Honest weekly conversations about UX design career, challenges, portfolios, mental health, and all things UX. Ioana and Anfisa together have 20 years of experience in the UX field and trying to share their main lessons to help anyone transitioning to design to overcome the fears. Want to request the next topic? DM us on Instagram:
Anfisa Bogomolova & Ioana Teleanu
Ioana had a live Maven session where she shared insights on how AI is transforming design, the role of AI designers, and strategies to stay relevant in this evolving industry.This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.In this episode: Slides from the episode• How has AI transformed the design industry?• What does AI-driven design truly entail?• What is an AI designer, and how does it differ from traditional design roles?• What new challenges arise when designing AI interactions?• What principles and processes should guide AI design?• How can designers stay relevant in the AI era?• How do AI designer job postings look like?• How did Ioana secure her role at Miro?Check out these links:Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.Ioana's AI Goodies NewsletterEnroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.❓Next topic ideas:Submit your questions or feedback anonymously hereLinks:
Ioana and Kate delve into the world of growth design, exploring its impact on Miro's success, the current role it plays within organizations, and how AI is shaping the future of product design roles.This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.In this episode: • What is growth design?• How has growth design impacted Miro's development and success?• What is the current state of the growth design role within organizations?• How do you envision the future of product design roles evolving, especially with the increasing integration of AI?This episode's guest: Kate Syuma's LinkedInGrowth mates websiteCheck out these links:Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.Ioana's AI Goodies NewsletterEnroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.❓Next topic ideas:Submit your questions or feedback anonymously hereLinks:
Ioana and Imogen from Lumo Studio delve into how to start your business in the design industry, cultivate a strong studio culture, and navigate the evolving landscape of creativity and entrepreneurship.This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.In this episode: •What inspired your courage to start Lumo Studio?• How do you handle uncertainty and unpredictability?• How has working with family shaped your studio culture?• Can you share the story behind shaping your technology stack and how it supports your business?• How do you select your clients?• Is intuition enough when doing business?• What's your process for delivering a website?• How does generative AI impact your creative workflow?• What advice do you have for those starting their journey?Mentioned in this episode: LUMO is a brand strategy, identity & website design studio that turns your vision into a living, breathing brand you can be proud of.Lumo Studio websiteLumo Studio instagram Ohh-Nice websiteOhh-Nice instagramCheck out these links:Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.Ioana's AI Goodies NewsletterEnroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.❓Next topic ideas:Submit your questions or feedback anonymously hereLinks:
Ioana and Anfisa discuss how to spot if you're underpaid, prepare for salary talks, and decide whether to stay or look for a new job.This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.In this episode: • How do you know if you're underpaid, and what should you do about it?• How can you get ready for a salary negotiation chat?• When's the right time to talk about changing jobs within your company, and when's it better to start looking elsewhere?Mentioned in this episode: TeamBlindCandorCheck out these links:Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.Ioana's AI Goodies NewsletterEnroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.❓Next topic ideas:Submit your questions or feedback anonymously hereLinks:
Ioana and Hannah discuss This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.In this episode: • How did you go from starting to freelance to having more offers than you could accept? • What questions do you ask potential clients to determine if you should work together?• Describe your process for starting new projects.• Tell me about your team and collaborators. Are they employees or external?• What roles are essential for a successful branding and web development agency?• What tools and technologies do you use?• How do you approach building websites?• What advice would you give someone considering a career in web design, starting a design agency, or a related design field?About the guest: Carver Agency websiteHannah's Linkedin profileHannah's InstagramCheck out these links:Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.Ioana's AI Goodies NewsletterEnroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.❓Next topic ideas:Submit your questions or feedback anonymously hereLinks:
Anfisa and Tina discuss how AI is transforming research and what we can expect moving forward. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.In this episode: • What is the current state of AI in the research industry, and how does this influence product development?• What is the current landscape of research and the evolving role of AI within it?• Can AI, theoretically, take on the role of conducting research independently in the future?• Will AI be capable of predicting future trends based solely on historical data?• What are AI's current strengths and limitations?About the guest: Tina Ličková's LinkedinTina's podcast UX Research GeeksCheck out these links:Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.Ioana's AI Goodies NewsletterEnroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.❓Next topic ideas:Submit your questions or feedback anonymously hereLinks:
