The Check-In

FromDesigner & Designer

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The Check-In

FromDesigner & Designer

ratings:

Length:

34 minutes

Released:

Jan 14, 2021

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

Brian and Joe check-in with some designer friends and see how they’re holding up in this never-ending zoom call.

Released:

Jan 14, 2021

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (40)

Designer & Designer is a podcast about design. Each episode dives into a design topic with candor and humor, exposing the rarely talked about challenges that designers face, and what it takes to create great design.

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The Design Interview: Designers Brian & Joe talk about the dreaded design interview – a required step for designers to just get in the door. They dive into what is it, what to look for in designers, why most companies get it wrong (possibly even pointing to bigger issues internally) and why should never do free work to get a gig. Along the way they explain into two big fundamental principles of design, and how designers and non-designers can better talk to one another. by Designer & Designer
38 min listen
Imposter Syndrome: In this episode Joe & Brian try to unpack why designers commonly suffer from Imposter Syndrome – "a pervasive feeling of self-doubt, insecurity, or fraudulence despite often overwhelming evidence to the contrary." What is it? Why is it common among creatives? And what can we do to help our fellow designers who may be feeling like imposters? by Designer & Designer
35 min listen
What is IA, UX, and UI?: In this episode Joe & Brian dive deep into the world of design jargon, explaining what terms like IA, UX and UI mean, where they come from, how are they different and in the end do they really matter? by Designer & Designer
28 min listen
Failure: In this episode Joe Alterio & Brian Fling discuss Failure – an all too common emotion felt by all designers. We talk about why designers are so emotionally tied to their work, how hard it can feel when you are rejected or your work doesn't resonate. Why we don't often give enough credit for our successes. And we discuss both the positives and the negatives of failure. Plus some strategies for dealing with failure when it inevitably happens. by Designer & Designer
36 min listen
Design Thinking: Our very first episode! Meet designer Joe Alterio and designer Brian Fling, hear about their backgrounds as designers and how they became friends. Why do a podcast about design now? For the main episode topic, they dive into their differing views on Design Thinking. What is it? Does it work? Does it actually benefit designers, or is it a system of control for creative thought? by Designer & Designer
29 min listen
Make the Web Weird Again: In this episode Joe & Brian plea to Make the Web Weird Again. Jumping into the wayback machine, the web once felt like a massive canvas for creativity that allowed designers the freedom for expression and that led to lots of cool weird things. These days, the web maybe feels a little bit less weird and that makes us sad. Are today's designers stuck within the rails of social platforms like Dribbble and Instagram? Or did Joe & Brian just get old? We'll discuss. by Designer & Designer
25 min listen
Mistakes: Misstakes, er... mistakes. In design sometimes mistakes lead to our best work – or as Bob Ross would say "happy little accidents" – while others are just epic fails. In this episode Joe and Brian share their favorite mistakes in design, business, and life. by Designer & Designer
33 min listen
What is Good Design?: What is good design? If something is "ugly" but solves a problem, is that good design? How much of good design is just designer intuition or craft? In this episode Joe and Brian will discuss Art versus Design, the Bauhaus movement, striking a good balance of form versus function. And provide some pro-tips, like how to measure good design, the importance of getting out of the studio to find inspiration, and more tactics to help designers know good design when they see it. by Designer & Designer
29 min listen
How to Talk About Race & Design with Bekah Marcum: The incredible Bekah Marcum of Black Designers of Seattle joins us on the show to talk about her experiences being the only black designer working on design teams. And how we can be better "co-conspirators" in talking about race in the workplace. by Designer & Designer
27 min listen
Data vs. Intuition: What is a better tool for your designs, collecting data or following your intuition? This is the question that Joe & Brian ask this episode. They discuss different user research methods, including qualitative and quantitative data gathering, the pros and cons of data-driven design, usability-driven design. And the value of just simply following your gut and leading design with your intuition. by Designer & Designer
29 min listen
What does it take to create a design-led company?: Design-led companies are making a big impact in the market today. But a new report out shows that 90% of companies are not reaching their full potential. In this episode we will try and figure out what the hell is going here. What is the difference between design-led companies and everyone else? by Designer & Designer
39 min listen
How Deep Does Design Go?: Brian & Joe welcome the infamous Jay Fienberg into the studio to ask, what makes something "design?" or How Deep Does Design Go? In this episode we discuss what separates design from art, the importance of craft and improvisation in design ...and dentistry. by Designer & Designer
38 min listen
A Designer&Designer Thanksgiving: In this episode Brian makes a case for why Thanksgiving is really a designers holiday while Joe does the dishes. Thank you so much for listening to the show and Happy Thanksgiving everyone! by Designer & Designer
19 min listen
Defending Your Design: You've perfected your designs and now it's time to present, but then it all goes to sh*t. It happens to all of us. In this episode Brian and Joe share some tips and techniques for getting through your design reviews with your soul intact. by Designer & Designer
31 min listen
How Do You Get Started?: Every new design project starts with a blank page. How do you get started? Do you wait for inspiration to strike? ground yourself in research? just keep creating until something works? Your friends Joe & Brian could have more different approaches to this problem. In this episode they share some of their thoughts and methods to getting started, where ideas come from, how to access individual creativity and bring them forward and to finally them on the page. by Designer & Designer
31 min listen
Everything is on Fire: A Guide to Product Management: Clear the backlog. This week product expert Chez Gledhill joins Joe and Brian to talk about how product managers impact designers, and vice versa. We ask are product managers and designers friends ...or foes? What are some of the common challenges in the designer/product relationship? We'll make a Gantt chart and figure it out! by Designer & Designer
35 min listen
Design Tools: It's a Design Tools “Ball of Death” Match! Brian & Joe compare the pros and cons of common design tools like Sketch, Figma and Photoshop. They share their experiences of finding the right tool for the job and their preferred tools for getting sh*t done. by Designer & Designer
38 min listen
Design For Good: This week Mollie Ruskin & Sarah Fathallah the founders of the fantastic Design Gigs for Good (https://www.designgigsforgood.org) join us to talk about how designers can "use the tools of design to create positive social change." We discuss how can we get more involved in communities and causes that are working on social impact? What is the right mindset for designers looking to get more involved in change-based organizations? What are some of the tools and methods designers can use to create positive social change? Give it a listen, then immediately join the Design Gigs for Good (https://www.designgigsforgood.org) Slack channel, connect with the community and start using design to make an impact. by Designer & Designer
37 min listen
Can Anyone Be A Designer?: What does it take to be a designer? Do you need to be able to draw? Do you need to go to art school? Is design only for designers, or can anyone be a designer? In this episode Joe & Brian try to demystify the culture that surrounds design, for better or worse. by Designer & Designer
36 min listen
Observation in Design: Happy St. Patricks Day (also Brian's Birthday)! This week we discuss observation in design – how does it turn a good designer into a great designer. What does it mean to observe the world? How can we let observation influence our sense of design to create a shared moment of "humanness." by Designer & Designer
42 min listen
Burnout: In this episode Joe gives Brian a little designer therapy to talk through feelings of professional and creative burn out. For example, everyone talks about the importance of design, but do designers really have a seat at the table? by Designer & Designer
32 min listen
Iterations with Jacob Covey: Brian & Joe talk to legendary book designer and Fantagraphics Creative Director Jacob Covey about iteration: how do you know when something you’re on is done? We talk about design reviews, client feedback, and telling that little voice in your head to shut up sometimes. by Designer & Designer
37 min listen
Can We Design A Better Future: Can designers help lead society towards a better future? What role can designers play in creating a brighter tomorrow? What are some of the things we would change? And how can we get started in bringing about real systemic change in the world. Let’s dive in. by Designer & Designer
29 min listen
Semiotics with Josh Glenn: Josh Glenn stops by to provide Joe & Brian a master class in semiotics – the study of signs and symbols that we use to create meaning from visual stimuli like color, typography and imagery. He helps us understand what semiotics is, provides some examples of how it is used in branding and package design and how designers can use semiotics in their own work. by Designer & Designer
48 min listen
Black Lives Matter: We pass the mic to returning guest Bekah Marcum of Black Designers of Seattle to share what she is experiencing as the George Floyd Protests unfold around the world. by Designer & Designer
34 min listen
The Check-In: Brian and Joe check-in with some designer friends and see how they’re holding up in this never-ending zoom call. by Designer & Designer
34 min listen
Is IA Eating The World?: Brian and Joe deep dive on the pernicious yet hidden effects that information architecture has on our daily lives, both in the digital space and outside of it. Is library science the one true skill necessary in the modern world? Is the current state of IA just a liminal space between analog sorting and tag-based search? by Designer & Designer
45 min listen
A View from the C-Suite with Gina Trapani: Brian and Joe talk to Gina Trapani, CEO of the digital product shop Postlight. Postlight has been unlocking solutions for clients for the past 10 years, and we ask Gina to let us in on the insights of a running a successful design and engineering business. We talk about moving from a Doer to a Leader, the importance of Discovery, and why it’s important to do the work special to you on the weekend. by Designer & Designer
48 min listen
The Craft of Design with Aaron Draplin: The incredible Aaron James Draplin (http://draplin.com), the prolific graphic designer, author of Pretty Much Everything, and all round wonderful guy, comes by the show to share his views on the craft of design. by Designer & Designer
42 min listen
What is the Role of the Designer?: In the episode Brian asks Joe, what is the role of designer? Do we have a say in the products we build, or should we just stay in our lanes of production? by Designer & Designer
35 min listen

