tool for dealing with them on the fly.• 17:21 - Live stakeholder blame scenario: the "yes, and + investigate" approach in action.• 22:45 - Applying improv to design critiques.• 23:31 - Renaming critiques, setting playground rules, and warm-up exercises.• 30:45 - Using improv to handle unexpected process changes.• 31:30 - Accepting reality: the "yes" before the question.• 35:55 - The control/no-control exercise for individual contributors.• 38:10 - Creativity needs structure, not just freedom.• 44:05 - Closing thoughts: take an improv class; nothing is an emergency.Helpful Links:• Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn• Subscribe to the User Research Strategist—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠

Your brain doesn't show you everything around you — it shows you what it's been told to look for. In this episode of the Cognition Catalog, we break down the frequency illusion and how this quirk of attention can quietly warp how product teams spot trends, prioritize problems, and build roadmaps.What if the trend your team keeps talking about isn't actually a trend — and your brain has been quietly manufacturing evidence for it this whole time?The frequency illusion is one of those cognitive biases that feels like insight right up until it isn't. You learn a new term, you spot a new pattern, and suddenly it seems like it's everywhere: in your product, in your competitors' apps, in research you've been staring at for weeks. The information was always there. Your attention just finally got the memo.In this episode of the Cognition Catalog, I break down how the frequency illusion works, where it came from (including the surprisingly colorful backstory behind the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon), and why it doesn't stop at UI patterns. The same mechanism that makes you see skeleton loaders everywhere after one design review is the same one that inflates a single customer complaint into what feels like a five-alarm fire on your roadmap.The tricky part? It feels exactly like professional growth. And when an entire team gets primed on the same idea at the same time, that individual bias can scale into something much harder to catch. If you want to get better at separating what you're noticing from what's actually happening, this episode is for you.Topics:• 03:00 - The Inter story: how a LinkedIn post changed everything I saw.• 04:00 - What the frequency illusion actually is.• 04:30 - The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon and how it got its name.• 05:00 - Arnold Zwicky coins "the frequency illusion" in 2005.• 05:30 - Selective attention and confirmation bias: the two engines behind it.• 06:30 - The recency illusion and how it compounds the problem.• 07:00 - How the frequency illusion shows up in design critiques.• 08:30 - What to actually do about it: attention is not neutral.• 08:50 - Watch for shared attention bias on your team.• 09:20 - Don't let air time substitute for evidence.• 09:45 - Create deliberate distance between discovery and decision.• 10:15 - Surface what you're not seeing.• 11:00 - Closing thoughts and listener question.—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher

Cat Lo spent 20 years learning that execution excellence can actually hold you back. After burning out at Amazon doing beautiful work that nobody noticed, she distilled her hard-won lessons into five tenets, a framework that helped her shape billion-dollar opportunities and drive $218 million in impact.What if the very thing that made you a great designer is the reason you're being left out of the decisions that matter most?Cat Lo's career has taken a path most designers don't follow, starting with a bus ticket to New York City and no job waiting, through agency work, entrepreneurship, and eventually to Amazon, where she designs how millions of new products find their first customers. She didn't take the traditional route from corporate to “I need freedom.” She went the other direction, deliberately. And that choice gave her a perspective on craft, scale, and influence that's pretty hard to find in most design conversations.In this episode, Cat breaks down why execution excellence, the thing that gets you hired and earns you trust, can quietly become a trap. The better you get at delivering, the more delivery lands on your plate. And the more delivery on your plate, the less you're involved in deciding what gets built in the first place. The result is a framework of five tenets she uses every day: find the smallest testable truth, let customer data be the tiebreaker, ship to learn rather than waiting for perfection, align on the problem, not the solution, and look for the invisible problems nobody else is paying attention to.Cat also walks us through a real example from her work at Amazon — a $7.8 billion market opportunity hiding in plain sight that most people had written off as not important enough to solve. It's a masterclass in how individual contributors without direct authority can still shape strategy, build conviction, and make work impossible to ignore. If you've ever felt like you're doing great work that just isn't landing, this one is for you. Go give it a listen.Topics:• 03:27 - Cat's Origin story: a bus ticket, $20, and no job waiting in New York City.• 05:08 - Career arc: fine arts → art director → entrepreneurship → Amazon.• 07:41 - Your skills are knobs, not switches. Learn when to turn each one up or down. • 10:07 - Every company speaks a different design language; you have to learn to speak theirs.• 14:17 - How to handle vague direction: match your response to the altitude of the ask.• 18:00 - Tenet 1: find the smallest testable truth before going wide.• 25:52 - Tenet 2: customer truth is the only real tiebreaker when opinions are flying. • 30:36 -Tenet 3: achievable now beats perfect later. Ship to learn, not to finish.• 37:33 - Tenet 4: alignment means agreeing on the problem, not the solution.• 41:00 - The brand name generator story and the $7.8B opportunity nobody was solving.• 48:00 - Tenet 5: look around the corner for the invisible problems no one's been assigned.• 53:15 - How to build influence without authority: state your opinion clearly and stay flexible.• 01:04:05 - Where to find Cat: faangforcorporate.com.Helpful Links:• Connect with Cat on LinkedIn• Subscribe to FAANG Boss—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher

We've built our careers on case studies, portfolios, and success stories, but what if we're only ever seeing a fraction of the full picture? This week, we dig into survivorship bias and how it quietly shapes the decisions your product team makes every day.What if every case study and "here's how we did it" success story you've ever learned from was missing the most important part of the story?Every startup founder story sounds the same. Crazy idea. Doubters everywhere. Bet on themselves. Changed everything. It's a great narrative, but it's a narrative written entirely by the people who made it through. For every founder who ignored the critics and won, thousands did the exact same thing and quietly disappeared. It may sound like pessimism, but that's the math we've been ignoring.This week's Cognition Catalog episode breaks down survivorship bias: why we instinctively focus on the outcomes we can see while the failures stay invisible. It shows up everywhere; in the startup mythology we've absorbed, in the portfolios we scroll through on LinkedIn, and in the way product teams anchor their planning on the projects that shipped rather than the ones that got quietly shelved.The good news is that this isn't a bias you're stuck with. There are practical ways to build better habits into how your team makes decisions, and it starts by asking a different question. Give this one a listen if you've ever wondered why your career feels like it doesn't quite measure up to everyone else's highlight reel.Topics:• 00:00 - The startup founder myth and why we only hear from the survivors.• 01:23 - Welcome to the Cognition Catalog.• 02:45 - The small business failure numbers that most people never talk about.• 04:23 - What survivorship bias actually is and why it matters.• 04:35 - Why portfolio case studies only show the work that succeeded.• 05:35 - Why your career probably looks worse than everyone else's, and why that's an illusion.• 08:16 - How the college dropout mythology turns exceptions into templates.• 08:40 - How survivorship bias quietly shapes product team decisions.• 09:02 - Why your active user research is a filtered sample.• 09:28 - How survivorship bias shows up in team culture.• 10:09 - Five practical ways to fight survivorship bias on your team.• 12:11 - The one question you should always be asking about success stories.—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠• ⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠• ⁠Check out show transcripts⁠• ⁠Check out our website⁠• ⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠• ⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠• ⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠• ⁠Subscribe on Stitcher

AI is making it easier than ever to run research, but faster doesn't always mean better. In this episode, we dig into what it really means to democratize research responsibly, and why your team probably needs a charter before someone does something they can't take back.Your team is already running research without you. So the real question is: are you going to help them do it well, or just hope for the best?Ned Dwyer is the co-founder and CEO of Great Question, an all-in-one UX research platform built to bring research to everyone in an organization. Not just the people with "researcher" in their title. He's spent years thinking about how teams can democratize access to customer insights without turning research into a free-for-all, and his talk at UX Con is what first put him on my radar.In this conversation, we dig into one of the more divisive topics in our industry right now: research democratization. Ned makes a pretty compelling case that it's not the all-or-nothing argument a lot of people make it out to be. It's a spectrum, and where your organization should land on that spectrum depends on who you're researching, what decisions are being made, and how much risk is on the table. We also get into AI's role in all of this, from AI-moderated interviews to synthesized insights, and where teams tend to get themselves into trouble when they hand over too much to the machine without any real governance in place.The thing I found most useful in this conversation is Ned's concept of a democratization charter, a practical framework for defining who should be doing what kind of research, with which populations, and under what guardrails. It's something I honestly hadn't thought much about before meeting Ned, and I think it's one of the most actionable ideas we've talked about on the show. If your team is already using AI research tools (and let's be honest, they probably are), this conversation is worth your time.Topics:• 01:45 - Ned's origin story and why he built Great Question• 04:10 - The pressure to move fast, and what gets lost when speed wins• 06:11 - The 80/20 rule: how to use AI without publishing slop• 09:45 - Democratization is a spectrum, not a binary• 12:35 - Where guardrails matter most: vulnerable populations and one-way-door decisions• 13:12 - The case for a democratization charter• 19:00 - AI moderation demystified: closer to a talking survey than a human interviewer• 23:00 - Ned's GoDaddy confession: how rogue research goes wrong• 27:00 - Participant fatigue and insight overload: the new risks AI introduces• 31:45 - Rogue research will happen regardless... your job is to make it safer• 43:28 - The Will Smith spaghetti analogy and where AI tools are headed—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher

Have you ever walked out of a usability session completely confident in your findings, only to ship something that quietly missed the mark? What if the signal was there the whole time, and your brain just decided it wasn't worth logging?This week on the Cognition Catalog, we tackle The Expectation Bias. This bias shapes what you notice before you've even decided what to think about it. Your brain has already generated a prediction before the first participant clicks a button or a teammate presents their work, and that prediction quietly shapes what registers as a signal and what gets explained away before you've made a single conscious decision about what any of it actually means.We get into the science behind why this happens, and trace the research back to psychologist Robert Rosenthal's work in the early 1960s. His experiments, including the landmark Pygmalion in the Classroom study with Lenore Jacobson, showed that expectations don't just color our perceptions; they can actually change outcomes. That's a sobering thought when you consider how many design decisions are built on research we assumed was neutral.We also dig into where this plays out on real teams: in usability sessions where hesitations get logged as "minor," in design reviews where leadership-championed features get a generous read while quietly doubted projects get interrogated at every turn, and in how we evaluate colleagues whose reputations have already done the evaluating for us. If any of that sounds familiar, this episode offers five concrete habits to help you catch the filter before it's already done its job. Give it a listen.Topics:• 00:00 - Perception is prediction• 02:04 - A UX research cautionary tale• 03:23 - Defining expectation bias• 03:42 - Prediction errors explained• 04:31 - Pygmalion effect origins• 06:03 - Expectation vs confirmation• 06:30 - How it warps team decisions• 08:31 - Habits to reduce bias• 10:47 - Wrap up and next steps—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show• Support the show on Patreon• Check out show transcripts• Check out our website• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts• Subscribe on Spotify• Subscribe on YouTube• Subscribe on Stitcher

What does it actually take to be the first, or only, designer or researcher on a team? Spoiler: it's not just about doing great work. This week, we get into the unglamorous, under-discussed side of the solo role: building systems, managing up, and earning trust before you've even shipped anything.What happens when you're really good at the craft, but nobody around you understands what you do, why it matters, or how to support you?Julian Della Mattia has spent his career doing one of the hardest things in UX: showing up first. As a researcher who has repeatedly been the founding or solo practitioner inside organizations, Julian has learned, mostly the hard way, that being great at research is only a fraction of the actual job. He's also the host of Finders to Builders, a podcast built specifically for researchers navigating this exact challenge.In this conversation, we dig into what Julian calls the “finder to builder” mindset shift: moving from someone who just surfaces insights to someone who builds the infrastructure, earns the trust, and creates the conditions for research (and design) to actually matter inside an organization. We talk about how to manage up when your manager doesn't fully understand your work, how to know when your efforts are starting to gain traction, and what the invisible job description of a solo or founding designer really looks like.If you've ever landed a solo design or research role and felt the gap between what you prepared for and what the job actually demanded, this one's for you. Julian brings a grounded, practical perspective that goes well beyond frameworks, because, as he puts it, in this context, frameworks rarely fly out of the box. Hit play.Helpful Links:• Connect with Julian on LinkedIn• Follow Julian's Substack• Finders to Builders PodcastTopics:• 02:25 – Meet Julian Della Mattia• 03:48 – From PM to first researcher• 06:06 – Agency advice for juniors• 10:54 – Accidental in-house research role• 14:28 – Finder to builder mindset• 18:51 – Time triage and playmaker mode• 24:53 – Invisible work and org dynamics• 27:49 – Managing up and selling research• 32:23 – Signals and metrics that it's working• 36:48 – Measuring research impact• 38:35 – Skip the framework trap• 39:02 – Managing up tactics• 40:16 – Aligning with business goals• 43:37 – Just ask your boss• 44:43 – When to start hiring• 46:32 – Recap and teamwork• 48:37 – Parting advice for firsts• 60:39 – Where to find Julian—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher

Why does one vivid customer story outweigh months of research? This week on the Cognition Catalog, we break down the anecdotal fallacy — our tendency to let a single experience override real evidence. Learn why stories hijack decisions, how this shows up on product teams, and what you can do about it.Have you ever watched weeks of solid research get sidelined by one person saying, "Yeah, but I talked to a customer who hated it"?We've all been in that meeting. The team has done the work—research is solid, the data points in a clear direction—and then someone shares a single story that shifts the entire conversation. A stakeholder mentions one piece of feedback from a sales call, or an engineer pushes back on a technology choice because of a bad experience three jobs ago. Suddenly, the energy in the room changes, and the data fades into the background. That's the anecdotal fallacy at work, and it's one of the quietest ways teams get pulled off course.In this episode of the Cognition Catalog, I'm breaking down why our brains are wired to favor stories over statistics, and how this bias shows up constantly on product teams, from design critiques to sprint planning to roadmap discussions. We'll look at the research behind why personal narratives outperform aggregate data in persuasion (hint: it's not because people reject evidence, it's because stories are just easier to process and remember). And we'll talk about the HiPPO effect — when the highest paid person's opinion carries disproportionate weight simply because of who's telling the story.But here's the thing... the goal isn't to eliminate anecdotes. Stories surface edge cases, highlight blind spots, and humanize insights. The key is learning to treat them as hypotheses, not proof. I'm sharing five practical takeaways your team can start using right away to keep one person's experience from becoming the whole team's strategy. Give it a listen.Topics:• 01:50 - When one story derails the team• 03:49 - What the Anecdotal Fallacy is• 04:21 - Why stories feel true• 06:03 - How it hurts our team• 07:36 - Fixes and team habits

Mahnaz has lived with volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity in ways most product teams never will. In this episode, we talk about what happens when VUCA isn't theoretical, how to avoid becoming an order taker, and how courage, empathy, and initiative can reshape your role as a designer.What if the volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity you're facing at work feel overwhelming only because you've never had to live through it in your everyday life?I throw the word VUCA around like it's a trendy framework. Volatility. Uncertainty. Complexity. Ambiguity. But for Mahnaz Hajesmaeili, those aren't abstract concepts; they're lived experience.Originally from Iran, before becoming a product designer, she built a life in China, knowing she could never fully belong there. When COVID hit, borders closed, savings ran out, and the life she had carefully constructed disappeared almost overnight. She returned to Iran, started over, taught herself UX, and eventually rebuilt her career in the United States.That's not “roadmap volatility.” That's real volatility.This week, I chat with Mahnaz to explore how living through that level of instability reshaped her approach to work. Why rejected designs don't shake her. Why unclear strategy doesn't rattle her and why she doesn't default to being an order taker.If you've ever felt overwhelmed by shifting priorities or frustrated by leaders who “don't know what they want,” this episode offers perspective—and practical lessons.Give it a listen. It might change how you define uncertainty.Helpful Links:• Connect with Mahnaz on LinkedIn

You can have clear meetings, clean decks, and unanimous nods and still walk away misaligned. In this episode of the Cognition Catalog, we break down the testing effect and why teams confuse exposure with learning. We'll look at how recall, not agreement, is what actually creates alignment.If everyone was in the same meeting… why does everyone remember it differently?You've probably experienced this before: a meeting ends with clear action items, apparent alignment, and a general sense that things are settled, only for confusion to resurface weeks later. Different assumptions. Different memories. Same meeting. This episode unpacks why that gap happens and why alignment without recall is basically an illusion.This week, we walk through the testing effect and how it explains a common team failure mode: mistaking discussion, documentation, and agreement for learning. From onboarding to retrospectives to roadmap reviews, teams overload people with information and assume that exposure equals understanding. It doesn't. Without retrieval, memory fades, rationales drift, and alignment quietly decays.We'll also look at what it actually takes to apply the testing effect at work, without quizzes or formal tests. Simple changes to how meetings end, how onboarding is structured, and how teams normalize recall can reduce rework, friction, and those “wait, when did that change?” moments. If you want decisions to stick, this episode is for you.Topics:• 00:00 - Introduction: The Meeting Dilemma• 01:35 - The Illusion of Learning in Teams• 03:48 - Understanding the Testing Effect• 07:43 - Applying the Testing Effect in TeamsTo explore more about the Testing Effect, don't miss the full article @ ⁠⁠⁠cognitioncatalog.com⁠⁠⁠—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠⁠⁠

