Boagworld: UX, Design Leadership, Marketing & Conversion Optimization
by Paul Boag, Marcus Lillington
Boagworld: The podcast where digital best practices meets a terrible sense of humor! Join us for a relaxed chat about all things digital design. We dish out practical advice and industry insights, all wrapped up in friendly conversation. Whether you're looking to improve your user experience, boost your conversion or be a better design lead, we've got something for you. With over 400 episodes, we're like the cool grandads of web design podcasts – experienced, slightly inappropriate, but always entertaining. So grab a drink, get comfy, and join us for an entertaining journey through the life of a digital professional.
Episodes
-
How to Get Your Organization Mentioned by AI
This month we're joined by Rich Mehta, who has spent the last year helping out at Headscape and has recently been writing about how AI is changing the way people search. After a brief detour into childhood nicknames (Mr. Bogey and Lily, since you ask), we get into what it actually takes to show…
more -
Your UX Team Is Set Up for the Wrong Job
This month we look at why most in-house UX teams are organized around work that no longer arrives in the way it used to. Product owners, developers, and marketers are all producing design with AI tools long before anyone thinks to raise a ticket, and telling them to stop has quietly stopped...
-
Brand Guidelines Are Ruining Your Website
Why print-first brand systems break online, and how to push back without demanding a full rebrand. I've been grumbling about this one for years, because although almost everyone now meets a brand through a screen, we're still handed identities designed for brochures, business cards, and the...
-
Designing Beyond the Chatbot
AI is changing far more than the speed at which designers produce work. In this episode, we talk with Josh Clark and Veronika Kindred about their book Sentient Design, how intelligent interfaces can respond to people in the moment, and why designers need to understand the character of AI before...
-
From Doer to Director, Getting Value From AI
This month we dig into whether Claude Design is any good, why so many people feel like AI is costing them time rather than saving it, and what it really means to stop being a doer and start being a director. Along the way we wander into the loss of craft, the ethics of AI, and a joke so niche it...
-
AI Can Fix Your Broken Research Repository
This week, Paul and Marcus dig into why traditional user research repositories fail almost everyone in an organization, and how AI is quietly changing the game. There's also an App of the Month pick that's a little too on-the-nose, some pointed Google bashing, and a sheep-based punchline....
-
From Doer to Director: The AI Mindset Shift
There's a scene in the Steve Jobs biopic where Steve Wozniak asks Jobs what he actually does. Wozniak understood his own role clearly: he was an engineer. He wrote code. He built things. But Jobs? Jobs described himself as the conductor of an orchestra. I've been thinking about that exchange a…
more -
Why UX Teams Need a Maturity Audit Right Now
UX is under pressure. A proactive maturity audit gives you a voice before leadership makes decisions about your team without you. Something uncomfortable is happening in organizations right now. UX teams are being quietly reassessed. AI has disrupted the field, leadership expectations have gone...
-
AI Is Showing UI Designers the Door
So this month Marcus and I get into a slightly uncomfortable question. If AI can knock out decent interfaces from a text prompt, where does that leave the people whose day job is opening Figma and making screens look nice? We start with Google Stitch, which has been getting a lot of attention...
-
Website Rebuilds, AI Tools, and UX in 2026
This month, Paul and Marcus get into a tool that has made Paul cancel his Figma subscription, walk through how Paul has completely changed the way he approaches website rebuilds thanks to AI, and round things off with the latest thinking from Nielsen Norman Group on where UX is heading in 2026.…
more -
From Agency Work to Product Success
This episode we're joined by Stu Green, a product designer, agency founder, and serial app builder who's sold not one but two successful SaaS products. We dig into the realities of building your own product versus running an agency, the role AI plays in modern product development, and whether the...
-
The UX Reckoning: What 2026 Holds for Our Industry
In this episode, we kick off 2026 with a candid look at where the UX industry stands and where it's heading. We dig into a thought-provoking article from Nielsen Norman Group, share our hopes (and fears) for the year ahead, and explore a fantastic design pattern catalog focused on building user...
-
Surviving Crisis: Lessons from Higher Ed's Financial Storm
In this episode, we welcome back Andrew Millar from the University of Dundee to discuss the current state of higher education, vibe coding platforms for non-developers, and the importance of community-driven conferences like Scottish Web Folk. App of the Week: Bolt.new This week we're looking at...
-
E-commerce UX Secrets: What 200,000 Hours of Research Reveals About Conversion
If you run an e-commerce site or work on digital products, this conversation is packed with research-backed insights that could transform your conversion rates. Apps of the Week Before we get into our main discussion, we want to highlight a couple of tools that caught our attention recently.…
more -
Freelancing for Small Businesses: Real World Budget Constraints and High Stakes
Welcome to Episode 27 of the Boagworld Show, where we dive into a side of web work that doesn't get nearly enough attention. This month, we're exploring life as a freelancer working with small businesses. We're joined by Paul Edwards, a fellow member of the Agency Academy who has spent two…
more -
Dark Patterns, Bright Ideas: Why Deceptive Design Belongs in Accessibility
You know, those sneaky little tricks sites use to funnel you into doing things you never intended, like paying for insurance you didn’t want or scrolling until your thumb falls off. We talked about why this stuff isn’t just bad manners, but also an accessibility issue, and how to push back when...
