A Digital Strategy Podcast

💡 Key Topics: Figma's July IPO and the pivot to positioning itself as an AI company, right down to the software description The claim that ~80% of Config talks are now AI, and whether that's a good or exhausting thing What going public adds to the program: a new investor and analyst session Why 3Blue1Brown, a math channel, is speaking at a design conference Last year's product slate (Figma Make, Figma Buzz) and where those tools actually landed Why Figma's AI feels painfully slow, and why some people are leaving for faster platforms The talks that actually stuck: sentient car-factory robots, Nicole McLaughlin's upcycled fashion, the mouth-roof accessibility device The Weavy acquisition and what node-based generative tooling adds to Figma Anthropic on the Config lineup, and the design-tool overlap (they run on Webflow too) The real question: with the IPO and the AI rebrand, is Config still worth the trip? 📖 Chapters: 0:06 — Heading to Config (and forgetting to pack) 0:31 — What Config is, and why the IPO changes it 1:47 — The big theme: AI, AI, AI 2:00 — Is Figma an AI company now? 2:56 — The new investor and analyst session 3:34 — Last year's drops: Make, Buzz, and the rest 4:00 — Why Figma's AI feels painfully slow 4:46 — AI fatigue vs. hoping for real use cases 5:42 — The talks they still remember: robots and upcycled fashion 6:12 — Hardware, accessibility, and Config as a tech conference 6:53 — Content and community-building talks 8:03 — Why Config matters for a B2B design shop 8:45 — The Weavy acquisition 9:28 — Anthropic at Config (and why they're on Webflow) 10:43 — Rating the conference before they go 11:46 — The verdict: a six and a seven 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on design, web strategy, and building better digital businesses. #figma #figmaconfig #config2025 #figmaai #designconference #uxdesign #uidesign #designtools #figmamake #aidesign #b2bdesign #designindustry LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

💡 Key Topics: Why Italy was primed for this: arriving late to the Industrial Revolution and deciding to win on design instead Camillo's 1908 factory and the "Olivetti style" that predated Apple's design manifesto by 40 years Adriano embedding painters, architects, and writers as full-time co-builders, with design reporting to the top Ivrea as the original Google campus: housing, clinics, libraries, Pasolini lecturing workers at lunch, a five-day week and maternity leave decades early The Programma 101, the first desktop personal computer, and NASA buying it to help plan Apollo 11 The documented Steve Jobs connection: the 1981 "Italian Idea" conference, Bellini, Sottsass, and his pilgrimage to Ivrea The mysterious death on a train, and what happened to the company once the visionary was gone The real lesson: design-led is an operating model, not an aesthetic, and the culture dies if you never institutionalize it 📖 Chapters: 0:07 — The comment that started the rabbit hole 1:25 — How Olivetti made Italy an innovator 2:24 — Camillo and Italy's first typewriter factory 3:00 — Why Camillo looked to America 4:24 — 350,000 lire and a country playing catch-up 5:48 — The M1, and sending Adriano to the US in 1925 7:24 — Adriano takes over and hires artists as co-builders 8:39 — The backdrop: fascism, Futurism, and Rationalism 10:36 — The 1958 "Olivetti style" manifesto 11:28 — MoMA, and designing a whole society 12:56 — Ivrea as the original Google campus 13:43 — Where the idea came from: a double-minority origin 16:19 — A five-day week and maternity leave, decades early 17:30 — Exile and the Community Movement 19:30 — The Programma 101 and NASA's Apollo 11 order 20:48 — The Steve Jobs connection and the "Italian Idea" conference 24:12 — Jobs in exile: Italy, Apple Stores, and the 1997 return 27:11 — Why Apple doesn't look like Olivetti (enter Braun) 29:31 — Death on a train, and the conspiracy theories 32:17 — The real lesson and Italy's buried Silicon Valley   🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on design, web strategy, and building better digital businesses. LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

In this episode: Clarity beats cleverness: define the goal and the KPI before the design Structure is the real UX: information architecture as the invisible foundation Speed is a design decision: real speed, perceived speed, and the three-second rule Building for the person who knows nothing about you, starting with ICP work Why AI-generated copy keeps missing the mark Every page needs one job, including the homepage as a traffic mediator Why the first step is always an audit against your ICP Chapters: 0:08 — Series recap and back to basics 1:15 — Principle 1: Clarity beats cleverness 3:50 — Principle 2: Structure is the real UX 6:00 — Principle 3: Speed is a design decision 8:40 — Principle 4: Build for the person who knows nothing 13:46 — Principle 5: Every page needs one job 17:17 — Recap and the first move: do an audit New episodes weekly. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

The worst design system project is one that starts too early. Wrong timing, wrong scope, wrong people and it dies in a folder somewhere, untouched. In this episode, Symon and Marcello break down the three signals that tell you you're actually ready for a design system, the two signs you're definitely not, and how to scope a version one that people will actually use. They also cover the build or buy decision, and why adoption matters more than architecture. This is Part 3 of a 3-part series on design systems. 💡 Key Topics: The 3 readiness signals: when a design system actually makes sense 2 signs you're starting too early (and will waste the investment) Build, buy, or borrow: product systems vs. web experience systems Who needs to be in the room beyond design and engineering How to scope v1 so it ships in weeks, not months The 90-day check: how to know if it's working Why the first step is always an audit 📖 Chapters: 0:06 — Series recap and what we're covering today 0:56 — The worst design system project starts too early 1:30 — Signal 1: Multiple teams making decisions independently 2:22 — Signal 2: You're scaling, rebranding, or rebuilding 3:55 — Signal 3: Recreating instead of creating 4:30 — Not ready: your brand isn't stable yet 5:33 — Not ready: no one to own it 6:09 — Build, buy, or borrow 7:49 — Web experience systems: Relume and Osmo Supply 8:27 — Who should manage the design system 9:39 — Scoping version one: start with what you rebuild every time 10:48 — The most common scoping mistake 12:05 — The 90-day check: is anyone actually using it? 12:57 — Start with an audit 13:33 — It doesn't have to be perfect. It has to exist. LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