Ioana and Anfia discuss how to set up an effective workshop.This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.In this episode: • How to properly set up a workshop for maximum engagement and productivity?• In what ways do workshops provide advantages over traditional meetings? Check out these links:Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.Ioana's AI Goodies NewsletterEnroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.❓Next topic ideas:Submit your questions or feedback anonymously hereLinks:
Ioana and Anfia explore ways to identify and leverage personal skills for career growth, and find products that align with you personality.This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.In this episode: • What helped Ioana realize her interest in the AI field, especially when AI was just becoming popular?• How to identify your skills and use them to shape your career?• What steps can you take to find a product that matches your personality and values?Check out these links:Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.Ioana's AI Goodies NewsletterEnroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.❓Next topic ideas:Submit your questions or feedback anonymously hereLinks:
Ioana talks about the impact of AI on the field of UX design.This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.In this episode: • Where can AI support the design process, and where should we be cautious?• What AI tools does Ioana use in her design work?Check out these links:Ioana's AI for designers course on Interaction Design Foundation.Ioana's AI Goodies NewsletterGuide to AI - Resources & Links LibraryJoin Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.❓Next topic ideas:Submit your questions or feedback anonymously hereLinks:
Ioana talks about the impact of AI on the field of UX design.This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.In this episode: 1:06 - Episode Begins2:17 - Wix Sponsorship3:31 - Ioana's Journey into AI Design9:02 - What does it mean to be an AI designer, and why should you consider pursuing this career?17:10 - What are some practical ways designers can integrate AI into their current roles?21:53 - How can you present AI-driven solutions to stakeholders?Check out these links:Ioana's AI for designers course on Interaction Design Foundation.Ioana's AI Goodies NewsletterGuide to AI - Resources & Links LibraryJoin Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.❓Next topic ideas:Submit your questions or feedback anonymously hereLinks:
Anfisa and Ioana explore the future of UX maturity in product organizations, examining the shift away from user-centricity, the impact of AI, and how we can redefine the benchmarks for measuring UX effectiveness in the evolving design landscape.This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.In this episode: 01:04 Episode starts02:35 Wix sponsorship04:16 Catch up09:39 What will UX maturity in product organizations look like in 2025 and in the years to follow?21:07 What is coming up for us in the design industry? With a clear shift away from user-centricity, how do we navigate these changes? What role does AI play—will it benefit us?30:48 Should we rethink how we measure UX maturity? What other factors do you believe are crucial for defining UX maturity?Mentioned in this episode: UX collective “The state of UX in 2025” reportNielsen Norman Group “The 6 levels of UX maturity”Honest UX Talks episode with Jakob NielsenCheck out these links:Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.Ioana's AI Goodies NewsletterEnroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.❓Next topic ideas:Submit your questions or feedback anonymously hereLinks:
Anfi and Ioana discuss what factors influence promotions and strategies for designers in various contexts to achieve advancement in your career.This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.In this episode: • What factors come into play when seeking a promotion?• How can designers in different contexts achieve promotion?• What are the tips for designers who feel frustrated about not being promoted?• What strategies can designers employ if they work in environments that do not have formal promotion cycles?Check out these links:Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.Ioana's AI Goodies NewsletterEnroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.❓Next topic ideas:Submit your questions or feedback anonymously hereLinks:
Anfisa and Ioana delve into the challenges that senior designers face as they reach the peak of their careers.In this episode: • Anfi and Ioana share their personal experiences• Should you aim for a management position, or is it better to focus on growing as an individual contributor?• What skills should I learn next?Check out these links:Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.Ioana's AI Goodies NewsletterEnroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.❓Next topic ideas:Submit your questions or feedback anonymously hereLinks:
This episode's guest: Chris Abad is a design leader at ex-director at places like Google, Square, Dropbox, and Salesforce. He is launchingDesign Storytelling: Turn Resistance into Buy-in course, which starts on February 17th.Anfisa andChris discuss the essential qualities that make a great designer, the importance of storytelling in portfolios, and the role of designers in today's market and beyond.In this episode:• Do you think the roles of Product Manager and Product Designer will merge in the future?• Is being a good designer more about inherent talent, or is it a skill that can be developed?• How do you define a good designer in today's industry?• What is your thought process when hiring designers? What do you look for in their portfolios?• According to Chris, what constitutes a good design portfolio?• What is a storytelling portfolio, and what does it mean to you?• What advice would you give to junior designers on how to frame themselves while figuring out their path in the industry?• Will having a UX design degree or completing a bootcamp alone make someone competitive in the job market?• What other important factors should junior designers consider?Relevant links:Join Anfi'sJob Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.❓Next topic ideas:Submit your questions or feedback anonymously hereOther resources:
