Podcasts about UX

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    Convo By Design
    Human-Centric Design in an AI World | 649 | Experiences from KBIS and Why True Value is Found in the Removal of Friction

    Convo By Design

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2026 43:06


    I have a confession to make. I'm exhausted. In the best possible way after a week in Orlando, Florida for the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show. I have so much to share with you today! My journey started on the Monday before the show began for a travel day, sound check and confirming the final details form the show. In addition to hosting the KBIS Podcast Studio again this year, moderating a panel on the NEXT Stage and recording conversations for the show, I wanted to help you prepare for the show next February in Las Vegas. But Josh, next February is like 11 months away. That's true, but here's a secret. Come a little closer, it's just us. KBIS is the essential American kitchen and bath show, full stop. It's about learning, seeing, connecting and putting all of the pieces together to understand how the American market is setting up for the next year and the trending ideas that have staying power for the next 5-10 years. Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise. TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep You can listen to Convo By Design for the conversations with industry insiders. If I were a designer, I would. I believe that this show tells the stories that you should really know to get a feel for directionality of the industry. Specifiers are the plus of the industry and the ideas emanating from the show this year covered the technology revolution taking place from an AI perspective, but there's more. The kitchen is in the midst of a wholesale change. And it's exciting to see it happen in real time. Learning was a key theme this year. If you were not at the show this year, you are behind the curve. I don't say this to scare you, I tell you this so you make the time to get to the show next year. All three days and plan to see as much as you can. But, I wanted to share some of the key ideas from the show this year. For additional details, check the show notes. Luxury is the measurable outcome of thoughtful design—where performance, longevity, and relevance align to support the way people actually live. Luxury is the removal of friction from daily life. Luxury is durability aligned with intent. Luxury is design that continues to perform long after the purchase is forgotten. Luxury is confidence—in function, longevity, and fit. Luxury is not what you spend. It's what you never have to rethink. The Kitchen as the Primary Investment The kitchen remains the #1 homeowner investment nationwide. Homeowners are willing to exceed budget in the kitchen more than any other space. The kitchen is the most public and social room in the home. It represents identity: “I'm a cook,” “I entertain,” “I host.” Food equals memory; appliances enable those memories. The Expanding Kitchen Ecosystem Kitchens are no longer singular spaces—they expand throughout the home. Secondary kitchens (sculleries, prep kitchens, butler's pantries) are rising. Beverage centers, bars, and wine storage are increasingly common. Coffee stations and en-suite kitchenettes are viewed as lifestyle enhancements. Outdoor kitchens are now expected in many markets. Refrigeration appears in bathrooms (skincare), offices, and guest suites. Multigenerational living drives multi-kitchen design. Post-COVID entertaining shifted bar culture into the home. Value Has Replaced Price as the Primary Decision Driver Consumers rarely regret investing more in appliances. Longevity, performance, and service support define value. Sustainability increasingly aligns with durability. Human-Centric Design Is the New Standard Appliances must be intuitive without relying on manuals. UX consistency across appliances improves adoption. Technology must solve real problems—not create new friction. Appliances Are Expanding Beyond the Kitchen Refrigeration, coffee systems, and specialty appliances now appear throughout the home. Multi-kitchen and multi-generational design is driving specification complexity. Flexibility and modular integration are essential. Practical Innovation vs Feature Saturation Most consumers use only a small percentage of available features. Simplification improves usability, adoption, and satisfaction. Innovation must solve real problems—not marketing problems. Appliances as Infrastructure for Daily Life Refrigerators open dozens of times daily, making ergonomic design critical. Dishwashers, washers, and refrigeration now integrate into behavioral routines. Appliances increasingly support lifestyle efficiency, not just task completion. Quiet Luxury: The New Definition of Premium Quiet luxury shifts focus from visual dominance to experiential excellence. Appliances integrate seamlessly into architecture. Minimal visual disruption supports design continuity. Performance becomes more important than appearance. Identity & Evolution in Design Designers must periodically redefine themselves and their work to remain relevant. Personal growth and evolving priorities shape professional identity and approach. Burnout vs Ambition Burnout is not a badge of honor; it results from overextension and emotional labor. Ambition aligns energy with superpowers and opportunities, creating sustainable growth. Setting boundaries is essential to differentiate productive ambition from harmful overwork. Emotional Labor & Client Management Design work involves managing client emotions, expectations, and second-guessing. Designers act as liaisons between clients, contractors, and teams, absorbing invisible pressures. Managing scope creep and change orders is a practical strategy to protect both energy and profitability. Social Media & Comparison Culture Social media can amplify unrealistic expectations and unhealthy competition. Designers often feel compelled to accommodate clients' desires, sometimes overextending themselves to maintain a positive perception. These core themes coming out of the show this year tell a story that cannot be ignored. The thought process is changing. More human-centric at a time when technology seems to be taking over. Interesting times. Shifting away from that, I want to share two conversations from the show. Brandon Kirschner | Azzuro Living – Control the Process, Control the Outcome: Inside Azzurro Living's Design Advantage Brandon Kirshner of Azzurro Living explains how factory ownership, material innovation, and hands-on experimentation are redefining luxury outdoor furniture—and why relationships and resilience matter more than ever. Recorded live at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Orlando, this conversation with Brandon Kirshner, Partner and VP of Design at Azzurro Living, explores what it means to design, manufacture, and deliver luxury outdoor furniture with complete control over the process. Kirshner shares how owning and operating their own production facility provides a rare advantage in a crowded marketplace. This vertical integration allows Azzurro Living to oversee every step—from raw material sourcing to fabrication—ensuring performance, durability, and design integrity in extreme climates. The conversation also explores the realities of modern product manufacturing: navigating global instability, breaking through to specifiers in an oversaturated marketplace, and the renewed importance of in-person relationships. At its core, this is a story about design leadership, material obsession, and maintaining optimism in a rapidly shifting industry. Vertical Integration Changes Everything Full ownership of production facility ensures quality control Ability to experiment directly with materials and fabrication Eliminates reliance on third-party manufacturing limitations Material Innovation Drives Luxury Performance Products engineered for extreme heat and harsh winters Hands-on experimentation with rope, wicker, and aluminum Performance and longevity are core to brand value Design as the Core Differentiator Industrial design roots shape product philosophy Focus on original forms rather than “me-too” furniture Design enhances lifestyle, not just aesthetics Relationships Still Drive Specification Trade shows like High Point Market remain essential Face-to-face interaction builds trust and long-term partnerships Education through sales teams and specifier outreach is critical Resilience and Optimism in a Volatile Industry Navigating tariffs, supply chains, and global uncertainty Maintaining a solution-oriented mindset Viewing disruption as part of long-term growth In luxury outdoor furniture, control isn't just an operational advantage—it's a creative one. For Brandon Kirshner, Partner and VP of Design at Azzurro Living, ownership of the manufacturing process is the foundation of everything the company does. Unlike many competitors who rely on outsourced production, Azzurro Living operates its own factory, giving Kirshner and his team direct oversight of every detail, from raw materials to finished form. This control allows for something rare in today's manufacturing environment: true experimentation. Working directly with fabricators, Kirshner explores new weaving techniques, tests material durability, and refines structural details. The result is furniture engineered not just to look refined, but to perform in punishing environments—from desert heat exceeding 115 degrees to unpredictable seasonal extremes. Kirshner's path into furniture design began with industrial design studies, where exposure to iconic modernist designers revealed furniture as both functional object and artistic expression. That perspective continues to shape his work today, where innovation isn't driven by trend cycles, but by material curiosity and structural integrity. Launching Azzurro Living in 2020 presented immediate challenges, from supply chain disruption to economic uncertainty. Yet Kirshner views volatility as inevitable rather than exceptional. Experience has taught him that adaptability—not stability—is the constant in product manufacturing. Equally important is maintaining strong relationships within the design community. Trade shows, in-person meetings, and direct engagement remain essential tools for connecting with specifiers and building trust. In an increasingly crowded marketplace, Azzurro Living's approach is clear: control the process, push material boundaries, and let design lead. The result is furniture that reflects not just luxury, but intention. “Owning our factory gives us complete control—from raw material to finished product—and that changes everything.” “Design is the reason people invest in luxury furniture. Performance just makes it last.” “You can't innovate from a distance. Being hands-on with materials is where real progress happens.” “Trade shows and face-to-face interaction still matter because this industry runs on relationships.” “No matter what challenges come—tariffs, supply chain, geopolitics—we'll figure it out. That mindset is essential.” This is Cathy Purple Cherry – Founding Principal | Purple Cherry, freshly installed in the Convo By Design Icon Registry, we caught up at KBIS for a fresh take. Human-Centered Architecture, Resilience, and the Responsibility of Design Cathy Purple Cherry reflects on architecture as a lifelong act of care—supporting people through turbulence, embracing multigenerational living, rejecting trend culture, and using design as a tool for healing, connection, and growth. Recorded live at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, this conversation with Cathy Purple Cherry of Purple Cherry Architects explores architecture not as a moment of visual impact, but as a lifelong framework for human support. Purple Cherry shares her philosophy that architecture must evolve alongside the people it serves, especially during times of societal turbulence and personal change. Her work is grounded in human-centered thinking, emotional durability, and the belief that design can create stability amid chaos. The discussion moves beyond aesthetics into deeper territory—resilience shaped by hardship, the responsibility of creatives to provide clarity and options, and the importance of giving back. Purple Cherry also addresses the rise of multigenerational living, generational shifts in work culture, and the dangers of trend-driven design thinking. At its core, this conversation reveals architecture as both a professional discipline and a personal calling—one rooted in empathy, long-term thinking, and service. Architecture as Long-Term Support, Not Momentary Expression Design must serve people across decades, not just visual moments Architecture provides emotional stability during uncertain times Human-centered design is becoming essential, not optional Growth Through Challenge and Adversity Personal and professional hardship builds resilience Lessons learned shape better architects and stronger leaders Teaching and mentoring are essential responsibilities Multigenerational Living as a Cultural Shift Economic and social changes are reshaping American housing Families are staying connected longer Architecture must adapt to evolving family dynamics The Responsibility of Creatives in Times of Tension Architects provide clarity and solutions amid chaos Design can serve as a “relief valve” for societal stress Creatives help people reimagine how they live Rejecting Trend Culture in Favor of Lasting Design Trend cycles are often superficial and misleading True architecture transcends short-term aesthetic movements Enduring design comes from purpose, not prediction Giving Back as a Core Professional and Personal Value Sharing knowledge strengthens the profession Service to others creates deeper meaning in creative work Design is both a gift and a responsibility For Cathy Purple Cherry, architecture has never been about creating a moment. It's about supporting a lifetime. As founder of Purple Cherry Architects, with offices in Annapolis, Charlottesville, and New York City, Purple Cherry has built a practice grounded in the belief that design must evolve alongside the people it serves. Architecture, she explains, is not about solving for a single moment, but about creating environments that support human life over time. That perspective feels especially relevant today. As social, economic, and cultural turbulence reshapes how people live and work, architecture has taken on a new role—not just as shelter, but as emotional infrastructure. Spaces must provide calm, clarity, and flexibility, particularly as multigenerational living becomes more common and families remain connected longer under one roof. Purple Cherry rejects the idea that architecture should chase trends. While the industry often focuses on forecasting aesthetic movements, she believes true design transcends these cycles. Lasting architecture emerges from purpose, empathy, and a deep understanding of human behavior. Her perspective is shaped not only by decades of professional experience, but by personal adversity. Hardship, she explains, builds resilience and strengthens one's ability to serve others. That philosophy extends into her commitment to mentorship, service, and giving back—values she sees as inseparable from meaningful creative work. For Purple Cherry, architecture is both discipline and calling. It is a lifelong process of learning, teaching, and refining. And in a world defined by rapid change, her message is clear: the most important role of design is not to impress, but to support the people who live within it. “Architecture isn't about solving for a moment. It's about supporting people over time.” “Through suffering, we become stronger—and that's what allows us to better serve others.” “Anything in the built environment that can calm us and organize our lives becomes essential.” “Design should never be driven by trends. It should be driven by purpose and people.” “The meaning of life is discovering your gifts. The purpose of life is sharing them.”