💡 Key Topics: Why most agencies get stuck and can't scale past the founder How pricing affects client lifetime, team stability, and the work itself The story behind going from $2,500/month to $45,000/month and back down Why revenue is a vanity metric and what to measure instead Employee churn as the red flag most clients ignore What niching down actually looks like in practice Why mutual respect is the real foundation of a great agency-client relationship   📖 Chapters: 0:00 — How most agencies fail (it's not the work) 0:54 — Eli's background: SaaS, e-commerce, and the leap to agencies 3:52 — Starting MatterMade and the rollercoaster of scaling 5:04 — How an agency operator ended up running an accounting firm 8:26 — The three stuck moments every agency founder faces 12:25 — Why intent matters: choosing to operate as a business 13:38 — Pricing is everything: how it shapes the entire business 17:08 — Client lifetime value: from 7 months to 2.5 years 19:05 — Why agency profitability matters to clients 20:40 — How to vet agency health before signing 22:40 — Revenue vs. profit: what real scale looks like 25:10 — Niching down: why it's scary and why it works 30:58 — What a real agency-client partnership looks like 34:16 — One hard truth and one piece of encouragement   🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on design, web strategy, and building better digital businesses. #agencygrowth #agencyprofitability #B2Bagency #clientretention #agencybusiness #pricingstrategy #digitalagency LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

Key Topics: • The Lego analogy: the simplest way to explain a design system to anyone • What's actually inside a design system: foundations, components, patterns, and documentation • How designers, developers, and product managers use a design system day to day • Why a brand guide and a design system are not the same thing • Design system governance: who owns what, and what happens without it • Opinionated vs. flexible: how Intuit decides what teams can and can't change • Why adoption is a culture problem, not a technical one • The ROI question: because it always comes back to ROI   Chapters: 0:00 — The Lego analogy for design systems 0:42 — Intro: Part 2 of the design system series 1:35 — Avi's role on Intuit's design platform team 3:08 — How the GenUX team serves internal business units 5:04 — Catching AI inconsistency before it scaled out of control 6:09 — Explaining a design system to someone who's never heard the term 8:42 — Why every new brick has to work for every set 9:52 — What a design system actually touches inside an organization 10:19 — Benefits: consistency, trust, and a shared language 11:47 — Drawbacks: slowing down in a world that moves fast 12:52 — Does a design system help resolve conflict between teams? 14:06 — When teams build outside the system (and why that's useful feedback) 15:55 — Fixed vs. flex: what's opinionated and what's open 17:20 — Advice for smaller companies: know your why 19:04 — The communication breakdown that kills adoption 19:52 — Getting people to actually commit: governance and culture 20:08 — Why it always comes back to ROI 22:42 — One thing to take away if you've never thought about design systems 25:08 — Symon's takeaway: know the why before you build 25:28 — Marcello's takeaway: the Lego analogy 25:55 — Where to find Avi 26:35 — What's next: Part 3 on building a design system   🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on design, web strategy, and building better digital businesses. LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

Key Topics: Why AI is accelerating brand chaos at the mid-market level The difference between a brand guide and a design system What design debt looks like, and why you don't feel it until it breaks Single source of truth: why every team having its own components is killing your brand Why speed without systems is just expensive chaos Chapters: 0:16 — Why design systems are blowing up right now 1:12 — How AI is accelerating brand chaos 3:22 — What brand drift actually looks like in organizations 5:18 — Is this a design problem or a systems problem? 7:20 — The single source of truth problem 9:30 — What design debt actually costs 12:26 — Why you don't feel it until it breaks 13:41 — What to do if you're moving too fast 14:11 — Speed without a system is just expensive chaos 15:52 — Fix it upstream, not downstream 16:51 — The only real starting point 17:20 — One thing to take away 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on design, web strategy, and building better digital businesses. LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

What we cover in this episode: 🔹 [0:00] — The verdict: What actually happened in the Meta/YouTube lawsuit 🔹 [2:16] — Kaye's story and why starting social media at age 6 matters 🔹 [3:55] — Internal Meta documents: "If we want to win big with teens, we must bring in tweens" 🔹 [7:50] — Section 230: The 30-year legal shield that finally cracked 🔹 [9:06] — Engineering addiction through design — and why that's different from designing for engagement 🔹 [11:07] — Infinite scroll, autoplay, and push notifications: tools or weapons? 🔹 [15:14] — Why this is a bellwether trial and what comes next 🔹 [18:02] — The Big Tobacco parallel: history is repeating itself 🔹 [22:27] — How this affects adults too: deleting Instagram, capping Reddit, and reclaiming attention 🔹 [26:36] — What should Meta do now?   This case isn't just about one family. It's a signal that real UX decisions made by real teams carry legal, ethical, and societal weight. If you work in tech, product, or design, this episode is essential listening. 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss our next episode LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

