Faster Horses | A podcast about UI design, user experience, UX design, product and technology

Have you ever wondered how product managers turn chaos into a symphony? Our latest episode, featuring the perspicacious Simon Berry who shines a light on the crucial role these maestros play in harmonizing user needs with project realities. From the stormy beginnings of a product's life to its standing ovation in the market, we chat about everything that makes or breaks its success. We promise you'll come away with a renewed appreciation for the delicate balance of art and science in product management.Dive into the heart of the tech world with us as we unravel the subtle yet impactful differences between product management and project management. Hear firsthand accounts of the tightrope walk balancing business pressures and customer ecstasy. Then, eavesdrop on the secret language of UX professionals and developers as we share strategies for better collaboration that could spell the difference between a digital masterpiece and a one-hit-wonder. Simon's extensive experience in the startup and FMCG landscapes brings a richness of insights that you simply can't miss.To cap things off, we get real about the agile development process, sprint estimations, and our collective drive to 'fail fast' and learn faster. We also detour through the world of personal finance apps, contrasting their quirky features and understanding what makes users tick—or kick. And for a little extra spice, we share our gripes with apps like Spotify when they hit a sour note. It's an episode that fuses tech talk with real-world wisdom, all underscored by the hum of user experience. Join us for a session that's as informative as engaging—with a side of laughter.Support the showAll this and more are answered in this episode of Faster Horses, a podcast about UX, UXR, UI design, products and technology (sometimes!)

In this episode of "Faster Horses," the hosts, Paul and Mark, delve into the world of AI and UX. They discuss how AI has become increasingly prevalent in various industries and platforms, with a particular focus on social media. Paul shares their experience in creating their own AI tool, GhostPosts.ai, with the aims to assist users in generating better social media posts and written content.The hosts emphasise the importance of making AI accessible and ethical, with the goal of enhancing the quality of content on platforms like social media. They envision AI as a tool that can replace mundane or  bland content with more valuable content. The hosts also discuss concerns about the potential homogenisation of online content due to AI, as well as the fear that AI might replace jobs.In summary, the episode explores the impact of AI on user experience, highlighting the role of AI in content creation and the need for ethical and accessible AI tools. It also touches on the potential challenges and benefits associated with the widespread adoption of AI in various industries.Support the showAll this and more are answered in this episode of Faster Horses, a podcast about UX, UXR, UI design, products and technology (sometimes!)

It seems that people are very often confusing a Design System with a component library. The differences are nuanced, drawing the line between those two will be hard, and there's no right or wrong — but maybe this story might help us understand those differences a little bit better, and maybe it will help us understand the effort it takes to build and maintain a Design System.It is more than just a UI Library. The whole purpose of a Design System is to define the design principles, style guide, patterns, content tone, and the rules and specifications of the “reusable” components. These rules are very specific to the product and can differ from company to company.When does a UI library turn into a design system?For a design system to thrive and survive, it needs a sufficient level of management:Who's making the decisions? Modern design systems have a product manager who's driving decisions, assertively aligning with partners, and serving as the go-to person.Who's doing the work? Sustaining a design system can involve a significant amount of design, development, writing, and other work done by people committed (at least partially, > 4hr/week) to the endeavour.Who's paying for it? It's near impossible for a system to survive long-term without a sponsor deliberately providing a budget in the form of properly allocated time.What are each of you working on right now, and where do you record and prioritise things you might work on later? Yup, time for task management, which many high-performing teams increasingly formalise into a backlog over sprints using tools like Trello and Jira.What can your customers (products using the system) expect over the next 6–12 months? Don't discount the power of an effective, concisely communicated system roadmap. It generates awareness, discussion, faith that you've got your act together, and trust that what you do provides for what they need. A Design System isn't a Project. It's a Product, Serving Products. Discuss! All this and more are answered in this episode of Faster Horses.

Design systems have become a key part of user experience, design and development, but what should it consist of?  We have a good old poke around, question atomic design, figure out audiences and how to effectively communicate what the core concept of design systems are, why we use them and is Brad Frost right.Should print and digital guidelines fit into a single system?We chuck in the patterns and chuck out the chintz, with topical tangents, wrapped in the UX of a squidgy scotch egg.All this and more are answered in this episode of Faster Horses.

So what's the difference between design language and tone of voice? Where are the boundaries between the tone of voice and design language, and who leads the strategy of these? Are they interchangeable?In literature, the Tone of Voice refers to the author's feelings towards the subject, as expressed through the writing itself. Writing for the web is obviously different from writing prose (or at least it should be since web users read very little.) Still, every scrap of writing on a page (from body copy to button labels and other UX copywriting) contributes to the tone of voice we're using to speak to our users (https://www.nngroup.com/articles/tone-of-voice-dimensions/).Visual communication is exceptionally complicated. It's diverse, boundless, and relentless. To induce a sense of clarity and coherence to it, we need to establish a series of constraints that will help us communicate with our end-users. This is where Design Language comes into play (https://www.uxpin.com/studio/blog/design-language/)Why are these important, and how can navigate those tricky workplace politics?All this and more are answered in this episode of Faster Horses.

