In this episode, we are joined by Justin, a designer, author, and speaker who focuses deeply on the human side of design. Justin has spent years exploring how culture, values, and craft shape the way designers build products and teams, helping creatives think beyond tools and trends to create more meaningful work. He’s also the author of

Creative Culture and In Fulfillment: The Designer’s Journey, where he shares reflections on growth, humility, and lifelong learning in design.

Discussion Points -

• What was your journey from deciding to become a designer to building your own studio? 2:11

• Has your perspective on agency work evolved over time, or is it what you originally envisioned? 5:28

• How do you balance your day job with personal creative pursuits without feeling like you’re missing out on other opportunities? 14:53

• How has your workflow evolved from traditional tools to today’s AI-driven design processes? 24:18

• When choosing new projects, do you prefer working with specific types of clients or project sizes? 27:53

• What advice would you give your younger self, and do you think it still holds true today? 30:06

Show notes -

• Designers need to think beyond tools and trends if they want to create work that truly matters.

• People are engaging with our experiences in real, imperfect environments, and that responsibility should guide how we design.

• Design is a profession, but for many of us, it’s also a passion and a calling.

• Early success can be dangerous if you’re not prepared for it. Ego can quietly hurt the work.

• Leveraging humility while still respecting your expertise is one of the most important lessons in a design career.

• Never stop learning. Never stop being a student of your craft—this advice will always be relevant.
  

Justin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pseudoroom/

Company’s Website: https://anomalibydesign.com

His books, In Fulfillment: The Designer's Journey (https://in-fulfillment.com) and Creative Culture (https://the-culturebook.com)

In this episode, we’re joined by Feras Abdul Khayum, UX & Product Design Lead at Data D Solutions, who shares his journey from early startup work to leading UX in mission-critical U.S. healthcare insurance systems. The conversation dives deep into designing for trust, responsibility, and speed, especially when decisions can directly impact human lives.

Discussion Points:

• What’s your origin story—from your early life and education to becoming a design leader today? 2:09

• You’re currently working in the insurance sector. Do you think this niche is receiving the attention and recognition it truly deserves? 7:22

• Is this a double-edged challenge, serving end users while also enabling enterprise users to confidently make data-driven decisions? 10:43

• Rapid fire round 13:00

• What does it take to design AI solutions for healthcare in emergency situations, and what is your approach to it? 17:03

• What advice would you give to your younger self or to the youth who want to follow in your footsteps? Anything they should watch out for? 29:01

Show notes:

• In healthcare UX, you’re not designing for delight or engagement metrics — you’re designing for responsibility. Every decision has a real human impact, and that changes how seriously you approach the work.

• When systems influence life-critical decisions, trust isn’t built through visuals alone. It comes from clarity, transparency, and helping users understand why a decision was made.

• AI should never replace human accountability in healthcare. Its real value is in supporting faster, more informed decisions while keeping humans firmly in control.

• Speed in healthcare UX isn’t about moving fast for efficiency’s sake. It’s about reducing friction at moments where delays can affect outcomes and, sometimes, lives.

• Deep domain understanding is non-negotiable in complex systems. Without it, even the most beautiful interface can fail the people who depend on it.

• Ethical design becomes unavoidable when your work impacts real people. In healthcare, you don’t get the luxury of treating ethics as a secondary consideration.

Feras’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/feras-ak-dezine-theuxguy/

In this episode, we’re joined by Michael Miller, Associate Creative Director at Level Studios, who brings over a decade of experience designing and scaling digital products across enterprise platforms. Michael leads multidisciplinary teams focused on UI strategy, design systems, and cross-functional collaboration.

With a background spanning experiential design, marketing, and product design, he shares a grounded perspective on building systems that balance structure, creativity, and real business impact.

Discussion Points

~How did your journey into creative leadership begin? (1:39)
~Do your past experiences in marketing and creative projects influence the work you do today? (4:28)
~Why is understanding the business and domain critical for enterprise-level UX and product design? (6:26)
~Rapid fire round (9:35)
~Do UX designers often take on business analyst responsibilities, from understanding requirements to envisioning how solutions will be executed? (20:14)
~How is AI changing your role today, and where do you see it taking the future of design? (27:42)
~What advice would you give your younger self 10–15 years ago? (34:13)

Show Notes

~Design isn’t just about visuals—it’s about understanding people and what makes them engage.
~The real through line in my work has always been human connection, whether it’s the user or the client.
~Strong systems thinking and organization naturally translate into great product design.
~You don’t need to be the subject matter expert, but you need to understand how the business works.
~Good design comes from working closely with experts and understanding what actually works in the real world.
~Design systems aren’t about control; they’re about creating structures that allow things to grow.
~UX isn’t just about solving the problem given; it’s about understanding what the real problem is.

Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/creationmod/

In this episode, we are joined by Kevin Watkins, Founder and Creative Director at Farewell. With over 250 websites launched, Kevin brings deep expertise in building fast, accessible, and future-ready digital experiences. We dive into his journey from WordPress to Webflow, embracing chaos in the creator world, and what it takes to design scalable, inclusive websites today.

Discussion Points -

• What led you to start Farewell and your journey into web design? 2:23

• What kind of clients or brands do you typically work with, and what excites you most about these projects? 5:05

• What challenges did you face while building and scaling your studio? 6:09

• Do designers naturally become good managers as teams grow? 8:21

• Rapid fire round 9:41

• How do you see AI influencing design and creativity? 16:25

• What advice would you give to aspiring creative founders? 24:38

Show notes -

• Embrace the chaos instead of running away from it. That has been our motto, and it reflects in everything we do.

• Original ideas will always win. AI is just reusing what's out there, pulling from a database of original ideas, so keep creating.

• Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Be flexible with the things you're doing and be ready to change direction.

• Fail forward is one of our core values here at the agency. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; they are part of the journey.

• If you're jumping into the creative space right now, buckle up because it's fun, it's chaotic, it's rewarding, you'll laugh, and you'll cry. But there's no better field to be a part of.

• Being a tool agnostic is key right now. If another tool comes around that serves our clients better, we will switch to that without hesitation.

Kevin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstanleywatkins/

Company’s Website: https://www.heyfarewell.com/

In this episode, we are joined by Hans Forsman, an award-winning Creative Director known for his "can do" attitude and strategic brand expertise. With a remarkable track record, he's transformed goals into unforgettable results, crafting brand stories and cutting-edge campaigns. From Reebok to HBO Now, Hans has left his creative mark across diverse industries.

Discussion points -

• How is the creative industry in LA, the epicenter of international creativity with Hollywood and major game studios, faring amid co-branding, collaborations, and bustling activity? 2:06
• When discussing your experience in LA, could you share your journey? Did you start your career there, and how did you transition into becoming the creative professional you are today? 3:38
• In the realm of UX and CX, including customer experience, how crucial is effective storytelling? 15:57
• Rapid fire round 22:15
• Could you talk about your experiences with AR during the early days of the technology? 35:03
• What is the future trajectory of AI and machine learning in the context of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), also known as ACD, and how do you envision its impact on our current direction? 44:46
• On the education side, can you talk to us about the courses you teach? 50:58
• What advice would you offer to aspiring designers looking to follow your path? What key do's and don'ts would you suggest? 55:54

Show notes -

• I look at my past and how I've reached my current position. It has always been about seizing the moment, recognizing opportunities, and confidently stepping forward without fear.
• As a creative director, I enjoy involving my teams in that story, fostering their passion and excitement for the product.
• If you fast forward now, in terms of the use of AI, consider how that experience can evolve to create a much more immersive interaction. It brings order to the chaos and helps people delve deeper into interactive experiences.
• The best and the easiest way that has always worked with storytelling is to get into the mindset and put yourself in the shoes of the people who would be in the story.
• We executed some projects, such as the Barbie Dream Closet where people could see themselves wearing Barbie clothes. One significant project was during New York Fashion Week, where we utilized our product, the webcam social shopper.
• The more time I spent on various studies and working on UI/UX to understand how people interact with it, I quickly realized that I don't believe it will fully evolve until mixed reality becomes feasible. Mixed reality is where there are no inhibitions, like wearing glasses that seamlessly blend our realities.
• I use AI daily as an integral part of my work routine. It provides advice, writing tips, ideation, and data analysis support, enabling me to enhance my productivity and creativity. What's truly wonderful is that it demands our input, making it a collaborative tool for unleashing innovation.
• Understanding UI/UX as a crucial part of our future interactions, and how we engage with it, will impact society and shape our world. As everything evolves, from user experience to customer experience, comprehensive understanding implies greater societal progress.

Links -

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hansforsman/

Portfolio/ website: https://hansforsman.com/

S2 Episode. 6 - Designing Solutions That Make a Difference - Steve Cleff

Introduction

Steve Cleff is a gifted artist eager to develop innovative solutions for end users. From financial futures and workplace connections to breast cancer, he manages cross-functional teams to create elegant and innovative digital solutions that raise the bar. The Senior Director of UX at Comfy, Steve is an accomplished designer and artist whose works have appeared as the posters for several films including Neil Gaiman's Dream Dangerously.

Discussion Points

• How was your journey? What led you to this moment when you become the Senior Director of Design? 01:49
• I was intrigued to learn that you have a condition called Synesthesia, how does it impact your life as a designer? 07:57
• So talking about colleagues, the communication between colleagues, I think this is one of the core topics that you are quite interested in, you spoke at the conferences about it. So would you like to elaborate on that topic? 14:46
• Rapid Fire 23:34
• Communication overload is becoming a critical challenge for office productivity. How do you think your new app, Workplace Connect, resolves this issue and improves on the existing technology? 27:44
• You have worked with Breastcancer.org and have received acclaim for the experience that was designed. What should a designer keep in mind while designing such purposeful solutions? 31:42
• Being a designer, what is the advice that you would want to give to someone who’s just starting out in the field of UX & UI design? 37:32

Show Notes

• User experience is something I can do forever, people will always need to interact with software. 05:21
• I just hired the best in the world, so that I can apprentice with them. 06:18
• I'll tell people when I'm training them when they're new to the industry, that you'll spend five minutes figuring out the answer to 55 and convincing everybody that you're right. 18:56
• If you're thinking about the goals from a production perspective or a development perspective, you're thinking about the goals from the product’s KPI perspective, it will make the process go faster. 21:14
• They said, if I'd had this site, I think I would have gotten different treatment than I got. And that's, in many ways, what it's all about just trying to improve someone's life. And, you know, the people who did have that website, after that, hopefully, had a higher level of comfort and confidence of what they needed to do. 34:33
• If you organize some things, it doesn't need to be complex or expensive. To try and help people, you just need to guide them a little bit. And it will make a huge impact. 35:53
• There's nothing more humbling than the first time you put something that you've designed. Especially even if you're completely well-versed in user experience heuristics, you put that design in front of someone. Within a couple of minutes, you are humbled and you are enlightened, and you are improved as a designer. 44:13
• It's sometimes hard for people to win when they go to a company that's not regularly doing usability testing, it's hard for them to get buy-in until you get that first test. Once you do, you can demonstrate this is actually a faster process. 45:58

Contact

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevecleff/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cleff

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fluidbeauty/

Company: https://comfyapp.com/

Email: artByCleff@gmail.com

Portfolio: https://stevecleff.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fluidbeauty

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/fluidbeauty

#design #experience #productdesign #collaboration #workplace #humancentereddesign #uxpodcast

In this episode, we are joined by Jonelle Chandler - Partner and Chief Creative Officer at Qualified Digital. A dynamic design leader dedicated to empowering diverse design thinkers and bridging the gender and ethnic gap in tech. She actively mentors through programs like Built By Girls, ADPList, Women in Wireless, Blacks Who Design, and the Invision Design Leadership Forum, excelling in crafting innovative digital experiences by harmonizing business objectives, technology, data, and creativity.

Discussion points -

• What influenced your career choice, and how did you become the professional you are today? 1:50
• Can you outline the connections and distinctions between your shift from architecture to UX design, along with the transferable insights between these domains? 2:51
• What key distinction do you see between designing for Enterprise UX and designing for the typical user experience of consumer products? 6:15
• Please share your insights regarding the return on investment (ROI) of Enterprise UX. 8:23
• Rapid fire round 9:30
• How do you ensure diversity and inclusion within your design team to promote diverse design thinkers and innovative digital experiences? 16:32
• Could you share your experience with ADPList and the mentoring you've provided in general? What common themes do you often address in these contexts? 28:54
• For internal mentorship and nurturing talent towards management roles, how do you ensure continuous growth and opportunities within your team? 31:24
• How can interested individuals best reach out to you or your company regarding the positions you're currently hiring for? 35:15

Show notes -

• Employed at an architecture firm, I discovered it wasn't my passion, gaining insights into the business. I found myself drawn to graphic design, and that's what initiated my career journey.
• What's truly advantageous in UX is its digital nature; you can create a wireframe or design concept, observing and editing it in real time—an experience not easily replicated in architecture.
• When designing for B2C or consumer contexts, it's about 95-100% focused on the user. In contrast, with enterprise design, you're navigating a balance and juggling various requirements while striving to create a robust product.
• Many of our clients primarily measure their return on investment through product sales and the leads they generate, including lead qualification. Additionally, we're observing a shift towards more people-centric communication and experiences in our approach. At times, it's challenging to directly quantify these aspects with a traditional return on investment framework.
• What I've found to be effective is having a project manager and representatives from different areas like tech, design, UX, and data analytics. We involve everyone right from the start, and although the project manager leads, each of us voices our team's perspective on what we believe should be done.
• You need to regroup; having a single person dictating won't work. Firstly, nobody would want to collaborate with that team or individual. Secondly, the outcome would be a product tailored solely for that person, lacking input from others.
• I think mentorship plays a vital role; I've gained valuable insights from my team, and we've learned collectively. It contributes to our professional growth, work-life balance, and personal development beyond the workplace.

Links-

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonellechandler

Company website: https://qualifiedigital.com/

Personal website: https://www.jonellechandler.com/

S2 Episode 2 - Florentin Hortopan - Design tells the story of the future

Introduction

Florentin Hortopan is not a conventional design leader. Converting diverse skills to achieve success in digital design, he has redefined design strategies for cross-brand platforms, including Airbnb, GoPro, and Apple. Developing the human experience from component design to CMS design, Florentin is the Assistant Director of UX at Critical Mass. And to our surprise, he is an equally competent rhinoceros master and teacher.

Discussion Points

• How has the journey been, as you're not from the US originally? 01:38
• How difficult was it to maintain the inspiration during all that? How your creative juices are maintained while you are going through the hoops and loops of the bureaucracy, If I have to call it that? 07:14
• Rapid fire round questions 13:57
• There's something that was written by you and I quote, “conforming to rules, and being polite is a bad idea. For a designer, you need to be wrong and weird.” Can you please elaborate on this? 20:39 How difficult is it to ensure that the innovation keeps happening, without alienating the existing brand of users you possess? 24:54
• What is the one piece of advice that you think you missed at the beginning of your career that you would like to give to anybody who's starting out now? 31:33

Show Notes

• In specific contexts, in specific companies and design studios around Silicon Valley, you find agency folks are being really embedded into high-level processes and design and design tasks. 06:24
• It's not about being hired necessarily by a company, it's how much value you can give to the work that you're doing to the company, to the people. It's a different take on your individual contribution to society at large. 10:42
• The main value that design can give to any product, any community, or any society is when it changes your perspective on things, it gives you a different perception of reality, and it improves your life somehow. 21:27
• In the definition, at least the old definition of design, that is this idea that you project things, you do something that is in the future, you essentially tell the story of the future. 22:57
• The main strategy here is to provide solutions that are really relevant to the user in terms of UX, you obviously try to be systemic, you try to be strategic. So UX and design need to evolve into strategy and more like a, you know, kind of a global service design practice. 25:12
• I think we sometimes don't feel like we need to innovate because we are protective of our ideas. 29:00
• The first thing to do is to immerse yourself into different challenging situations beforehand and then decide what it is. And obviously, another thing is to not consider your design practice as your career path in the future as one. You have to be open about changing every time needed and try different things on your skin. 34:11
• There is a very simple path for a lot of designers to get into school, you know, you get graduated from whatever interest in college, you get a job in design, you stay in that job for a very long time, or at least you think you're very good at it. But I think that will always, you know, prevent you from experiencing the best. 33:47

Contact

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/florentinhortopan/ Twitter - twitter.com/panopano Company website - criticalmass.com/ Portfolio/ website - florentin.us Medium - medium.com/@panopano #airbnb #siliconvalley #userexperience #uxbanter #userexperiencejourney #designpodcast