What the UX?

Timestamps:00:21 - The origins of the clickbait claim and the podcast’s real message02:06 - Why the episode felt like a sales pitch and the critique of AI hype03:15 - How design is an evolving process not a fixed formula05:04 - The misconception of the design process as a rigid manual06:11 - The significance of the double diamond framework in modern design07:07 - How tools like Figma continue to support traditional and innovative workflows08:27 - AI's limitations in decision-making and human judgment09:28 - The context of AI adoption across different industries and company sizes10:06 - Bubble thinking: Silicon Valley bias vs enterprise realities12:45 - Critical thinking, design crits, and maintaining human oversight14:35 - How AI might flip the standard design sequence16:07 - The evolution of prototyping: Cheaper, faster, but still human-driven18:09 - The opportunity for design to play a strategic, coaching role19:28 - Creating overwhelming options and data-driven decision paralysis20:42 - The ethics of AI, automation, and moral considerations22:23 - The AI-driven vending machine as a metaphor for automation23:48 - The limitations of current design tools like Figma28:15 - The battle between tactile creativity and AI-supported design31:54 - Growing skepticism of "loyalty" to tools, not processes33:00 - The role of stories, hype, and storytelling in design narratives35:00 - Why “long live the design process” remains relevant36:34 - Wrap-up: The value of structured processes and critical human involvement

In this episode, we delve into the concept of systems thinking, particularly in the context of UX design. The episode concludes with reflections on the increasing relevance of systems thinking in addressing design challenges.

in this episode, Chris, Greg, and Divyen kick off the new year with a light-hearted discussion about personal development plans for 2026. TakeawaysFocus on enhancing your strengths, not just fixing weaknesses.AI can be a tool for strategic growth, not an end in itself.Creativity is essential in a tech-driven world.Intentionality is key in personal and professional development.Consider the impact of technology on creativity and human experience.Chapters00:00 Reflections on UX and New Year Resolutions00:55 AI and Skill Development for 202602:24 Strengths-Based Development Planning05:04 Feedback and Self-Reflection in Design07:32 Navigating Self-Criticism and Growth11:40 Navigating Self-Doubt and Imposter Syndrome13:25 Leveraging AI as a Strategic Tool14:48 The Importance of Systems Thinking in Design15:50 Creativity in Design: Beyond the Interface18:23 The Future of Creativity in a Digital World21:29 The Impact of Screen Addiction on Society22:35 Exploring Non-Tech Skills and Wholesome Creativity

We’re marking 20 episodes by cramming 20 'realities of working in UX' into the next 4 shows.In this final Part 4 we discuss the responsibilities of designers, the importance of storytelling, navigating company loyalty, the necessity of continuous learning, and the impact of AI on design careers.ChaptersDesigner responsibilities extend beyond the interfaceStorytelling is a skill that’s very necessary to designersYou don’t owe your company anythingYou have to make time for learningAI won’t take your job

We’re marking 20 episodes by cramming 20 'realities of working in UX' into the next 4 shows.In Part 3 we discuss more themes related to UX design, including the challenges of agile methodology, Figma, and the balance between UX and UI design.ChaptersTrue Agile is a mythYou can be a great designer and not know how to use FigmaDesign thinking isn’t the only way of achieving great resultsSometimes you have to do stuff you don’t want toThere’s nothing wrong with copying but don’t use it as an excuse to stop creativity

We’re marking 20 episodes by cramming 20 'realities of working in UX' into the next 4 shows.In Part 2 we discuss various aspects of UX design, including the challenges of working with internal tools versus customer-facing products, the importance of analytics, and the relevance of the double diamond framework. We also touch on personal experiences, meal deal mishaps, and the significance of collaboration with product managers and engineers. Plus a discussion emphasises the need for designers to take charge of their careers and build relationships within their teams.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties07:39 6. Does anyone actually use the Double Diamond?15:06 7. Interpreting analytics shouldn’t be hard, but it is24:01 8. Having your main user as the end customer is so different to having your main user as a colleague 30:09 9. Your best friends will be the product manager and the engineering lead 33:22 10. No one will take charge of your career for you

We’re marking 20 episodes by cramming 20 'realities of working in UX' into the next 4 shows. This time, we dive into the myths and quirks of UX design—while proving we can still talk some sense (well, mostly).Chapters00:00 Intro02:38 1. People don't know what we do09:07 2. Everyone is a Designer13:40 3. You’ll rarely have enough time17:38 4. MVP, more like M-P!29:15 5. Dribbble is lies

This episode we share how we each manage our own workload. Everything from calendars, tools, note taking to ensure no balls are dropped?

This episode we talk about the good, the bad and a few things in between when it comes to everyone's favourite topic, OKRs.

UX’ers frequently find themselves in the position of needing input from multiple people. But do workshops live up to their hype? We discuss the good and the bad of facilitating and participating in workshops.

In this episode, we explore how we create compelling narratives that make our UX work more engaging and persuasive.

From annotating designs to documenting and sharing research, we discuss the benefits and pitfalls of documenting the design process.

Is failing to prepare, preparing to fail? Is the idea of failure even helpful?

We explore what innovation really means and where it misses the mark when organisations create ‘separate’ innovation teams.

We explore the different ways in which we gather as design teams, why they’re important and how they boost design culture.

How important is a portfolio? What purpose does it serve? How do you create one? All this along with our regular banter and UX of the Week stories.

In a world of titles and design levels, we discuss some of the more practical differences between Junior, Mid and Senior Designers.

We explore the the organisation of our design files. Do you name your layers? Do you strive for pixel perfection? We talk about whether it’s truly possible to sync our designs with production - and whether it's something we should even be aiming for.

We explore AB testing: What is it? Where does it fit? And, are we putting too many eggs in the basket of optimisation?

We discuss the natural overlap between Product Management and UX when it comes to User research and Product strategy

We take on a listener question and although there’s plenty of lols, we struggle to see the funny side of some of the bad UX out there

In our first attempt at recording remotely we delve into an essential component of a designer's life: asking for, receiving and giving Design feedback.

We discuss navigating ALL the frameworks for design process and the challenges of the day to day process itself… “TRUST” the process ;)

Engineers are essential to getting ideas into the world. We share our experiences and tips on how to hone a successful approach when working with Engineers.

We take on that age old question, ‘Should Designers code?’. What do we even mean by code? Simple question, or is there more to it?

There's a lot of different job titles out there. We discuss their importance, relevance and what they might mean when scouring the landscape of jobs in UX

Introducing Chris, Divyen and Greg co-hosts of What the UX? We take an MVP approach to starting a podcast and discuss how we became UX Designers (among other funny stories)