Anfisa and Ioana explore strategies for navigating the design market in challenging times and discuss what essential skills designers need to acquire. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. In this episode: • What skills should I focus on learning now to stay relevant in the design market? • How will technology advancements impact the job market and skills demand in 2025 and beyond? • How can I adapt to emerging technologies, including AI? Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey. Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
Anfisa and Ioana share their reflections on the year. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. In this episode: • What achievements are we most proud of from this year? • What were the defining high and low moments we experienced? • What key themes or words resonate with our intentions for the coming year? Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey. Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
Ioana and Lena explore the design market for 2024-2025, highlighting key trends, in-demand skills, and insights to help you navigate and thrive in this dynamic industry. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. In this episode: 0:59 Episode starts 1:54 Wix Sponsorship 4:46 How did Lena get into recruitment, and what's her background? 9:17 What's the current state of the design industry? 17:06 Are specialized roles still relevant? 19:23 In light of economic downturns and layoffs, why are job openings showing signs of recovery? 26:20 What does this mean for aspiring designers? Is pursuing a UX career still viable for newcomers? 32:34 What skill sets are hiring managers prioritizing in 2025? Are technical skills being overshadowed by AI? 39:46 What advice can you share about storytelling and pitching, and where can people find freelance opportunities? 45:41 How can listeners connect with you? About the guest: Lena Kul is a Recruitment & Job Search Advisor, recently she founded /kuːl/ - Boutique Recruitment & Job Search Advising agency. With years of experience scaling Product Design and UXR teams in demanding, designer-driven hyper-growth environments, she has successfully hired dozens of talented individuals from FAANG companies and other renowned organizations, including Spotify, Zendesk, Shopify, and Booking. comShe is offering a range of tailored advising services designed to support companies in their growth, and career development of job seekers in Product Design and UX Research. She also has a course Master Your Product Design and UX Research Job Search Check out Lena's website and articles. Lena's Five newsletter Lena's course "Product Design Career Accelerator: Navigate Your Next Career Step" Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey. Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
Ioana engages in a thoughtful discussion about burnout with guests Meg Rye and Laurence Galland. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. In this episode: 0:46 intro 02:05 Wix sponsorship message 04:11 - Guests' background and interest in burnout 07:36 - Observations on designer experiences and industry challenges 15:57 - Symptoms and manifestations of burnout 20:17 - Steps to take upon realizing burnout + prevention tips 28:23 - Advice for those facing burnout threats 38:54 - Key takeaways Our guests: Meg Rye (she/her) - founder of Good Maven, recruiter and coach. Meg's been at the center of the global design community for 20+ years, working with professionals to build ambitious and fulfilling careers. Most recently, Meg was the first international design recruiter at Meta. She led the team's growth from 4 to 700 designers across 13 countries, while building a strong community and culture made up of product designers, content designers, user experience researchers, and artists. She's built teams, hiring processes, and programs for enterprise, agency, start-up, and cultural institutions, including WhatsApp, Instagram, Meta Reality Labs, Publicis Sapient, Havas, eBay, Comcast, Siemens, Verizon, The Wharton School, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Laurence Galland has worked with a huge range of teams and individuals and has vast experience across career management, leadership skills development, change management, self-development, business set up/scale up and work/life balance. Before becoming a coach, she spent 10 years in consumer goods and tourism organisations as a senior HR professional. She holds a Professional Coach Certification (PCC) from the International Coaching Federation (ICF), an Individual Team Coach Accreditation (ITCA) from the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) and Masters degrees in international business and business administration. Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey. Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
Anfisa and Ioana talk about their favorite UX design books. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. In this episode: • What were some of the most influential books that shaped our careers? • What are some of the must-read books that we would recommend to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the industry? Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey. Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