In this episode we talk to Scot Whitney, Podcast Host – The All4Inclusion Pod, an advocate for inclusion and wheelchair user looking to help others see society's boundaries. Find him on Linkedin, https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottjwhitney/ Scott founded All4inclusion with their amazing philosophy: “We believe everyone is born equal and every person should be able to access the same education, job opportunities and be able to socialise in the same ways.” Find out more and support them here: https://www.all4inclusion.orgWe talk about inclusion and accessibility, how we can all be more inclusive and how small changes can make a big impact.

Stock photography – the perfect solution for small business owners, bloggers, and marketers who need to create high-quality visual content without breaking the bank? With over 6 million photos and more added every day, you've got choice, but is it always the ideal solution?Do you find yourself spending hours looking for the right photo?Do you still have to heavily adapt the photo or illustration?Do you love or loathe stock photography?Do you even care?Can one stock photo ruin your brand identity?We talk about all these things and more.Plus UX Tombola and finding a Spanish omelette under the English dishes section.Saddle up, it's time for more Faster Horses.All these questions, and even ones you didn't want to know, ANSWERED!Plus the off-topic tangents you love.– – – – – – –

Discover the journey that we've been on – transitioning from being team members to a leadership position.What have been the pain points, and how have we overcome that?What traits do leaders exhibit?Our top tips on becoming a leader and how to improve your leadership in a creative field (also general).Find out what we choose as our leadership tactics and what's essential when leading a team.How can you build rapport and trust with a team?What's leading by example mean?How to be an effective communicator?What is emotional intelligence and how to apply this in team management?All this, plus UX Tombola – what will it be – how will Mark Steeler sell this one?All these questions, and even ones you didn't want to know, ANSWERED!Plus the off-topic tangents you love.

What are the biggest fails of gaming experiences? In this episode, we explore those dreaded button-mashing mishaps.What makes games sticky? Why is everyone playing Elden Ring?We look at the mechanics of in-app purchases, being immersed in complex menus.  We all know the essential part of a video game is gameplay. But what about the UX? In this podcast, we talk about video game user experience is better by improving your UI and UX design.The frustrations of mashing that button accidentally makes you throw health instead of shooting.What about the all-important menu experiences, accessibility and how to re-engage users when they take a break from your game.All this, plus UX Tombola – what will it be – how will Mark Steeler sell this one?All these questions, and even ones you didn't want to know, ANSWERED!Plus the off-topic tangents you love.

In this short, Paul Wilshaw takes on the subject of colours, their use and accessibility.The way you can think about this in every single colour in your design system should have a definition. What does it do? Exactly the same as a button or an icon or some other piece of design colours should do exactly that same thing. And why do we do this? Because colours are used, and with accessibility and colours, they shouldn't be used on their own to define things, but colours do have the impact – the same things as tone of voice or repeatable and functional things that help users to navigate your app, your website, your service, or whatever you're doing.Colours shouldn't just be abstract, they need a purpose and need to have their own use and place.Check out the full article:https://www.paulwilshaw.co.uk/research-articles/what-are-semantic-coloursSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses)

In this episode, we look at the UX of video games.We all know the most important part of a video game is the gameplay. But what about the UX? In this podcast, we talk about video game user experience better by improving your UI and UX design.The frustrations of pressing that button, that accidentally drops all of your inventory.We talk about Elden Ring and why players and reviewers are praising the game, despite its difficulty.What about the all-important menu experiences, accessibility and how to re-engage users when they take a break from your game.All this, plus UX Tombola – what will it be – how will Mark Steeler sell this one?All these questions, and even ones you didn't want to know, ANSWERED!Plus the off-topic tangents you love.

In this episode, we debate whether designers should code. We find out that there are many different opinions about this topic – what should you be doing?In the past few years, has coding become an essential skill in design? But with so many new technologies popping up every day, is it really necessary?We also tackle the tricky UX Tombola machine to discuss the UX of a random object, place or service. What will it be – how will Mark Steeler sell this one?All these questions, and even ones you didn't want to know, ANSWERED!Plus the off-topic tangents you love.

Learn from the people who've been there and are currently doing it, what to look for, how to recruit and what you need to know.How to Scale a Design Team From a One-Man Show to a Well-Functioning Design Team.What is the Problem with Scaling a Design Team? and Why You Should Treat Your Hiring Process Like an Investment for Long-Term Sustainability.We ask these questions while keeping you entertained with humorous chat, off-topic tangents and lots and lots of important information to keep you and your teams mentally healthy.We also tackle the tricky UX Tombola machine to discuss the UX of a random object, place or service. What will it be – how will Mark Steeler sell this one?All these questions, and even ones you didn't want to know, ANSWERED!