-
Why Your UX Needs a Trust Audit
In this episode, we look at why trust is key to good UX, especially with scams, deepfakes, and AI blurring the line between helpful and deceptive. We also ask if emotion-reading apps are helpful or just unsettling, and explore the tricky process of turning services into products. Plus, we discuss…
more -
Scaling UX in a Decentralized World: Inside Oxford
In this episode, we chat with Sarah Zama from the University of Oxford about how she's helping to influence UX across one of the most complex and decentralized organizations in the world. We explore how she built a UX center of excellence almost from scratch, how the team is transforming culture...
-
The Future Of UX With Jared Spool
Joining me, Paul, are Marcus Lillington and Jared Spool, and together we explore how UX needs to reposition itself, what AI really means for designers, and how to navigate the current UX job landscape without losing hope. We also touch on some interesting new tools from Figma and an exciting...
-
Creating Personality-Driven Design Experiences
Creating Personality-Driven Design Experiences In this week’s episode of the Boagworld Show, we’re joined by none other than Andy “The Pioneer” Clarke. We dig deep into the role of aesthetics in UX, explore how AI can conduct user interviews, and debate how to approach pricing conversations with...
-
The Job Title Train Wreck
This week, we catch up on Paul’s latest adventures—from a memorable dinner with Todd “the accessibility guru” where we talked WCAG 3, to a deep dive into the shifting landscape of design job titles. We’ll share an app that brings real form fields into your Figma prototypes, unpack why “product...
-
Beyond Usability: Why Emotion and Delight Matter in UX
This week’s episode takes a deeper look at how we define good user experience—and argues it’s time we move beyond the narrow focus of usability. We explore how friction can sometimes enhance an experience, and why emotional design is essential if we want to create interfaces that stick in users’...
-
Redefine Your Role
On this week's Boagworld Show, we're exploring how UX design leaders can take control of their roles within organizations, why UX agencies might feel doomed (but probably aren't), and how AI is reshaping the way we code and collaborate. We'll dig into practical strategies for UX leaders, share...
-
The Art of Stealth Research
On this week's Boagworld Show, we delve into the powerful concept of invisible user research - tackling how to conduct essential UX work even when stakeholders resist investing in formal research. We explore the often-overlooked impact of UX debt, crown a new champion among user-testing apps, and...
-
The Metrics Trap: Are You Measuring the Wrong Things?
This week, we’re tackling a biggie—how to avoid the pitfalls of metrics. We’ll explore why tracking the wrong numbers can send your entire organization in the wrong direction and what you should be focusing on instead. We also have a fantastic Figma plugin to make your mockups more realistic, a...
-
Digital Fatigue: The Case for Face-to-Face Meetings
Welcome to another packed episode! This week, we're diving into three topics we think you'll find fascinating. First up, we're exploring why face-to-face meetings still matter in our digital world. Then, we'll share our favorite A/B testing tools (since Google Optimize is no longer with us), and...
-
Promoting Your Work to Colleagues
In today's episode, we dive deep into how UX professionals can effectively demonstrate their value within organizations, especially during challenging times when the shine has come off UX and attention has shifted to AI. Form Analysis Tools: A Game-Changer for UX We kick off by exploring some...
-
Enhancing the Experience of Using AI
I've watched with fascination how AI is reshaping the design landscape. While we've made incredible strides in using AI to enhance our design processes, I believe we're overlooking something crucial: the human experience of interacting with AI itself. You might wonder why this matters. Well, as…
more -
Harness the Power of AI: Transform Your UX Workflow
Introduction: Embracing AI for UX Productivity In this episode of the Boagworld Podcast, we delve into the transformative role of AI in UX and web design. From cutting-edge Figma plugins to tools that revolutionize SEO, Paul Boag and Marcus Lillington share insights, tools, and strategies that…
more -
UX Predications for 2025
What Does 2025 Hold for UX? As we approach the new year, it's time to reflect on the state of user experience design and look ahead to what 2025 might bring. In this episode of the Boagworld Podcast, Marcus and I dive into the trends, challenges, and opportunities that lie ahead. Here are the key...
-
Why We Need to Rethink Invitations to Tender in Digital Projects
In this episode, we dive into the frustrating world of Invitations to Tender (ITTs), explore why Notion might be the only app you need, and discuss treating AI like your newest intern. We also share our thoughts on Adobe's latest AI innovations and why UX seems to have lost its shine. The Problem...
-
WP Engine vs WordPress, SUPA, and AI-Powered UX Reviews
Hello and welcome to the Boagworld Show, the longest-running web design podcast where we look at user experience design, conversion optimization, and working in the web. This week, we've got quite the lineup for you. WP Engine vs WordPress: A Cautionary Tale We kick things off with a look at the...