In this episode: • How design evolved from a contained discipline in 2006 to absorbing everything by 2020 • Why low-code, no-code, the gig economy, and nearshoring created a race to the bottom on execution • The three disciplines of market leaders — and which one actually resists commoditization • How network effects are reshaping agencies, product teams, and businesses • Why focus is the only real differentiator left   Chapters • 00:00 The Evolution of Design and Technology • 04:17 The Impact of AI on Design • 09:33 Redefining the Value of Design • 15:18 Focus and Niching Down in Design • 21:24 Operational Excellence, Product Leadership, and Customer Intimacy • 25:45 Navigating the Network Effect in Modern Business   Follow Tennis: tennis.digital @design_tennis LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

 Key  topics Definition of technical debt in web development How small decisions compound over time Real-world examples of web debt Strategies for auditing and addressing web debt   Chapters 00:00 Technical Debt in Web Development 00:19 Understanding Incremental Web Debt 03:19 The Impact of Technical Debt 08:21 Real-World Examples of Technical Debt 14:49 Addressing Technical Debt 17:42 Final Thoughts and Takeaways 20:09 outro.mp4   Resources Tennis - Web Design & Development Agency - https://tennis.co Symon Oliver on LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/symonoliver Marcello Gortana on LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/marcellogortana LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

Notes Why does a website project that everyone agrees is needed keep dying in the finance meeting? Usually it's not the budget — it's the pitch. Symon and Marcello break down how to reframe a web investment as a business initiative, not a creative one, and walk through exactly how to build a case that finance can actually approve. Topics covered: current cost audit (hosting, content ops, lost leads), opportunity cost of inaction, competitive and technical risk, how to connect a website to revenue (and when you can't), OPEX vs. CAPEX considerations, phase-based budget structuring, and how to build a measurement plan before you ask for money.   Chapter List (YouTube + Podcast) 0:00 — Intro: Why website projects die in the finance meeting 1:41 — The business case is already there — it's a framing problem 2:20 — Why most website business cases fail 4:13 — Looking at risk: compliance, accessibility, and fines 5:13 — Current costs: what your website is actually costing the business 7:00 — Opportunity cost: the website as a go-to-market tool 7:46 — Risk of inaction: technical debt and competitive positioning 9:00 — The investment ask: phasing, fiscal year alignment, flexibility 9:25 — Defining project objectives from day one 10:30 — How to connect a website to revenue (and when you can't) 12:13 — Content bottlenecks as the baseline business case 13:34 — Page speed: the metric that impacts both UX and search 14:34 — Indirect value: brand credibility, talent, partner perception 16:22 — How Tennis grew its own inbound with SEO and AEO 19:10 — When the full budget won't get approved: the phase-based ask 21:00 — What to do first if you need to pitch in the next 60 days 22:28 — Build the measurement plan before you ask for the budget 23:00 — OPEX vs. CAPEX: how finance wants to spend matters 24:49 — Final takeaway: stop pitching a website LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

Most projects don't fail because the team couldn't build. They fail because the team tried to build everything at once. In this episode, Symon and Marcello break down why project scope creep and feature bloat are the real killers of product development timelines—and what to do about it. They walk through how to run a fast complexity audit before committing to any digital project, why a discovery phase and product requirements document (PRD) belong on every project regardless of size, and the difference between a proof of concept and an MVP (they're not the same thing, and confusing them is expensive). Whether you're scoping a website redesign, building your first web application, or evaluating a vendor for a complex B2B product—this one will save you from a very avoidable mistake. In this episode Why ambitious timelines and bloated scope are a reliable path to failure  The complexity audit: how to pressure-test a project before you commit  Proof of concept vs MVP  what each one is actually for  What the Think Phase and a proper PRD do that no kickoff call can  Four rules for phased delivery that actually ships Chapters 0:00 — Intro 0:36 — You can't boil the ocean 3:25 — The complexity trap 5:19 — Feature bloat in the real world 7:57 — Proof of concept vs MVP 10:37 — The discovery phase and the PRD 14:43 — Four rules for phased project delivery 19:31 — Wrap About Tennis Tennis is a B2B Web Design and Product Development Agency based in Toronto. We help mid-market teams turn complex digital problems into staged, ROI-driven builds—where each phase moves something real and earns the right to expand. tennis.digital → Follow us on LinkedIn LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

What We Cover Why delivery on time and on budget is not the same as project success The 'meeting of the minds' problem: how misaligned expectations sink projects before kickoff Free text fields vs. structured data — and why that distinction matters for every dashboard you want to build Why AI makes strategy more important, not less: if you don't know where you're going, it'll get you there fast The warehouse problem: why the people closest to the work always know something leadership doesn't Technology adoption as the real success metric — and what training actually needs to look like How to run discovery when clients say it isn't necessary (and why that response is a red flag) Past state / future state: mapping where you are vs. where you want to be before touching a platform Key Takeaways Technical decisions are business decisions. If they're being made without input from operations, finance, or end users, the scope is already wrong. Shadow IT is a symptom. When people build workarounds, it's because the official system didn't solve their actual problem — and your data is now fractured across both. Discovery is not optional. If a client won't let you talk to stakeholders before scoping, they are setting you up to build the wrong thing with confidence. The goal is adoption, not deployment. A project isn't done when it's launched. It's done when people are using it and it's doing what it was supposed to do. Slow down to go fast. The foundational work — workflow mapping, stakeholder interviews, requirements definition — is the work that prevents the $80K change order. About the Guest Deborah Kaminetzky is the founder of Defacto Project Management. She brings a background in law, mediation, and corporate operations to high-complexity technical implementations — specializing in ERP, CRM, and platform projects where business requirements and technical execution need to stay tightly aligned. She works across industries and is known for being the person in the room willing to ask the questions nobody else will. Website: https://defactoprojectmanagement.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-kaminetzky-pmp-fractional-project-manager/ About the Hosts Symon Oliver, RGD is Design Director and Marcello Gortana is Executive Director at Tennis — a B2B web design and product development agency. The Weekly Set covers the decisions, patterns, and hard truths behind technical projects, vendor relationships, and agency operations. Chapter List 00:00 — Navigating Complex Technical Projects 02:16 — Common Failure Patterns in Project Management 05:52 — The Role of AI in Project Efficiency 10:20 — Understanding Client Needs and Workflows 14:45 — The Importance of Business Outcomes in Tech Decisions 18:21 — Breaking Down Communication Barriers 21:58 — Defining Project Success and Adoption 25:48 — The Foundation of Successful Projects LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

