Design Life

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Design Life is a podcast about design and side projects for motivated creators. It was born after your hosts, two serial side project addicts, saw a gap in the podcast market for a conversational show about design and the issues young creatives face, that was hosted by two females. This show ai…

Charli Prangley, Femke Van Schoonhoven


    • Dec 5, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 34m AVG DURATION
    • 282 EPISODES

    4.9 from 126 ratings Listeners of Design Life that love the show mention: charli, fem, side projects, listening to y'all, design podcasts, architect, freelancing, designers, super cool, it's so refreshing, day job, already hooked, graphic, client, it's fun, motivated, i'm always, creative, product, keep up the amazing.


    Ivy Insights

    The Design Life podcast is an incredible resource for designers, whether they are just starting out or have years of experience under their belt. The hosts, Charli and Femke, provide valuable insight, motivation, and inspiration through their conversations about the design industry. As a junior designer myself, I have found this podcast to be a goldmine of information and guidance.

    One of the best aspects of The Design Life podcast is the realistic approach that Charli and Femke take when discussing various topics related to design. They openly share their own experiences and struggles, which is incredibly relatable for listeners. They provide practical advice and tips that can be applied to real-life situations, making it easier for designers to navigate their careers.

    Moreover, I appreciate the diversity of topics covered in this podcast. Charli and Femke discuss everything from career tips to personal growth, freelancing to balancing work and life. This comprehensive range of topics ensures that there is something for everyone listening, regardless of where they are on their design journey.

    While there aren't necessarily any standout worst aspects of this podcast, some listeners may find that certain episodes resonate with them more than others depending on their specific interests or needs as designers. However, this is a subjective aspect and does not detract from the overall quality and value provided by The Design Life podcast.

    In conclusion, The Design Life podcast is a must-listen for anyone in the design industry or those interested in pursuing a career in design. Charli and Femke's genuine approach, practical advice, and diverse range of topics make this podcast both informative and inspiring. Whether you are looking for motivation or seeking guidance on your design journey, The Design Life has you covered.



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    Latest episodes from Design Life

    283: Our copywriting process

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2023 25:45


    In this episode of the Design Life podcast we chat about all things copywriting!

    282: Reliving our Config experience

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2023 29:08


    Thank you Config for a fantastic conference! In this episode we recap our highlights and chat all about our meetup.

    281: How to make the most of a design conference

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2023 31:50


    Are you attending a design conference this summer? In this episode we share our favourite tips for making the most of the conference experience to maximise learning, connection and most importantly - fun!

    280: Preparing for a feature launch as a designer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2023 28:08


    Preparing for a feature launch as a designer is such an exciting time! To see your work come to fruition brings with it a fantastic feeling, but it's not always plain sailing. In this episode we discuss the highs and lows of working on feature launches as a designer.

    279: Validating design solutions

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2023 32:41


    Today on the Design Life podcast we are answering a listener question from an engineer, who is looking for advice on how to validate a design and communicate this with the relevant stakeholders.

    278: Are you on the right path in your design career?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2023 30:15


    Wondering if you are on the right path in your design career? Fear not, we have a very reassuring conversation this week on the podcast! Hear all about how we've used the design career checkpoint to help reflect on our careers and set new goals.

    277: Learning throughout different stages of your design career

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2023 28:50


    This week on Design Life we're chatting about learning throughout different stages of our design careers, and how our approach to learning has changed over time.

    276: Managing in different directions

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2023 29:19


    Find yourself in a new role and managing in different directions? Us too! In this episode we're talking how to make the most of managing in different directions.

    275: The realities of being a manager AND an IC

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2023 32:20


    In this episode of Design Life we chat about managing the split between IC work and being a manager and how we balance the responsibilities of both in our day to day work.

    274: Are you inexperienced if you don't name your layers?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2023 28:28


    Are you an inexperienced designer if you don't name your layers? In our first episode of 2023 we discuss this question and why gatekeeping like this within the industry holds designers back.

    273: Our thoughts on the state of the design industry

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2022 30:41


    In our last episode of 2022, we share our thoughts on the state of the design industry.