Anfisa and Ioana dive into how design roles might evolve in the future. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. In this episode: • What trends are currently shaping the design landscape? • How do you envision the future of career growth within the design field? • What do you anticipate for researchers and content designers, who also play integral roles in design organizations? Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey. Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
Anfi and Ioana explore whiteboarding exercises and take-home assignments, discuss their experiences and share tips for successfully completing them. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. In this episode: •What are whiteboarding exercises and take-home assignments? •What are some common examples of whiteboarding challenges and take-home assignments? •When should you accept or decline assignments? •What tips can help you successfully complete whiteboarding challenges and take-home assignments? Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey. Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
Anfi and Ioana dive into the journey of an AI designer, exploring the transition from concept to production, the unique challenges of designing AI features, and the insights gained from user research that shape the process. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. Episode Timestamps: 0:51 – Episode Intro1:55 – Wix Sponsorship3:26 – Regular Catch-up 5:43 – Can you share your journey joining the new team as an AI Designer at Miro?19:27 – How many of those initial concepts made it into production? What are the differences between a typical design process and an AI-driven one?26:35 – What was your process for developing an AI feature?34:05 – How does user research play into the development of AI-driven features?38:37 – What was a learning from research that changed your perspective Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey. Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
Anfi and Tommy delve into the value of specialization vs. generalization, managing tool overload, and strategies for intentional, high-quality design decisions within large companies. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. Episode Links: Tommy's website Tommy's UX Decisions online course UXtools survey and past reports Episode Timestamps: 0:31 — Episode start 1:51 — Wix Studio partnership 3:31 — Tommy shares his journey as a designer 12:26 — Tommy discusses his unique strengths as a creator and designer 15:07 — Tommy shares his market insights and emphasizes the importance of experimenting with tools 22:47 — Which approach holds more value in today's market: being a specialist or a generalist? 26:56 — How can designers navigate complex layers of approval and buy-ins when shipping products in large companies? 32:31 — Tool Overload in the Market: Is there potential for an all-in-one tool to emerge as the market leader? 36:42 — Course Announcement: Insights into design thinking, just-in-time learning, and more 39:30 — Craft vs. Intentionality: Balancing exceptional UX as a "north star" with intentional, well-justified design decisions 46:34 — Shifting Company Culture: How to move from quick fixes to a focus on high-quality design 52:19 — Key tips and takeaways for better decision-making in design 56:56 — Tommy's approach to refining and iterating on his designs Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey. Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
Anfi and Rachel delve into the creative journey of a designer, with Rachel sharing her experience of how she approached a pitch, exploring non-linear approaches to design thinking, the value of diverse backgrounds, and the art of storytelling in design. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. Episode Timestamps: 0:35 - Episode Intro 1:45 - Collaboration with Wix Studio 3:07 - Can you share your story as a designer? What led you to work with me at Mews on guest experiences? 4:58 - What inspired Rachel to become a product designer? 8:39 - Why did Anfi decide to discuss this episode's topic with Rachel? 13:03 - Observing, noticing, and interpreting signals: The concept of hearing those whispers. What does that mean for you? Describe this process. 16:55 - Mapping insights into the bigger picture: Rachel's approach to research, exploring solution spaces, and analogous industries. How they look at similar problems in other areas before returning to the same space for competitor research. 18:58 - Taking a non-linear approach instead of following the standard process: Abstract thinking and reverse engineering. 21:04 - Coming to design from a different background: Is it a drawback? Should designers follow standard paths? Anfi shares her experience at her university design program and the diversity of student backgrounds. 24:15 - Why did you choose high fidelity for the pitch? What was your thought process? 29:03 - Storytelling: How do you approach telling stories in a cohesive yet engaging way that keeps listeners interested until the end? (Song analogy) 32:40 - Extra thoughts: Presenting your voice to others and then hearing it back—how this helps identify areas to adjust, cut, or elaborate on. Why verbalizing thoughts is key to the feedback process. 42:52 - Why are you so good with words? 47:08 - Closing thoughts on imposter syndrome as a designer. Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey. Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
Anfi and Ioana explore the key factors that have shaped their career decisions and offer insights on making thoughtful choices for your professional journey. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. Episode Timestamps: 0:58 - Episode Kickoff 1:04 - Special announcement about our new partnership with Wix 3:01 - Life Updates 8:43 - Reflecting on the mechanisms behind career decisions and key learnings so far 25:40 - How to assess team dynamics, company culture, and project fit during interviews? Mentioned in this episode: Platforms that provide insights into company cultures, organizational structures, and workplace experiences. These platforms aim to offer transparency to job seekers and employees by providing information like company reviews, salary data, and employee experiences. • The Org • Team Blind • Glassdoor Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey. Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