Product teams don't miss deadlines because they're slow. They miss them because no one ever defined what "done" actually means. In this episode, Symon and Marcello dig into the structural and cultural gaps that quietly blow up product timelines — and what you can borrow from the services world to fix it. What we cover: No governance = no finish line. Without a roadmap and defined milestones, scope is infinite. Teams can take as many liberties as they want with what counts as complete — because nothing ever officially is. You can't think and make at the same time. Conceiving a feature and building it simultaneously is one of the most common (and costly) product anti-patterns. Strategic thinking has to happen before the work starts, not during. Agile isn't a cure-all. Every Agile project Symon and Marcello have joined without managing themselves has introduced friction. Scrum roles, dashboards, ceremony overhead — it's not wrong, but it's also not free. Feature creep needs a scorecard. We reference the RICE framework (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort) as a baseline for evaluating whether any feature is actually worth building — before anyone opens Figma. The HiPPO effect is real. When the highest-paid person's opinion drives the roadmap, you get flavor-of-the-week features and no strategic coherence. Investor-clients can quietly hijack your roadmap. When early clients are also investors, their feature requests carry disproportionate weight — often at the cost of actual product direction. Stakeholder alignment is your first deliverable. Before scope, before design, before a single line of code — get everyone at the table and make the plan the first collaborative output. Resources mentioned: RICE Scoring Framework (Reach, Impact, Confidence, Effort) r/buildinpublic on Reddit Chapters 00:00 Intro — Why speed is the promise, delay is the reality 00:43 Who we are and what we're covering today 01:21 Deliverables world vs. product world — a culture clash 02:10 Root cause #1: No roadmap, no governance 03:15 Root cause #2: Thinking and making at the same time 04:00 Root cause #3: Agile's hidden baggage 04:30 Root cause #4: Feature creep and RICE scoring 05:16 The HiPPO effect — when the highest-paid opinion runs the roadmap 06:20 What mature product orgs do differently 07:14 The investor-client trap — when funding steers features 08:00 Why teams struggle with "done" — too many stakeholders 09:30 What happens after launch (the part nobody plans for) 10:40 Sequencing as a discipline — installing a mini operating system 11:36 Practical advice: where to start depending on your lifecycle stage 13:29 Stakeholder alignment IS a deliverable 14:22 Hard truths and closing takeaways LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

Key topics: The concept of the SaaS apocalypse and its driving factors How AI tools like Claude Code, Claude, ClawdBot and others are enabling bespoke app development The declining economics of SaaS subscription models The impact of AI on employment, stock markets, and investor behavior The importance of UX and integration in product development Strategic shifts for SaaS companies: focusing on core features and tight integrations The probable future: distributed, fragmented software ecosystems with interoperable components Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to the SaaS apocalypse and its relevance 02:17 - How ChatGPT and AI tools are simplifying development workflows 05:04 - The disruption of traditional SaaS pricing and value propositions 07:55 - What is the SaaS apocalypse? Overview and core fears 09:20 - Impact on stock markets and investor sentiment 11:27 - AI's rapid evolution and implications for white-collar jobs 12:23 - Key technical drivers: Claude code, agent reasoning, and automation 14:49 - Lowering costs and decentralizing software creation 16:05 - Consumer versus enterprise AI adoption challenges 18:14 - Adoption rates in AI: lessons from color TV history 19:03 - User behavior trends and incremental AI adoption 21:04 - Market shifts: smaller, focused tools vs. bloated platforms 22:36 - Importance of UX and strategic integrations in product success 24:06 - Building with network effects: integrations over feature bloat 25:37 - The future landscape: distributed, interoperable, fragmentated SaaS ecosystem LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

TakeawaysTotal cost of ownership includes hidden costs like hosting and labor.Organizations often underestimate the costs associated with website redesigns.Hosting costs can vary significantly and are often overlooked.Labor costs related to managing technology can add up quickly.RFPs rarely include detailed descriptions of hosting and management costs.Cultural attitudes towards websites affect how costs are perceived.Incremental delivery can help manage costs more effectively.Clients often lack awareness of their total spending on technology.Effective communication is key to understanding project costs.Managed hosting can provide peace of mind despite higher costs. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Total Cost of Ownership04:28 Understanding Hidden Costs in Website Redesigns10:16 The Role of Hosting and Labor Costs16:14 Challenges in RFPs and Cost Management22:08 Cultural Perspectives on Website Value25:55 Hard Truths About Total Cost of Ownership LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