3 brand new UX tombolas, unwrapped.Mark, Nick and Paul delve into the UX of Christmas traditions, can we fix the UX of stocking, Christmas dinner and wrapping paper.We also play a game of guess the object. What is it, what's it for?Join us for a little UX insight and musing in this special.

In this episode, we look at packaging design and how different needs and requirements can change the way you design. We also discuss how consideration for disabilities, care for our environment, and other factors can influence your decisions as a designer. Brackish Mung or Is it time to rethink packaging design?Some packaging is overly bloated and psychologically affects our purchase decisions, we look at some of the dark UX around packaging and how clear consistent labels, braille and colour accessibility should be used by default, rather than those bags of crisps with 90% air!Want to know more, with all this – and the cure for Firespray, enjoy!Support us, with a cup of Brackish Mung, at https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorsesSound effects from https://www.zapsplat.comTitle music: James MeddProduced by:Paul WilshawNick TomlinsonMark SutcliffeJames MeddAnthony JonesChris SutcliffeSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses)

Who's shouting the loudest and whose voice carries the most weight?Make it pop, add some design magic, can we do something cool – heard these phrases when you've done a design? We're here to help.In this episode, we talk about our experiences with design by committee. What is it, how do you quell those loud opinionated voices?It's difficult, right?We're joined by special guest @jamesmedd to help us make sense of it all.We'll help you to navigate the potential pitfalls of design by committee and what you can do to avoid it in the first place.Also, in UX Tombola, we're discussing the user experience of analog clocks.Watch this episode here: https://youtu.be/NT3SwikUPaYEvery minute is a quote, here's the clock @jamesmedd is referencing, https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1195310640/author-clock-a-novel-way-to-tell-time?ref=android_project_shareSound effects from https://www.zapsplat.comTitle music: James MeddProduced by:Paul WilshawNick TomlinsonMark SutcliffeJames MeddAnthony JonesChris SutcliffeSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses)

Like every good superhero, they have an origin story. Faster Horses Podcast is no different, in this special episode we talk about the name of our podcast and that famous quote (somewhat dubiously) attributed to Henry Ford: “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.”What does this mean for user experience? We talk about the meaning behind the quote and why talking to your customers really matters.Also, find out if Patrick Stewart is really a shit and what's in Mark Wheeler's suitcase this week.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses)

What are MVPs?What do they mean to you?Should you even ship an MVP?We explain what an MVP is, how it fits into the design, and throw in a bag of fish eyes for good measure.Have you ever tried to ship a product and wanted to make a luxury car but you sent out a skateboard then this episode is for you. What's an MVP? Why do we all have different perceptions of MVPs? Is everything an MVP?  We're talking about MVPs (Minimum Viable Products and not Most Valuable Players), fish eyeballs, and draughty nether regions – solved with an EMP! All this and more, in our hilarious take on User Experience.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses)

In this episode we discuss Job titles, are they even useful even more? Who decides what titles mean? Does your Job title sum up what you do? And of course, everyones favourite, UX Tombola, featuring Mark Stealer Music by James MeddPatreon Producers for this episode:Rob SingletonAnt JonesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses)

In this episode we discuss the phenomenon known to some as 'Corporate Memphis' a style of illustration that has crept into corporate UX and UI designs from Facebook to Pornhub. We discover where it came from and theorise where it might be going. As well as the usual conversational detours and of course, the madness that is, UX Tombola.How do you feel about this style? Do you agree you shouldn't say you 'hate' it? Let us know on Twitter @FasterHorsesUXMusic by James MeddPatreon Producers for this episode:Rob SingletonSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses)

In this episode we discuss what Mobile First means and how it is viewed at various levels, in various industries, as well as a few interesting conversational detours and of course, the madness that is, UX Tombola.Do you think mobile first is always the right approach? Do you think it's a separate skillset? Let us know on Twitter @FasterHorsesUXMusic by James MeddPatreon Producers for this episode:Rob SingletonSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses)

Welcome to Season 3 and a slightly new format!In this episode Paul introduces the topic of Design Systems as we discuss what they are, their benefits and how to identify opportunities to create them....... for about 5 minutes until someone brings up melon f*****gEveryones favourite segment UX Tombola is back, we have a new random topic to pick apart and take on humorous solutions. Featuring an audio striptease from Mark Sutcliffe.More UX, more tangents and more fun!Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses)

In this episode regular hosts Mark Sutcliffe, Nick Tomlinson, and Paul Wilshaw discuss if UX (user experience) is an art or science.We talk about what makes UX and how much is art and how much is science.We also look into current design trends and explore how success is measured and by what standards.In UX Tombola we have a new random topic to pick apart and take on humorous solutions.More Lamas, more weirdness and fun, with a hint of Star Wars geekiness thrown in.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses)