Anfi and Ioana share their experiences collaborating with engineers, what makes a great developer, and offer tips for improving teamwork. Timestamps: 0:41 Episode's intro and updates from Anfi and Ioana 05:00 How has your collaboration with engineers evolved over the last 10 years? 11:52 What qualities make a good engineer from a designer's perspective? 22:54 Tips for effective collaboration: How can regular syncing help improve teamwork? What are the strategies for staying on the same page with devs if you work remotely? Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey. Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
This episode was recorded during the Hatch conference in Berlin. In this episode: • What key trends shaped the design industry in 2023 and 2024? How do they influence the design market in 2025 and beyond? • What can designers do today to stay competitive in the evolving design industry? Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey. Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
In this episode: • What does it mean to be a mature designer? • What key traits should you focus on developing as you advance in your design career? • Is maturity in design the same as seniority, or is it something else? • Hosts share practical tips, insights, and personal stories about navigating workplace conflicts and growing into a more mature designer. Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey. Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
In this episode: • Why is storytelling important? • Why is everybody talking about storytelling? What does it mean to have a story in your portfolio? • How should a good case study be structured? • What are some tips and tricks for effectively using storytelling in your portfolio? Mentioned in this episode: Hatch Conference in Berlin, September 4-6 Ioana's Instagram live on how the life of an AI product designer looks like. Join Anfi's Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey. Design Is Storytelling book Storyworthy book Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
Today, we are joined by Pablo Stanley, who is a designer based in Mexico. He is the co-founder and CEO at Musho & Lummi — AI design tools aimed at unlocking people's creativity. Previously, he co-founded Carbon Health and Blush, and held roles as a staff designer at Lyft and lead designer at InVision. Episode's timestamps: 01:05 Episode introduction 05:42 How did you become interested in the intersection of AI and design? What are the use cases of AI in your workflows and design processes? 17:11 What challenges do you face when using AI systems to design products? 30:31 How can designers start experimenting with AI and incorporate it into their workflows? 36:43 What are the limitations of AI in design? Do you think AI will eventually replace designers? 47:37 Where can our listeners find you online? Here are Pablo's details: Instagram LinkedIn Twitter Youtube channel "Sketch Together" Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community: Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
Today, we are joined by Nitya, who successfully landed a job at META at the beginning of the tech crisis in 2022. Currently, she works on Instagram and Messenger. In addition to her role at META, she is a product design judge at Boston University and is a guest speaker at Columbia University. In this episode: • How to Secure Your First Job Through Proactive Outreach Discover how Nitya successfully landed junior designer positions at Google and Meta. Learn about the hiring processes at these top tech companies. • Leveraging Your Background in your UX Career Explore how Nitya used her unique background, including comedy, to build compelling case studies and advance in her UX career. • Gaining Industry Knowledge Without Experience Find out strategies for acquiring industry knowledge even if you lack direct experience. • The Value of a Mentor at the Start of Your Career Understand how having a mentor can significantly boost your early career development. Here are Nitya's details: Linkedin (Nitya Kumar) Apdlist mentoring link Nitya's portfolio Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community: Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
In this episode: • How can you leverage your secondary skills in your UX journey? • How can you utilize your background when transitioning into a UX career? • How can you begin identifying which of your skills are relevant to design? LinkedIn post mentioned in the beginning of the episode Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community: Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
In this episode: • Hosts' Experiences with Office vs. Remote Jobs: • Why understanding cultural aspects is crucial for remote work? Mentioned in this episode: "Culture map" book Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community: Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
In this episode Anfisa and Ioana discuss how can you learn what you are good at as a UX designer. Mentioned in this episode: "Which of the million UX roles suits you best? A personality type analysis" article by Bas Wallet Hatch Conference in Berlin Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community: Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. "Honest UX talks" Linkedin page ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