TakeawaysOrganizations often lack a structured way to evaluate vendors.A scorecard can help monitor vendor performance over time.Identifying triggers for audits can prevent larger issues.Communication is a critical factor in vendor relationships.Documentation is essential for transparency and accountability.Systemic issues can often be masked by one-off problems.Regular evaluations can help maintain healthy vendor relationships.Quality drift should be monitored to ensure standards are upheld.Establishing clear criteria for success is vital.Future planning can alleviate pressure during vendor evaluations. Chapters00:00 Evaluating Vendor Relationships01:56 Understanding Audits and Scorecards03:04 Ongoing Evaluation of Vendor Success05:51 Identifying Triggers for Vendor Audits09:03 Distinguishing Between One-off Issues and Systemic Problems10:41 Establishing Evaluation Criteria13:40 The Importance of Communication and Reporting14:57 Key Categories for Vendor Evaluation LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

TakeawaysThe importance of a flexible process in project management.Documentation is critical for continuity and clarity.Scope should be viewed as a hypothesis, not a contract.Effective communication is key to navigating project risks.Governance helps promote decision clarity and accountability.Understanding client expectations is crucial for project success.Regularly reviewing and updating processes is essential for improvement. Chapters00:00 Introduction and Weekly Recap11:14 The Importance of Documentation in Processes13:33 Process Philosophy and Governance16:27 Navigating Project Risks and Flexibility19:25 The Role of Communication in Project Management22:14 Understanding Scope and Change Management25:14 Final Thoughts on Process and Client Relationships LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

TakeawaysMVPs aren't about shipping fast, they're about learning fast.The term MVP has been misunderstood and often co-opted.Validation should come from real user engagement, not speculation.A good MVP strategy involves identifying risky assumptions and defining success metrics.An MVP can be a scrappy version of a product, but it must still show commitment to the idea. Chapters00:00 Introduction to MVPs01:28 Understanding the Misconceptions of MVPs06:37 Real-World Examples of MVPs09:38 MVPs in Product Thinking11:11 When to Use an MVP14:19 The Importance of Speed in MVP Development15:30 Crafting an Effective MVP Strategy24:01 Hard Truths About MVPs29:36 Conclusion and Key Takeaways LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

TakeawaysThe trend of single user apps will continue to grow.Compliance will increasingly involve product and design teams.Dynamic web pages may become a reality this year.Websites should be treated as living systems, not static products.Customer journeys are becoming more complex and non-linear.Sales tech stack integration with websites is essential for success.AI will play a significant role in web design and functionality.Accessibility compliance will become a standard expectation.The importance of design systems will increase as technology evolves.Understanding customer data and behavior is crucial for effective marketing. Chapters00:00 Welcome Back and Personal Updates01:53 Predictions for 2026: Trends in Web and Product Design05:38 The Rise of Compliance in Design09:38 Dynamic Web Pages and AI Integration13:18 Websites as Living Systems19:13 Customer Journeys: A Non-Linear Approach24:59 Sales Tech Stack Integration with Websites LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

TakeawaysDesign is interpretive and has a rich history.Aesthetics is often mistaken for the entirety of design.Design involves planning and execution, not just visuals.The complexity of a project influences the design approach.Research and problem identification are crucial in design.De-risking the design process helps in decision-making.Accuracy in design outcomes is essential for success.Agility allows for effective pivots in design projects.Documentation aids in maintaining clarity during pivots.Design should be evaluated beyond just aesthetics.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Design Perspectives02:49 Defining Design: A Multifaceted Approach06:12 The Four Pillars of Design08:59 Aesthetics vs. Functionality in Design11:48 De-risking the Design Process14:41 The Importance of Accuracy in Design18:00 Agility and Flexibility in Design20:56 Conclusion: The Depth of Design Beyond Aesthetics LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

TakeawaysWebsites can now serve as growth engines.Defining clear goals is crucial for website success.Sales and marketing teams must collaborate effectively.Data analytics is essential for informed decision-making.A strong content strategy is foundational for growth.Eliminating unnecessary tools can streamline processes.Long-term planning is vital for website design.Understanding lead movement through the organization is key.Integrating technology into marketing strategies enhances effectiveness.The website should be part of a larger growth ecosystem. Chapters00:00 Website as a Growth Engine07:32 Defining Website Goals and Success Metrics08:00 Understanding SaaS and B2B Marketing Dynamics10:18 The Importance of Metrics in Marketing12:38 Integrating Website with Growth Ecosystem16:12 Sales and Marketing Collaboration18:21 Essential Technologies for Growth27:50 Redesigning Websites for Sales and Marketing34:16 The Hard Truths of Website Strategy LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

AEC is facing a perfect storm + digital disruption. Johanna Hoffman (Oomph Group) explains what’s happening, why it won’t revert, and how firms can reposition, align BD/marketing, and turn their website into a growth engine.Find Johanna Hoffman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanna-hoffmann-b35b251/ Find Oomph Group: www.oomphgroup.com Find Marcello Gortana: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcellogortana/ Find Symon Oliver: https://www.linkedin.com/in/symonoliver/ Find Tennis: www.designtennis.com   LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

TakeawaysAssociations have unique digital needs due to their member-driven nature.Building in public can lead to valuable feedback.Monolithic systems are tightly coupled and may limit flexibility.Modular systems allow for more customization and scalability.Portals are essential for member engagement and retention.Requirements gathering is crucial for effective technology solutions.Mapping out existing systems can reveal inefficiencies.Testing software before commitment is vital for long-term success.Associations often struggle with outdated technology solutions.The right tech stack depends on the specific needs of the organization.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Building in Public05:23 Understanding Associations and Their Digital Needs07:10 Exploring the Tech Landscape for Associations11:20 Monolithic vs. Modular Systems17:50 The Importance of Portals in Member Engagement20:01 Requirements Gathering and Future Planning LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