    Convo By Design
    KBIS Series Part Two | The Smart Home Standoff: Tech vs. Tradition in Appliances

    Convo By Design

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2026


    The New Appliance Ecosystem: Translating Value, Technology, and Human-Centric Design The modern appliance conversation has shifted beyond features and price into something far more consequential: value, usability, and human-centered design.  Designers, manufacturers, showrooms, and independent testing labs now operate as an interconnected ecosystem guiding consumers through increasingly complex decisions. The future of appliance specification belongs to those who can translate technology into meaningful, intuitive, lifestyle-driven solutions. Featuring insights from Nicole Papantoniou of the Good Housekeeping Institute, Jeff Sweet of Sub-Zero Group Inc., and Christa Mallinger of AJ Madison, this conversation explores how appliances have evolved from commodities into lifestyle infrastructure—and why education, not persuasion, defines the next era. KBIS Podcast Studio Resources: KBIS AJ Madison NKBA LUXE Interiors + Design SubZero, Wolf & Cove SKS | Signature Kitchen Suite Hearth & Home Technologies Kitchen365 Green Forrest Cabinetry Midea The appliance industry has entered a human-centric phase, where performance, intuitive use, and real lifestyle benefit outweigh raw features or price alone. Designers act as translators of lifestyle, manufacturers as problem-solvers, and showrooms as educators—collectively helping consumers navigate increasingly sophisticated choices. Panelists discussed the shift from feature-driven sales toward performance-driven value, emphasizing longevity, ease of use, and frictionless integration into daily life. They also explored the growing role of education, testing standards, showroom partnerships, and post-installation support in helping consumers fully realize the value of their investment. Technology remains central, but its success depends entirely on reducing friction—not adding novelty. The conversation revealed that the future of appliances lies not in more technology, but in better technology—technology that disappears into the experience. The Appliance Ecosystem Is Interdependent Designers interpret lifestyle and aesthetic needs. Manufacturers engineer performance-driven solutions. Showrooms educate and guide decision-making. Independent testing organizations validate performance and usability. Value Has Replaced Price as the Primary Decision Driver Consumers rarely regret investing more in appliances. Longevity, performance, and service support define value. Sustainability increasingly aligns with durability. Human-Centric Design Is the New Standard Appliances must be intuitive without relying on manuals. UX consistency across appliances improves adoption. Technology must solve real problems—not create new friction. Education Is More Important Than Selling Many consumers buy appliances only once every 10–15 years. Showrooms and testing labs bridge the knowledge gap. Post-installation education helps unlock full product potential. Appliances Are Expanding Beyond the Kitchen Refrigeration, coffee systems, and specialty appliances now appear throughout the home. Multi-kitchen and multi-generational design is driving specification complexity. Flexibility and modular integration are essential. Technology Adoption Depends on Familiarity and Trust Induction adoption accelerates when paired with familiar controls. Consumers embrace technology that feels intuitive and beneficial. Novelty alone does not guarantee long-term value. The modern appliance is no longer just a tool. It's infrastructure. At KBIS, where the industry gathers annually to define its future, a clear shift has emerged. Appliances are no longer judged solely by features or price, but by how effectively they integrate into human behavior. The question is no longer, “What does it do?” but rather, “What does it enable?” This shift has elevated the importance of collaboration across the appliance ecosystem. Designers serve as translators, interpreting the client's lifestyle into functional requirements. Manufacturers act as problem-solvers, engineering solutions grounded in real user needs. Showrooms and retailers bridge the gap between technology and understanding, while independent testing organizations validate claims and ensure products deliver on their promises. This ecosystem exists because appliance decisions have become more consequential—and more complex. Unlike consumer electronics, appliances are purchased infrequently. A homeowner may go fifteen years between purchases. During that time, the category evolves dramatically. Induction replaces gas. Steam ovens expand culinary capability. Refrigeration becomes modular, flexible, and architectural. Appliances no longer exist solely in kitchens, but in offices, bedrooms, outdoor spaces, and wellness areas. With that expansion comes responsibility. Technology must reduce friction, not create it. Christa, Nicole and Jeff all emphasized that human-centric design now drives product development. Appliances must be intuitive enough to operate without instruction, consistent enough to feel familiar, and purposeful enough to justify their presence. Technology for its own sake has limited value. Technology that removes mental load, improves performance, or enhances daily living defines the future. This is where education becomes critical. Showrooms no longer simply display products; they contextualize them. Independent testing organizations evaluate not only performance, but usability, cleanability, and intuitive function. Manufacturers increasingly provide post-installation support, recognizing that the real product experience begins after installation, not at purchase. Value, therefore, is no longer measured in features alone. It is measured in longevity. In reliability. In the confidence that a product will perform consistently over time. In the reduction of friction between intention and outcome. Perhaps most importantly, appliances have become emotional infrastructure. They support gathering, creativity, ritual, and identity. They enable the modern kitchen to function not just as a place of preparation, but as a center of living. The future of appliances will not be defined by how advanced they are. It will be defined by how invisible they become—seamlessly enabling life without demanding attention. And those who understand that distinction—designers, manufacturers, and educators alike—will define the next generation of the built environment.

    Beyond UX Design
    From Iran to China to the US: A real-life VUCA Story with Mahnaz Hajesmaeili

    Beyond UX Design

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2026 49:43


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

    PodRocket - A web development podcast from LogRocket
    Open Claw, AI agents, and the future of developer workflows

    PodRocket - A web development podcast from LogRocket

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2026 52:45


    The PodRocket panel is back for their February roundup! Paige, Paul, Jack and Noel dig into the biggest stories reshaping the web development landscape right now. The panel kicks off with a deep dive into OpenClaw, it's transition to a foundation, and Peter Steinberger joining OpenAI. Is a foundation the right long-term home for fast-moving AI projects? And what does the continuing flow of talent into big AI labs mean for the open source ecosystem? From there, the conversation shifts to the browser's changing role in the web, how the lines between native and web experiences continue to blur, and what that means for developers building for the future. The panel also tackles growing pressures on open source sustainability and the widening gap between developers who are deeply integrating AI agents into their workflows and everyone else who hasn't even heard of these tools yet. Resources TechCrunch: OpenClaw creator Peter Steinberger joins OpenAI: https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/15/openclaw-creator-peter-steinberger-joins-openai Interop 2026 report and dashboard: https://web.dev/blog/interop-2026 Google Chrome announcement on Gemini auto-browsing: https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/chrome/gemini-3-auto-browse/ What to expect for open source in 2026, Github blog: https://github.blog/open-source/maintainers/what-to-expect-for-open-source-in-2026/?ref=thecodebrew.net We want to hear from you! How did you find us? Did you see us on Twitter? In a newsletter? Or maybe we were recommended by a friend? Fill out our listener survey! https://t.co/oKVAEXipxu Let us know by sending an email to our producer, Elizabeth, at elizabeth.becz@logrocket.com, or tweet at us at PodRocketPod. Check out our newsletter! https://blog.logrocket.com/the-replay-newsletter/ Follow us. Get free stickers. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, fill out this form, and we'll send you free PodRocket stickers! What does LogRocket do? LogRocket provides AI-first session replay and analytics that surfaces the UX and technical issues impacting user experiences. Start understanding where your users are struggling by trying it for free at LogRocket.com. Try LogRocket for free today. Chapters 00:00 Intro and Panel Welcome 01:00 What Is OpenClaw 03:00 Moving to a Foundation and OpenAI Concerns 08:00 AI Security Risks and Malware Issues 13:00 AI Haves vs Have Nots 18:00 Evaluating Open Source AI Stability 26:00 Browser Interop 2026 and Compatibility Gaps 31:00 Designing for AI Agents First 37:00 AI Search vs Google 42:00 Gemini in Chrome and Browser Lock In 49:00 Hot Takes 55:00 AI Burnout and Developer Mental HealthSpecial Guest: Jack Herrington.

    Uncomplicated Marketing
    #94 Challenging the Lead Generation Lie

    Uncomplicated Marketing

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2026 37:20


    SEO isn't dead. It's evolving and the businesses that treat it like a shortcut are the ones getting left behind.In this episode of Uncomplicate It, I sit down with Amber Goetz, founder of Active Media launched in 2005, creator of SEO Sidekick, and yes… former professional stunt driver, to talk about what high performance actually looks like in marketing.Amber has helped build 500 plus websites, scale brands from 0 to 100K monthly visitors, and drive over 10 million in organic revenue. Her approach is refreshingly no fluff. Trust your gut. Follow the data. Stop chasing whatever the internet is yelling about this week.We cover:- How Amber went from Hollywood stunt driving to building an SEO powerhouse - Why “do this now or you'll miss out” is the biggest marketing fluff today - The anti fluff formula and why it starts with clear buyer personas - Why most websites repel customers including bad UX, slow speed, and unclear offers - The fastest conversion win by checking your site on mobile and fixing what is above the fold - What actually improves load time from hosting to servers to bloated code - Why AI overviews do not replace SEO and how EEAT plays a role - The trap to avoid in 2025 and 2026 with overnight SEO appsKey Takeaways:- Real marketing is strategic, not reactive - Data is how you stop wasting time and budget - SEO is a long game but the right system compounds - Your website is never done, it is a working documentConnect with Amber- Active Media - www.theactivemedia.com/- Linkedin - www.linkedin.com/in/ambergoetz9/Follow Us:

    Future of UX
    #145 From Pixels to Power: Why Designers Must Become Builders with Morten Rand-Hendriksen

    Future of UX

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2026 68:55


    What if the future of UX isn't about better interfaces — but about moving beyond interfaces altogether?In this episode, I'm joined by Morten Rand-Hendriksen, Principal Instructor at LinkedIn Learning, to talk about where design is really heading in the age of AI.Morten has a background in web development, UX, and interaction design, and over the last years has gone deep into AI and product thinking. We've met at conferences like Future Product Days and had several conversations before — and every time, he brings a perspective that challenges assumptions in the best possible way.This episode is not about tools.It's about responsibility, agency, power shifts — and what it really means to be a designer today.We talk about:• Why technology is always a choice — even when it feels inevitable• What happens when users bypass interfaces completely• Why designing for screens might already be outdated• How AI agents change the balance between automation and control• Why service design is becoming more important than ever• Why designers now have an advantage over engineers• And what junior and mid-level designers should focus on todayOne of my favorite moments:“You didn't become a designer to move pixels. You became a designer because you saw how the world could be better.”This conversation goes deep. It touches capitalism, automation, AI agents, product moats disappearing, and why the future belongs to people who understand systems — not just surfaces.If you're feeling excited, overwhelmed, curious, or slightly uncomfortable about where AI is taking design — this episode is for you.Find Morten:LinkedinMorten's Ted talk AI for Designers: 5-week Bootcamp

    Indexed Podcast
    The Hidden Risks of Crypto Bridges



    Indexed Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2026 63:27


    Today we're joined by Luca Donnoh, Head of Research at L2BEAT, to dive deep into interoperability, bridging risk, and the hidden trust assumptions behind cross-chain assets.In this episode we're discussing:- Luca's background and path into crypto- The L2 roadmap debate and Ethereum's direction- The new L2BEAT interoperability dataset- Research goals behind the interop dashboard- Lock & mint vs burn & mint bridges- Intent-based bridging and counterparty risk- Liquidity providers and bridge execution risk- Canonical vs non-canonical tokens- Wrapped asset systemic risk- Multi-chain token configurations (LayerZero-style)- Bridge exploits and historical failures- The future of rollups, shared stacks & competitionAnd much more—enjoy!—Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction(01:05) Luca's crypto background(04:36) Latest L2BEAT project(13:20) Rollup value proposition(16:08) L2 roadmap hot takes(20:22) Interop dataset overview(23:19) Research goals explained(29:45) Non-mint bridging model(35:24) Lock & mint mechanics(38:47) Non-issuer token bridging(44:31) Bridge aggregator UX(52:12) Risky token examples(57:03) Multi-chain failure risks(1:01:12) Closing thoughts— Content links: https://l2beat.com/interop/summary —NEW: Join the Indexed Pod group chat:https://t.me/+Jmox7c6mB8AzOWU0And our new website is live: https://indexedpod.com—Follow the guest:https://x.com/donnoh_ethFollow the co-hosts:https://x.com/hildobbyhttps://x.com/0xBoxerhttps://x.com/sui414Follow the Indexed Podcast:https://x.com/indexed_pod—The Indexed Podcast discusses hot topics, trendy metrics and chart crimes in the crypto industry, with a new episode every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, brought to you by wizards @hildobby @0xBoxer @sui414.Subscribe/follow the show and leave a comment to help us grow the show!—DISCLAIMER: All information presented here should not be relied upon as legal, financial, investment, tax or even life advice. The views expressed in the podcast are not representative of hosts' employers views. We are acting independently of our respective professional roles. 