Most teams treat conflict as something to avoid. In this episode, I sit down with Yaprak Gültay Davison to talk about why that instinct backfires. We explore how healthy disagreement builds trust, improves decision-making, and helps teams move faster... without blowing things up.What if the tension you're trying to avoid at work is actually the thing your team needs most?Most design teams say they value collaboration, empathy, and alignment, but rarely talk about disagreement. In this conversation, I sat down with Yaprak Davison, Head of Design at Goodnotes and former design leader at Spotify, to unpack why conflict isn't a threat to good teams. It's often the foundation of trust.Yaprak shares how designers are trained to optimize for harmony, and how that instinct can quietly erode clarity, slow teams down, and lead to decisions being made without the right people in the room. We talk about the real signals of unaddressed conflict—delayed replies, passive agreement, quiet misalignment—and why silence often causes more damage than open disagreement ever could.We also dig into what it actually looks like to lead through conflict: naming tension early, separating facts from the stories we tell ourselves, and turning disagreement into a co-design moment rather than a power struggle. If you've ever felt stuck “keeping the peace” while things quietly fall apart, this episode will change how you think about conflict and your role in it.Helpful Links:• Connect with Yaprak on LinkedIn• Subscribe to “Leadership as Craft”Topics:• 02:49 – Diving into Conflict in Teams• 03:18 – Guest Introduction: YRA Davidson• 04:25 – The Role of Conflict in Design• 05:45 – Managing Conflict in Design Teams• 11:31 – Coaching and Cultural Differences• 22:21 – Building Trust Through Conflict• 25:21 – Scaling Teams and Systems• 30:53 – Exploring the Concept of Followership• 32:31 – Leadership as a Team Sport• 33:40 – Balancing Leadership and Craft• 35:43 – Building High-Performing Remote Teams• 39:40 – Handling Remote Conflict• 41:46 – Personal Insights and Advice• 52:51 – Final Thoughts and Resources—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher

Design was supposed to be creative work. For a lot of designers, it's turned into endurance. In this episode, I'm joined by Vivianne Castillo to unpack how corporate design culture quietly rewards burnout, why endurance gets mistaken for professionalism, and how designers can start reclaiming creativity, agency, and choice.What if the behaviors that made you successful in design are the same ones slowly disconnecting you from yourself?Design culture loves to celebrate resilience, but too often what's really being rewarded is endurance: tolerating vague feedback, late pivots, constant urgency, and emotional labor without complaint. In this conversation, Vivianne Castillo shares why so many designers feel drained, disconnected, and quietly shrinking inside roles that were supposed to be creative and human-centered.Vivianne draws on her background in trauma counseling, psychology, and design to explain how corporate UX environments often reward unhealed coping patterns—people-pleasing, hyper-vigilance, over-responsibility, and self-silencing—while calling it “professionalism.” The work still gets done, praise still comes, but the cost is creativity, curiosity, and a sense of agency.We also talk about what it actually looks like to take that agency back. Not through dramatic exits or rage-quitting, but through small, intentional experiments: setting boundaries, asking better questions, redefining security, and exploring entrepreneurial paths without burning everything down. If your design job feels more like survival than creation, this episode is for you.Topics:• 04:57 – Vivian's Journey• 07:16 – The Toxicity in UX Culture• 19:14 – Reclaiming Agency as Designers• 29:20 – Unhealed Patterns in the Workplace• 31:13 – Understanding Corporate Culture and Personal Responsibility• 32:01 – Self-Silencing and Professionalism• 32:30 – Endurance vs. Resilience• 33:04 – Updating Unhealed Behaviors• 35:34 – Navigating Toxic Workplaces• 37:14 – The Illusion of Job Security• 43:09 – Entrepreneurship as a Healing Experience• 43:37 – The Walkout Event for UX ProfessionalsHelpful Links:• Connect with Vivianne on LinkedIn• Join the Walkout—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher

We love talking about growth mindset, but curiosity without action doesn't move your career forward. In this episode, Jayneil Dalal shares what he's learned from interviewing hundreds of designers—and why the people who actually ship, share, and care about craft are the ones who keep growing.What if the fastest way to grow your career isn't asking for a promotion—but becoming the designer everyone trusts?In this episode, I sit down with Jayneil Dalal to talk less about career ladders and more about what actually earns trust inside organizations. After interviewing hundreds of designers on Design MBA and Sneak Peek, Jayneil has seen the same patterns repeat across teams, companies, and seniority levels.The designers who advance aren't the loudest or the most credentialed. They're the ones who care deeply about their work—clean files, thoughtful handoffs, clear communication, and sharing what they learn with others. No one tells them to do this. They do it because they give a damn, and that care compounds into credibility.We also unpack the idea of “internal brand,” why chasing credit often backfires, and how being generous with your knowledge can quietly change team culture. If you've ever felt invisible at work or unsure how to stand out without self-promotion, this conversation reframes what influence really looks like.Topics:• 04:54 - Early Curiosity and Interviewing Journey• 06:17 - The Birth of a Podcast Idea• 07:23 - Launching Design MBA• 09:53 - The Value of Execution• 12:21 - Challenges and Realizations• 15:36 - Content Creation and Audience Fit• 19:35 - Learning from Top Designers• 22:49 - The Importance of Craft and Mentorship• 38:04 - Advocating for Yourself• 41:58 - Navigating Internal Branding• 46:34 - The Importance of Communication Skills• 48:10 - Balancing Multiple Projects• 51:36 - Effective Use of AI in Design• 53:21 - Public Speaking and Presentation Tips—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher

Most designers hit senior level and suddenly there's no obvious next step. In this episode, Ran Liu breaks down why the smartest career move may not be straight up, but diagonal. We unpack how to recognize stagnation, build visibility, stretch your skills, and create the kind of opportunities your company can't (or won't) give you. What if the fastest way to grow your design career isn't a promotion? What if it's a diagonal move into work that stretches your range and makes you harder to replace?Every designer eventually hits that moment: you've earned trust, you're doing great work, you've reached senior… and then the ladder suddenly disappears. No clear next step. No path to promotion. And maybe no manager who even understands your craft well enough to help. In this episode, I talk with product designer and Ran Talks Design host Ran Liu about why this happens so often—and why the smartest career move isn't always upward. Ran shares how she discovered the idea of the diagonal move: a strategic shift that increases your scope, title, or company maturity all at once. She opens up about the moment she realized she was stuck—after years of impact, only to hear “you're almost there” during promotion season. We walk through how to identify when your environment can't (or won't) support your growth: unclear leveling, lack of ownership, inconsistent feedback, and a ceiling that never seems to move. We also explore the kind of work you need before you make a diagonal move—building the right experience, designing your portfolio strategically, navigating “visibility guilt,” and reframing self-promotion as sharing what you've learned instead of bragging. Ran also breaks down practical ways to expand your influence inside your company, build a network that remembers you, and create opportunities even when no one is handing them out. If you've ever felt stuck at senior, this episode will show you how to take the wheel again. Give it a listen—you'll walk away with a new way to think about your career.Topics:• 02:59 - The Career Plateau: What's Next?• 03:14 - Guest Introduction: Ran Liu• 04:08 - Understanding the Diagonal Move• 06:22 - Challenges in Career Growth• 13:28 - Taking Control of Your Career• 22:48 - Strategic Career Planning• 32:05 - The Shocking Pay Disparity Revelation• 32:34 - The Importance of Visibility in Career Growth• 33:20 - Building Confidence and Visibility• 34:59 - Leveraging LinkedIn for Networking• 36:40 - The Power of Community Engagement• 39:49 - Navigating Internal Visibility for Promotions• 44:03 - Sharing Failures and Learning from Them• 46:11 - Daily Habits for Career Momentum

