The Aligned Podcast Show, formerly DesignOps Aligned, is the essential listen for everyone who shapes digital products. From UX and UI creators to product managers, engineers, researchers, and delivery leads, we decode the playbooks, mindsets, and metrics that turn bold ideas into market-ready experiences. Expect candid conversations with trailblazing leaders and hands on practitioners, reusable frameworks that transform creativity into repeatable results, and a front row seat to the trends ...
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DesignOps Podcasts
The podcast from zeroheight, where we talk to the best folks in DesignOps from around the world to help you build the best darn DesignOps practice you possibly can. Hosted by Luke Murphy, design advocate at zeroheight, each episode focuses on a specific part of the DesignOps pie, gaining insight from both established DesignOps practitioners, as well as up and coming DesignOps voices.
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A podcast from zeroheight. Let’s be honest, design systems are full of choice wtf moments. Michelle and Luke, two of our resident design advocates, are attempting to combat this with a new regular series, where they answer a single question around design system troubles every two weeks.
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A new podcast where Kevin Muldoon and guests wrangle with the big common problems that design systems face. Every episode, they’ll hogtie a challenge, give it a good once over, and share the best techniques they’ve found to conquer them, from dealing with inconsistency to naming to white-label systems.
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Wondering what’s involved in making a successful design system? So is Nef, the newest member of zeroheight’s marketing team. In this podcast, Nef is joined by one of zeroheight’s trustiest Design Advocates, Michelle Chin, to get their questions answered about everything related to the big world of design systems. If you’re eager to make the bestest design system ever, you’ve found the perfect place!
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Design system consultants Amy Hupe and Geri Reid are going back to design systems school. In this series, Amy and Geri put aside their vocal and opinionated assumptions to dive deep on design systems topics; from Figma libraries to design tokens to deciding if AI can really write decent documentation. Climb aboard the school bus for a field trip on the history, the conversations and the foundations that really makes a design system great.It’s time to crack open the textbooks and head back to ...
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Lou Rosenfeld talks with a LOT of brilliant, interesting changemakers in the UX world and beyond. Subscribe to the Rosenfeld Media podcast for a bird's eye view into what shifts UX faces, and how individuals and teams can respond in ways that drive success.
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Industry experts discussing design and product strategy. Hear from leaders how they are solving the right problems and building products and features that matter most.
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Wrangle a disjointed design process, bring order out of chaos, and cultivate a more simple way of working. Host John Barrier Wilson provides DesignOps tips for individual designers and design teams alike. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/operate/support
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If you think Alvar Aalto, Iittala and Marimekko are what Finnish design is about, you’re mistaken. Hosts Elina Korpela and Maya Pillai, designers at Houston Inc., have taken it upon themselves to tell you that there is more on offer. They talk to the designers and developers behind some of the most exciting digital products and trends coming out of Finland. And give you a glimpse of what’s beyond this pixel pushing life. Nudging Pixels is an original podcast by Houston Inc. New episodes are ...
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The Cha Cha Club is a members' club for full-time ResearchOps professionals. Every year, we partner with amazing companies to help Club members share their expertise and advance the field of ResearchOps. This time, we partnered with Great Question, the all-in-one UX research platform, to produce a limited-edition, six-part podcast series that tackles the great questions facing ResearchOps professionals today. Every episode features a panel of Club members discussing a great ResearchOps quest ...