    NN/g UX Podcast
    58. The Truth About Lean & Agile (Feat. Principal Experience Specialist, Laura Klein)

    NN/g UX Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 42:24


    If you work in UX, you've probably heard the terms lean, Agile, and MVP more times than you can count. But knowing the terms doesn't mean knowing how to make them work. In this episode, Laura Klein, Principal Experience Specialist at NN/G, joins Therese Fessenden to talk about what Lean UX was really meant to accomplish — and how teams today can apply its principles without falling into common traps.Listen as they discuss how Lean UX came about, the skill of zooming between product vision and interaction details, and why growing companies struggle to balance speed and consistency. Whether you're working at a startup or inside a large enterprise, this episode offers a grounded look at how to design thoughtfully in fast-moving environments.We're also excited to have Laura join as the newest co-host of the NN/G UX Podcast. And many congratulations to the Fessenden family as they welcome a new addition to their family.About Laura Klein | Bio | Linkedin | Bluesky | Usersknow.comWhat is Wrong With UX (Podcast)Build Better Products (Book)UX for Lean Startups (Book)NN/G Live Online Courses Taught by LauraLean UX and AgileProduct & UX: Building Partnerships for Better OutcomesAll Our Live CoursesFree NN/G Articles & VideosLean UX & Agile: Study GuideLean UX & Agile GlossaryWhat is Lean UX?Accounting for User Research in AgileWhy Organizations Don't Do User Research and How to Change ThatWhy Most Product Teams Aren't Really EmpoweredDon't forget to like and subscribe! ❤️Follow Us On:NewsletterInstagramThreadsLinkedinBlueskyX

    The World of UX with Darren Hood
    Episode 302: UX Maturity & The Heuristic & Usability Dynamic

    The World of UX with Darren Hood

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 37:16


    In this week's episode, Darren begins a journey through what he refers to as the four pillars of UX by explaining the connection between UX maturity and heuristics and the expectations we should have based on a practitioner's UX maturity level. REMINDER: Video is available for this episode via select resources. #ux #podcasts #cxofmradio #cxofm #realuxtalk #worldofux #worldoux Bookmark the new World of UX website at https://www.worldoux.com. Visit the UX Uncensored blog at https://uxuncensored.medium.com. Get your specialized UX merchandise at https://www.kaizentees.com.

    The Product Experience
    How to align product work to business goals | Corinna Stukan (CEO, Bizzy)

    The Product Experience

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 37:17


    Corinna Stukan, Product Leader and Founder of Fintech marketplace Bizzy, lays out practical advice for connecting your product roadmap to business goals. She explains how a metrics one-pager aligns day-to-day product decisions with company goals, why understanding whether your business is in growth, acquisition or cost-control mode should shape every prioritisation call, and how to frame initiatives so stakeholders see commercial impact, not just better UX.Chapters4:00 — Why product people should care about business acumen6:01 — Organisational causes of weak commercial context for PMs8:10 — What business acumen means in practice9:10 — Wake-up story: prioritisation shifted after asking the CEO about revenue drivers11:05 — Misalignment: company goals vs team OKRs12:13 — How to run the metrics one-pager and link product to business goals14:37 — Strategy: where we are, where we're going, how we'll get there15:03 — Encouraging ideas while setting business context17:01 — Running collaborative bets before creating the roadmap19:20 — Communicating value: turn “better onboarding” into business impact22:08 — Avoiding over-attribution and internal attribution fights23:05 — Example: marketing's 12 touchpoints and joint contribution to acquisition24:26 — Practising stakeholder storytelling; where LLMs help and don't29:17 — Presentation craft: fewer slides, start with numbers, end with actions31:03 — Using LLMs for synthesis, not hOur HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She's currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She's worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath. Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury's. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group's Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He's the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager's Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon's music stores in the US & UK.

    BIT-BUY-BIT's podcast
    Surviving the Kidnap Threat | The Confab 28: Kevin Loaec

    BIT-BUY-BIT's podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 55:10


    In this Confab, Max sit down with Kevin Loaec, CEO of WizardSardine, for a frank discussion on the surge in coordinated, violent Bitcoin-related kidnappings in France and broader personal security lessons for anyone holding wealth. They explore practical, non-technical measures—community awareness, operational silence, modest living, and physical deterrents—alongside technical defences that reduce attacker incentives. Kevin explains why the threat was “late but inevitable,” how societal factors may be fuelling the crime wave, and why relocation and strong local networks can matter as much as any wallet setup.Max and Kevin discuss Liana, WizardSardine's time-locked, Taproot-powered wallet. Kevin breaks down inheritance-first design, decaying/expanding policies, and how time locks can prevent premature access while enabling robust recovery for families and businesses—without revealing recovery paths on-chain. They cover miniscript device support (what works today and what's missing), fee/UX trade-offs, future payjoin integrations, and how to pair Liana with spending wallets or Lightning for better privacy. If you've ever worried about $5 wrench attacks, estate planning, or operational resilience, this one's essential listening.HELP GET SAMOURAI A PARDONSIGN THE PETITION ----> https://www.change.org/p/stand-up-for-freedom-pardon-the-innocent-coders-jailed-for-building-privacy-tools DONATE TO THE FAMILIES ----> https://www.givesendgo.com/billandkeonneSUPPORT ON SOCIAL MEDIA ---> https://billandkeonne.org/VALUE FOR VALUEThanks for listening you Ungovernable Misfits, we appreciate your continued support and hope you enjoy the shows.You can support this episode using your time, talent or treasure.TIME:- create fountain clips for the show- create a meetup- help boost the signal on social mediaTALENT:- create ungovernable misfit inspired art, animation or music- design or implement some software that can make the podcast better- use whatever talents you have to make a contribution to the show!TREASURE:- BOOST IT OR STREAM SATS on the Podcasting 2.0 apps @ https://podcastapps.com- DONATE via Monero @ https://xmrchat.com/ugmf- BUY SOME STICKERS @ https://www.ungovernablemisfits.com/shop/FOUNDATIONhttps://foundation.xyz/ungovernableFoundation builds Bitcoin-centric tools that empower you to reclaim your digital sovereignty.As a sovereign computing company, Foundation is the antithesis of today's tech conglomerates. Returning to cypherpunk principles, they build open source technology that “can't be evil”.Thank you Foundation Devices for sponsoring the show!Use code: Ungovernable for $10 off of your purchaseCAKE WALLEThttps://cakewallet.comCake Wallet is an open-source, non-custodial wallet available on Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux.Features:- Built-in Exchange: Swap easily between Bitcoin and Monero.- User-Friendly: Simple interface for all users.Monero Users:- Batch Transactions: Send multiple payments at once.- Faster Syncing: Optimized syncing via specified restore heights- Proxy Support: Enhance privacy with proxy node options.Bitcoin Users:- Coin Control: Manage your transactions effectively.- Silent Payments: Static bitcoin addresses- Batch Transactions: Streamline your payment process.Thank you Cake Wallet for sponsoring the show!MYNYMBOXhttps://mynymbox.ioYour go-to for anonymous server hosting solutions, featuring: virtual private & dedicated servers, domain registration and DNS parking. We don't require any of your personal information, and you can purchase using Bitcoin, Lightning, Monero and many other cryptos.Explore benefits such as No KYC, complete privacy & security, and human support.(00:00) INTRO(01:20) THANK YOU FOUNDATION(02:11) THANK YOU CAKE WALLET(02:52) THANK YOU MYNYMBOX(03:36) Kicking Off With Kevin(09:21) Non-Technical Wealth Defense(16:18) Why France?(26:31) Designing Deterrence(30:51) Liana Deep Dive(44:03) Miniscript Musings(53:36) BOOSTS

    Conectar Marketing
    User Experience e Marketing - Marketing Talks #40 - Eliana Loureiro

    Conectar Marketing

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 89:03


    Muito se fala em performance, tráfego, conversão e dados. Mas existe um ponto que conecta tudo isso: a experiência do usuário. UX não é só design bonito. É usabilidade, fluidez, clareza, percepção de valor e confiança. Fatores que impactam diretamente nos resultados de marketing. Para aprofundar essa conversa, hoje recebemos Eliana Loureiro, que é Pesquisadora do IEA-USP, mentora Alumni ESPM e professora da FAAP e ESPM.

    The Pomp Podcast
    Stablecoins Will Send Bitcoin MUCH HIGHER | Bo Hines

    The Pomp Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2026 19:01


    Bo Hines is the CEO of Tether US and a former White House crypto advisor who helped shape U.S. digital-asset policy during a critical moment for the industry. This conversation was recorded live at Bitcoin Investor Week in New York. In this conversation, we discuss Bo's work in the White House on crypto policy, including the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, the GENIUS Act, and the push for regulatory clarity. We also cover stablecoin adoption, why UX matters more than yield, how Tether is connecting global markets to U.S. capital, and why stablecoins could be the on-ramp to the next phase of bitcoin and financial infrastructure.=======================Simple Mining makes Bitcoin mining simple and accessible for everyone. We offer a premium white glove hosting service, helping you maximize the profitability of Bitcoin mining. For more information on Simple Mining or to get started mining Bitcoin, visit https://www.simplemining.io/=======================Arch Public is an agentic trading platform that automates the buying and selling of your preferred crypto strategies. Sign up today at https://www.archpublic.com and start your automated trading strategy for free. No catch. No hidden fees. Just smarter trading.=======================0:00 - Intro0:19 - White House crypto policy & Bo Hines' role2:52 - How important is the Clarity Act?4:10 - Tether: scale, growth & global impact10:49 - Stablecoin yield debate12:37 - Financial access, wallets & the unbanked14:19 - Tether's relationship with Bitcoin15:46 - Reserves, transparency & risk17:24 - Interoperability & the future of stablecoins

    Rosenfeld Review Podcast
    Why Research Repositories Need Humans (and AI) with Maria Rosala

    Rosenfeld Review Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2026 36:19


    What happens when someone moves from government UX research to shaping research for the broader industry? Lou talks with Maria Rosala, Director of Research at Nielsen Norman Group, about her role, her career path, and the value of research repositories. Maria shares what it means to lead research at NN/g and how her experience as a UX researcher in the UK Home Office shaped her perspective on research maturity and real-world practice. They explore how research repositories help organizations surface knowledge, avoid duplicate work, and support collaboration—and why people and culture remain just as important as the tools. Maria also discusses how AI could make repositories more powerful by surfacing connections and insights.

    In Demand: How to Grow Your SaaS to $100K MRR
    EP56: The busy founder's guide to activation

    In Demand: How to Grow Your SaaS to $100K MRR

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2026 56:05


    Activation is the most overlooked growth lever in SaaS, especially for PLG-focused companies. While founders obsess over acquisition, pricing, and retention, they often overlook low-hanging fruit with activation.  In this episode of In Demand, Asia and Kim break down what activation actually is, why most teams misunderstand it, and how to improve it using a clear, repeatable process. Asia shares why pop-ups and walkthroughs are not a strategy, why survivor bias is distorting your view of product performance, and how as few as three to five UX interviews can unlock growth. If you have a free trial, self-serve motion, or product-led growth model, this episode walks through a practical framework to improve activation. Got a question you'd like Asia to unpack on the podcast? Record a voicemail here. Links:  DemandMaven https://www.userinterviews.com/ Respondent.io Amplitude Mixpanel Chapters (00:01:00) - Why activation is often an overlooked growth lever in PLG SaaS.(00:04:05) - What activation actually means and how it connects acquisition and retention.(00:11:00) - Why pop-ups, overlays, and onboarding walkthroughs aren't working as well anymore.(00:14:00) - What good trial-to-paid benchmarks look like and why most bootstrappers leave money on the table.(00:19:45) - The process of improving activation, starting with step one, UX interviews with qualified strangers.(00:28:05) - What to pay attention to when doing UX interviews.(00:30:55) - The three levers to improve UX: cognitive overload, uncertainty, and limited attention.(00:36:50) - What steps to take after making initial improvements.(00:42:00) - How to think about later-stage activation.(00:52:45) - Activation starting from your homepage.