We talk about collaboration, but our brains often treat work like a win-lose game. In this episode, I break down Zero-Sum Bias, the belief that someone else's win automatically means your loss, where it comes from, how it quietly shapes team dynamics, and what you can do to build more win-win outcomes at work.What if your brain has been keeping score at work this whole time? And the game it thinks you're playing doesn't actually exist?We repeat lines like, “If a stakeholder wins, designers lose,” or “If the PM wins, users lose,” so often that they start to feel like facts. In this episode of the Cognition Catalog, we unpack Zero-Sum Bias, the belief that someone else's gain must come at your expense, and how that thinking quietly turns collaboration into a contest.I walk through where this bias comes from, starting with early economic and game theory models like zero-sum games, where wins and losses truly do net out to zero, and how that maps onto our evolutionary history of genuine scarcity. Food, safety, and resources really were limited, so one person's gain often did mean someone else's loss. The problem is that our brains still carry that wiring into modern workplaces that are full of shared goals, interdependence, and cross-functional teams.From design vs. product vs. engineering “tensions” to resourcing, prioritization, and recognition, I break down how zero-sum thinking shows up in everyday UX work—and what changes when you stop assuming only one side can win. We'll talk about practical ways to spot the bias, shift toward non-zero-sum thinking, and design team habits that reward collaboration over quiet competition.If you've ever caught yourself thinking, “If they win, I lose,” this episode will help you reset the scoreboard and build healthier ways of working together.Topics:• 02:08 Debunking Zero Sum Thinking• 03:13 Origins and Evolution of Zero Sum Bias• 04:09 Impact of Zero Sum Bias on Teams• 06:18 Strategies to Combat Zero-Sum BiasTo explore more about the Naive Cynicism, don't miss the full article @ ⁠⁠cognitioncatalog.com⁠⁠—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠⁠

This week, I sit down with Sarah Doody to talk about why so many designers feel stuck, and why it has nothing to do with talent. We explore how designers can apply their own UX process to their careers, create clarity through “compass statements,” and build a roadmap that actually leads somewhere.What would happen if you stopped treating your portfolio like the product—and started treating yourself like the product?This week, I'm joined by UX researcher, product designer, and career strategist Sarah Doody to unpack a hard truth: most designers aren't broken; they're just not applying their own process to their careers. After years of helping teams build the right products, Sarah noticed the same patterns designers use at work rarely show up in their job search. That gap is exactly what inspired her to start Career Strategy Lab.In our conversation, we dig into the symptoms of “identity fog,” why so many designers struggle to articulate their own value, and how the industry's obsession with FANG feeds unrealistic expectations. Sarah breaks down her “Product of You” framework—designing yourself, marketing yourself, and selling yourself—and shows how a single compass statement can influence everything from what projects you showcase to which jobs you apply for.We also talk about experimentation, metrics, tailoring your materials, and the surprising reasons why designers waste months tweaking their portfolios without improving their outcomes. If you've ever felt stuck, lost, or unsure how to stand out in a crowded market, this episode will give you the clarity and the next steps you've been missing.Give it a listen. You might walk away with a completely new way to think about your career.Topics:• 01:57 – Feeling Stuck in Your UX Career• 03:28 – Understanding Career Identity Fog• 06:00 – The Importance of an Elevator Pitch• 09:57 – Applying UX Processes to Your Career• 23:24 – Experimentation and Metrics in Job Search• 26:39 – Tailoring Your Resume and Portfolio• 34:02 – The Role of ATS and AI in Job Applications• 37:47 – Rethinking Success Beyond FANG Companies• 39:40 – Golden Handcuffs: The Reality of Working at FANG• 41:17 – Creating a Life Roadmap Before a Career Roadmap• 43:39 – Defining Your Perfect Day and Career Goals• 45:17 – The Importance of Total Compensation Packages• 46:57 – Effective Job Search Strategies and Networking• 48:47 – Documenting Your Work and Portfolio Tips• 53:56 – The Value of Paid Career CoachingHelpful Links:• Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn• The Career Strategy Lab• The Career Strategy Podcast—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher

This week, we break down Occam's Razor as a practical tool for faster, cleaner decision-making. From troubleshooting bugs to interpreting teammate behavior, we explore why starting with the simplest explanation first prevents stalled projects, wasted cycles, and unnecessary team friction.What would happen if your team stopped jumping to complex explanations and started solving problems from the simplest point forward?This week on the Cognition Catalog, we explore Occam's Razor through a lens most teams rarely consider: operational clarity. We all talk about avoiding assumptions, but the truth is that most slowdowns in cross-functional work happen because we add assumptions instead of stripping them away. Occam's Razor gives us a mental model to prevent that.I share a real example of how one missed Friday message spiraled into a completely avoidable narrative—all because I skipped the simplest explanation. But this isn't just about communication. The same thing happens in product reviews, sprint planning, bug triage, data interpretation, and even strategic debates. The more complexity we add early, the harder it becomes to make good decisions.We dig into how starting simple doesn't make you naive, it makes you fast. It helps reduce noise, focus conversations, and unlock the clarity teams need to move forward. If you want a smoother workflow, fewer misunderstandings, and fewer dramatic leaps in logic, give this one a listen.Topics:• 00:00 - Introduction: Overthinking Simple Problems• 00:50 - Welcome to Cognition Catalog• 01:18 - Sponsor Shoutout: Mobbin• 02:03 - A Personal Story of Overcomplication• 02:57 - Understanding Occam's Razor• 04:50 - Applying Occam's Razor in Team Dynamics• 06:51 - Practical Takeaways from Occam's RazorTo explore more about the Naive Cynicism, don't miss the full article @ ⁠cognitioncatalog.com⁠—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠⁠

What can slicing a watermelon teach us about design? Turns out… quite a lot. This week, I chat with Vitaly Friedman, founder of Smashing Magazine, to explore curiosity, inefficiency, and why the best designers obsess over process, not perfection.What if your next design breakthrough came not from a book or a course, but from learning to slice a watermelon?Vitaly Friedman has spent decades shaping how designers think about the web. But in this conversation, we go beyond pixels and patterns to talk about something much more profound: how curiosity itself becomes a design tool. From choosing the perfect watermelon to mastering the art of ironing, Vitaly reveals how everyday obsessions can teach us how to think, learn, and design better.We explore how designers can reclaim joy and curiosity in their work, especially in environments where efficiency and productivity often come at the expense of creativity. Vitaly's take? It's not about finding the perfect way to do something—it's about exploring many ways and discovering meaning in the process.From grilled watermelons to enterprise UX, we connect the dots between experimentation, self-learning, and the messy human side of design.If you've ever felt stuck chasing “best practices” or trying to find the “right” answer, this episode will remind you that sometimes, the most valuable thing you can do is play.Topics:• 03:39 – The Watermelon Metaphor• 05:37 – Choosing the Perfect Watermelon• 09:19 – Cutting Techniques and Presentation• 13:34 – Grilling Watermelon and Culinary Creativity• 14:28 – Learning and Self-Education• 15:13 – The Journey of Exploration• 18:28 – Imposter Syndrome and Asking for Help• 22:00 – Humanizing Executives and Stakeholders• 22:48 – The Importance of Curiosity• 25:34 – Ironing and Finding Zen• 30:01 – The Role of Enjoyment in Learning• 31:35 – Procrastination and Productivity• 33:46 – Procrastination and Focus• 34:48 – Memorable Conference Experience• 37:08 – Finding Joy in Enterprise UX Design• 38:50 – Challenges in Enterprise Projects• 41:35 – Building Trust and Team Culture• 50:50 – Balancing Exploration and DeliveryHelpful Links:• Connect with Vitaly on LinkedIn• Smashing Magazine• Design Patterns For AI Interfaces—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠• ⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠• ⁠Check out show transcripts⁠• ⁠Check out our website⁠• ⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠• ⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠• ⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠• ⁠Subscribe on Stitcher

In this special Halloween episode, we follow Evelyn—a weary UX researcher trapped in a testing loop that refuses to end. Each new participant looks strangely familiar. Each test begins the same way. And no matter what she changes, they all say the same thing: “I can't find the button.” The real horror? It's not the prototype that's broken… It's her process.Today, we're trading our usual interviews for a Halloween story straight out of every designer's worst nightmare: The Infinite Usability Test.Meet Evelyn—a mid-level UX researcher running a morning of user tests that won't quit. Every time she adjusts the design, another “Alex” walks in and repeats the same fateful words: “I can't find the button.”As the day unravels, Evelyn realizes she's stuck in more than a bad sprint—she's caught in a validation loop. Each fix only pulls her deeper into the same mistakes, and each round of testing brings her face-to-face with the one insight she's been avoiding all along.Because sometimes, the scariest thing in UX isn't user feedback…It's hearing something you didn't expect.Join us for a hauntingly familiar tale about deadlines, doubt, and the difference between proving you're right and learning that you're not.Will Evelyn escape the room—or will she keep testing until the end of time?Tune in to find out… if you dare.---Featuring Actress and UX Designer extraordinaire, Stephanie TerreroIf you enjoyed this spooky UX Design scary story, check out our previous episodes:• The Stakeholder from Hell• The Tale of the Cursed Prototype• A Cautionary Tale of Deceptive UX Patterns —Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠• ⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠• ⁠Check out show transcripts⁠• ⁠Check out our website⁠• ⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠• ⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠• ⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠• ⁠Subscribe on Stitcher