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Design operations isn’t just about process—it’s about shaping better products, teams, and organizations from the inside out. José Coronado joins Lou to unpack why DesignOps deserves to be treated as a true design discipline. Drawing on his experience leading global teams at JPMorgan Chase, Target, and beyond, José shares strategies for embedding op…
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“Unlocking the Power of Workshops in Design” – Amanda Gelb
1:00:45
1:00:45
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1:00:45“Unlocking the Power of Workshops in Design” – Act 02 – Scene 39 – Amanda Gelb Amanda's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-gelb/ Amanda's company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aha-studio-inc/ Summary In this conversation, Naresh Shan and Amanda Gelb discuss the critical role of workshops in design and the importance of sta…
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LinkedIn Brand-building for Designers – Thijs Kraan
1:01:22
1:01:22
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1:01:22“LinkedIn Brand-building for Designers” – Act 02 – Scene 40 – Thijs Kraan Summary In this engaging conversation, Naresh Shan and Thijs Kraan explore the evolving landscape of design, the importance of leveraging LinkedIn for personal branding, and the challenges of content creation. Thijs shares insights on how to effectively communicate the value …
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What happens when you combine righteous anger with unwavering hope? You get George Aye—and the “Angry Hour.”In this lively episode, Lou Rosenfeld chats with George Aye, co-founder of Greater Good Studio, about his mission to create spaces for “pissed off optimists”—people who see the world’s injustices and refuse to give up on making things better.…
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Modus Operandi – Episode 7 - Luminous Fragments – Miranda Slayter
1:15:47
1:15:47
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1:15:47Modus Operandi – Episode 7 - Luminous Fragments – Miranda Slayter In this engaging conversation, Naresh Shan and Miranda Slayter explore the current job market's challenges, ethical dilemmas in design, and the impact of AI on the industry. They discuss the importance of transparency, the role of designers in measuring impact, and the need for stron…
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Pivoting from Tech to Climate UX with Francois Burra
26:04
26:04
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26:04What do you do when a successful tech career leaves you feeling like an empty shell? For Francois Burra, the answer was to look inward and transform his life—and help transform an industry.Lou Rosenfeld talks with Francois, a UX designer turned digital decarbonization consultant, about how a personal crisis led him to channel his “infinite energy” …
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Modus Operandi – Episode 6 - Whisper Gallery – Noelle Lansford
1:00:57
1:00:57
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1:00:57Modus Operandi – Episode 6 - Whisper Gallery – Noelle Lansford Summary In this episode of the Modus Operandi podcast, hosts Naresh Shan and Noelle Lansford delve into the complexities of collaboration between designers and developers, highlighting the challenges of communication, onboarding, and the impact of daily design changes on development pro…
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"Should Everybody Do Research?" - Kate Towsey
1:05:40
1:05:40
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1:05:40"Should Everybody Do Research?" - Act 02 - Scene 38 - Kate Towsey Summary In this episode of the DesignOps Aligned podcast, Naresh Shan speaks with Kate Towsey, a prominent figure in the field of research operations. They discuss the evolution and current state of research ops, the importance of democratizing research, and the role of researchers i…
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Modus Operandi - Episode 3 - Alchemy of Influence - Feat. Miranda Slayter
55:53
55:53
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55:53Modus Operandi - Episode 3 - Alchemy of Influence - Featuring Miranda Slayter In this conversation, Naresh Shan and Miranda Slayter delve into the evolving role of UX designers, emphasising the importance of education, strategic thinking, and collaboration within organisations. They discuss the challenges designers face in being recognised for thei…
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AI and Other Strange Design Materials with Matt Webb
30:17
30:17
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30:17Matt Webb doesn’t just talk about emerging technologies—he builds with them, lives with them, and prototypes the futures they might bring. In this episode, Lou Rosenfeld talks with Webb—designer, technologist, and featured speaker at the upcoming Designing with AI 2025 conference—about how GenAI represents a kind of temporal leap: a sudden arrival …
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Can you actually measure the ROI of a component?
24:19
24:19
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24:19Selling the value of your design system to folks who don't necessarily understand it is a difficult and thankless task. But are we trying to sell in the right things? Is it possible to put the value of our design system against the bottom line, and how far down the stack can we go? Can we actually put a dollar sign against a single component?…
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“Research is a Slow Process, but Valuable” – Theo Johnson
47:54
47:54
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47:54“Research is a slow process, but valuable” – Act 02 – Scene 37 – Theo Johnson Summary In this episode, Naresh Shan speaks with Theo Johnson, a senior UX researcher at Microsoft. They discuss the challenges and intricacies of UX research within large corporate organisations, the importance of storytelling in presenting research findings, and the evo…
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“The Hype of AI: Understanding Its Real Impact” – Brandon C. White
1:18:21
1:18:21
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1:18:21“The Hype of AI: Understanding Its Real Impact” – Act 02 – Scene 36 – Brandon C. White Summary In this conversation, Brandon and Naresh explore the evolving landscape of AI, discussing its impact on business, critical thinking, and parenting. They delve into the hype surrounding AI technologies, the necessity for businesses to develop coherent stra…
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Making Accessibility a Priority” – Maigen Thomas
57:00
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57:00“Making Accessibility a Priority” – Act 02 – Scene 35 – Maigen Thomas Summary In this episode of the DesignOps Aligned podcast Maigen Thomas discusses the critical importance of accessibility in design. They explore the transition from development to design, the challenges designers face in implementing accessibility, and the role of product manage…
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The age old question – should designers know how to code? Or more specifically, how much should designer know when it comes to code? Considering it's the medium that we're designing for, it's still surprising how much this topic splits opinion. Luke and special guest Rob Whitfield will dive into the pros and cons, and give some practical advice if …
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“The Future of Prototyping: UXPin vs. Figma” – Jack Behar
49:16
49:16
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49:16“The Future of Prototyping: UXPin vs. Figma” – Act 02 – Scene 34 – Jack Behar In this conversation, Naresh Shan and Jack Behar discuss the capabilities and advantages of UXPin, a design and prototyping platform that aims to bridge the gap between design and development. They compare UXPin with Figma, highlighting UXPin's code-first approach and cen…
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From Hype to Insight: Llewyn Paine on AI, UX, and Critical Thinking
30:12
30:12
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30:12What happens when a cognitive psychologist turned UX researcher brings a critical eye to AI? Dr. Llewyn Paine shares her unique perspective at the intersection of emerging technology and user research. With experience spanning neuromarketing, 3D television, and mixed reality, Llewyn has seen the hype cycles come and go—and learned to spot the gap b…
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Are accessibility guidelines enough to be inclusive?