Complicated systems, in this episode we explore how to design complicated systems.Who are the Wobble People?What are complicated systems?How do you factor in use beyond the happy path?How do you cater for the needs of very different use cases?How do you make the complex simple without dumbing the experience down?All this and UX tombola – where we pick apart a random topic.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses)

What design software do you use?Regular hosts Mark Sutcliffe, Nick Tomlinson and Paul Wilshaw are joined by the award-winning artist, musician, and UX expert James Medd to explore what our favourite design software is and why?Does it matter if you're using a different platform from the designer next to you?What's the most important thing in the design process where software helps (or hinders)?++ UX Tombola, we take an everyday task and UX the hell out of it (or just gently nudge it a more user-friendly way).Also, find out if our Podcast setup has improved and another musical delight from Nick.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses)

In this episode Mark, Nick and Paul, with special guest host James Medd, explore UX misconceptions.Featuring guests, Maria Panagiotidi – https://twitter.com/mariapage and Stacey Rey – https://twitter.com/ReiStaceyWhat are UX misconceptions, what are the problems behind these misconceptions. How have our other experiences defined how we see digital experiences.++ UX tombola returns, with another theme tune and our take on another everyday task that needs some UX love, what will be this episodes subject?Saddle up, it's time for Faster Horses.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses)

In this episode Mark, Nick and Paul explore loading bars.We delve into our pasts and discuss how loading bars have evolved.We talk about games and how they've defined our load bar experiences from the classic Spectrum loading, playing mini games, reticulating splines and how we all expect our experiences to be the super fast and accurate.The themes we discuss are:Loading barsEmpty statesSkeleton screensLoading expecationsTechnical constraintsSeemless loadingLazy loadingOur new UX tombola of random things spins into action, what will be this episodes subject?Saddle up, it's time for Faster Horses.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses)

A short podcast about hackathons and my personal experiences, attending, organising and judging them.Hackathons are generally techno-creative events where delegates form teams in a physical location (Richterich, 2017) to solve a problem statement or brief defined by the organisers. Hackathons are generally competitive, with teams competing under the confines of limited time pressures for incentives such as prizes (Richterich, 2017).The conventional aim of a hackathon is for teams, or individuals, to practice collaborative software development. The first time the term 'hackathon' was used to describe an event gathering volunteers software developers working together on an open-source operating system, OpenBSD, in 1999 (Richterich, 2017).This episodes resources:https://www.hackathon.io/events (not hack.io – sorry).https://angelhack.comSpecial guest Niomi Wilshaw.Music by James Medd and artwork by Nick Tomlinson.For careers at Blue Prism, https://www.blueprism.com/who-we-are/culture-and-careers/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses)

We explore physical user experiences and how we can learn from their successes and failures as designers.What good and bad design does to its user from those pesky push/pull handles, to bathrooms, bars and beyond.We look into these problems and more.This show features Paul Wilshaw, James Medd, Stacey Ray, Nick Tomlinson and Mark Sutcliffe.Special guest Dom Jones.Links and resources for this episode are:Donald A Norman, The design of everyday things.Nick's teapot:Grey Speckle TeapotRevolutionary milk carton demonstration:https://youtu.be/DuYLgEstc1YOrwell's classic essay on his quintessential English public house:https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/essays-and-other-works/the-moon-under-water/Real-life UX examples I've learned during two years in Japan:https://medium.com/nyc-design/ux-in-real-life-what-i-learned-from-living-in-japan-a062024acdd2Music by James Medd and artwork by Nick Tomlinson.For careers at Blue Prism, https://www.blueprism.com/who-we-are/culture-and-careers/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses)

We answer the question, should designers code and should developers design?We explore what it means to be a designer in 2020. What tools help bridge the gap from design to development. How much code and which frameworks are relevant now. How can you manage the dreaded handoff better and when is a design done?We answer these questions and more.This show features Paul Wilshaw, James Medd, Stacey Ray, Nick Tomlinson and Mark Sutcliffe.Special guests Ant Sherratt and Dom Jones.Links for this episode are:https://uxplanet.org/in-ten-years-design-will-be-dead-29a3b2fb2612Music by James Medd and artwork by Nick Tomlinson.For careers at Blue Prism, https://www.blueprism.com/who-we-are/culture-and-careers/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses)

What is UX and UI? We explore the differences and how to negotiate with your stakeholders and clients. We meander through the quagmire of what it means to different people. Some of the encounters we've faced and how we liken it to terrorist negotiations.This show features James Medd, Stacey Ray, Nick Tomlinson and Mark Sutcliffe.Music by James Medd and artwork by Nick Tomlinson.For careers at Blue Prism, https://www.blueprism.com/who-we-are/culture-and-careers/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses)