“Being yourself” is an important success factor, especially in creative industries. So how can designers explore their own personal design style without fear? Our guest today is designer, comedian and performer Meg Lewis. You’ll hear Meg’s tips on determining personal style while unlearning norms and standards, and how to confidently inject that style into your client work and other projects. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follo...
Jul 10, 2020•49 min•Ep 180•Transcript available on Metacast When it comes to habit-forming products like email, product design is all about finding a balance between power and simplicity. Our guest today is Sebastian Stockmarr, a partner at Founders venture studio and the co-founder of Tempo. You’ll learn the story behind their minimalist email tool, the current state of the email industry, and the various processes they used to shape this product. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow u...
Jul 03, 2020•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast How can designers take business leadership roles? What skills can make them more relevant in the entire business system? Our guest today is Ryan Rumsey, the founder of Second Wave Dive and the author of Business Thinking for Designers. You’ll learn about the various types of leadership, as well as the tools and strategies designers can use at the decision-making table. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitche...
Jun 28, 2020•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Knowing the newest product trends is pivotal as they can be applied across many industries. But what’s the best way to identify and watch trends? Our guest today is Dru Riley, the founder of Trends.vc. You’ll learn the story behind his famous newsletter, how he creates his reports, and what trends you can apply to your business in 2020 and beyond. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher , or Google Play Mus...
Jun 23, 2020•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Why don’t we always do what we plan or promise? Distractions have been around forever, but there are methods of overcoming them. Our guest today is Nir Eyal, the author of Hooked and Indistractable. You’ll learn all about distractions and the reasons behind them, as well as Nir’s expert tips on managing your time effectively. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher , or Google Play Music . Show Notes Indist...
Jun 17, 2020•44 min•Ep 176•Transcript available on Metacast Voice UX is one of the fastest-growing technologies in history. Why is it so effective? Is it any similar to conventional UX design? Our guest today is Sina Kahen, co-founder of The Voice Course. You’ll learn the fundamentals of voice and conversational UX, how voice is used in some popular apps, and how to get started with the right tools and resources. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher , or Google P...
Jun 10, 2020•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast We all know that a good brand name is essential, but the actual process often remains a mystery. Our guest today is Brad Flowers, the founder of Bullhorn Creative and the author of The Naming Book. You'll learn about the stages of the naming process, why it doesn't have to be customer-centric, and how to make the right decision. P.S. No words can describe what's going on in the world. The interview was recorded several weeks in advance. Sponsorship revenue from this episode goes to Black Lives M...
Jun 02, 2020•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Is building an agency the only path to design success? Can you succeed on your own? Our guest today is Rafal Tomal, a UI/UX design consultant who has recently returned to working solo. You’ll learn how to scale your freelance business while focusing on your favorite work, how to get help from contractors, and how to grow professionally without growing in team size. Download the MP3 audio file: right-click here and choose Save As. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R i...
May 25, 2020•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast How can you use workshops to level up your design practice? Why are they exponentially better than regular meetings? Our guest today is Jonathan Courtney, CEO of AJ&Smart and the author of The Workshopper Playbook. You'll learn how they transformed their business using workshops, why this collaboration method is so powerful, and how to get started with your first workshop. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Sti...
May 17, 2020•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast How do you approach something as ephemeral as your brand? Can us mere mortals do it? Our guest today is Austin Church, a brand consultant and co-founder of Balernum. You'll learn what a brand means, how to develop your brand using simple DIY methods, and how to communicate it on your website and in your product. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher , or Google Play Music . Show Notes Balernum — Austin's ...
May 13, 2020•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Should you go freemium? Will it help your SaaS grow, or kill your revenue instead? Our guest today is Tim Valishev, co-founder and CEO of JivoChat. We talk about their many years of growth as a freemium product, how to adopt the right mindset when it comes to your free plan, how to balance free and paid features, how to encourage conversions from free to paid, and much more. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , S...
May 04, 2020•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Presentations are everywhere: we use them for talks, webinars, investor meetings, and many other occasions. Today our guest is Payman Taei, the founder of Visme. You'll learn the story behind their tool, what makes a good presentation, how to translate your ideas into visuals, and what mistakes to avoid. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher , or Google Play Music . Show Notes Visme — Payman's product, a ...
Apr 26, 2020•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast Should you relax once you find that mythical product-market fit? Our guest today is Arvid Kahl, the author of The Bootstrapped Founder blog. You'll learn how to stay in touch with your market, proactively collect customer feedback, overcome technical challenges, and make sure your product remains the best solution for your audience. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher , or Google Play Music . Show Notes...
Apr 21, 2020•47 min•Ep 168•Transcript available on Metacast What makes a great live event? What makes a great remote event? Our guest today is Paul Campbell, co-founder and CEO of Tito. The recent crisis nearly threw them out of business, but they didn't give up and built a new live-streaming platform. You'll learn about Paul's journey, what spectacular event experience means for him, and how to navigate the organizational constraints while staying true to your values. Download the MP3 audio file: right-click here and choose Save As. Podcast feed: subscr...
Apr 12, 2020•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast How are the most successful enterprise products designed? Is the process any different from consumer applications? Our guest today is Rakesh Patwari, director of product design at Salesforce and a design educator. You'll learn how the enterprise ecosystem works, how to approach complex products with the right mindset, and how to pursue a career in this field. Download the MP3 audio file: right-click here and choose Save As. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your...
Apr 05, 2020•31 min•Ep 166•Transcript available on Metacast Why do some online communities thrive, and the others fizzle out? What is the secret sauce? Our guest today is the awesome Courtland Allen, the founder of Indie Hackers. You'll learn how to start a community from scratch, choose the right format, handle the mechanics, make it safe, and much more. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher , or Google Play Music . Show Notes Indie Hackers — the famous online co...
Mar 30, 2020•46 min•Ep 165•Transcript available on Metacast How do you design a product that truly changes people's lives? Our guest today is Amy Bucher — a UX specialist focusing on behavior-change design, and the author of Engaged. You'll learn about the core principles of behavior-change design, how to help users achieve their goals, how accountability works, and how to craft an engaging and motivating product experience. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher ,...
Mar 24, 2020•43 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today we talk about the "hidden" infrastructure around software products — release announcements, app store assets, help documentation, and much more. Our guest is Max Seelemann, executive director at Ulysses (an award-winning writing app for Mac and iOS). He shares how their product has evolved over the years, how they meticulously approach each release, how to handle localizations, and how to nurture relationships with the press. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R...
Mar 18, 2020•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today we're taking a look at another industry where design can make a difference — products for older adults. Our guest is Dr. Judy Dressner, specializing in occupational therapy and gerontology. You'll learn what challenges the senior citizens face when interacting with the world, and how software can help. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher , or Google Play Music . Show Notes Occupational therapy — a...
Mar 06, 2020•22 min•Ep 162•Transcript available on Metacast Why are some dashboards so meaningless? How can you make information helpful? Today our guest is Brian O'Neil, founder & principal of Designing for Analytics. You'll learn how to approach data visualization thoughtfully, how to help users make their decisions, why you shouldn't go after fancy diagrams, and why "removing everything" isn't always your best strategy. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher , o...
Feb 29, 2020•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast What do we need to know about digital security as website owners and SaaS founders? Our guest today is Michael Buckbee, the founder of Expedited Security. We talk about different aspects of security online: top risks, TLS/SSL, encryption, VPNs, bug bounties, and much more. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher , or Google Play Music . Show Notes Expedited Security , Expedited WAF — Michael's products Tran...
Feb 20, 2020•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast What are the implications of building software that interacts with your customer's customers? Our guest today is Adii Pienaar, previosly the founder of WooCommerce and Conversio. We talk about his five-year journey with Conversio, product lessons learned, how to do freemium right, how to stay ethical, and much more. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher , or Google Play Music . Show Notes CM Commerce (pre...
Feb 15, 2020•44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today we're talking about the sensitive industry of email outreach. Our guest is Mike Taber, the founder of Bluetick (as well as co-founder of MicroConf and Startups For the Rest of Us). You'll learn about the challenges of the email industry, differences between cold and warm outreach, what makes a perfect email, and how to make sure that your software is used as intended. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , St...
Feb 06, 2020•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast No matter how great your software is, poor copy can still ruin the entire user experience. How do we choose the right words then? Our guest today is Yael Ben-David, a UX writer and thought leader. We talk how UX writing process works in real life, how to develop (and capture) voice and tone for your product, and how to improve your microcopy using simple proven methods. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitch...
Jan 21, 2020•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Can developers build beautiful software on their own, without relying on a designer? One team decided to teach this knowledge, and scored massive success. Meet the brains behind Refactoring UI, Adam Wathan and Steve Schoger. You'll learn the story of their project, their favorite design tips, and how much work goes into every bit of content they publish. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher , or Google P...
Jan 11, 2020•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast Getting your first SaaS customers is inevitably a grind; but it helps to be methodical about your process. Our guest today is the incredible Asia Matos, founder of DemandMaven. You'll learn what a typical funnel looks like for a SaaS business, how to recruit your early users, and what strategies can help you scale later. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher , or Google Play Music . Show Notes DemandMaven...
Dec 23, 2019•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast How can custom illustration make your product truly shine? Our guest today is Krystal Lauk, the founder of an illustration-led design agency. You'll learn why illustration is an integral part of the entire user experience, what brands set a good example, and how to approach the creative process. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher , or Google Play Music . Show Notes Krystal Lauk Studios — Krystal's desi...
Dec 09, 2019•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Testimonials and case studies hold enormous marketing potential (without coming off as salesy). Our guest today is Joel Klettke, the founder of Case Study Buddy. You'll learn what makes a powerful case study, how to produce one yourself, and how to use them in your sales & marketing process. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher , or Google Play Music . Show Notes Case Study Buddy — Joel's service we're t...
Nov 22, 2019•47 min•Transcript available on Metacast Growing a SaaS company is such a slow process. How do you know if you're on the right track? Our guest today is Derrick Reimer, a founder of several SaaS companies and a fellow podcaster. You'll learn the story of his previous SaaS product, multiple ways to validate your product idea, and what are the signals that a product-market fit is happening (or not). Download the MP3 audio file: right-click here and choose Save As. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your f...
Nov 08, 2019•45 min•Transcript available on Metacast The tech world is complex enough to puzzle adults, not to mention children. How shall we teach them about computers? Our guest today is Miriam Tocino, the author of Zerus & Ona book series. We discuss the challenges of parenthood, how Miriam has used intuitive writing to create an engaging book experience, and how to bring up our kids with the right technical mindset. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitcher...
Oct 31, 2019•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