25:28
25:28
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25:28Making your design system as inclusive as possible is something that I think we all agree on. However, for most systems teams, this means creating some accessibility guidelines and then ticking it off the list. Is this enough? Is there more we can be doing?By zeroheight
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“The New Landscape of Design” – Thomas Wilson
1:05:31
1:05:31
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1:05:31“The New Landscape of Design” – Act 02 – Scene 33 – Thomas Wilson In this episode, Naresh Shan and Thomas discuss the evolving landscape of UX design, emphasising the shift from traditional UI roles to strategic positions within organisations. They explore the impact of AI on design, the importance of understanding business fundamentals, and the ne…
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Inspired by Luke's article on the death of design systems, Michelle and Luke dive into whether design systems have a future... are we at a natural point of evolution or are design systems going to go the way of the dinosaurs?By zeroheight
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Tough conversations can feel like real-life horror stories—but they don’t have to. In We Need to Talk: A Survival Guide for Tough Conversations, Joshua Graves offers a practical, psychologically grounded toolkit for navigating conflict with clarity and courage. Drawing on insights from neuroscience, psychology, and his own lived experience, Graves …
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Stop Wasting Research with Jake Burghardt
35:04
35:04
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35:04Most organizations don't suffer from a lack of research—they suffer from a failure to use it well. Jake Burghardt, author of Stop Wasting Research, joins Lou to explore why so many valuable insights are lost after the study ends—and what we can do about it. Burghardt argues that building a research repository is only the first step; real impact com…
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“Unlocking the Value of Conferences” – Damian Martone
43:29
43:29
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43:29“Unlocking the Value of Conferences” – Act 02 – Scene 32 – Damian Martone Leadership Ateliers Training for upcoming design leaders with multiple workshops and masterclasses in Lisbon (April 23-24), Barcelona (May 5-6) and Berlin (May 21-22). Get €100 off using the code DESIGNOPSALIGNED Website: https://www.leadershipateliers.com Hatch Conference 3-…
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“Balancing Creativity and Business in Design” - Alexander Christian
58:39
58:39
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58:39“Balancing Creativity and Business in Design” - Act 02 - Scene 31 – Alexander Christian In this conversation, Naresh Shan interviews Alex, a seasoned UX leader, about his journey in the design industry, the evolution of design practices, and the challenges faced by junior designers today. Alex shares insights on the balance between creativity and p…
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How big is too big? Is there a point where your design system just becomes unwieldy? Luke and Michelle dive into this question from a previous episode, and try and figure out how you keep your design system to a manageable size. Or is that just a nice problem to have, and we should embracing our systems to grow to the size they need to be?…
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"Career Strategy Lab: A New Approach to UX Education" – Sarah Doody
56:23
56:23
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56:23“Career Strategy Lab: A New Approach to UX Education” - Act 01 - Scene 30 – Sarah Doody In this conversation, Naresh Shan and Sarah Doody discuss the evolution of UX design, the challenges faced by job seekers in the current market, and the importance of effective communication and portfolio presentation. Sarah shares insights from her experience r…
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Detach instance is a concept that has stuck fear into the hearts of design systems folks since the beginning. However, there are definitely instances where it’s totally ok to snowflake components! How should you deal with snowflakes in your system? How does this play into your overall view on flexibility, and can you actually use snowflakes as a wa…
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"Navigating the Job Market: Insights from Experts" - Nina & Javier
1:23:27
1:23:27
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1:23:27“Navigating the Job Market: Insights from Experts” - Act 01 - Scene 29 – Nina & Javier In this episode, Javier Bargas and Nina Weber to discuss the current state of the job market, particularly in the UX design field. They explore the challenges job seekers face, including ghosting in applications, the importance of tailoring resumes, and the impac…
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Traction Heroes with Harry Max & Jorge Arango
32:16
32:16
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32:16What happens when two brilliant minds from the world of information architecture team up to create a podcast that’s part leadership playbook, part intellectual high-wire act? That’s exactly what Harry Max and Jorge Arango set out to explore with their new podcast, Traction Heroes. Lou Rosenfeld chats with two and learns how they envision their proj…