    Rocket Ship
    092 - React Native 0.84, Hermes V1 & A TanStack React Native Framework?!

    Rocket Ship

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2026 33:15


    React Native 0.84 is here (with Hermes V1 by default), WebAssembly is landing inside Hermes, Expo is experimenting with AI “Agent Skills,” and there might be a new React Native framework coming from TanStack

    Irish Tech News Audio Articles
    Why Source-to-Pay Procurement Innovation Keeps Stalling and How to Fix It

    Irish Tech News Audio Articles

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2026 7:39


    Digital transformation in procurement has been "imminent" for over a decade, however, Legacy Thinking Is the Real Bottleneck! Boards talk about automation. CFOs talk about control. Procurement leaders talk about value creation. And yet, across industries, source-to-pay (S2P) remains one of the most stubbornly legacy bound functions in the enterprise. The irony? Procurement should be one of the easiest functions to modernize. It is structured, process driven, data rich, and measurable. But in practice, S2P transformation efforts stall, underdeliver, or quietly die after expensive, lengthy and limited implementation cycles. Why? The bottleneck isn't technology. It's legacy gravity. The Hidden Cost of "Good Enough" Procurement Many organizations still operate on a patchwork of: ERP systems and bolt-ons built for another era Email based approvals Manual vendor onboarding Disconnected sourcing tools Excel driven reporting and even pen and paper These systems "work"… in the same way that a fax machine technically still works. The problem is that legacy procurement systems were designed for control and record keeping, not agility, collaboration, or strategic insight. They reflect a time when procurement was administrative. Today, it's expected to be strategic. That shift breaks the old model. Where Source-to-Pay Innovation Gets Stuck 1. ERP-Centric Thinking For years, procurement innovation meant adding modules to an ERP. But ERPs are transactional systems of record, not innovation platforms. They are excellent at posting journal entries. They are poor at enabling dynamic sourcing, supplier collaboration, or real time spend intelligence. Trying to build modern procurement on top of ERP architecture is like building a streaming service on top of a DVD player. 1. Change Fatigue and Organisational Inertia Procurement teams are often overworked and understaffed. Digital transformation becomes "another project" layered on top of operational pressure. Without clear ROI and intuitive user experience, adoption fails. Stakeholders revert to email. Maverick spend returns. The transformation narrative and urgency fades. 1. Fragmented Tool Stacks Organisations frequently assemble S2P capabilities from multiple vendors: One for sourcing One for contract management One for P2P Another for analytics Integration becomes the project. Data reconciliation becomes a full-time job. Innovation slows under its own complexity. 1. Supplier Experience Is an Afterthought Most legacy procurement systems optimize for internal compliance, not supplier usability. Clunky onboarding. Repetitive data entry. Limited transparency. In an era where supplier relationships are strategic assets, this friction is more than inconvenient — it's counterproductive. 1. Procurement Still Seen as Cost Control Perhaps the deepest legacy issue is philosophical. Many executive teams still view procurement primarily as a cost-cutting function. But modern S2P innovation unlocks: Risk visibility ESG traceability Working capital optimization Data driven negotiation leverage Cross functional alignment Actionable game changing business intelligence insights When procurement is framed as a back-office function, investment remains incremental. When it's framed as a strategic value driver, transformation becomes inevitable. What Modern Source-to-Pay Should Actually Look Like True S2P innovation isn't about digitising paperwork. It's about re-architecting the procurement experience. That includes: Consumer grade UX that drives adoption Unified workflows from sourcing through payment Real-time spend visibility Embedded analytics Supplier-first design Automation of approvals and compliance Configurability without heavy IT dependency In short, S2P should feel like modern SaaS, not a compliance portal from 2009, with the UX of teletext from the 1990's. The New Model: Agile, Unified, Intuitive Forward-thinking organizations are abandoning monolithic, ERP bound procurement stacks in favor of flexi...

    Product Talk
    How to Avoid Being Another Failed AI Project: AI Architect & Strategy Lead

    Product Talk

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2026 56:03


    Why do 85% of AI projects fail, and how can product leaders beat the odds? In this episode of the Product Talk podcast, host Denise Hemke sits down with Greg Nudelman, product and UX leader and creator of the Snowball Sprint, to unpack why AI initiatives break down and what it really takes to build AI products that succeed. Drawing on real-world examples from cybersecurity, enterprise AI, and IoT, Greg shares practical frameworks for framing the right use cases, thin-slicing real data, escaping POC purgatory, and redefining success beyond accuracy. A must-listen for product managers and leaders navigating AI-driven product strategy.

    Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody
    163 - What is Career Minimalism and How It Can Quietly Weaken Your Career

    Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2026 15:45


    The idea of career minimalism sounds healthy. But this trending philosophy of your job being a tool, not your identity (especially popular with Gen Z) could be quietly weakening your career if you're not careful.In this episode, Sarah Doody breaks down what career minimalism actually is, why it's gained so much momentum (spoiler: burnout, broken loyalty, and unpredictable layoffs), and the hidden risk most career minimalists never talk about. The real danger isn't doing less at work — it's what you're building (or not building) while you're there.Sarah also discusses the concept of "Portable Equity" and shares three practical tips so you can protect your work-life balance without accidentally making yourself less employable.Timestamps:0:00 Introduction0:58 What is career minimalism?3:24 How did we get here? Burnout, hustle culture, and broken loyalty4:41 Where career minimalism starts to get tricky6:51 The hidden assumption of career minimalists7:50 Why career minimalists often end up job hopping10:16 The reframe: building portable equity11:24 Three practical tips for career minimalists11:45 Tip 1: Optimize for portability, not just balance12:34 Tip 2: Know the difference between being useful and being valuable13:59 Tip 3: Treat every role as temporary16:35 Always be seeking — the career version of "always be closing"17:36 Wrap up

    Web3 with Sam Kamani
    360: From Blockchain Infrastructure to Real Adoption: The Moca Network Vision With Guest Speaker Kenneth Shek from Animoca

    Web3 with Sam Kamani

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2026 33:09


    In this episode, I sit down with Kenneth Shek from Animoca during Consensus Week in Hong Kong.We talk about what it really takes to drive mass adoption in Web3. Not hype. Not narratives. Real users.Kenneth shares how Moca Network is building the identity layer for the future of programmable money. We go deep into AI-native infrastructure, stablecoins, loyalty systems, and why distribution is the real moat.We also discuss why most Web3 projects struggle with adoption, what Web2 got right, and how AI agents will reshape commerce by 2026.If you care about identity, payments, AI, or building the next killer app in crypto, this episode is for you.Key LearningsKenneth's journey from startups, AI, and Accenture to AnimocaWhy identity is the missing layer for stablecoins and AI agentsWhy blockchain hasn't hit mass adoption yetThe biggest lesson from talking to enterprise customersAIR: Account, Identity, Reputation explainedWhy one-click UX matters more than decentralizationAI agents replacing front-ends and changing product designRegulatory fragmentation and global crypto challengesWhy distribution beats building another “killer app”Stablecoins, RWA, and the future of programmable loansIf starting today: build AI-agent native from day oneHiring engineers, fintech builders & strategic partnersConnect with Mocahttps://moca.network/enhttps://x.com/Moca_Networkhttps://t.me/MocaverseCommunityhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ks20/ DisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research.It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

    A SEAT at THE TABLE: Leadership, Innovation & Vision for a New Era

    Most companies don't realize that  bad UX shows up in support ticket patterns before it shows up in their metrics.As more organizations lean into greater automation, a poorly designed UX results in slowdowns and user frustration, as support teams scramble to respond to a surge in support tickets.If you are in charge of enterprise systems or evaluating new IT installations, then this is the podcast for you.Today we are joined by the brilliant Tanya Donska.  Tanya  works with companies like Deutsche Telekom, IQVIA, and D.E. Shaw Group - fixing UX problems at enterprise scale where one bad flow impacts thousands of users and support costs alone can justify a redesign. She's a UK Global Talent visa recipient and Creative Director at DNSK WORK. In this episode of A Seat at The Table, Tanya will be discussing:The hidden cost of UX debt at enterprise scale - when "just fix it later" costs 6 months of engineering timeHow to make design decisions with 17 stakeholders without everything becoming beige (or taking 9 months)Why design systems fail at 90% of companies (and it's not lack of documentation)Wow, there's so much to unpack here.  So let's sit down with Tanya and find out what UX Band-Aids might be hiding at our organizations.---Connect with Tanya Donska:  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donska/Website: https://dnsk.work/Visit A Seat at The Table's website at https://seat.fm

    THORChain Weekly Live
    THORChain Lounge: CAKE WALLET - THORChain Spaces#172

    THORChain Weekly Live

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2026 72:06


    THORChain's Kenton and Denny have a conversation with Vik from Cake Wallet, one of the founding members of an AMAZING crypto wallet which were the OGs to add XMR support to a wallet that could be used within your phone. Cake Wallet has been growing extremely quickly and is setting the standard on great UX and exhibiting the ethos of no-KYC, permissionless and decentralization!

    One Knight in Product
    Hugo Alves - Let's Get Real About Synthetic Users (with Hugo Alves, Co-founder @ Synthetic Users)

    One Knight in Product

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2026 64:19


    On this episode, I speak to Hugo Alves, co-founder of Synthetic Users, about one of the most controversial topics in modern product development: using generative AI to simulate users for research and decision-making. Hugo has a background in clinical psychology and product, and has spent the past three years building a platform that generates synthetic qualitative interviews to help teams reduce risk and make better decisions. Episode highlights: What Synthetic Users actually is - generating in-depth qualitative interviews with AI-powered "synthetic" participants to help teams reduce risk and accelerate discovery Most companies don't do enough, or any, research in the first place, and they need as many tools in their locker to help with the ultimate goal: making great products. The pragmatist's view of AI - why Hugo doesn't care whether LLMs are "conscious", only whether they produce useful outputs The agentic "swarm" approach - using specialised sub-agents (planners, interviewers, critics) instead of one giant prompt to improve quality and reduce drift B2B vs B2C - why synthetic research works well in B2B contexts, and the harder (future) problem of modelling organisational dynamics Bias, sycophancy and realism - the technical concerns around LLMs and how to validate responses with pilots and human comparison studies How to use synthetic research in practice - filtering ideas, informing human interviews, and treating it as an accelerant rather than a replacement "It shouldn't exist" - the moral argument against synthetic users, reacting to UX thought leaders and their objections, and why some of those objections aren't really about evidence ... and much more. Contact Hugo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugomanuelalves/ Website: https://www.syntheticusers.com/ Twitter/"X": https://twitter.com/Ugo_alves

    Sustain
    Episode 283: Devconnect 2025 with Nuno Loureiro

    Sustain

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2026 17:33


    Guest Nuno Loureiro Panelists Eriol Fox | Victory Brown Show Notes In this episode of Sustain, host Eriol Fox and co-host Victory Brown are live with Nuno Loureiro, Lead Designer at the Ethereum Foundation, at Devconnect Conference in Buenos Aires. Nuno shares his journey in digital design and discusses his role in focusing on ethereum.org. He highlights the challenges of designing for open source platforms, including the difficulty of onboarding and collaborating with designers. He also touches on UX challenges in the context of blockchain technology, emphasizing the importance of trust and design for mass adoption of open source tools. The discussion further explores how the Ethereum Foundation engages with the community for design feedback and the decentralized nature of project narratives. The episode concludes with Nuno spotlighting Penpot, a tool he believes is changing the landscape design. Hit download now to hear more! [00:00:34] Nuno shares his background in digital and product design and joining Ethereum Foundation to focus on Ethereum.org as a learning portal. [00:02:13] He shares the biggest design challenges at the Ethereum Foundation starting out with a major challenge which was opening a design system to open source collaboration. [00:04:08] Eriol asks how good design and usability relate to sustainable open source. Nuno argues UX is the main blocker for mass adoption of open source tools and uses tools like GIMP as an example. [00:05:00] Victory asks how Nuno brings more designers into the ecosystem and elevates design conversations. He admits he's “not doing enough” and notes how hard it is to balance paid work with open source contributions and critiques designers, including himself, as poor collaborators compared with developers. [00:06:27] Eriol reflects on how both coders and designers get deeply attached to their work, and notes that vulnerability and openness to critique are hard but necessary for sustainability of open source to grow. [00:07:54] Eriol brings up Vitalik's talk, Founder of Ethereum, at Funding the Commons, where he emphasized reliability as critical to UX and poses a question to Nuno. He explains what Ethereum Foundation's current “three mantras” are. [00:11:49] A question is brought up about how design decisions for new features are made inside Ethereum and what others can learn. Nuno clarifies the Ethereum Foundation does not own the protocol or roadmap and is a community based approach. [00:13:26] Victory asks how Ethereum gathers UX feedback from users. Nuno says they rely heavily on third party projects that do their own UX research. [00:14:43] Nuno spotlights Penpot, an open source design tool he uses and believes is changing the design landscape. Links podcast@sustainoss.org richard@sustainoss.org SustainOSS Discourse SustainOSS Mastodon SustainOSS Bluesky SustainOSS LinkedIn Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) Richard Littauer Socials Eriol Fox X Victory Brown X Nuno Loureiro X Nuno Loureiro Website Ethereum Foundation Ethereum Devconnect- 2025, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 17-22 November Funding the Commons Penpot Credits Produced by Richard Littauer Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound Logistical support by Tina Arboleda from Digital Savvies Special Guest: Nuno Loureiro.