    272: Deciding what side projects to tackle in 2023

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2022 33:06


    Planning your side projects for 2023? If you're thinking of expanding or starting a side project over the next 12 months we hope you find value in this episode as we share our plans and ideas for 2023.

    271: Annual planning as a design leader in tech

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2022 31:30


    It's that time of year again, time to start the annual planning for 2023. As a design lead in the tech industry, it can be difficult to know how to bring your team together to share their ideas or where to start with the planning so in this episode we share how we're tackling annual planning with collaboration in mind.

    270: Positioning your portfolio for a design manager role

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2022 31:40


    Trying to make the move from designer to manager? In this episode we chat about how to make your portfolio presentation speak for itself.

    269: Fitting in socially in the workplace

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2022 30:49


    Building relationships with your colleagues at works takes time and patience. This week on the podcast we answer a listener question about how we've built strong relationships within our teams, both remotely and in person.

    268: A real look into today's design interview process

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2022 33:20


    A real look into today's design interview process, what is it like trying to get a job in this economy?

    267: How much did Charli earn this year?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2022 33:03


    On Design Life we like to talk openly about money when we can, including our annual income reports! This time it's Charli's turn.

    266: Femke quit her job!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2022 28:20


    Femke quit her job! After a year in her current role Femke is moving on to an exciting new opportunity. Listen to a deep dive into the thought process and the practical steps involved in the move.

    265: Adobe is buying Figma? Let's talk about it

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2022 29:56


    News of Figma being acquired by Adobe has everyone talking, today on Design Life we share our thoughts on what this means for one of our most used design tools.

    264: Design education and conferences, on a budget

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2022 30:55


    Getting buy in to help build design team culture can be difficult - this week we answer a listener question about how to create opportunities which promote design education for your team and foster a great design culture, on a budget.

    263: How we communicate async at work

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2022 36:38


    Today on Design Life we answer a listener question about all the asynchronous communication methods we use at work.

    262: What makes a good design manager

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2022 29:42


    This week on the podcast we're answering a very wholesome listener question, what makes a good manager and how can an IC help support a new manager to do their best?

    261: What it's like to work in six week cycles

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2022 30:46


    Do you use six week cycles where you work? Today we're gonna talk about this way of breaking up work throughout the year which we recently discovered we both use in our companies.

    260: Taking a sabbatical

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2022 28:18


    In this episode we chat about Charli's recent sabbatical, the preparations involved beforehand and what elements from the month have become part of a new daily routine.

    259: Shipping a new design system!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2022 32:40


    Femke recently shipped a new design system and today on Design Life we are discussing the highs and lows of taking on such a project!

    258: Retaining the joy of side projects with Honest UX Talks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2022 37:05


    Listen to the Honest UX Talks episodeFollow Honest UX Talks:

    257: Collaboration between senior and junior designers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2022 30:40


    This week on Design Life we chat specifically about collaborating with designers of a different level. Maybe you're a junior designer collaborating with a senior designer for the first time or vice versa, we discuss which skills you need to make collaboration seamless.

    256: Conducting design audits

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2022 28:47


    How can you make the most of a design audit? Keep consistency in mind, improve popular assets and implement recommendations. 

    255: The pay gap between product and marketing designers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2022 27:55


    Today we are chatting about a topic very near and dear to our hearts, the pay gap between marketing/brand designers and product designers. What is causing the gap and how can we work towards closing it?

    254: Is the vibe shifting in design?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2022 27:53


    It might feel like vibe is the word of the year at the moment, and with good reason as the vibe in design is shifting again. Who are the companies shaping design this year and how do we stay up to date without following trends? Listen to this episode of Design Life to find out!

    E253: Setting boundaries at work

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2022 30:42


    Boundaries are really important, and they've become even more important as more of us are working from home. This week on Design Life we chat about the boundaries we set in our jobs and how we share them with our teams and managers.

    252: Why you should care about performance reviews

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2022 28:12


    In this episode of Design Life we chat about why you should care about performance reviews even when they aren't related to a bonus or pay rise and how to get the most out of them whether you are an employee or a manager.

    251: Why getting better at writing can help your design career

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2022 28:48


    Improving your writing skills can help your career in lots of different ways, from increasing your confidence to helping you to create memorable presentations. In this episode of Design Life we chat about creating writing procedures and using inspiration when it strikes to help your writing stand out.