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“Why Design Language Matters” - Ben Callahan
57:54
57:54
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57:54“Why Design Language Matters” - Act 01 - Scene 28 – Ben Callahan In this episode of the DesignOps Aligned podcast, Naresh Shan interviews Ben Callahan, a prominent figure in the design systems space. They discuss the evolution of responsive design, the importance of accessibility, and the shift towards adaptive design. Ben shares insights on the ro…
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Research as Knowledge Curation with Robin Beers
33:40
33:40
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33:40Why do so many organizations struggle to learn and evolve? Robin Beers, an organizational psychologist and founder of Ubuntu Culture Company, argues that businesses have been stuck in a transactional mindset—hoarding knowledge rather than embracing it as a dynamic, social process. In this conversation, she explains why researchers must shift from s…
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“Designing the Future: The Truth About UX” - Felix Lee
36:09
36:09
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36:09“Designing the Future: The Truth About UX” - Act 01 - Scene 27 – Felix Lee In this engaging conversation, Naresh Shan and Felix Lee explore the intricacies of mentorship in the design industry, the impact of social media on perceptions of UX/UI, and the evolving role of AI in design. They discuss the essential qualities of a good mentor, the import…
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“Overcoming Fear in Career Changes Mastering Storytelling in UX Design” – Ricardo Brito
47:48
47:48
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47:48“Overcoming Fear in Career Changes Mastering Storytelling in UX Design” - Act 01 - Scene 26 – Ricardo Brito In this engaging conversation, Naresh Shan and Ricardo Brito explore the complexities of career transitions, the importance of storytelling in personal reinvention, and the impact of trauma on professional dynamics. Ricardo shares his journey…
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"From Curiosity to Clarity: Nikki’s Growth in User Research” - Nikki Anderson
52:36
52:36
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52:36"From Curiosity to Clarity: Nikki’s Growth in User Research” - Act 01 - Scene 25 – Nikki Anderson In this engaging conversation, Nikki shares her journey as a user researcher, emphasizing the field's evolution over the past five years. She discusses the importance of demonstrating user research ROI, KPIs' necessity, and the shift from big reveals t…
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“Measuring the impact of Content Design” - Jeremy Dodd
45:54
45:54
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45:54“Measuring the impact of Content Design” - Act 01 - Scene 24 – Jeremy Dodd In this episode of the Design Ops Align podcast, Jeremy Dodd, a content writer at Atlassian, discusses the critical role of content design in the UX process. Topics include measuring the ROI of content writing, integrating content writers early in the design process, and met…
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What happens when an academic researcher trades a university lab for the fast-paced world of tech? Katie Hansen, Senior UX Research Manager at Thumbtack, shares her journey from studying unconscious bias at Princeton to leading research at companies like Etsy, Instagram, and Facebook. She breaks down the challenges of transitioning from academia—wh…
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Sometimes we may feel the urge to include everything in our documentation, to the point where it rivals Lord of the Rings for length and density. However, we may be doing ourselves a disservice! How much is too much documentation? How much is not enough documentation? Do we even need documentation at all? join us for the last Design Systems WTF of …
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" Navigating the Future of UX Testing” - Alejandro Rivas-Micoud
45:36
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45:36" Navigating the Future of UX Testing” - Act 01 - Scene 23 – Alejandro Rivas-Micoud Summary In this episode of DesignOps Aligned, host Naresh Shan welcomes Alejandro Rivas-Micoud, CEO of Userlytics, for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of UX research, AI, and accessibility testing. Alejandro shares his insights on how Userlytics, a global le…
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"Craft will only take you so far in this industry” - Jeremy Miller
47:41
47:41
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47:41" Craft will only take you so far in this industry” - Act 01 - Scene 22 – Jeremy Miller In this podcast episode, Jeremy Miller, a well-known UX industry figure, discusses common UX design themes. He discusses the importance of soft skills, communication, and technical skills. He also explores how UX design has evolved from a function of engineering…
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"The Value of Design System Knowledge” - Davy Fung
52:09
52:09