-
Navigating the Future: AI, UX Leadership, and Content Simplification
The State of the Industry and AI's Impact We kick off this episode by delving into the current state of the tech industry, particularly focusing on the widespread budget cuts we're witnessing. What's driving these cuts? Is it the rise of AI, economic uncertainties, or perhaps a tech bubble...
-
Transforming UX Teams From Reactive to Strategic
Transforming UX Teams - From Reactive to Strategic In this episode, we explore how UX teams can evolve from firefighters to strategic leaders, revolutionizing their impact on organizations. We also review Maze, a versatile UX testing platform, and share insightful reads of the week.…
more -
Content Chaos to Clarity: Streamlining Your Website Copy
This week on the Boagworld Show, we’re diving deep into user-focused content creation, leveraging AI, optimizing web copy for better UX and conversions, and discussing the importance of community and balancing work-life commitments. Get ready for some insightful tips and strategies! Embracing...
-
Objection Handling and AI in UX Design
We're back with another episode of the Boagworld Show, where we dive into all things user experience, conversion optimization, and digital leadership. This week, we are discussing some exciting topics that will grab your attention. Embracing AI We've been exploring the world of AI. We've been...
-
The Perils and Paradox of Perfectionism
We're back with another episode of Boagworld, the longest-running web design podcast in the world. Well, maybe we took a bit of a holiday, but who's counting? In this week’s show we discuss the dangers of perfectionism, the pros and cons of AI platforms and why empathy is the key skill for UX...
-
Old Friends, New Insights: The Boagworld Comeback
Guess who's back? That's right, the Boagworld Show has returned after a five-year hiatus! We're thrilled to be back in your earbuds, bringing you the longest-running podcast about digital services and all things web-related. Why Are We Back? Well, to be honest, we missed hanging out with each…
more -
The Boagworld Web Show Returns in August
You can find more information on the return of the show here. Find The Latest Show Notes
-
How to Become a Good UX Designer: A Beginners Guide
You can find a complete transcript of this week's show, as well as all of the links mentioned, by going to: https://boagworld.com/season/lean-ux/episode/how-to-become-a-good-ux-designer/ Find The Latest Show Notes
-
Work Smarter: Managing UX Projects - 18 Tips for Success
You can find a complete transcript of this week's show, as well as all of the links mentioned, by going to: https://boagworld.com/season/lean-ux/episode/managing-ux-projects Find The Latest Show Notes
-
3 Steps to Improve Website Conversion Post-Launch
You can find a complete transcript of this week's show, as well as all of the links mentioned, by going to: https://boagworld.com/season/lean-ux/episode/post-launch Find The Latest Show Notes
-
How to Test During a Website Redesign
You can find a complete transcript of this week's show, as well as all of the links mentioned, by going to: https://boagworld.com/episode/test-during-a-website-redesign/ Find The Latest Show Notes
-
How to Make Design Approval Painless
You can find a complete transcript of this week's show, as well as all of the links mentioned, by going to: https://boagworld.com/season/lean-ux/episode/design-approval/ Find The Latest Show Notes
-
Prototyping: Why Bother and Where to Start? A Definitive Introduction
You can find a complete transcript of this week's show, as well as all of the links mentioned, by going to: https://boagworld.com/season/lean-ux/episode/prototyping/ Find The Latest Show Notes
-
Why and How You Should Create Wireframes With Others
You can find a complete transcript of this week's show, as well as all of the links mentioned, by going to: https://boagworld.com/episode/create-wireframes/ Find The Latest Show Notes
-
A Fast and Effective Way of Creating an Information Architecture
You can find a complete transcript of this week's show, as well as all of the links mentioned, by going to: https://boagworld.com/season/lean-ux/episode/creating-an-information-architecture/ Find The Latest Show Notes
-
Why and How to Craft an Online Value Proposition (With Examples)
You can find a complete transcript of this week's show, as well as all of the links mentioned, by going to: https://boagworld.com/season/lean-ux/episode/online-value-proposition/ Find The Latest Show Notes
-
How to Define Your Digital Success and Track Usability
You can find a complete transcript of this week's show, as well as all of the links mentioned, by going to: https://boagworld.com/season/lean-ux/episode/define-your-digital-success/ Find The Latest Show Notes
-
How to Improve Your Projects With Lean User Research
You can find a complete transcript of this week's show, as well as all of the links mentioned, by going to: https://boagworld.com/season/lean-ux/episode/user-research/ Find The Latest Show Notes
About this show
Boagworld: The podcast where digital best practices meets a terrible sense of humor! Join us for a relaxed chat about all things digital design. We dish out practical advice and industry insights, all wrapped up in friendly conversation. Whether you're looking to improve your user experience, boost your conversion or be a better design lead, we've got something for you. With over 400 episodes, we're like the cool grandads of web design podcasts – experienced, slightly inappropriate, but always entertaining. So grab a drink, get comfy, and join us for an entertaining journey through the life of a digital professional.
Hosted by
Paul Boag, Marcus Lillington
Categories