    Unlocking Your World of Creativity
    Teamwork and Collaboration: BONUS GLOBAL ROUNDTABLE

    Unlocking Your World of Creativity

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 38:24


    On Your World of Creativity, we travel around the world talking with creative practitioners who turn ideas into impact. In this special roundtable episode, Mark brings together leaders from film, animation, hospitality, consumer brands, immersive experiences, and big-tech UX to explore one powerful theme:Teamwork.When creative outcomes depend on dozens—or even hundreds—of contributors, how do you align vision, manage complexity, and still leave room for magic?Today's PanelistsMichael Robinson — Hotel & Hospitality Operations LeaderDiego Pulido — Lead UX Designer, Amazon (formerly Google, Walmart, Adobe, JPMorganChase)Matt McLean — Organic Consumer Juice Brand FounderTom Bairstow — Event, Concert Production & Immersive Visual Experiences Rich Magallanes — Children's & Animated Content ProducerSteven Puri — Focus app creator, ex-studio exec/producer Fox, DreamWorks, SonyTogether, they share real-world lessons from film sets, animation studios, hospitality teams, live events, consumer brands, and product design at scale.In This Episode, We Explore:Creativity as a Team Sport. What great collaboration actually looks like across industries—and why creativity doesn't happen in isolation.Aligning Vision Across Many Contributors. How leaders communicate creative direction clearly when working with writers, designers, engineers, performers, vendors, and operational teams.Conflict, Constraints & Creative Breakthroughs. How budget limits, timelines, technical requirements, and differing opinions can either block creativity—or unlock it.Leadership in Collaborative Environments. What it means to lead when you're not the only decision-maker, how to build trust quickly, and why delegation is essential for scale.Practical Takeaways for Better Collaboration. From film crews to UX teams, each panelist shares what actually helps teams work better together—and what listeners can apply immediately.Final Lightning RoundEach panelist shares one simple action listeners can take this week to become a better collaborator.Huge thanks to our panelists. Be sure to connect with them.https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-robinson-a6985735/https://www.linkedin.com/in/diegopulido/https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-mclean-5507733/https://www.linkedin.com/in/tombairstownorthhouse/

    This Week in Startups
    When Will Openclaw go Mainstream? | E2252

    This Week in Startups

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 62:26


    This Week In Startups is made possible by:Gusto - Try Gusto today and get 3 months free at http://uber.com/ai-solutionsCrusoe Cloud - Reserve your capacity for the latest GPU's at http://uber.com/ai-solutionsUber AI Solutions - Book a demo today at http://uber.com/ai-solutions*Today's show: It's a packed show! We've got YouTuber and Openclaw enthusiast Matthew Berman, Ryan Yaneli, founder of Nextvisit, and Jason Grad, founder of Massive! We're all in on Openclaw, but we have no doubts there's still room in the market for a GIANT Openclaw consumer app to shift the paradigm. What will that look like? Will it be an app? Will it be baked into the iPhone? Let's explore!**Timestamps:* 00:00 Intro02:04 Why Matthew thinks Openclaw is not ready yet to be brought to the consumer04:45 Jason doesn't want hundreds of different apps, and thousands of tabs05:45 Why Ryan sees open claw giving consumers access to opportunities they couldn't have gotten to otherwise.07:02 Only 10% of people are technical enough to install openclaw08:16 Would Openclaw be better off as an app?08:27 *Gusto*. Check out the online payroll and benefits experts with software built specifically for small business and startups. Try Gusto today and get three months FREE at [Uber.com/twist](http://uber.com/ai-solutions)00:10:52 The killer use case that could bring Openclaw to the consumer00:12:13 Why Meta acquired Manus.00:15:13 How Ryan uses Openclaw in his personal life00:18:44 *Crusoe Cloud*: Crusoe is the AI factory company. Reliable infrastructure and expert support. Visit crusoe.ai/savings to reserve your capacity for the latest GPUs today.00:23:24 What Jason's “Clawpod” does00:24:38 Jason demos his Openclaw workflow00:28:23 *Uber AI Solutions -* Your trusted partner to get AI to work in the real world. Book a demo with them TODAY at http://uber.com/ai-solutions00:30:04 How Matt used Openclaw to figure out he's been having stomach issues00:32:27 What will be the ultimate UX for AI?00:38:53 Anthropic has patched the ability to use Openclaw through its pro plan!00:42:20 Matt and Jason hope for a multi-model future — but we haven't made progress!00:52:21 Jason has skepticisms about the Openclaw foundation00:52:59 Ryan predicts a new Openclaw fork coming from the shadows!00:54:21 Peter Steinberger is going to OpenAI, NOT to work with Openclaw… Will he “orphan” openclaw?00:58:19 does raspberry AI stand a chance against Apple?*Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.com/Check out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.comSubscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp*Follow Lon:X: https://x.com/lons*Follow Alex:X: https://x.com/alexLinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm*Follow Jason:X: https://twitter.com/JasonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis*Thank you to our partners:*Gusto*. Check out the online payroll and benefits experts with software built specifically for small business and startups. Try Gusto today and get three months FREE at [Uber.com/twist](http://uber.com/ai-solutions)*Crusoe Cloud*: Crusoe is the AI factory company. Reliable infrastructure and expert support. Visit [crusoe.ai/savings] to reserve your capacity for the latest GPUs today.*Uber AI Solutions -* Your trusted partner to get AI to work in the real world. Book a demo with them TODAY at [Uber.com/twist](http://uber.com/ai-solutions)Check out all our partner offers: https://partners.launch.co/*Check out Jason's suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanis*Follow TWiST:Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartupsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekinInstagram: [https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups](https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartups/)TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartupsSubstack: [https://twistartups.substack.com](https://twistartups.substack.com/)

    PodRocket - A web development podcast from LogRocket
    Making sense of web rendering patterns with Gil Fink

    PodRocket - A web development podcast from LogRocket

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 25:15


    Gil Fink breaks down web rendering patterns including server side rendering, SSR, client side rendering, CSR, and static rendering, along with newer approaches like islands architecture, resumability, and hybrid rendering. The conversation explores tradeoffs around hydration, web performance, INP, CDN caching, and bundle size optimization, and compares frameworks like Next.js, TanStack Start, Astro, Qwik, and Remix to help developers make better decisions about React rendering strategies and overall application performance. Links Resources We want to hear from you! How did you find us? Did you see us on Twitter? In a newsletter? Or maybe we were recommended by a friend? Fill out our listener survey! https://t.co/oKVAEXipxu Let us know by sending an email to our producer, Elizabeth, at elizabeth.becz@logrocket.com, or tweet at us at PodRocketPod. Check out our newsletter! https://blog.logrocket.com/the-replay-newsletter/ Follow us. Get free stickers. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, fill out this form, and we'll send you free PodRocket stickers! What does LogRocket do? LogRocket provides AI-first session replay and analytics that surfaces the UX and technical issues impacting user experiences. Start understanding where your users are struggling by trying it for free at LogRocket.com. Try LogRocket for free today. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Gil's Background 01:00 Why Rendering Patterns Keep Evolving 02:00 What Problem Rendering Patterns Solve 03:00 Frameworks and Rendering Decisions 04:00 Server Side Rendering Explained 05:30 Client Side Rendering and Hydration Costs 07:00 Performance Tradeoffs Between SSR and CSR 08:30 Static Rendering for Blogs and Marketing Sites 09:30 Hybrid Rendering and Progressive Enhancement 11:00 How to Choose the Right Rendering Strategy 12:00 Interactivity as the Key Decision Factor 14:00 Islands Architecture vs SSR 16:00 Common Mistakes with Rendering Choices 17:30 Real World Performance Tuning Examples 19:00 When You Don't Actually Need Next.js 21:00 The Rise of Hybrid Rendering 22:30 Next.js vs TanStack Start 24:00 Final Rule of Thumb for Choosing Rendering Patterns

    Web3 with Sam Kamani
    358: Building Crypto Payments for 1 Billion Telegram Users | TON Pay Deep Dive with Glenn Brown and Nikola Plecas from TON Foundation

    Web3 with Sam Kamani

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 17:53


    I'm recording live from Hong Kong during Consensus week with Glenn and Nikola from the TON Foundation.In this episode, we break down how TON is building payment infrastructure for Telegram's 1+ billion monthly active users. We talk about TON Pay. A crypto commerce solution built for developers and merchants.We explore stablecoins. Real-world adoption. Developer experience. Regulation. And what it takes to compete with payment giants like Visa and Stripe.This is not about hype. It's about building usable infrastructure. With better UX. Fewer clicks. And real utility.If you care about crypto payments, stablecoins, or mass adoption, this one is for you.Key Timestamps00:01:20 – Nikola's journey from Visa into Web3 00:02:13 – Glenn's path from cybersecurity to digital assets00:03:42 – What TON Pay is and who it's built for 00:04:12 – The vision: infrastructure for Telegram's billion users 00:04:57 – Lessons from Alipay and WeChat 00:06:09 – Go-to-market strategy and merchant adoption00:07:48 – Competing with Stripe through better APIs00:09:37 – Why Apple Pay–level UX is the North Star00:11:07 – Why regulation and off-ramps matter 00:12:30 – Gasless transactions and technical roadmap00:14:03 – Telegram mini apps as a distribution channel00:15:13 – Stablecoins as real product-market fit 00:16:09 – Partnership opportunities and what TON is looking forConnect with TON Payhttps://ton.org/en/ton-pay-a-new-payments-layer https://x.com/ton_blockchainDisclaimerNothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research.It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

    POD256 | Bitcoin Mining News & Analysis
    105. Chips, Chains, and Hot Tubs: Open Mining Goes Hands‑On

    POD256 | Bitcoin Mining News & Analysis

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 69:02 Transcription Available


    In episode 105, we finally get the stream dialed and dive straight into hands‑on Bitcoin mining and open-source hardware updates. We share the latest on Ember One: a sneaky IO voltage domain bug uncovered by Mujina dev Ryan led to a desk‑side hardware fix that's now pushing ~2 TH/s (target is 3.6 TH/s across 12 chips with proper cooling). We unpack chip and hashboard design lore—from stacked voltage domains and reliability in long chains to the insider politics at big silicon shops like Intel. We talk why selling chips openly matters, how spec sheets unlock real builder momentum, and why third‑party system builders (think Epic Blockchain) can grease the skids between chipmakers and end products.We cover Mujina's trajectory toward a universal, Linux‑first, open firmware for miners—auto‑detect dreams vs config realities—and near‑term support for Ember One's Intel boards and existing Antminers. We riff on home‑miner UX, remote monitoring, and agent/LLM tooling (cron‑job‑with‑superpowers, heartbeats, MCP integrations) to tune, alert, and manage miners. There's buzz around FutureBit's Apollo 3 (likely Auradine chips), open vs lawyered licenses, and the path from FPGA teaching rigs to community‑designed ASICs. We celebrate community hashing on the 256F HydroPool hash‑dash, solo‑block wins, and Heat Punk Summit prep (immersion hot tub included). Plus, a call to action: support developer freedom at change.org/billandkeonne. It's a dense, builder‑first session on chips, firmware, agents, and bringing practical hashrate‑heat products to life.