In this episode, Anfisa is discussing collaboration with Michael at MEWS: • How does collaboration between UX designers and content designers look like? • What are the differences between journalism and UX writing? • What brought Michael from a journalist into UX writing? • Is it important for the UX writer to read a lot? • What's the typical workflow of the UX writer? • What UX designers can learn from content designers about accessibility? • How do you prepare yourself to enter the UX writing industry? Episode's guest: Mishko Lahoda (notion.site)Mishko Lahoda – MediumMichael (Mishko) Lahoda | LinkedIn@mishkoala Instagram Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community: Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
In this episode: • Where does the pressure to hustle come from for designers? When can you say enough is enough? • What hustling can bring you in a positive and in a negative way? • Are junior designers more prone to hustle or feeling that they need to prove themselves? Are they having a harder time to stop compared to senior designers? Check out these links: Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi's Job Search community: Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
In this episode: • What are the common reasons for which stakeholders pushback on the design vision? • What are the tips and tricks for navigating pushbacks? • What were the toughest moments in your career when you got push back from stakeholders despite giving your best set of arguments? Mentioned in this episode: "Articulating Design Decisions" book Check out these courses: Join Anfi's Job Search community: Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
In this episode: • What to do if you feel you are not good enough as a designer in the beginning of your career? • What are the factors influencing the feeling of being an impostor? • Tips and advice form Anfi and Ioana on how they dealt with impostor syndrome. • How does company culture Iinfluence your response to impostor syndrome? Mentioned in this episode: "Culture map" book Check out these courses: Join Anfi's Job Search community: Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
April 22 is Earth day, which is great timing for this episode
Apologies for the strange noises when Anfisa talks. That's baby Greg participating in the talk. In this episode: How to articulate strong opinion and stand your ground in collaboration? When as a designer you try to get your point across, should you go for a soft strategy or should you be more pushy? How to become an effective communicator? Why building relationships with your teammates is important? Why designers should be facilitators for good decisions? Resources: "Articulating Design Decisions" book Check out these courses: Join Anfi's Job Search community: Enroll on Ioana's AI course "AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career" on Interaction Design Foundation with 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
This Episode's sponsor: Mobbin is the world's largest mobile & web design reference library where you can find practical design inspiration from real apps that solve real design problems. Don't forget to mention Honest UX Talks, if you register at Mobbin. In this episode: • What to do if you consider quitting design industry and feel less motivated as a designer? How do you know it is time for something new? • What to do if you feel burned out from your design role? • What are alternative career paths for designers? Resources: Episode with Hang Xu on "How to negotiate salaries in UX design" Reddit thread mentioned in the episode Matej Latin's article "Why designers quit" Check out these courses: Join Anfi's Job Search community: Enroll on Ioana's AI course "AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career" on Interaction Design Foundation with 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
This Episode's sponsor: Mobbin is the world's largest mobile & web design reference library where you can find practical design inspiration from real apps that solve real design problems. Don't forget to mention Honest UX Talks, if you register at Mobbin. In this episode: • How to showcase your value as UX designer when you are just starting out? • How to approach interviews with potential companies as an intern? What questions to ask during the the interviewing process with potential companies? • What are the strategies or ways how to identify opportunities for yourself as an intern in the company? What are the steps you should take as an intern to make the best our of your internship? • How to overcome impostor syndrome and build your confidence as a designer? Resources: "The first 90 days" book Check out these courses: Join Anfi's Job Search community: Enroll on Ioana's AI course "AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career" on Interaction Design Foundation with 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
This Episode's sponsor: Mobbin is the world's largest mobile & web design reference library where you can find practical design inspiration from real apps that solve real design problems. Don't forget to mention Honest UX Talks, if you register at Mobbin. In this episode: • Why accessibility is sometimes overlooked when designing? • What companies are mature in terms of accessibility? • How to build the business case for accessibility? • What is the future of AI and its effect on accessibility? This episode's guest: Anna Cook Anna's Auditing Design Systems for Accessibility course People in the accessibility field to follow: Stef Walter, Christina Mallon (She/her), Alexis Lucio (They/Them), Soren Hamby (They/Them), Shell Little (She/Her) Jennifer Zhang (She/Her), Crystal Preston Watson (She/Her), Yue Ou, Deepika Raj, Eric Bailey, Doug Kim, Matt May Resources: Microsoft joins Be My Eyes app Be my Eyes Building an accessibility program course Check out these courses: Join Anfi's Job Search community: Enroll on Ioana's AI course "AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career" on Interaction Design Foundation with 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
This Episode's sponsor: Mobbin is the world's largest mobile & web design reference library where you can find practical design inspiration from real apps that solve real design problems. In this episode: • Why is it always valuable to negotiate? How being a better negotiator makes you a better designer? • In what ways salary negotiation determines your career trajectory? • How to understand company's negotiation philosophy and leverage it? At which point during the hiring process does negotiation happen? • Can junior designers negotiate their salary? • How to know what's the right salary for your position? What is the best medium for the negotiation? How to compare job offers? • Are people afraid to negotiate because they are afraid of their offer being rescinded? Does it really happen? This episode's guest: Hang Xu's Linkedin Check out these courses: Join Anfi's Job Search community: Enroll on Ioana's AI course "AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career" on Interaction Design Foundation with 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
In this episode: • How to handle relationships and team work in ambiguous environment? • How documentation and workshops can help to deal with ambiguity? • What learning a foreign language and working in ambiguous environments have in common? • Why is it so important to identify key stakeholders in your project? • How to stay sane in ambiguous environments? Check out these courses: Anfi's Job Hunting Community Enroll on Anfisa's "Job hunting strategy course | early sign up" Enroll on Ioana's AI course "AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career" on Interaction Design Foundation with 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
In this episode: • What was parental leave like? • What are the biggest fears before going to parental leave? Which of them turned out to be real? • What does an effective support system look like? • What to do during the parental leave to continue to stay relevant so when you get back you can still perform. How can you ease that anxiety of coming back? Check out these courses: Anfi's Job Hunting Community Enroll on Anfisa's "Job hunting strategy course | early sign up" Enroll on Ioana's AI course "AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career" on Interaction Design Foundation with 25% discount. ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
Jakob Nielsen is joining us for a special discussion about AI! Questions we are going to delve into in this episode: • How do you see the state of AI in design right now? Are there any new themes or is history repeating itself? • Will AI eventually replace designers? • Are there any specific parts of design process or design roles that are threatened by AI the most? • What would you advise designers to stay relevant and competitive in design field in the upcoming years? • What we should worry about when it comes to AI? What we should be excited about? • What tool should designers start with, if they never been exposed to AI? Resources mentioned in this episode: uxtigers.com - This website is the home for Jakob Nielsen's new articles about UX and usability, often about the intersection of UX and AI. Jakob Nielsen's LinkedIn Check out these courses: Enroll on Ioana's AI course "AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career" on Interaction Design Foundation with 25% discount. Enroll on Anfisa's "Job hunting strategy course | early sign up" ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
In this episode: Anfi and Ioana look back at their careers and reflect on the challenges they encountered professionally. They share tips and strategies they used in order to overcome those challenges. Check out these courses: Enroll on Ioana's AI course "AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career" on Interaction Design Foundation with 25% discount. Enroll on Anfisa's "Job hunting strategy course | early sign up" ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
In this episode: • What moments filled us with pride this year?" • What are our professional aspirations for 2024?" • What concerns or fears did we encounter in the past year?" • What were some of the challenges we encountered in the UX design industry?" • How will our podcast evolve?" Check out these courses: Enroll on Ioana's AI course "AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career" on Interaction Design Foundation with 25% discount. Enroll on Anfisa's "Job hunting strategy course | early sign up" ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
In this episode: Anfi unfolds her captivating journey, delving into the challenges she faced as a designer and co-founder in a startup. Check out these courses: Enroll on Ioana's AI course "AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career" on Interaction Design Foundation with 25% discount. Enroll on Anfisa's "Job hunting strategy course | early sign up" ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
In this episode: • What drives our decision to commit to a full-time role in a product company instead of pursuing freelancing opportunities? • Why we transitioned to full-time work and what kept us there? • What are the pros and cons, as well as the trade-offs, of committing to full-time employment compared to freelance? Mentioned in this episode: Enroll on Ioana's AI course "AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career" on Interaction Design Foundation with 25% discount. Enroll on Anfisa's "Job hunting strategy course | early sign up" ❓Next topic ideas: Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here Links:
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