    250: When starting a new job feels like you're starting from scratch

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2022 28:56


    In this episode we're tackling a listener question, from a designer starting a new job and feeling like they're starting from scratch again! We share what we've learned from starting new jobs, settling into a new team and how to have a productive first few weeks in your new role while finding your feet.

    249: What the heck are MVPs (and how to do them well)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2022 29:30


    This week on Design Life we answer a listener question, what the heck are MVPs (and how to do them well). We chat about the benefits, the disadvantages and the questions to ask your team so you can make the best product possible without creating design or technical debt.

    248: Monetising side projects with Sara Brunettini

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2022 37:52


    Today we're chatting about monetising side projects with our guest, Sara Brunettini. Sara is a Youtuber, product designer and all round wonderful person. We share our experience of monetising our side projects, what's worked for us, what hasn't and what we've learned along the way.

    247: Are you falling behind if you don't understand Web3?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2022 25:42


    Keeping up with trends while maintaining a full time job is a challenge all designers face, but what should you do if you're worried that the latest trend will quickly become essential to your role? There is a lot of talk within the design community about Web3, listen to find out how NFTs and Web3 are being viewed by two people outside the community.

    246: The design interview process needs to change

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2022 35:06


    The design interview process needs to change. Time consuming take home assignments and whiteboard challenges are the norm, can the interview process be simplified to benefit both designers and employers?

    245: We just don't get along! (Dealing with workplace conflict)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2022 31:33


    Need advice about dealing with conflict at work? Today we're answering a listener question about a sticky work place situation, an experience we are all likely to have during our career.

    244: How to choose (or advocate for!) the design projects you want to work on

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2022 26:53


    You might not always be able to choose your projects but there are ways to advocate for the types of projects you would like best. In this episode we share how we choose which projects we take on at work.

    243: Tips for organizing design files

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2022 29:09


    When it comes to organizing your files, it is less about the tool itself and more about everyone in the team being on the same page. On Design Life this week we answer a listener question about how to organize your design files and work spaces to simplify remote collaboration.

    242: Why designers should care about business metrics

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2022 31:30


    Understanding business metrics and how your work helps achieve company goals can be a very useful skill to have as a designer. Not sure where to start? This episode of Design Life is a good place as we share how being curious about our companies helped us to progress in our careers.

    241: Creating a design system for the first time

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2022 31:21


    Today On Design Life we're talking all about Design Systems. We share our struggles and triumphs, and what you need to know if you're creating a design system for the first time.

    240: The difference between junior and senior designers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2022 31:18


    What is the difference between a Junior and a Senior designer? Don't they essentially do the same job? This week on Design Life we chat about moving up a level in your career and why it means more than just completing the same tasks and responsibilities.

    239: Different ways to structure a design team

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2022 28:00


    How is your design team structured? Today on Design Life we answer an email from a listener about team structure, why our team structure works best for us and how other companies (like Dropbox!) organise their teams.

    238: Setting goals for 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2022 32:01


    As is tradition now on the Design Life podcast, we spend our first episode of 2022 talking about our goals, plans and dreams for the year ahead.

    237: Our growth as designers in 2021

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2021 32:41


    In our last episode of 2021 we reflect on our growth as designers this year.

    236 - Juggling multiple priorities at work

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2021 32:03


    Juggling multiple priorities at work is a skill that will be useful during your design career, when you find yourself working on more than one project at the same time. We've had plenty of opportunities to practice this skill and in this episode we share how we prioritise, say no (sometimes!) and still create our best work.

    235: How does where you live impact you as a designer?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2021 32:11


    How does where you live impact you as a designer? On this episode of Design Life we chat about where we have felt most inspired and most welcome in the design community.

    234: Are you ready to commit to a new side hustle?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2021 28:33


    There's a lot to consider when you're starting a new side hustle! Listen to our chat about committing to new side hustles, inspired by the launch of Femke's design community.

    233: Increasing the pace of your design process

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2021 25:37


    Today we're talking about pace. The more experience we have, the quicker and more efficient we become. We chat about why this happens and how to increase pace without sacrificing quality.

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