    Runway Series, par UPCOMINGVC®‎
    [Farcaster Builders #3] Ahn.eth, building Quidli

    Runway Series, par UPCOMINGVC®‎

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 25:20


    Welcome to the third episode of our new series dedicated to the builders of the Farcaster ecosystem (⁠⁠⁠https://farcaster.xyz⁠⁠⁠). In this limited run, we are going to understand the strategies, timing, and mental models of the founders building the next generation of onchain experiences. In today's episode, we sit down with Ahn.eth (⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/ahn_going and https://farcaster.xyz/ahn.eth), the founder of Quidli (⁠⁠https://quid.li/). We are looking at the plumbing of social finance with Ahn.eth (Justin), a founder who is tackling one of the most persistent points of friction in crypto: making value transfer as intuitive as sending a direct message. We discuss: + why your social graph might be your most valuable on-chain asset, + the structural limitations of current identity systems like ENS, and + how to build a 'Yellow Pages' for the decentralized web that works across Farcaster, Telegram, and email without locking users into a single platform.It is a very useful episode for understanding how portable social graphs can abstract away complex blockchain UX to enable seamless value transfer across any platform.-- The podcasts are authored, edited and produced by Raphael Grieco (⁠⁠⁠⁠raphael-grieco.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠olivecapital.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠).

    Runway Series, par UPCOMINGVC®‎
    [Farcaster Builders #3 - excerpt] Ahn.eth, building Quidli

    Runway Series, par UPCOMINGVC®‎

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 0:29


    (this episode is an excerpt) --- Welcome to the third episode of our new series dedicated to the builders of the Farcaster ecosystem (⁠⁠⁠⁠https://farcaster.xyz⁠⁠⁠⁠). In this limited run, we are going to understand the strategies, timing, and mental models of the founders building the next generation of onchain experiences. In today's episode, we sit down with Ahn.eth (⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/ahn_going⁠ and ⁠https://farcaster.xyz/ahn.eth⁠), the founder of Quidli (⁠⁠⁠https://quid.li/⁠). We are looking at the plumbing of social finance with Ahn.eth (Justin), a founder who is tackling one of the most persistent points of friction in crypto: making value transfer as intuitive as sending a direct message. We discuss: + why your social graph might be your most valuable on-chain asset, + the structural limitations of current identity systems like ENS, and + how to build a 'Yellow Pages' for the decentralized web that works across Farcaster, Telegram, and email without locking users into a single platform.It is a very useful episode for understanding how portable social graphs can abstract away complex blockchain UX to enable seamless value transfer across any platform.-- The podcasts are authored, edited and produced by Raphael Grieco (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠raphael-grieco.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠olivecapital.vc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠).

    Digital Insights
    It's all interconnected

    Digital Insights

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 6:24


    If you work in conversion optimization, user experience design, or design leadership, you probably think of these as separate disciplines. Different skill sets, different tools, different conversations.But treating them as separate is precisely what limits your impact.These three areas are deeply interconnected, and they build on top of one another in ways that make each more effective. If you're only working in one of these areas without considering the others, you're solving the wrong problems, or at best, only solving part of the right problem.I know this because my work spans all three, which makes me sound like I'm either a confused generalist or cobbling together random consulting gigs.People often ask what I actually do, because it doesn't fit neatly into a single box. When I list the three areas, I can see the confusion on their faces. I sometimes feel like that conspiracy theorist from the meme, standing in front of a pin board covered in red string, ranting about how it's all connected.But it is all connected. And if you work in any of these fields, you should be taking this holistic, interconnected approach as well.Let me walk you through how this actually works in practice, and why you should be thinking this way too.It starts with conversionUltimately, the goal of almost every project I take on is to improve a company's conversion rate through their website or app. Sometimes that means acquiring new customers, sometimes it means retaining existing ones, but the end goal is always the same: make the company more profitable through digital channels.In straightforward cases, I can achieve that with traditional conversion optimization techniques:A/B testingInterface design improvementsRefined copy and messagingThese are the tools you'd expect from anyone doing CRO work, and often they're enough to move the needle.But more often than I'd like to admit, those surface-level fixes aren't sufficient. The conversion problem runs deeper than a poorly worded call-to-action or a confusing checkout flow. When that happens, I need to look at the entire user experience, which means examining usability issues, carrying out proper user research, mapping out all the other touchpoints where customers interact with the brand, and understanding the full journey they're on.That's where the user experience design and strategy work comes into play.When UX goes beyond the screenHowever, sometimes even comprehensive user experience work isn't enough, because the real problems exist beyond the screen entirely.I once worked with a company that sold frozen ready meals to elderly customers. They wanted me to improve their website conversion rates, which seemed like a straightforward brief. We carried out user research and discovered that the elderly audience was nervous about multiple aspects of the experience, none of which had anything to do with the website design itself:Entering credit card details online because of fraud and scamsA strange delivery driver they didn't know turning up at their houseUnloading heavy trays of frozen products into their freezersNow, in most companies, a user experience designer would hit a wall at this point. You can't redesign a website to make someone feel safer about delivery drivers or less anxious about lifting heavy boxes. The best you could do would be to make the existing service as palatable as possible through clever messaging and reassurance copy.But in a company with a strong culture of design leadership, a UX designer can be instrumental in shaping solutions to these kinds of problems. Solutions that go way beyond polishing existing products to fundamentally reshaping the service itself.This is where the design leadership coaching aspect of my work becomes essential.Design leadership changes what's possibleIn that frozen meal company, we didn't just optimize the website. We fundamentally changed the offering based on what we learned from users:Customers got the same delivery driver every time, and when that wasn't possible, they'd be notified in advance and shown a photo of their driverAll drivers were police-checked so customers could feel confident about safetyThe driver didn't just dump the products and leave but actually unpacked everything into the customer's freezerCustomers could even reorder directly from their driver if they didn't want to use the website and enter card details onlineThe user experience shaped the product, and by extension, delivered the improved conversion rate the client originally asked for.You can see how these three areas that appear unrelated are actually deeply entwined. This interconnected approach is much more representative of what real user experience design should be about, rather than just pushing pixels around a screen.What this means for your workIf you're working in conversion optimization: Start asking deeper questions about the user experience.If you're doing UX work: Understand how it connects to business outcomes and conversion.If you're in design leadership: Recognize that your influence should extend beyond the screen to reshape products and services based on what users actually need.Because at the end of the day, conversion optimization teaches you what matters to the business, user experience design teaches you what matters to customers, and design leadership gives you the organizational influence to actually do something meaningful about both.And once you start seeing those connections, you can't unsee them.If you're thinking about how to bring these different elements together in your own work, drop me an email. I'm always happy to chat it through.

    Limited Supply
    S15 E7: More Website Design Lessons From the Best Brands

    Limited Supply

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 47:12


    Nik picks up where last week left off and breaks down more ecom sites in real time, pulling apart the exact UX, copy, and merchandising decisions that separate high-converting websites from the ones that just look nice. He dives into The Absorption Company and what it gets right about branding, navigation, and trust-building on product pages. He also explores why small details like loading screens, iconography, and collection page structure can quietly compound into real brand equity over time. He breaks down what these brands do better than most modern DTC sites when it comes to readability, upsells, offer framing, quizzes, and conversion-focused storytelling. If you want to sharpen your website, improve your PDP experience, or learn from the funnels quietly printing money outside the usual DTC bubble, this episode is for you. Roku pioneered streaming on TV. We connect users to the content they love, enable content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and provide advertisers with unique capabilities to engage consumers. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising.roku.com/limitedsupply⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want more DTC advice? Check out the Limited Supply YouTube page for more insider tips.   Check out the Nik's DTC newsletter: https://bit.ly/3mOUJMJ   And if you're looking for an instant stream of on-demand DTC gold, check out the Limited Supply Slack Channel for Nik's most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.   Follow Nik: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma

    Honest UX Talks
    #170 Lessons learned from 4y at a scale up

    Honest UX Talks

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 39:19


    Anfi shares insights on her journey working in a fast-paced scale-up, transforming weaknesses into strengths, strategic product pitching, effective communication at scale, leading impactful workshops, what defines a great manager, the difference between delivery and vision, and strategies to elevate UX culture from low to high maturity.This episode was recorded in partnership with ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wix Studio.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out these links:Sign up for Anfi's ⁠⁠Design → Impact translation WS⁠⁠ workshop on  February 18Preorder Ioana's upcoming book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The first 100 copies will be hand-signed.Ioana's ⁠⁠co-working space⁠⁠Join 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 project: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠aidesign-os.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ioana's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WhatsApp group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ioana's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AI Goodies Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ioana's Domestika course ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Create a Learning Strategy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enroll in Ioana's AI course ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"**⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Into UX design⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ online course by Anfisa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠❓Next topic ideas:Submit your questions or feedback anonymously ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.

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    The RAG Podcast - Recruitment Agency Growth Podcast
    Season 9 | Ep18 Peter Kornberg: How a Non-Recruiter Built $1M+ Revenue 15 years in a row (with Just 6 People)

    The RAG Podcast - Recruitment Agency Growth Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 56:25


    Peter Kornberg: How a Non-Recruiter Built $1M+ Revenue 15 years in a row (with Just 6 People)Peter Kornberg never worked a day as an agency recruiter.He worked in Advertising and Marketing and became a Chief Digital Officer.He ran a product design agency in New York City. Clients started asking for talent they couldn't afford to engage the agency for. So Peter said: "We can provide you some people."That was 15 years ago.What started as an ad hoc favour became UX Hires -a staffing and recruitment firm that's done $1M+ in revenue every single year since (with a team of six).But it wasn't always lean and profitable.In 2021, they had 60 open roles. A full team of employees. An expensive New York City office. Peter hired a leader to run the recruitment business."He didn't bring in any business. He wasn't particularly effective at managing," Peter admits."Didn't really fulfil that potential."They were grinding. Burning out. Taking on everything that came through the door."We didn't effectively weigh the roles that came in as we saw everything as money. Everything was opportunities. So we just went for everything."The team wasn't profitable, this model wasn't working.So Peter stripped it back.He kept only his best recruiters and sourcers. People who could deliver exceptional outcomes regardless of market conditions. No 360 recruiters, only delivery consultants with him focusing on winning all new business."Really focus on people that can deliver great outcomes," he says. "I can handle the rest around that, which is client relationships."But here's what makes Peter different.He split his team between sourcing and recruiting. Sourcers find people; that's all they do. Recruiters manage clients and placements. It's all relationship-based building.60% of his revenue now comes from contract and he's rebuilt his entire approach to work: "I could probably get more done in five hours of really productive work than 15 hours of grinding away and burning out."He doesn't believe in “hustle culture” and he's not trying to build an empire. He's quietly built a sustainable, profitable role business that gives him his life back.We cover:- Why never being a recruiter became his biggest advantage- The 60-role mistake that nearly broke the business- How he rebuilt around just 6 people and hit $1M+ consistently- The split desk model (and why he refuses 360 recruiters)- Why 60% contract revenue changed everything- The failed leader hire (and why BD roles are so hard to delegate)- Time blocking and the 5-hour productivity principle- How AI is reshaping UX and product design recruitmentThis isn't about scaling fast or an exit strategy.It's about a non-recruiter who stumbled into being a recruiter, nearly burned out chasing growth, and rebuilt a million-dollar business around what actually works: small team, high margins, client relationships.No investment decks and growth-at-all-costs. Just profitability and freedom.If you've ever wondered whether you can build a 7-figure recruitment business without the complexity, the burn-out, or the endless headcount - this episode will help!__________________________________________Episode Sponsor: Remote RecruitmentHiring shouldn't be slow, stressful, or expensive. That's why there's Remote Recruitment — the smart hiring partner for modern businesses.They don't just help you find great people. They help you access elite South African talent that's ready to deliver. No PAYE. No NI. No bloated overheads. Just trained, remote professionals who integrate seamlessly into your team.Their process handles everything: sourcing, shortlisting, onboarding, and retention. Fully managed. Fully supported. Fully remote.And now, Remote Recruitments has entered a new...