TakeawaysBuyers often mistrust vendors due to past negative experiences.A comprehensive brief is essential for effective agency selection.Understanding your needs is crucial before searching for an agency.Evaluating an agency's process can de-risk your investment.Outdated portfolios can indicate a lack of current expertise.Cultural fit is important for a successful partnership.Asking for recent references can provide insight into agency performance.Support philosophy should be clear and value-driven.Measuring success should be a collaborative effort with clear metrics.Agencies that own the CMS they sell may not have your best interests in mind. Chapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates02:37 Understanding Buyer Mistrust in the Industry05:30 Selecting the Right Design and Development Agency08:38 The Importance of a Good Brief11:32 Evaluating Agency Processes and Expertise14:33 Analyzing Portfolios and Case Studies17:23 The Balance of Specialization and Generalization21:51 The Importance of Transparency in Development24:13 Cultural Fit: Aligning Values with Vendors25:18 Support Philosophy: Planning for Post-Launch27:04 Key Questions to Ask Before Hiring34:47 Evaluating Technology and Vendor Intent37:25 Recap: Navigating the Vendor Selection Process LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

TakeawaysThe more plugins you use, the higher the cybersecurity risk.WordPress remains a dominant CMS but has its challenges.Webflow is emerging as a leading web experience platform.Open source CMS can lead to maintenance overhead.Site builders are suitable for small businesses but may not scale well.Headless CMS is ideal for complex, multi-platform content delivery.Enterprise CMS offers governance and workflow benefits but at a high cost.The editor experience is critical for content management success.Chapters01:51 Understanding CMS Platforms and Categories05:57 What to Look for in a CMS11:42 Evaluating Traditional CMS Options16:26 The Rise of Webflow and Migration from Drupal20:01 Debating the Pros and Cons of Drupal21:32 Visual Development Platforms: Framer and Webflow26:58 Headless CMS: The Future of Content Management28:27 Enterprise CMS and Digital Experience Platforms (DXP) LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

TakeawaysExplore different types of CMS: traditional, headless, and enterprise.Understand the pros and cons of each CMS type.Learn what to look for and avoid in a CMS.Discover the scalability of different CMS platforms.Gain insights into CMS suitability for various business needs.Symon Oliver shares his expertise on CMS.Marcello Gortana discusses CMS categories.The importance of choosing the right CMS for your business.Common misunderstandings about CMSs.Why open source CMS might not always be the best choice.Title OptionsNavigating the CMS LandscapeUnderstanding CMS TypesChoosing the Right CMS for Your BusinessThe Pros and Cons of CMS PlatformsScalability in CMS: What You Need to KnowInsights from Symon Oliver and Marcello GortanaAvoiding Common CMS PitfallsThe Future of Content Management SystemsWhy Your CMS Choice MattersExploring Headless and Enterprise CMSChapters00:01:05 Introduction to CMS Types00:01:17 What to Look for in a CMS00:01:29 Categories of CMSs00:02:18 Headless and Enterprise CMSs00:03:00 Scalability and Suitability00:04:11 Specialty CMS Platforms00:05:27 Risks and Considerations00:08:46 Fun with Headless CMSs LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

TakeawaysClients often feel restricted by rigid website layouts.Content management can become a frustrating experience.A lack of flexibility in design can lead to client disengagement.Mental barriers can prevent clients from updating their sites.User experience is heavily influenced by website design.Clients may lock themselves into systems that don't meet their needs.The process of uploading content can be time-consuming and discouraging.Effective website design should prioritize user flexibility.Understanding client frustrations is key to improving design.Open communication can help alleviate client concerns. LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

TakeawaysComplexity arises from various factors including technology, people, and governance.The more people involved in a project, the more complex it can become due to internal politics.Discovery is crucial for understanding project scope and requirements.Budget and time constraints are key considerations in project feasibility.Clarity in project goals and deliverables is essential for success.Engaging stakeholders early can mitigate complexity and decision fatigue.A structured approach is necessary for managing complex projects effectively.Discovery should be treated as a standalone phase to ensure thorough planning.Understanding the audience and their needs is vital for project success.Communication is key to aligning expectations and understanding project complexity. Chapters00:00 Understanding Project Complexity06:56 The Impact of Complexity on Projects11:08 Navigating Complex Projects: Discovery and Strategy16:54 The Importance of Structure in Complex Projects LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

TakeawaysBad support is a primary reason for vendor switching.Good support should be proactive and value-driven.Traditional support models often prioritize agency profit over client needs.A shift in mindset is needed from support to partnership.Value-driven retainers focus on measurable improvements, not just maintenance.Knowledge transfer is essential for client self-sufficiency.Red flags include lack of documentation and predatory retainer models.Clients should conduct a cost-benefit analysis for support needs.Finding a good vendor is challenging and requires due diligence.Partnerships should align with client goals for success. Chapters00:00 The Importance of Vendor Support03:02 Defining Good vs. Bad Support05:52 The Pitfalls of Traditional Support Models08:46 Shifting Mindsets: From Support to Partnership11:45 Value-Driven Retainers and Their Benefits14:43 Red Flags in Vendor Relationships17:43 Navigating the Support Landscape20:38 Finding the Right Vendor Partner LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

TakeawaysUser experience (UX) design is often misunderstood and conflated with web design.Web design focuses on aesthetics and marketing, while UX design emphasizes functionality and user engagement.The evolution of design roles has led to a complex landscape where UX, UI, and web design intersect.Websites should be treated as products to ensure long-term engagement and optimization.Continuous improvement is essential for maintaining effective websites.Aesthetic design alone does not solve business problems; UX-driven design is necessary.The ideal designer possesses skills in UX, UI, and web aesthetics, often referred to as a 'unicorn.'Organizations need to understand the value of UX to avoid poor design decisions.The conversation highlights the importance of bridging marketing, business, and technology in design.Defining clear roles and expectations in design teams can lead to better outcomes. Chapters00:00 Understanding UX and Web Design12:47 Defining User Experience and Web Design23:52 The Role of UX Designers in Web Development29:34 Wrapping Up: UX vs Web Design LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