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52:09"The Value of Design System Knowledge” - Act 01 - Scene 21 – Davy Fung In this episode, Davy Fung explores the evolution of design systems, the importance of collaboration between designers and developers, and the biggest challenges teams face when implementing them. He breaks down how to effectively communicate the value of design systems to stake…
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Destigmatizing Failure to Encourage Innovation with Dan Ward
27:21
27:21
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27:21Failure is often seen as something to avoid, but Dan Ward sees it as a gateway to innovation. Dan is a military technologist, author, USAF veteran, and innovation catalyst at MITRE Corporation, and he and Lou talk about the profound lessons failure can teach. Drawing from his book LIFT: Innovation Lessons From Flying Machines That ALMOST Worked and…
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"Mastering Agile: Design & Communication in Sync” - Freya Finnerty
44:38
44:38
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44:38"Mastering Agile: Design & Communication in Sync” - Act 01 - Scene 20 – Freya Finnerty summary In this episode of the DesignOps Aligned podcast, Agile Specialist Freya Finnerty discusses the challenges and benefits of implementing Agile methodologies in organizations. The conversation covers effective communication, the role of metrics, and the sig…
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Where should design systems sit in your org?
29:41
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29:41Design systems should sit in the design team. Design systems should sit in the designops team. Design systems should sit in their own team. There are so many different options that are presented as the ‘truth’ when it comes to design systems and org design. Michelle and Luke are going to wade through the options, weigh up their merits and probably …
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"The Role of UX in Agile Development” - Georgina Hughes
47:57
47:57
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47:57In this episode of the Design Ops Aligned podcast, Naresh Shan speaks with Georgina Hughes, an agile coach, about the intricacies of Agile methodology and its intersection with UX design. They discuss the common misconceptions surrounding Agile, the importance of collaboration, and the challenges organizations face in implementing Agile practices e…
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"The Strength of Consciousness in Adversity” - James Xander
57:29
57:29
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57:29"The Strength of Consciousness in Adversity” - Act 01 - Scene 18 – James Xander In this enlightening conversation, Naresh Shan and James explore the profound themes of consciousness, manifestation, and personal transformation. James shares his insights on how to navigate difficult times, the importance of accepting one's current situation, and the …
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A Designer Fighting Climate Change with Brandon Schauer
40:21
40:21
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40:21What keeps you up at night? For Brandon Schauer, it was climate change. In a stroke of genius, the former CEO of Adaptive Path decided to look for a role that would help him address his concerns about our planet. He ultimately transitioned to his current role as Senior Vice President of Climate Culture at Rare. Brandon has a big heart, and it can b…
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"Being Ethical as a Freelancer” - Hannah Knowles
53:34
53:34
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53:34In this engaging conversation, Naresh Shan and Hannah Knowles explore the intricacies of UX research from the perspective of a freelance researcher, discussing both the challenges and strategies involved. They highlight the importance of research in the design process, the necessity of adapting methods to fast-paced product teams, and the need for …
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Infinite scroll was designed to enhance the UX for browsing search results, but now it's often used to keep users endlessly engaged on social media. As concerns grow about its impact on mental health, especially among young people, it's time to reconsider its place in design systems. What responsibilities do we have as creators when our components …
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Envisioning and Creating New York City’s Next Park with Rosa Chang
33:35
33:35
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33:35Imagine transforming a forgotten, dark space beneath one of New York’s most iconic landmarks into a vibrant community hub—this is the ambitious vision behind Gotham Park. Facilitating the vision and creation of the space beneath the Brooklyn Bridge is Lou’s guest, Rosa Chang. She shares her dream of transforming the neglected nine-acre area into a …
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"The reality of the field of UX Research” - Dale Husband
45:13
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45:13"The reality of the field of UX Research” - Act 01 - Scene 16 – Dale Husband In this episode of the DesignOps Aligned podcast, Naresh Shan and Dale Husband discuss the current challenges in the UX research job market, the impact of AI on design and research roles, and the importance of communication and advocacy for UX researchers. They explore the…
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