    Re:platform - Ecommerce Replatforming Podcast
    EP329: Measuring The Tangible & Intangible Impact of Website Rebrands and Redesigns

    Re:platform - Ecommerce Replatforming Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 39:41


    Why did we think this was an interesting episode?Paul & James are regularly involved in ecommerce redesign projects, either in an advisory capacity or helping drive the design thinking.This episode explores the reasons why brands decide to invest in a redesign:Brand refresh or a full rebrand.Brand elevation of the online UX e.g. premium positioning.Improved user journeys to fix legacy constraints.Outcome focused e.g. fix navigation and browse journeys.It then teases out the justifications for redesign projects, sharing views on how design can and should be measured objectively.James & Paul also dissect the intangible goal of many design projects: to elevate the brand positioning, to create a premium look & feel.Goals like this need clear definition and framing to ensure the design outputs work towards a clear vision and execution. They also need tangible measurements of success, even if they're not conversion focused.The key take-away is that design has to be measured, and the metrics you use need to be agreed upfront. If there are no hard & fast commercial success metrics like conversion and AOV, then take a sensible approach to measuring customer impact, for example customer satisfaction & NPS.Chapters:[00:30] Introduction to Redesign Metrics[03:40] Understanding Brand Elevation[06:10] Balancing Design and Ecommerce[09:00] Defining a Premium Experience[12:30] Measuring Redesign Success[15:25] The Role of User Testing[18:15] Navigating Redesign Challenges[21:10] The Importance of KPIs[22:46] Final Thoughts on Redesigns

    Experiencing Data with Brian O'Neill
    188 - Can't Close the Sale? Why Your Product's UX and Workflow Misalignment Are Killing Sales (Part 2)

    Experiencing Data with Brian O'Neill

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2026 46:09


    I'm continuing my exploration of a hard truth many leaders of analytics software companies run into: deals don't stall because the tech is weak. Instead, they stall because prospects can't see the value soon enough or the risk of changing the status quo is too high. This is often a product problem, not a sales one, and obtaining Flow-of-Work Alignment (FOWA) may help you start closing more evals and deals. So what is FOWA? The idea is simple, but demanding: stop showcasing features and start designing experiences that fit into how customers already do their work, create value, and add delight when your product is added into the loop.  Getting to FOWA means tailoring demos with realistic, industry-specific data, reducing mental translation, and minimizing behavior change. In this scenario, improvements become small, testable bets tied to outcomes, not feature checklists. UX and usability are not cosmetic; they should shape trust, adoption, and buyability.  When prospects can clearly see themselves succeeding with your product, value feels obvious, evals progress, and deals close.  Highlights/ Skip to: Steps to implementing Flow-of-Work Alignment (FOWA):  Tailor your demo or POC to map to the prospects' world and their workflow (1:53) Treat product improvements as bets that have to be tested so that observable outcomes are what you're holding your product team accountable for (3:57) Reducing perceived behavior change (6:39) Realize that your product's visual design are likely impacting your product's clarity and its desirability (12:29)  Aligning your sales and product teams around customer outcomes and not feature gaps (18:03) Why you might think FOWA won't work for your product—and how to reframe those objections (24:22)

    The World of UX with Darren Hood
    Episode 301: The Importance of UX Fundamentals

    The World of UX with Darren Hood

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2026 27:35


    Many people believe that artificial intelligence (AI) is a threat to UX jobs. It's quite the opposite. Many of these same folks also feel that fundamentals are old-school and unimportant to UX practitioners. As a part of the Harsh Realities of UX Maturity, Darren shares a recent talk entitled "The Importance of UX Fundamentals." Check out this recent talk for a UX conference, where Darren explains how critical fundamentals are to our individual and discipline-wide success.REMINDER: Video is available for this episode via select resources. #ux#podcasts#cxofmradio#cxofm#realuxtalk#worldofux#worldouxBookmark the new World of UX website at https://www.worldoux.com. Visit the UX Uncensored blog at https://uxuncensored.medium.com. Get your specialized UX merchandise at https://www.kaizentees.com.

    Couchonomics with Arjun
    How Tokenization and Stablecoins Will Change Money Movement

    Couchonomics with Arjun

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2026 53:27


    Technology is changing what people expect from money, and stablecoins are turning that into reality.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined from New York by Stephen Richardson (CSO and Head of Banking at Fireblocks) to break down why digital assets are back at the center of banking strategy, what stablecoins are really unlocking, and where banks are at risk of getting disintermediated if they treat this like “just another rails upgrade.”They unpack the on-chain vs off-chain convergence, why stablecoins became the real “killer app” for blockchain UX, and why the next wave isn't just crypto trading, but new product models: stablecoin acceptance, payouts, FX orchestration, stablecoin clearing, tokenized deposits, and tokenized assets that can move and settle with fewer constraints.

    The Digital Project Manager Podcast
    The Four Pillars of Trustworthy AI—and Who Owns Them

    The Digital Project Manager Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2026 43:40 Transcription Available


    Trust in AI isn't a vibe—it's something you can intentionally design for (or accidentally break). In this episode, Galen sits down with Cal Al-Dhubaib to unpack “trust engineering”: a shared toolkit that helps cross-functional teams (engineering, UX, governance, risk, and business) talk about the same trust risks in the same language. They get into why “boring AI is safe AI,” how guardrails and human handoffs actually preserve trust, and why the biggest failures often aren't the model—they're the systems (and incentives) wrapped around it.You'll also hear real-world examples of trust going sideways—from biased outcomes to hallucinated “gaslighting,” to AI-assisted deliverables causing accuracy issues—and what project leaders can do to prevent finger-pointing when it happens.Resources from this episode:Join the Digital Project Manager CommunitySubscribe to the newsletter to get our latest articles and podcastsConnect with Cal on LinkedInCheck out FurtherAI Incident Database

    Citadel Dispatch
    CD191: JUSTIN MOON - AI AS A TOOL FOR FREEDOM

    Citadel Dispatch

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2026 92:57 Transcription Available


    Justin Moon leads the open source ai initiative at the Human Rights Foundation.Justin on Nostr: https://primal.net/justinmoonHuman Rights Foundation: https://hrf.org/program/ai-for-individual-rights/Easy Open Claw Deployment: https://clawi.ai/EPISODE: 191BLOCK: 936962PRICE: 1473 sats per dollar(00:01:35) Justin Moon and early show memories(00:03:52) OpenClaw(00:04:16) Agents change how we use computers(00:07:07) OpenClaws light bulb moment(00:09:25) Agents as UX glue for Freedom Tech(00:10:00) HRF AI work, self-hosting breakthrough, and running your own stack(00:12:50) AI simplifies hard Bitcoin UX: coin control, backups, photos(00:14:22) OpenClaw + OpenAI: does it matter?(00:16:01) AI leverage for builders: open protocols win(00:19:22) Positive feedback loop: agents and open protocols(00:20:14) Costs vs privacy: local models, token spend, and KYC walls(00:23:15) Local hardware economics and historical parallels(00:27:20) Will capability gaps narrow? Mobile and on-device futures(00:29:56) Cutting-edge vs private setups; data lock-in and training moats(00:31:53) Competition, regulation risks, and hidden capabilities(00:34:05) Chinas open models: incentives, biases, and global adoption(00:38:56) American and European open models; Big Tech dynamics(00:40:56) Apple, hardware positioning, and agent UX form factors(00:42:48) Googles advantage: data, integration, and vertical stack(00:44:32) Acceleration ahead: productivity leaps and societal shifts(00:45:21) Jobs, layoffs, and disruptive labor realignment(00:47:55) From global commons to gated neighborhoods: bots and slop(00:50:21) Nostr as local internet: webs of trust and bot filters(00:51:57) Cancel culture contagion and shrinking public square(00:54:59) Demographic decentralization and small-town resilience(00:55:00) Lean platforms: X/Twitter staffing as canary(00:56:59) Universal high income: incentives and realism(00:58:48) Prepare your household: seize tools, avoid flat feet(01:01:01) Marmot DMs over Nostr: agents need open messaging(01:03:11) Building Pika: encrypted chat and voice over Marmot(01:07:00) Generative UI and real-time media over Nostr(01:10:07) APIs, bans, and why open protocols become the convenient path(01:14:02) Future gates: Bitcoin paywalls, webs of trust, or dystopian KYC(01:17:19) Getting started: try OpenClaw safely and learn by play(01:22:14) Agents, Cashu, and Lightning UX: bots as channel managers(01:25:10) Federations run by machines? Enclaves and AI guardians(01:27:50) Maple, Vora, and bringing self-sovereign AI to mainstream(01:29:00) Security kudos and caveats; Coinbase and cold storage(01:30:02) Justins education plan and upcoming streamsmore info on the show: https://citadeldispatch.comlearn more about me: https://odell.xyz

    Honest eCommerce
    Rethinking Operation Norms for Ecommerce Growth | Irene Chen & Matthew Grenby | Parker Thatch

    Honest eCommerce

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2026 40:02


    Irene Chen is the Co-Founder and Partner at Parker Thatch, a role she has held for over 24 years. Her top skills include Brand Development, Fashion, and Social Media. Before co-founding Parker Thatch, Irene served as the Director of Product Development for Donna Karan. She is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles. Matthew Grenby is the Partner and Co-Founder of Parker Thatch, a position he has held for over 24 years. His expertise lies in Strategy, Start-ups, and Entrepreneurship. Prior to Parker Thatch, he was a Vice President at Castling Group, where he led UX and design to launch online divisions for major brands, and a Data Scientist at Intel, developing novel data visualizations. He holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, an MS from the M.I.T. Media Lab , an MS in Graphic Design from ArtCenter College of Design , and an AB in English from Harvard University. In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:00] Intro[00:56] Bootstrapping growth through cash flow[03:23] Turning local talent into a luxury launchpad[07:45] Sponsor: Klaviyo [09:52] Applying corporate training to startups[12:31] Challenging traditional production paths[18:48] Sponsor: Intelligems [20:48] Standardizing core products for efficiency[24:47] Sponsor: Electric Eye[25:56] Persisting through daily business doubt[29:40] Callouts[29:50] Reinventing challenges for better outcomes[31:34] Leveraging community for business insights[32:02] Maintaining connections for future opportunities[36:03] Rebranding for clarity and customer reachResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeLuxury products for everyday ease and elegance parkerthatch.com/Follow Irene Chen linkedin.com/in/irene-chen-16b16823/Follow Matthew Grenby linkedin.com/in/matthewgrenby/Book a demo today at intelligems.io/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectGet your free demo https://www.klaviyo.com/honestIf you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

    Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody
    162 - How Erica Got Hired as a UX Officer at WK Kellogg Foundation After a CDC Layoff

    Career Strategy Podcast with Sarah Doody

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2026 25:02


    Erica Jiminez went from facing a potential layoff at the CDC to landing her dream role as the first-ever User Experience Officer at WK Kellogg Foundation. In this episode, Sarah Doody chats with Erica about her experience in Sarah's UX job search coaching program, Career Strategy Lab.Erica shares how she got clear on what she wanted, made sense of a non-linear career path, and landed a mission-driven UX role.Erica talks about how the Career Roadmap and Compass Statement in Career Strategy Lab helped her shift from a fear mindset to clarity, why her "messy" career path across social work, public health, and UX research actually became her biggest strength, and how she got hired using a whiteboard and Mural board instead of a polished portfolio. She also shares why she negotiated her salary and got what she asked for, and what hiring managers actually look for when multiple candidates are equally qualified.Erica's 3 lessons from her UX job search:1) Follow what you're passionate about2) Go for it even if you're not ready3) Know your worth and advocate for yourself — the worst they can say is noTimestamps0:00 Introduction 1:00 Meet Erica, the first UX Officer at WK Kellogg Foundation 3:00 The career roadmap: realizing how unintentional her career had been 4:30 From social worker to UX researcher — a 12-year non-linear path 5:00 Seeing the story in a "messy" resume 7:00 The Product of You: Design yourself before marketing yourself 8:00 Getting clarity vs. jumping straight to tactics10:00 The Gumby mindset & reframing your experiences12:00 Lesson 1: Follow what you're passionate about13:00 Lesson 2: Go for it even if you're not ready 15:00Lesson 3: Know your worth & salary negotiation17:00 The heroes exercise & discovering what matters beyond UX19:30 Applying UX skills beyond big tech20:00 Advice for anyone on the fence about Career Strategy Lab22:00 Why the human element matters most in hiring