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The New Design Enlightenment: After last episode's grim premise, Joe & Brian pull back from the edge and take a look at the other side of the current design industry: what is there that we can feel optimistic about in the current moment? Lots, it turns out. by Designer & Designer
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The Dark Age of UX: Brian & Joe discuss the grim state of the UX industry right now. How did we get here? Where do we go from here? Grab a drink before you listen, let's chew on this together. ? by Designer & Designer
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Visual Thinking: Joe and Brian discuss Temple Grandin's new book, 'Visual Thinkers'. Who are these strange creatures that walk among us, seeing things visually? Are you one of them? How do you see the world differently? by Designer & Designer
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Layoffs!: Brian & Joe discuss the recent tech layoffs, and what that means for the design world. Once again, designers are put back on their heels. Is this an opportunity for growth? Can we maybe reset expectations? Or will we once again have to dance the dance asked of us? by Designer & Designer
39 min listen
Weirdos: Ugh... 2022 is finally over. It's been a wild year in and out of the design world. Joe and Brian close out the old double deuce wondering is there still space for the weird, crazy, sometimes visionary designers? by Designer & Designer
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A View from the C-Suite with Gina Trapani: Brian and Joe talk to Gina Trapani, CEO of the digital product shop Postlight. Postlight has been unlocking solutions for clients for the past 10 years, and we ask Gina to let us in on the insights of a running a successful design and engineering business. We talk about moving from a Doer to a Leader, the importance of Discovery, and why it’s important to do the work special to you on the weekend. by Designer & Designer
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Are The Tools Driving Us?: Joe and Brian discuss the dispiriting trend of the current tech stack driving how products are built. What does it mean when a product is designed not for the user, customer, or output, but for ease of technical deployment? What will the future hold if that trend continues? Should try and stop it? by Designer & Designer
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Quick Hits: We are back with a new season! We are kicking things off with some quick hits – designery things that happened while we were away crushing pixels and having babies. by Designer & Designer
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Why Do You Do What You Do?: Brian and Joe break down whether creative work is calling, or just a job? Can a creative person be just as happy keeping their creative work to their hobbies? Is making money as a creative part of what being a professional creative is? And where do blenders come in to all of this? by Designer & Designer
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What is the Role of the Designer?: In the episode Brian asks Joe, what is the role of designer? Do we have a say in the products we build, or should we just stay in our lanes of production? by Designer & Designer
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Semiotics with Josh Glenn: Josh Glenn stops by to provide Joe & Brian a master class in semiotics – the study of signs and symbols that we use to create meaning from visual stimuli like color, typography and imagery. He helps us understand what semiotics is, provides some examples of how it is used in branding and package design and how designers can use semiotics in their own work. by Designer & Designer
48 min listen
Design Tools: It's a Design Tools “Ball of Death” Match! Brian & Joe compare the pros and cons of common design tools like Sketch, Figma and Photoshop. They share their experiences of finding the right tool for the job and their preferred tools for getting sh*t done. by Designer & Designer
38 min listen
Iterations with Jacob Covey: Brian & Joe talk to legendary book designer and Fantagraphics Creative Director Jacob Covey about iteration: how do you know when something you’re on is done? We talk about design reviews, client feedback, and telling that little voice in your head to shut up sometimes. by Designer & Designer
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Observation in Design: Happy St. Patricks Day (also Brian's Birthday)! This week we discuss observation in design – how does it turn a good designer into a great designer. What does it mean to observe the world? How can we let observation influence our sense of design to create a shared moment of "humanness." by Designer & Designer
42 min listen
What does it take to create a design-led company?: Design-led companies are making a big impact in the market today. But a new report out shows that 90% of companies are not reaching their full potential. In this episode we will try and figure out what the hell is going here. What is the difference between design-led companies and everyone else? by Designer & Designer
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Can We Design A Better Future: Can designers help lead society towards a better future? What role can designers play in creating a brighter tomorrow? What are some of the things we would change? And how can we get started in bringing about real systemic change in the world. Let’s dive in. by Designer & Designer
29 min listen
How to Talk About Race & Design with Bekah Marcum: The incredible Bekah Marcum of Black Designers of Seattle joins us on the show to talk about her experiences being the only black designer working on design teams. And how we can be better "co-conspirators" in talking about race in the workplace. by Designer & Designer
27 min listen
Burnout: In this episode Joe gives Brian a little designer therapy to talk through feelings of professional and creative burn out. For example, everyone talks about the importance of design, but do designers really have a seat at the table? by Designer & Designer
32 min listen
Design For Good: This week Mollie Ruskin & Sarah Fathallah the founders of the fantastic Design Gigs for Good (https://www.designgigsforgood.org) join us to talk about how designers can "use the tools of design to create positive social change." We discuss how can we get more involved in communities and causes that are working on social impact? What is the right mindset for designers looking to get more involved in change-based organizations? What are some of the tools and methods designers can use to create positive social change? Give it a listen, then immediately join the Design Gigs for Good (https://www.designgigsforgood.org) Slack channel, connect with the community and start using design to make an impact. by Designer & Designer
37 min listen
How Do You Get Started?: Every new design project starts with a blank page. How do you get started? Do you wait for inspiration to strike? ground yourself in research? just keep creating until something works? Your friends Joe & Brian could have more different approaches to this problem. In this episode they share some of their thoughts and methods to getting started, where ideas come from, how to access individual creativity and bring them forward and to finally them on the page. by Designer & Designer
31 min listen
Can Anyone Be A Designer?: What does it take to be a designer? Do you need to be able to draw? Do you need to go to art school? Is design only for designers, or can anyone be a designer? In this episode Joe & Brian try to demystify the culture that surrounds design, for better or worse. by Designer & Designer
36 min listen
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29 min listen
Everything is on Fire: A Guide to Product Management: Clear the backlog. This week product expert Chez Gledhill joins Joe and Brian to talk about how product managers impact designers, and vice versa. We ask are product managers and designers friends ...or foes? What are some of the common challenges in the designer/product relationship? We'll make a Gantt chart and figure it out! by Designer & Designer
35 min listen
Defending Your Design: You've perfected your designs and now it's time to present, but then it all goes to sh*t. It happens to all of us. In this episode Brian and Joe share some tips and techniques for getting through your design reviews with your soul intact. by Designer & Designer
31 min listen
Mistakes: Misstakes, er... mistakes. In design sometimes mistakes lead to our best work – or as Bob Ross would say "happy little accidents" – while others are just epic fails. In this episode Joe and Brian share their favorite mistakes in design, business, and life. by Designer & Designer
33 min listen

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The Check-In

The Check-In

Description

Titles in the series (40)

More Episodes from Designer & Designer