TakeawaysStart with problems, not solutions.Define the objectives and outcomes clearly.Setting a realistic budget early is crucial.Involve decision makers early in the process.A strong brief is the cheapest way to de-risk a project.Vague features can lead to project failure.Understand your commitment during project phases.Budget transparency helps everyone self-qualify.Frame the problems, not the solutions.Manage decision makers and involve them early.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Lunch Conversations02:18 Project Management and Vendor Sourcing05:27 Scoping and Briefing for Digital Projects08:12 The Importance of Clear Objectives11:11 Understanding Audience Priorities14:07 Budgeting for Digital Projects17:03 Defining Features and Requirements20:08 Stakeholder Involvement in Projects22:54 Recap and Key Takeaways LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

TakeawaysNvidia's deal with OpenAI signifies a major investment in AI technology.The race to AGI is leading companies to make risky bets without guaranteed returns.Different thinkers in AI include pioneers, pragmatists, and purists, each with unique perspectives.The design community is grappling with the implications of AI on their work.The 'Seven Deadly AI Sins' highlight critical issues in UX design.Speculative design encourages thinking about future possibilities and ethical implications.AI's impact on productivity is changing expectations within roles.Historical design practices can inform current approaches to technology and design.The conversation around AI is evolving, with a shift towards critical engagement.Reviving discussions on Xeno design can provide valuable insights into future design practices. Chapters00:00 Introduction and Updates on the Race00:05 AI Developments and Industry Insights04:43 Types of Thinkers in Design and AI09:47 The Seven Deadly AI Sins for UX Professionals11:39 Wasted Time in Production12:12 Lost Details and Fidelity Traps14:02 Isolated Ideation vs. Inclusion14:58 Naive Trust and Skepticism15:25 Bland Taste in AI Content16:18 Defensive Outlook on Experimentation17:02 Speculative Design and Future Thinking17:54 Zeno Design and Its Relevance21:45 Empathy in Design: Becoming a Self-Driving Car23:18 Critical Design and Work-Life Balance LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

Topics & Timestamps:(00:00) Post-vacation chaos & travel with kids(01:32) Toronto's ultra-walking trend and "suffer-fest" culture(04:02) Why 95% of enterprise AI projects fail (and why that stat is flawed)(05:02) OpenAI's Forward Deployed Engineer: new name, old consulting playbook(10:42) How design thinking lost its strategic seat — from systems to pixel pushing(14:10) Grassroots vs. enterprise AI: where real impact happens(21:18) Side quests: car UX, sensors, and Italian road drama Resources Mentioned:• MIT's enterprise AI failure stat (context & critique)• OpenAI's Forward Deployed Engineer job description• IDEO's legacy of design thinking• Toronto Reddit ultra-walking stories Key Quotes:"Design thinking didn't die — it got downgraded to pixel pushing.""If it's turnkey, it's repeatable. And if it's repeatable, AI can do it.""These FDE roles feel like consulting 2.0 — but still too engineering-led." LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

Topics & Timestamps:(00:00) Back from Italy: airports, toddlers, and the upside down world(02:27) Travel with kids vs solo travel: why lounges aren’t built for families(04:54) AI fatigue? Posting, conferences, and marketing workflows(07:30) CMA events, data science, and educating on automation/AI(09:35) RGD stat: AI may cut 30% of agency margins (and why positioning matters)(13:41) When AI builds websites: friend’s gym startup and UX blind spots(15:41) Generalists vs specialists: why flexibility wins in the AI era(18:50) WCAG 3.0: from A/AA/AAA to Bronze/Silver/Gold, expanding to apps, VR, AR, and AI(23:27) Accessibility meets emerging tech—and Apple’s thin iPhone speculation(27:14) Italian design hits: porcini mushrooms, gelato, and espresso culture(31:20) Olivetti: typewriters, modernist posters, and design-led workplaces(35:19) Apple, Braun, and the design lineage from Olivetti showrooms to Cupertino(36:36) Corporate culture pioneers: housing, libraries, daycare in 1908(37:02) Wrapping with design as strategy, not just decoration Resources Mentioned:WCAG 3.0 Draft Guidelines – expanding accessibility standardsCMA (Canadian Marketing Association) – councils & committeesRGD (Association of Registered Graphic Designers) – event on AI + agenciesOlivetti – typewriter manufacturer, design-led culture, MoMA collection Key Quotes:“Travel is a young man’s, no-children game.”“AI stands to remove about 30% margin from agency work.”“If it’s turnkey, it’s repeatable. And if it’s repeatable, AI can do it.”“Accessibility isn’t just websites anymore—it’s VR, AR, AI, and apps.”“Design was not decoration. It was the strategy. It was the culture.” LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