If you've ever wondered why you're still “senior” after years of great work, this episode is for you. Catt Small joins me to unpack what it actually takes to step into a staff designer role—the skills, mindset shifts, and invisible work no one tells you about.You've nailed the craft, shipped great work, and mentored others. So why are you still stuck at senior?Getting promoted isn't always about skill gaps. Sometimes it's about visibility, influence, and how you show up. In this episode, I sit down with Catt Small, Staff Product Designer, developer, and author of The Staff Designer, to explore what separates a strong senior designer from a true staff-level one.Catt shares the lessons that inspired her book: the moments of frustration, the confusion around “influence,” and the realization that being good at your craft isn't enough. We talk about the transition from execution to strategy, how to set a vision, navigate organizational politics, and build the kind of social capital that makes people listen when you speak.If you're wondering what's next after senior, or how to stop spinning your wheels, this episode breaks down the hidden skills that actually move your career forward. It's a candid look at how to lead without managing, earn trust across disciplines, and find meaning in the messy middle of your career.Topics:• 04:19 - Cat Small's Journey in Design• 09:39 - Understanding the Transition from Senior to Staff• 12:02 - The Role of Influence in Career Growth• 14:14 - Navigating Titles and Organizational Structures• 30:31 - The Importance of Vision in Design• 36:22 - Enhancing User Experience with Prototypes• 38:01 - Inspiring Vision and Influence• 39:12 - Negotiating and Planning for Vision Execution• 41:55 - Building Cross-Functional Collaboration• 46:41 - Balancing Craft and Soft Skills• 50:57 - Delegation and Accountability in Design• 57:34 - Promoting Your Work and Final ThoughtsHelpful Links:• Connect with Catt on LinkedIn• The Staff Product Designer• Staff Designer: Influence & Lead as an Individual Contributor—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show• Support the show on Patreon• Check out show transcripts• Check out our website• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts• Subscribe on Spotify• Subscribe on YouTube• Subscribe on Stitcher

Naive cynicism makes collaboration feel like competition. In this episode, we unpack the subtle bias that convinces us we're objective while hidden motives drive everyone else, and explore how that thinking slowly erodes trust and teamwork.What happens when you stop seeing your teammates as collaborators and start seeing them as competitors with hidden motives?Ever had a PM question your design and immediately thought, “They just care about their roadmap”? That instinctive thought isn't insight, it's naive cynicism, the quiet bias that makes us assume we're objective while everyone else is playing politics.In this episode, we dig into the research from Lee Ross, Emily Pronin, Justin Krueger, and Thomas Gilovich to uncover how this bias takes root in teams. From design critiques and sprint reviews to roadmap discussions and leadership dynamics, naive cynicism distorts collaboration by replacing curiosity with suspicion.You'll learn how this bias shows up in everyday team interactions and what you can do to stop it. We'll explore how to recognize your own illusion of objectivity, make reasoning visible, and rebuild trust through transparency and generosity. Because collaboration only works when we give each other the benefit of the doubt.Topics:• 01:48 - Recognizing Naive Cynicism in Teams• 03:01 - Understanding the Roots of Naive Cynicism• 04:45 - Impact of Naive Cynicism on Team Dynamics• 07:11 - Strategies to Counter Naive CynicismTo explore more about the Naive Cynicism, don't miss the full article @ cognitioncatalog.com—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠⁠

We underestimate how long projects will take—even when experience tells us otherwise. In this episode, I break down the planning fallacy: why it happens, how it derails projects, and what you can do to protect your team from unrealistic deadlines.Why do we keep convincing ourselves that this time the project will be different, when it almost never is?Every designer has been there: a bold timeline handed down from leadership, optimism in the air, and a quiet voice inside whispering, there's no way this is going to happen. That voice is usually right, and it's the planning fallacy at work.In this episode, I share a real-world story of a global team tasked with rebuilding a massive legacy app on an impossible one-year deadline. The result? Chaos, delays, and missed expectations—classic symptoms of the planning fallacy. Along the way, I connect this to famous examples like the Sydney Opera House project and explain why even seasoned experts fall into the same trap.Most importantly, I walk through practical strategies for beating the bias: using reference class forecasting, building in buffers, involving cross-functional teams in estimation, and learning from past outcomes. Because if we can see the planning fallacy for what it is, we can start making more realistic commitments—and protect our teams from burnout and broken trust.Want to keep exploring cognitive biases that impact design teams? Subscribe to the Cognition Catalog newsletter and get a new bias in your inbox every week.Topics:• 01:57 The Planning Fallacy in Action• 03:54 Understanding the Planning Fallacy• 05:50 Consequences of the Planning Fallacy• 07:30 Strategies to Combat the Planning FallacyTo explore more about the Bike-Shedding Effect, don't miss the full article @ cognitioncatalog.com

What if the most powerful skill you could develop as a designer has nothing to do with Figma or AI? In this episode, we explore why writing is the ultimate meta-skill—sharpening your thinking, influencing decisions, and accelerating your career in unexpected ways.Is writing the most underrated design skill of all time?We spend a lot of time talking about design skills like prototyping, facilitation, and AI tools. But what if the skill that strengthens all of those is the one designers most often ignore?In this episode, I sit down with Thijs Kraan, a designer-turned-growth partner, who makes the case that writing is the ultimate meta-skill. For Thijs, writing every day didn't just sharpen his thinking; it multiplied his impact. From running a 30-day challenge to publishing daily posts, writing became the catalyst for everything else in his career.We talk about the difference between business writing, expert writing, and copywriting, why clear writing equals clear thinking, and how documentation can protect your career when tough decisions come back months later. We also tackle the elephant in the room: AI. Should you let ChatGPT do your writing, or will that shortcut make you worse in the long run?Whether you're trying to influence stakeholders, sharpen your thinking, or just get better at your day-to-day communication, this conversation will show you why writing might just be the most important design skill you haven't been practicing.Tune in and see why it's time to pick up the pen (or keyboard).Topics:• 02:45 – The Importance of Writing in UX Design• 04:19 – Thijs Kron's Journey: From Web Development to Writing• 06:05 – The Power of Writing in Design Thinking• 06:31 – Building a Writing Habit• 15:06 – Writing as a Meta Skill• 20:55 – Different Types of Writing for Designers• 22:33 – The Role of Copywriting in Design• 24:36 – Writing as a Career Multiplier• 28:38 – The Impact of AI on Writing• 30:19 – Balancing AI and Human Thinking• 31:35 – Personal Experience with AI in Writing• 32:43 – Effective Uses of AI for Writing• 34:54 – The Risks of Over-Reliance on AI• 36:13 – Practical Tips for Writing and ThinkingHelpful Links:• Connect with Thijs on LinkedIn—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠

Too many designers wait for their companies to approve conferences or courses before investing in themselves. This week, we unpack why that's a career-limiting mistake and how taking ownership of your education builds leadership, confidence, and community.What if the biggest career mistake you're making is waiting for your company to invest in you?This week, I sit down with Yao Adantor, a UX professional, educator, founder of UX Con and User Experience University. Yao has built a career across Fortune 500s, startups, and government, while also teaching at Johns Hopkins and MICA. At the heart of his story is one simple belief: don't wait for permission to grow.In our conversation, Yao shares why investing in your own education is less about buying a certificate and more about building confidence, networks, and opportunities that pay dividends for years. We talk about the “entrepreneurial mindset” of learning—how approaching your growth like a founder changes the way you show up in your job.We also dig into the hidden ROI of conferences, courses, and communities. Beyond the talks, it's the connections, the ideas, and the confidence you bring back to your team that make the investment worth it. Whether you're a junior designer or a seasoned leader, this episode will challenge how you think about your growth.If you've ever hesitated to spend your own money or time on learning, this conversation is for you. Give it a listen and rethink how you approach your education and career.Topics:• 03:04 – Investing in Your Own Education• 03:39 – Guest Introduction: Yao Anor• 05:15 – Yao's Journey into UX• 08:23 – The Importance of Networking and Conferences• 15:39 – Leadership and the Entrepreneurial Mindset• 25:52 – Defining Education and Personal Growth• 31:09 – Community and Fulfillment Through Education• 32:57 – Maximizing Education for Personal Growth• 34:09 – Balancing Family and Professional Development• 35:09 – The Sacrifices of Pursuing Education• 40:06 – The Importance of Leading by ExampleHelpful Links:• Connect with Yao on LinkedIn• UXCon 2025—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠

Design isn't a straight road. It's more like a maze with moving walls. In this episode, strategist Jen Briselli shows us why learning, relationships, and hidden networks matter more than best practices when navigating complex organizations.How do you thrive as a designer when the org around you is unpredictable, political, and constantly changing?Most designers hit a wall at some point in their career: their skills are strong, but the system they're working in feels impossible to navigate. Best practices don't seem to work, processes break down, and “design maturity” feels like a buzzword no one can actually define.That's where Jen Briselli comes in. With a background in physics, teaching, and design strategy, Jen helps teams understand what complexity really means and why learning is the only way through it. In our conversation, she explains how complicated and complex are not the same thing, how informal networks drive influence more than org charts, and why the real work of design is creating the conditions for growth rather than forcing outcomes.If you've ever felt stuck in a low-maturity team, frustrated by org politics, or burned out by chasing “best practices,” this episode will reframe how you see your role. Thriving in complexity and ambiguity is not about having all the answers. Instead, it's about learning how to sense, adapt, and build the great relationships that make great software possible.Take a listen to learn how to stop fighting complexity and start working with it.Topics:• 02:41 – Understanding Complexity in Product Design• 04:06 – Jen Belli's Journey into Complexity Science• 04:41 – Exploring Complexity Science in Design• 11:55 – The Difference Between Complex and Complicated Systems• 16:56 – Navigating Complex Systems in UX Design• 30:56 – The Role of Learning in Complex Systems• 34:58 – Formal and Informal Networks in Organizations• 40:57 – Understanding the Metaphor of Soil, Seeds, and Sunlight• 41:54 – Exploring Design Maturity and Emergent Properties• 43:33 – Creating Conditions for Psychological Safety and Design Maturity• 44:46 – The Role of Affordances in Design Maturity• 45:06 – Nurturing Growth in Unpredictable Environments• 50:00 – Balancing Work and Mental Health• 54:18 – The Importance of Identity and Letting Go• 57:33 – Final Thoughts on Complexity and LearningHelpful Links:• Connect with Jen on LinkedIn• Learning is the Engine // Jen's Rosenfeld Talk• Jen's YouTube channel—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠

Designers are told to climb ladders and fight for influence, but what's the cost? Rashmi Lopez shares why she walked away from the corporate chase, how burnout stole her joy, and why community, creativity, and mental health are better markers of success than any leadership title.What if climbing the ladder to a “seat at the table” comes at the expense of your health, joy, and sense of purpose? Would you still want it?Corporate design culture pushes us toward one version of success: titles, promotions, and that coveted “seat at the table.” But for many, that seat comes with exhaustion, burnout, and a nagging question—why doesn't this feel like success?In this episode, I talk with Rashmi Lopez, a designer who hit that wall, realized the cost, and chose another path. After years of grinding in tech and reaching leadership roles, Rashmi found herself drained and disconnected. A layoff became her turning point, leading her to step back, heal, and refocus on helping small businesses tell their stories with design.We explore how to rethink career success beyond titles, why boundaries and mental health are non-negotiable, and how community can give you more influence and fulfillment than any corporate ladder. If you've ever felt trapped in the cycle of overwork and chasing validation, this conversation will give you permission to define success on your own terms.—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠

Estimating design work in hours sets teams up to fail. But story points help designers earn trust, align with product managers, and keep creative space intact. This week, we unpack how adopting story points can shift the way your team plans and communicates.What if the secret to better collaboration wasn't a new tool or process, but a number?For years, UX teams have struggled with estimation. Say something will take ten hours, and suddenly you're locked into a number that doesn't account for iteration, alignment, or even creativity. The result? Broken trust and unrealistic expectations.This week, I chat with Naresh Shan, a design leader who's built global UX teams and proven that story points, not hours, are the secret to bridging the gap between design, engineering, and product management. By shifting estimation from time to effort, Naresh shows how design teams can protect creativity while building credibility with stakeholders.We explore what story points are, what it looks like when designers adopt them, why this shared language breaks down silos, and how it transforms team dynamics.If you've ever felt sidelined in sprint planning or struggled to explain your workload, this episode will give you practical ways to earn trust and plan smarter.Topics:• 03:02 Understanding Story Points in Agile Teams• 03:33 Interview with Nhan: The Power of Story Points• 08:24 The Fibonacci Sequence and Story Points• 13:20 Challenges and Solutions in Estimating Design Work• 22:24 Decentralized vs. Centralized Teams• 32:04 Maintaining Momentum and Team Cohesion• 35:27 Building Team Unity Through Gratitude• 35:58 Embracing Change and Leadership• 36:36 Benefits of Story Points in Design• 41:22 Implementing Story Points: A Practical Guide• 46:32 Balancing Design and Management RolesHelpful Links:• Connect with Naresh on LinkedIn• Value UX Conference• Aligned Podcast• Aligned Consulting—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠

AI isn't killing design. It's reminding us what design really is. In this episode, we talk about the illusion of control, why designers often feel powerless, and how the real work has always been about making meaning and managing systems, not just making screens.What if AI isn't changing design at all, but finally showing us what design has really been about this whole time?It's tempting to think AI is rewriting the rules of design. But maybe the truth is simpler: it's exposing what design was always about.In this conversation with Dennis Lenard, founder of Creative Navy, we explore how AI is pushing designers to confront the illusion of control, the limits of pixel pushing, and the bigger role of meaning-making. Dennis brings over 20 years of experience working in UX, teaching design, and writing on interface design for high-stakes industries like healthcare. His perspective? The anxieties we're feeling aren't new; they're just harder to ignore now.We cover why prioritization matters more than production, why empathy should extend to your team as much as your users, and how to reframe design as managing the system, not just the interface. If you've ever felt like AI is destabilizing your role, this episode will help you see it as a mirror, not a threat.Topics:• 04:16 – The Impact of AI on Design• 08:11 – Navigating Control and Anxiety in Design• 15:13 – Redefining Design Roles and Responsibilities• 31:44 – Building Relationships and Empathy in Teams• 37:21 – Leveraging AI for Designer's Advantage• 38:10 – The Double Diamond Model in Design• 38:27 – The Importance of Designing the Right Thing• 38:36 – AI's Role in Design and Prioritization• 40:29 – Human Empathy vs. AI in User Experience• 42:27 – The Impact of Design in High-Stakes Industries• 43:32 – Adapting Design Processes for Different Industries• 44:30 – The Importance of Research and Critical Thinking• 47:16 – Navigating Ambiguity and Focusing on Controllable Elements• 47:50 – Practical Advice for Designers• 58:07 – The Value of Attention and Continuous ImprovementHelpful Links:• Connect with Dennis on LinkedIn—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠

We've all been there an hour into a meeting and somehow still debating button alignment. In this episode, we unpack the Bikeshedding Effect, why it derails teams, and how to keep your focus where it matters most.Why do smart teams waste so much time on trivial details while the big, critical decisions gather dust?If you've ever walked out of a meeting wondering how the last hour disappeared into debating something barely worth deciding, you've experienced the Bikeshedding Effect. Also known as the Law of Triviality, this bias pushes teams toward the easy-to-understand, low-stakes topics, while the truly strategic ones get sidelined.In this episode, I share my own war stories from fluorescent-lit conference rooms and design critiques gone off the rails. We look at how Parkinson's satirical observation about bike shed designs still plays out today—in agile ceremonies, leadership meetings, and design reviews. It's not laziness, it's our natural pull toward comfort and away from complexity.You'll learn how to spot the signs, structure meetings to avoid the trap, and shift your team's culture toward tackling the work that actually moves the needle. Whether you're leading a project or just trying to survive another round of pixel debates, this one's for you.Topics:• 01:54 – Personal Anecdote• 03:44 – Understanding the Bike Shedding Effect• 07:02 – Combating the Bike Shedding EffectTo explore more about the Bike-Shedding Effect, don't miss the full article @ cognitioncatalog.com

We unpack the continued influence effect—why wrong ideas and early takes often outlast the truth—and how it can quietly shape your team's decisions long after the facts are corrected.Why do people still believe a story even after it's been proven wrong?If you've ever run an A/B test that “failed” only to see the wrong lesson stick around for months, you've felt the continued influence effect in action. It's that pesky bias where the first version of a story, whether true or not, keeps shaping behavior long after it's been corrected.In this episode, I share a story from my own work where a redesign underperformed in testing. Even though we learned valuable lessons and built a better version, the dominant narrative became “the test failed.” From planning sessions to hallway chatter, that early interpretation continued to influence how we thought and acted.We'll dig into the research behind this bias, how it shows up in everyday team dynamics, and practical steps you can take to keep outdated or misleading narratives from derailing your work. Listen in and learn how to replace sticky misinformation with better, more accurate stories your team will actually remember.Topics:• 00:00 - The Test Failed: A Case Study• 01:38 - The Continued Influence Effect Explained• 02:04 - A Familiar Story of Misinterpretation• 04:12 - The Psychology Behind the Continued Influence Effect• 05:40 - Real-World Implications and Examples• 07:53 - Strategies to Combat the Continued Influence EffectTo explore more about the Continued Influence Effect, don't miss the full article @ cognitioncatalog.com

Designers love talking about empathy… Just not for the people they work with. This week, we talk about why empathy has to extend beyond users and how you can apply familiar UX research techniques to better understand your teammates, PMs, and stakeholdersIf empathy is such a core UX skill, why are so many designers bad at applying it to the people they work with?Designers love talking about empathy for users. But if your research findings are getting ignored or your design recommendations keep getting watered down, it might be time to turn that empathy inward.Thomas and Lawton join me from Drillbit Labs. They both have PhDs in human factors, and they help product teams make smarter decisions with less drama. This week, they make a pretty compelling case: if you're not applying your research mindset to the people you work with, you're not doing your job.We talk about how to use stakeholder interviews, power mapping, one-on-ones, and intentional relationship-building to get unstuck—and what to do when your best ideas are still getting shot down. If you're tired of saying “they just don't get it,” this episode is for you.Topics:• 03:04 – The Importance of Empathy in Software Development• 03:25 – Guest Introduction: Thomas and Lawton from Drill Bit Labs• 04:27 – Empathy for Team Members: A Deeper Dive• 07:10 – The Role of Human Factors in Team Dynamics• 16:06 – Practical Tips for Building Empathy with Stakeholders• 20:49 – The Importance of Stakeholder Relationships• 36:51 – Tools and Tactics for Effective Team Collaboration• 38:39 – Understanding Empathy in Decision Making• 39:33 – De-biasing Techniques and Their Importance• 40:23 – Spotting and Naming Cognitive Biases• 43:05 – The Value of One-on-Ones• 45:37 – Remote Work and Maintaining Human Connection• 54:06 – Balancing Personal Investment in Work DecisionsHelpful Links:• Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn• Connect with Lawton on LinkedIn• Depth Newsletter• Drill Bit Labs—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠

Not all prejudice is loud or obvious. In this episode, we explore the quiet kind: the one that hides behind gut feelings and culture fit. We'll break down how implicit bias shapes team dynamics, hiring decisions, and everyday interactions, even in well-meaning workplaces.What if the biggest barrier to equity on your team isn't hate, but habit?In this episode of the Cognition Catalog, we dig into the subtleties of prejudice that often hide in plain sight. These aren't the overt acts of hostility we usually associate with bias, but the quiet, unnoticed attitudes and assumptions that shape who gets hired, heard, and left behind. We'll explore the nature of implicit prejudice, its impact on team dynamics, and how we can challenge and change these hidden biases to create fairer and more inclusive workplaces. Tune in to learn actionable steps to recognize and interrupt these biases, ensuring we all contribute to a more equitable environment.Topics:• 02:25 - A Personal Anecdote on Bias• 03:21 - Understanding Implicit Prejudice• 06:13 - The Science Behind Implicit Bias• 08:54 - Addressing and Mitigating BiasTo explore more about Prejudice, don't miss the full article on the Cognition Catalog!Don't forget to subscribe to the newsletter to be the first to know when new episodes drop!Join me every week for insights on a new cognitive bias!

Think all you need is a polished portfolio and perfect case study to land your next job? Trevor Alexander says otherwise. In this episode, we challenge the traditional career advice designers are given, and talk about what actually leads to long-term success, resilience, and trust.What if everything you've been told about how to build a successful design career was wrong?If you're still clinging to the idea that a polished portfolio and deep Figma skills are your best bet for success in UX, this episode is going to challenge that—hard. I sat down with Trevor Alexander, author of An Ugly Design Career, to talk about why those things might actually be distractions.We cover everything from the myth of the “pretty” career to the real-world power of trust, communication, and grit. Trevor shares how he's thrived in UX without a portfolio or job applications, because people keep bringing him along for the ride. Not because of fancy job titles, but because of how he shows up.From improv classes and Toastmasters to lifestyle creep and living in a founder's basement, Trevor drops wisdom that hits different in today's job market. Whether you're new to UX or 15 years in, this episode is a gut check on what really matters. Give it a listen, and maybe rethink what “better” looks like.Topics:• 11:16 The Importance of Soft Skills in Design• 21:30 The Role of Tenacity in a Design Career• 27:48 Defining Success: What Does ‘Better' Mean?• 32:19 Facing Job Loss and Financial Stress• 32:54 Managing Lifestyle Creep• 33:19 The Importance of Fiscal Responsibility• 35:23 High Earnings and Financial Prudence• 39:26 Leveraging Opportunities and Networking• 41:11 Building a Resilient CareerHelpful Links:• Connect with Trevor on LinkedIn• uglydesigncareer.com—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠⁠

In this throwback episode, I chat with Jason Ogle from the User Defenders Podcast about something we don't talk about enough: self-care for UX designers. We explore how taking care of ourselves is essential to be truly empathetic.Could self-care be the most overlooked tool in a UX designer's toolkit?How can we expect to fill our users' cups if our own is empty? What if taking care of yourself is the most user-centric design choice you can make?This week, I got a chance to talk with with Jason Ogle of the famed User Defenders Podcast. We peel back the layers of UX design to discuss a foundational aspect that's often neglected: the designer's self-care. Jason shares his insights on how self-care is intrinsically linked to our capacity to care for and understand our users. He makes a compelling case for why designers must prioritize their well-being to truly excel in their work.We discuss the inherently altruistic nature of design and how this high calling to solve problems for others begins with solving our own problem of neglecting self-care. He highlighted the simple yet powerful concept: “We can't fill someone else's cup if our cup is empty,” emphasizing the need for designers to ensure they're mentally and physically prepared to tackle the challenges of UX design.We also touched on the critical mind-body connection and how physical well-being directly impacts our creative and empathetic abilities. Jason shared personal strategies for making time for self-care, including the importance of sleep and how it significantly influences the following day's mood, energy levels, and productivity.Jason's approach to saying “no” and the freedom it brings to focus on what truly matters served as a powerful lesson in setting boundaries for personal and professional growth.Topics:• 15:31 – Design is a very altruistic thing• 20:06 – We can't fill someone else's cup if our cup is empty• 25:45 – There is a mind-body connection• 30:10 – Sleep influences the next day• 33:23 – ways Jason has found to make time for himself• 40:38 – Getting to the point where we can say “no”• 49:23 – How do we go to bed at a certain time?• 54:49 – Good habits are sacrificing now for benefits laterHelpful Links:• Connect with Jason on LinkedIn• jasonogle.com• Watch Jason on YouTube• User Defenders Podcast

What's stopping your work from shipping? It's probably not the design itself. This week, I chat with Guy Segal about the soft skills that make the biggest difference—giving feedback, earning trust, and aligning with your team when things get tough.What if the biggest reason your designs aren't making it to production has nothing to do with design?You know your work is solid. You've put in the hours, iterated on the flow, and covered every edge case. But when it comes time to hand it off or get sign-off, something breaks. It stalls, gets picked apart, or falls flat. Sound familiar?In this episode, I sit down with Guy Segal—design leader and host of Design Downtime—to talk about why “soft skills” are the hardest part of UX, and how improving them can be the difference between your designs shipping or collecting dust. We cover how to give better feedback, how to handle misalignment without blowing things up, and what it actually means to be someone your team wants to work with.This conversation is a must-listen if you've ever felt like good design work wasn't enough. Because it isn't. The way you show up—how you talk to people, how you build trust, how you respond to tension—is what moves the work forward.Topics:• 00:00 – Introduction: The Human Side of Software• 00:37 – Welcome to Beyond UX Design• 00:44 – Promotions and Sponsorships• 02:31 – The Importance of Relationships in Software• 02:57 – Interview with Guy Siegel: Building Great Relationships• 04:09 – Challenges in Team Dynamics• 05:26 – Empathy and Communication in Teams• 13:00 – Feedback Framework for Better Team Collaboration• 28:58 – Aligning Team Goals and Values• 32:45 – Establishing Team Values and Hiring Practices• 33:27 – Importance of One-on-Ones and Setting Expectations• 35:06 – Empathy and Communication in Design• 36:08 – Feedback and Continuous Improvement• 37:09 – Challenges in Designer-Engineer Collaboration• 38:21 – Managerial Insights and Team Dynamics• 43:09 – Building Strong Work RelationshipsHelpful Links:• Design Downtime• Connect with Guy on LinkedIn—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠⁠

Understanding how power works might be the most underrated UX skill. Thomas Wilson shares ways to navigate power, bridge generational gaps, and influence decisions, even when you don't have direct control.Why do some designers influence major decisions while others get ignored? The answer might come down to how well you understand power.You can't influence what you don't understand. In this conversation, I sit down with Thomas Wilson to discuss the invisible structures that shape what gets built, who gets heard, and why some designers consistently seem to gain traction, even without a fancy title.We unpack what it means to navigate power inside organizations, how to build trust with people who don't think like you, and what “pushing back” looks like when done with empathy and strategy. Thomas also challenges the notion that power is something to be avoided or rejected. Instead, he frames it as a neutral force—one you can learn to work with instead of around.If you've ever felt stuck, sidelined, or frustrated by decisions that don't make sense, this episode will help you rethink how you operate—and show you that power, used well, can actually be a designer's ally.Topics:• 03:51 Understanding Power Dynamics in Organizations• 05:44 Types of Power in Business• 08:22 Strategies for Leveraging Power• 19:39 Tools for Influencing and Negotiation• 28:12 Power Mapping and Stakeholder Management• 36:47 Influence and Interest Matrix• 37:43 Generational Dynamics in the Workplace• 38:57 Diversity of Thought and Communication Styles• 41:34 Building Relationships and Trust• 43:41 Handling Workplace Conflicts• 48:48 Resources for Understanding PowerHelpful Links:• Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠⁠

Freelancing doesn't have to mean chaos and burnout. In this episode, we explore how to scale your freelance business without hiring a team by getting smarter with tools, strategy, and specialization.What if you could scale your freelance business without hiring a team, just by using the right tools?Most freelancers hit the same wall: they think going solo means doing it all. But today's guest, Maciej Konarzewski, shares how that belief almost held him back, and how flipping the script helped him build a successful one-person business that runs on his terms.In this episode, Maciej shares how he went from building his first site for his wife's cleaning business to becoming a certified Wix Studio partner and full-time business owner. We talk about ditching the hustle mindset, building smart systems, and saying no to distractions (and even clients) in order to say yes to better work.If you're a designer trying to escape the 9–5 grind or scale your freelance business without burning out, this episode is for you. We dig into tools, pricing, niching down, and how community and relationships can unlock opportunities you didn't even know were possible.Tune in and learn how to build a thriving freelance business—without hiring a single employee.Topics:• 02:44 The Reality of Freelancing• 03:08 Interview with Maciej Konarzewski• 04:17 Maciej's Freelancing Journey• 14:30 The Importance of Specialization• 25:33 The Reality of Job Security• 26:09 The Hardest Decision: Changing Jobs• 26:42 You Are Your Own Backup Plan• 27:41 Selling and Marketing Yourself• 30:34 The Mindset Shift in Sales• 36:46 The Importance of Community and SpecializationHelpful Links:• Connect with Maciej on LinkedIn• Vision Marketing—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠⁠

What if becoming a manager isn't the upgrade you've been led to believe?What if you could grow your influence and your impact, without giving up the work you actually love doing? In this episode, Filippos Protogeridis shares why traditional UX career ladders don't always work and how he carved out a leadership path that didn't require a team of direct reports.A lot of mid-level and senior designers assume the only way to advance their careers is to become managers. But what if that path isn't right for you? What if there are better options? In this episode, I talk with Filippos Protogeridis, who shares his journey from founding designer to head of product design at a rapidly growing healthtech startup in London.Filippos didn't follow the traditional ladder. Instead of giving up hands-on work, he redefined what leadership looks like for his role, blending vision work, hiring, mentoring, and strategy with the design work he still loves. We talk about why most companies get the “promotion to management” thing all wrong, and how to think more clearly about what you actually want from your next step.If you've been wrestling with questions about growth, leadership, and what it really means to “level up” in UX, this episode is for you. Tune in and rethink what success in design leadership can look like.Topics:• 05:00 – Filippos' Background and Journey• 06:43 – Challenges in Leadership Transition• 14:20 – The Importance of Hiring and Letting Go• 26:33 – Hands-On Leadership and Visioning• 34:54 – Types of Design Leadership Roles• 41:42 – Impact of Layoffs on Leadership• 42:21 – Shift in Hiring Trends• 43:03 – Lean Management and Hands-On Roles• 43:47 – Challenges and Opportunities in Hybrid Roles• 46:21 – Embracing the Founding Designer Mode• 48:53 – Market Chaos and Its Impact• 49:38 – Entrepreneurial Mindset in Large Organizations• 54:58 – Closing Thoughts on Leadership and FollowershipHelpful Links:• Connect with Filippos on LinkedIn• Designary.com—Thanks for listening! We hope you dug today's episode. If you liked what you heard, be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! And if you really enjoyed today's episode, why don't you leave a five-star review? Or tell some friends! It will help us out a ton.If you haven't already, sign up for our email list. We won't spam you. Pinky swear.• ⁠⁠Get a FREE audiobook AND support the show⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Support the show on Patreon⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Check out show transcripts⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Check out our website⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Subscribe on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Subscribe on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠• ⁠⁠Subscribe on Stitcher⁠

Tired of stressing over your UX portfolio? Discover smart ways to showcase your value clearly, even if you're buried in NDAs or complex enterprise projects. Learn how to simplify your story, prioritize content strategically, and confidently communicate your UX expertise without falling into portfolio overwhelm.How do you turn years of complicated UX work into a clear, concise story that hiring managers actually want to read?This week, I welcome back Aneta Kmiecik, who has made it her mission to help mid-to-senior UX designers tackle the common nightmare of portfolio creation. Having transitioned from architecture to UX herself, she has a deep understanding of the challenges, especially when it comes to showcasing complex, NDA-heavy projects or navigating roles with less visually striking outcomes.We explore practical strategies for creating concise, impactful portfolios without lengthy traditional case studies. She introduces the powerful concept of "project snapshots," a straightforward way to quickly and effectively highlight the core value and outcomes of your UX work. We discuss essential habits for proactively capturing your work as it occurs, rather than scrambling when you suddenly need to apply for a job.If you've ever felt portfolio anxiety or struggled to clearly showcase your real UX value, tune in for actionable insights to transform your portfolio approach and confidently land your next role.Topics:• 02:42 The Stress of Creating Portfolios• 02:57 Aneta's Journey and Expertise• 03:50 Actionable Advice for UX Portfolios• 09:03 The Importance of Work Journals• 14:24 Crafting Case Studies for Your Next Job• 28:58 Common Mistakes in UX Portfolios• 30:53 Common Portfolio Mistakes• 31:57 Alternative Ways to Showcase Work• 33:10 Creating Project Snapshots• 38:27 Choosing the Right Platform• 45:10 Final Thoughts and AdviceHelpful Links:• Connect with Aneta on LinkedIn• Follow Aneta on Instagram• Aneta's UX Portfolio Course---Support our sponsors!Ok web designers. Let's talk about the “c” word—creative burnout.You're working on a site for a really big client, but between resourcing, feedback, tight budgets and even tighter deadlines—it doesn't make the cut. Wix Studio helps close that gap, so you can deliver your vision with less friction. Built for agencies and enterprises, you get total creative control over every last pixel. With no-code animations, AI-powered tools, reusable design assets, advanced, intuitive layout tools and a Figma to Wix Studio integration, you can design the way you want to and deliver when you need to.And if you're worried about the learning curve eating into time you don't have—don't be. Wix Studio is intuitive by design, so your entire team can hit the ground running.For your next project, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wixstudio.com