    UXpeditious: A UserZoom Podcast
    How TruStage's design team operationalized UX research

    UXpeditious: A UserZoom Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2026 41:49


    Episode web page: https://bit.ly/4k9H4fT Episode summary: In this episode of Insights Unlocked, design and research leaders from TruStage share how they transformed UX research from an inconsistent, ad-hoc effort into a scalable, trusted practice embedded directly within their design team. Through a creative “cookbook” framework, the team built shared standards, accelerated time to insights, and increased stakeholder confidence—without sacrificing flexibility or creativity. What you'll learn Why TruStage shifted from siloed research teams to an embedded UX research model How a visual “cookbook” system helped standardize research without making it rigid The power of shared language and artifacts to build stakeholder trust and buy-in How repeatable research “meal plans” enabled faster pivots and better decision-making What it takes to scale research volume while improving quality and consistency Key themes and ideas From potluck to practice. The TruStage team describes their early research approach as a “potluck”—rich in individual expertise but lacking consistency. By designing a shared system, they moved toward a polished, repeatable research practice that stakeholders could rely on. The research cookbook framework. Using food metaphors, the team created: Recipes for designers and researchers that explain how to run specific studies Menus for stakeholders that clearly outline value, effort, and outcomes Meal plans that bundle methods together across stages of the product lifecycle This framework helped align internal teams and external partners around expectations, scope, and impact. Embedding research into everyday workflows. By building the system directly in Figma and connecting it to their agile tooling, TruStage made research easy to plan, prioritize, and execute—removing friction that previously slowed teams down. Scaling impact through trust and clarity. Clear artifacts and shared standards made research easier to explain, faster to approve, and more likely to be requested. As a result, the team more than doubled the number of research stories completed year over year and shifted from “selling” research to responding to demand. Empowering teams through co-creation. Rather than dictating a process from the top down, the team involved designers across experience levels in shaping the system. This created stronger ownership, higher adoption, and a culture where research felt both accessible and fun. Advice for teams operationalizing research Lean into tools your team already loves and uses daily Invest time in shared philosophy and language—not just templates Co-create systems with the people who will use them Treat research operations as an evolving practice, not a one-time deliverable Resources & links TruStage's website (https://www.trustage.com/) Nick Higbee on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-higbee-95540425/) Benny Brooks on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/thebenbrooks/) Betsy Drews on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsy-drews-4a30256b/) Natalie Padilla on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-weiner/) Nathan Isaacs on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanisaacs/) Learn more about Insights Unlocked: https://www.usertesting.com/podcast

    The Product Experience
    Inside modern game design - Cheryl Platz

    The Product Experience

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2026 51:15


    Cheryl Platz, Cheryl Platz, former UX Director for Riot Games, Scopely and Author of "The Game Development Strategy Guide," returns to The Product Experience to explore how video game design principles can transform product development. From her time at Riot Games and Marvel Strike Force to teaching at Carnegie Mellon, Cheryl shares hard-won lessons about player motivation, onboarding, and building products that thrive. Discover why competition is no longer the primary driver of modern gaming, how a children's game taught her about gendered design assumptions, and how she turned a catastrophic server outage into a UX win that made Reddit happy.Chapters06:03 Game development is cloud services plus filmmaking07:08 The problem with silos in game studios08:24 “Modern” games: live service, messy business models, shifting tastes09:58 Defining a game: players decide if you got it right11:41 Motivators of play and why they matter to product people12:26 Disney Friends: the moment a playtest rewrote the design17:19 Classic vs modern motivators: what technology changed20:41 The research that challenged the “games are competition” assumption22:36 Why game lessons translate to enterprise software (and where gamification goes wrong)25:19 Pro-social design: trust, safety and communities at scale28:33 Designing for companionship and shared experiences34:43 Onboarding as growth strategy, not a “nice to have”37:38 Journey mapping 100 levels: making invisible drop-off visible39:25 On-demand learning beats one-and-done tutorials41:58 Advice for people trying to break into games during layoffs44:36 Turning a sixth anniversary outage into a UX win Our HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She's currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She's worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath. Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury's. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group's Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He's the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager's Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon's music stores in the US & UK.

    Edtech Insiders
    Week in EdTech 02/04/26: Brisk's AI Curriculum Launch, Kira 2.0 LMS Expansion, Texas ESA Surge, UK $23M AI Pilot for SEND, Microsoft's Teacher AI Push, Data Battles in Schools, and More! Feat. Karl Rectanus of Really Great Reading & Dan Meyer of Amp

    Edtech Insiders

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2026 86:25 Transcription Available


    Send a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they unpack a fast-moving week in education. From AI-native curriculum battles and literacy leadership shifts to voucher surges and national AI pilots reshaping special education. ✨ Episode Highlights:[00:01:48] ASU+GSV preview and the expanding global EdTech ecosystem[00:06:25] The 2026 EdTech AI Map launches with 240+ companies[00:07:14] Brisk introduces AI-powered curriculum integration[00:09:04] The race to own the AI layer in schools[00:13:10] Data ownership becomes the key AI battleground[00:16:59] Kira 2.0 expands into a full AI-native LMS[00:21:16] Texas ESA applications surge past 61,000[00:30:20] UK launches $23M AI pilot for special needs[00:33:40] Microsoft invests in AI teacher training[00:34:59] Google expands Gemini in education[00:35:57] UX emerges as EdTech's new advantage[00:36:43] The AI grad profile prioritizes human skills Plus, special guests:[00:38:33] Karl Rectanus, CEO of Really Great Reading, on literacy outcomes, science of reading implementation, and scaling impact [01:02:22] Dan Meyer, VP of User Growth of Amplify on AI skepticism, social AI in math classrooms, and keeping learning human-centered

    The Librarian Linkover
    Rachel Wilken - Associate Faculty at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, Indianapolis

    The Librarian Linkover

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2026 40:51


    Rachel Wilken, Associate Faculty at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering, Indianapolis, discusses informatics, UX and AI. During our conversation, Rachel mentioned that she started Columbus Design Collective.

    This Day in AI Podcast
    Am I Even Needed Anymore? GLM-5, Agentic Loops & AI Productivity Psychosis - EP99.34

    This Day in AI Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2026 63:07


    Join Simtheory: https://simtheory.aiRegister for the STILL RELEVANT tour: https://simulationtheory.ai/16c0d1db-a8d0-4ac9-bae3-d25074589a80GLM-5 just dropped and it's trained entirely on Huawei chips – zero US hardware dependency. Meanwhile, we're having existential crises about whether we're even needed anymore. In this episode, we break down China's new frontier model that's competing with Opus 4.6 and Codex at a fraction of the price, why agentic loops are making 200K context windows the sweet spot (sorry, million-token dreams), and the very real phenomenon of AI productivity psychosis. We dive into why coding-optimized models are secretly winning at everything, the Harvard study confirming AI doesn't reduce work – it intensifies it, and the exodus of safety researchers from XAI, Anthropic, and OpenAI (spoiler: they're not giving back their shares). Plus: Mike's arm is failing from too much mouse usage, we debate whether the chatbot era is actually fading, and yes – there's a safety researcher diss track called "Is This The End?"CHAPTERS:0:00 Intro - Is This The End? (Song Preview)0:11 Still Relevant Tour Update & NASA Listener Callout1:42 AI Productivity Psychosis: The Pressure of Infinite Capability4:25 GLM-5 Breakdown: China's New Frontier Model on Huawei Chips7:24 First Impressions: GLM-5 in Agentic Loops9:48 Why Cheap Models Matter & The New Model War14:09 Codex Vibe Shift: Is OpenAI Winning?16:24 Does Context Window Size Even Matter Anymore?22:27 The Parallelization Problem & Cognitive Overload27:27 Mike's Arm Injury & The Voice Input Pivot31:17 Single-Threaded Work & The 95% Problem35:06 UX is Unsolved: Rolling Back Agentic Mistakes38:45 Harvard Study: AI Doesn't Reduce Work, It Intensifies It44:01 How AI Erodes Company Structure & Why Adoption Takes Years50:14 My AI vs Your AI: Household Debates50:43 The Safety Researcher Exodus: XAI, Anthropic, OpenAI56:49 Final Thoughts: Are We All Still Relevant?59:04 BONUS: Full "Is This The End?" Diss TrackThanks for listening. Like & Sub. Links above for the Still Relevant Tour signup and Simtheory. GLM-5 is here, your productivity psychosis is valid, and the safety researchers are becoming poets. xoxo

    PodRocket - A web development podcast from LogRocket
    How developer platforms fail (and how yours won't) with Russ Miles

    PodRocket - A web development podcast from LogRocket

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 46:02


    Russ Miles joins the show to unpack why developer platforms fail and how to rethink platform engineering through the lens of flow of value rather than factory-style developer productivity metaphors. Russ explains why every organization already has an internal developer platform, and why treating it as platform as a product changes everything. The conversation explores cognitive load and cognitive burden, how to design around strong feedback loops, and why the OODA loop mindset helps teams make better decisions closer to development time. They discuss the risks of overloading pipelines and CI/CD systems, the tension between shipping fast and handling security vulnerabilities in a regulated environment, and how to “shift left” without simply dumping responsibility onto developers. Drawing on lessons from Rod Johnson, the Spring Framework, TDD, and modern software engineering as described by Dave Farley, Russ reframes platforms as systems that support experimentation through the scientific method. The episode also touches on AI assisted coding, developer focus, and how thoughtful developer experience and DX surveys can prevent burnout while improving value delivery. Links Website: https://www.russmiles.com Substack: https://russmiles.substack.com X: https://x.com/russmiles Resources Talk: https://www.russmiles.com/platform-engineering-failure-keynote Substack article: https://russmiles.substack.com/p/developer-platform-devrel-listen We want to hear from you! How did you find us? Did you see us on Twitter? In a newsletter? Or maybe we were recommended by a friend? Fill out our listener survey! https://t.co/oKVAEXipxu Let us know by sending an email to our producer, Elizabeth, at elizabeth.becz@logrocket.com, or tweet at us at PodRocketPod. Check out our newsletter! https://blog.logrocket.com/the-replay-newsletter/ Follow us. Get free stickers. Follow us on Apple Podcasts, fill out this form, and we'll send you free PodRocket stickers! What does LogRocket do? LogRocket provides AI-first session replay and analytics that surfaces the UX and technical issues impacting user experiences. Start understanding where your users are struggling by trying it for free at LogRocket.com. Try LogRocket for free today. Chapters 00:00 What Is a Developer Platform 03:00 You Already Have a Platform 08:00 Cognitive Load vs Cognitive Burden 12:00 Feedback Loops and TDD 18:00 Pipelines, Security and OODA Loops 26:00 The Factory Metaphor Problem 31:00 Modern Software Engineering and Value Delivery 40:00 Avoiding Burnout Through Better DX 46:00 The Software Enchiridion and Final Thoughts

    Limited Supply
    S15 E6: Website Design Lessons From the Best Brands

    Limited Supply

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026 42:17


    Most brands spend all their time obsessing over ads and creative and completely ignore the website experience that actually converts the traffic. In this solo episode, Nik does a live teardown of multiple ecom websites and breaks down what separates a “nice-looking Shopify site” from a site that actually drives revenue. He walks through the modules, UX decisions, copy, navigation, and merchandising details that most brands overlook, but that make all the difference in conversion. Nik covers why lifestyle photography and positioning matter more than aesthetics, how the best brands use push-and-pull storytelling, and the small micro-copy moments that guide customers toward checkout. He also dives into what high-performing supplement funnels do better than everyone else, including social proof and PDP structure. If you want to build a site that feels premium, converts colder traffic, and actually earns the next click, this episode is for you. Roku pioneered streaming on TV. We connect users to the content they love, enable content publishers to build and monetize large audiences, and provide advertisers with unique capabilities to engage consumers. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠advertising.roku.com/limitedsupply⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want more DTC advice? Check out the Limited Supply YouTube page for more insider tips.   Check out the Nik's DTC newsletter: https://bit.ly/3mOUJMJ   And if you're looking for an instant stream of on-demand DTC gold, check out the Limited Supply Slack Channel for Nik's most unfiltered, uncensored thoughts.   Follow Nik:Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mrsharma