Topics & Timestamps:(00:00) Intro music review - Suno AI generated tennis yacht rock(01:10) AI music revolution: The million-dollar AI musician deal and why music is dead(03:23) Google Zero: Financial Times on the race to zero organic traffic(06:51) Ethereum's 2026 UX roadmap: 19 minutes → 15 seconds transaction time(09:34) MIT Study: 95% failure rate for enterprise AI (it's not what you think)(13:22) The Pentagon Pizza Index: Tracking global crises via pizza delivery data(17:23) Polymarket: $56M betting on Fed decisions, plus Bad Bunny vs. Taylor Swift(19:36) The MVP is dead: Why your "MVP" is actually a full product launchResources Mentioned:Suno AI - AI music generation platformFinancial Times article: "The Race to Google Zero"Ethereum L2 UX improvements announcementPentagon Pizza Index (real website tracking DC pizza orders)Polymarket - Crypto prediction market platformMIT report on Gen AI implementation failuresKey Quotes:"Music, popular music is done""95% of Gen AI investments produce zero returns""Domino's is a tech company, not a pizza company""Proof of concept is the new MVP, MVP is the new beta"Next Week: Marcello takes over intro music duties with Suno AI. Genre TBD.New Term Alert: "Vibe-casting" - Podcast format with no plan, just vibes. LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

In this episode, Symon and Marcello dive into the messy intersections of AI, algorithms, and work culture:The rise (and fatigue) of formulaic LinkedIn postsHow AI is shaping content, and why quality often gets buried under quantityAWS' take on why replacing junior devs with AI is "the dumbest idea"Anxiety around AI detectors, writing styles, and online discourseLayoffs, risk, and the snake-oil element of new SaaS toolsSecurity pitfalls, vibe-coded apps, and the Tea app breachWhy non-experts might build the most surprising (and dangerous) things with AISam Altman's "fast fashion era of SaaS" and what it means for tech's futureExpect a mix of critique, humour, and perspective. All grounded in the realities of design, development, and running a business today. LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

Free Accessibility Audit Here!! https://www.designtennis.com/microsites/is-your-website-truly-accessible-find-out-now Don’t let accessibility issues put your business at risk. Discover how marketers can audit their websites, identify compliance gaps, and apply actionable fixes to meet AODA and ADA requirements. Learn more at: https://www.designtennis.com/microsites/is-your-website-truly-accessible-find-out-now Watch more videos at: / @tennis7631 Follow us on Instagram @tennis.digital Follow us on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/company/designtennis Links You can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

What exactly is design? Design is a broad and multi-faceted field that spans various industries and disciplines. From graphic design to industrial design, from fashion design to web design, the concept of design is ever-present in our daily lives. But what exactly is design, and how does it impact our world? Co-founders Symon and Marcello of Tennis Inc, a user experience design firm, explore what they think design means from the context of web and user experience. They explore how they would define design, the different viewpoints of design from an aesthetic and planning perspective, how web design is a unique discipline, de-risking, and the importance of being agile in how you work as a designer. LinksYou can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

We are back after a long hiatus with a new format discussing the role of digital and design in society, entrepreneurship, and businesses. In this episode, we dive deep into Brand Economics with Mark Radha a self-proclaimed "finance geek" and brand strategist who combines behavioral science and econometrics to formulate a data-backed strategy called Brand Economics which Mark has leveraged with tier 1 brands such as GE, Facebook, Cirque du Soleil, Canada Goose, SickKids, and Deloitte, to name just a few. Links You can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

This week we wrap up our series with Nick Hobson, Ph.D. Chief Behavioral Scientist at The Behaviorist. In this episode, we talk with Nick about the origin of behavioural insights teams in government; and how the pandemic has pushed behavioural science back into the “lab of real-life.” This is our final episode in the series, and we are going to begin exploring some new themes moving forward. It has been an incredible experience, thanks for listening! Links You can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

In this episode, we speak with Emma Quin, Executive Director of The Textile Museum of Canada about re-opening and how organizations like Museums will have to evolve and adapt as they reopen in waves. Links You can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

We have 3 episodes left in our survive and thrive series before we end the series and archive it as a moment in time that we all experienced together. In this episode, we speak with Shane Saunderson co-founder of AI startup Babbly and currently researching human-robotic interactions during his PhD. We had a super interesting conversation about the evolution of robotics spurred by what we are currently experiencing through physical distancing. Links You can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

In our most recent episode we speak with Tatiana Soldatova, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Syllable, an architecture and interior design company. We talked about how the interior design industry has been affected and how physical distancing may change how we think about designing workspaces. Links You can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

Thrilled to have spoken with Robert Bolton from the foresight studio, From Later. Our meandering conversation explores hybrid media events, a surprising surge for bike shops, and the future of commercial spaces. This week is a big mental download. Links You can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

This week we interviewed Martin Williams, Co-founder of a food innovation company called Recipe For Tmrw. We explore how at times like these, simply having a great product is not enough if your operational strategies are weak, and customers can’t access or engage. We also talk about the future of supply chains, and the pitfalls of Just in Time (JIT) manufacturing during a global pandemic. Links You can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

This week we interviewed Mark Garner, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director at Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area (DYBIA). Great conversation about how social distancing is reshaping the way we think about conventional retail and how organizations like BIA's are going to need to evolve and support businesses of the future. Links You can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

This week we interviewed Steve Pons, Managing Director and Jen Roney, Senior Manager Brand and Creative Strategy at Staples Promotional Products. We touched on consumer behaviour, demand vacuums, and the shifting demand of skills required to manage remote teams. Links You can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

Paul Lockhard, President and CEO of Colour a creative digital agency, talks to us about how the effects of COVID-19 are pushing organizations to get more creative and innovative. We also discuss an interesting framework he developed for organizations to view some of their challenges and strategies. Links You can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter

What happens when the industry that your 15-year-old company operates in disappears overnight? Greg Dixon is leading Sentient HR through an unprecedented time brought on by COVID-19. For more about who Tennis is and transcripts of individual talks please visit designtennis.com. Links You can learn more about Tennis at our website. Be sure to follow us at LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter