Don’t Build for Your Dog: The Case for Human-Centered Design in a World Obsessed with AI

When founders design products for themselves, or worse, for their “dog,” failure is almost inevitable. In this episode of The Disruptor Podcast, host John Kundtz sits down with Oksana Kovalchuk, founder and CEO of ANODA. This leading UX/UI design agency has guided more than 200 startups through Techstars and beyond.From writing her first line of code at age five to mentoring thousands of entrepreneurs worldwide, Oksana has seen the same mistakes repeat themselves:👉 Building solutions for a problem only one person has👉Scaling too soon—or not thinking about scale at all👉Adding endless features instead of releasing an MVP👉Trusting AI “hallucinations” instead of real customer feedbackOksana explains why walking in the user’s shoes is the single most critical step in building products that work, scale, and actually get adopted. She shares practical frameworks, from card sorting to real-world user validation, that keep startups from wasting months (and millions) on products no one wants.Listeners will also hear:1. Why relying on AI without data or training leads to dead ends2. How to use the “pizza slice” approach to launch MVPs in three months or less 3. Why ignoring cultural and regulatory differences can sink global expansionThis episode is a must-listen for founders, product managers, and anyone tired of bloated apps that ignore the human experience.To learn more about Oksana and ANODA, visit her website and connect with Oksana on LinkedIn or follow her on X.Comments or Questions? Send us a textSupport the show***Engage, Share, and Connect!Spread the Word: Valuable insights are best when shared. Share this episode with peers who may benefit from it if you find it insightful.Your Feedback Matters: How did this episode resonate with you? Share your thoughts, insights, or questions. Your engagement enriches our community.Stay Updated: Don’t miss out on further insights.Subscribe: You can listen to our podcast, read our blog posts on Medium, Substack, and LinkedIn, and watch our YouTube channel.Collaborate with The Disruptor and connect with John Kundtz.Got a disruptive story to share?  We’re scouting for remarkable podcast guests. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey. Together, let’s redefine the status quo!