Becca Kennedy teaches us how to do UX research on a budget. She encourages newer designers to demonstrate their problem-solving superpowers by redesigning sub-par experiences they use regularly. She reminds us that users are human before they’re users. She also shows us how we can have anything in life we want, if we will just help others get what they want. Becca's Tattoo's Origin Story (5:31) Why Psychology? (6:26) What is Human Factors? (11:43) How do we find research subjects? (24:06) The La...
Nov 05, 2018•1 hr 16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Imposter Syndrome is a very common and unwelcome condition especially among creative people. In Jason Ogle's very first monologue episode, he...wait, it's me writing this (and my voice matters, dog gonnit!)...I tackle the important, and very common condition among creative people known as imposter syndrome. I address what it is, why we have it, and how to kick it in the privates! Check out the detailed show notes including mentioned links and transcript at userdefenders.com/impostersyndrome This...
Oct 29, 2018•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Denise Jacobs teaches us how to banish our inner critic. She motivates us to realize what we’re capable of creatively. She encourages us to overcome the fear of the unknown by turning that fear into curiosity. She also guides us into how to ask for feedback in a way that’s healthy and beneficial to us. Why do so many think they're not creative? (6:08) Name that inner critic! (28:13) Listener Question: (43:35) Best advice for imposter syndrome sufferers? (80:34) Check out the detailed show notes ...
Oct 22, 2018•1 hr 25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Denise Jacobs teaches us how to banish our inner critic. She motivates us to realize what we’re capable of creatively. She encourages us to overcome the fear of the unknown by turning that fear into curiosity. She also guides us into how to ask for feedback in a way that’s healthy and beneficial to us. Why did you write “Banish Your Inner Critic”? (8:27) We’re all born creative…what happens to us? (27:11) Creativity > public school (35:04) Do you have Dunning Kruger effect? (39:49) The value of ...
Oct 15, 2018•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast Josh Clark enlightens us to everything we need to know about the current state of UX in AI. He takes us on an unsettling stroll through uncanny valley. He encourages us to let machines do what they're really good at, and humans do what they're really good at. He guides us into how to begin getting our hands dirty with AI/Machine-Learning. He also articulates how our software/machines are embedded with values, and inspires us (for future's sake) to be intentional about the kinds of values we embe...
Oct 01, 2018•2 hr 54 min•Transcript available on Metacast Alan Cooper teaches us what it means to be a good ancestor. He enlightens us to why it’s so hard to build good software. He reveals how money trumps good UX and ethics far too often. He explains why UX is not about finding the best location for a hamburger menu, but about solving the big problems that exist for the user and the business. He also inspires us to consider (and potentially redirect) the footprints we’re leaving now, for the generations to come. Should designers code? (4:40) Speciali...
Sep 17, 2018•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast Alan Cooper teaches us what it means to be a good ancestor. He enlightens us to why it’s so hard to build good software. He reveals how money trumps good UX and ethics far too often. He explains why UX is not about finding the best location for a hamburger menu, but about solving the big problems that exist for the user and the business. He also inspires us to consider (and potentially redirect) the footprints we’re leaving now, for the generations to come. There’s no such thing as UX Design? (8...
Sep 10, 2018•1 hr 8 min•Ep 53•Transcript available on Metacast Tim Hykes shines a light on black designers. He shows us how an inspiring idea, and a lot of hard work can make a huge impact. He inspires us to challenge everything, especially the status quo. He motivates us to not wait to be asked to solve a problem, but to be a self-starter and solve it. He also teaches us how being a great designer starts with being a great person. Secret Identity (6:55) Criminal Justice Background (11:47) Why the Web/UX? (13:47) Racist Hand Soap?? (17:00) 28 Days of Black ...
Aug 27, 2018•1 hr 10 min•Ep 52•Transcript available on Metacast Just a small taste of what's to come in what could possibly be the best season yet...Season 5 of User Defenders podcast begins 08.27.17 Featuring in order Alan Cooper, Tim Hykes, Denise Jacobs, Jason Ogle, Josh Clark, Alan Cooper. Be sure to subscribe to automatically receive the incredible new episodes: userdefenders.com/subscribe This was originally recorded as a video (hence the not-great audio quality from my iPhone mic for intro). If you'd like to watch the video, check it out here: userdef...
Aug 16, 2018•8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Here's a bit about what's been going on with me, and what's to come with the show and the forthcoming/exciting Season 5.
Jul 06, 2018•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Derek Featherstone teaches us how designing for people with disabilities is really just better design for everybody. He shows us how people with disabilities aren’t different from us, they just use different tools to accomplish the same things. He encourages us to apply empathy to grow our skills in learning how to design for accessibility. He also reveals how taking small steps to incorporate something new into our design process could change everything. Origin Story (5:53) What Were Your “Aha”...
Apr 23, 2018•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast Liza Kindred challenges us to be more mindful in how we use and design technology. She offers us a value system on how to do just that. She encourages us to slow down and incorporate meditation and mindfulness practices into our daily lives. She reminds us to connect more with the real humans physically present with us. She also inspires us to design for the world we want to live in. What is Mindful Technology? (6:50) Benefits of practicing Mindful Tech? (9:23) How do you mitigate FOMO? (24:46) ...
Apr 09, 2018•1 hr 25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jason Ogle shows us how we can all be design superheroes with the right mindset. He reveals how grit trumps talent, every day. He reminds us of the peril that bad leadership and ego can have on a team and organization. He challenges us to never stop fighting for our users. He also inspires us to be a catalyst for our community. Secret Identity (6:49) Origin Story (11:14) Biggest Superhero (21:31) Biggest Failure (28:51) Awkward Testing Story (35:06) Design Superpower (40:35) Design Kryptonite (4...
Mar 26, 2018•1 hr 18 min•Ep 50•Transcript available on Metacast Steve Portigal challenges us to enjoy the silence when interviewing people. He teaches us the importance of rapport-building, and offers sage advice on how to do it. He shows us how sticking with an interview even when it’s not going well can sometimes bring forth the best data. He also reveals how a little empathy can go a long way in field research. Secret Identity (8:08) Origin Story (12:19) What drives your curiosity? (24:53) Roberta 'call me Bert's war story (29:28) What's Ethnography (the ...
Mar 12, 2018•2 hr 34 min•Ep 49•Transcript available on Metacast Cassie McDaniel inspires us to get away from the ‘pick me’ mindset, and to pick ourselves. She challenges us to be willing to kill our darlings so that something better can emerge. She teaches us the importance of knowing our values, but also embracing the fact that they are going to change. She also encourages us to not just do what we’re good at, but do what we enjoy. Secret Identity (8:27) Origin Story (20:56) Being Mozilla Foundation's Design Director (24:09) Biggest Failure (36:36) Kill You...
Feb 26, 2018•1 hr 16 min•Transcript available on Metacast I was so delighted when at the beginning of 2017, Eric Meyer + Jeffrey Zeldman asked me if I wanted to record a live episode at my favorite design conference, An Event Apart. Welcome to this very special episode where I felt like I needed to give a radio intro in front of a live audience! Lol, you’ll see what I mean. Thankful to my hero Chris Coyier for saving the day and pulling me out of broadcast mode, into live mode. First time for everything! I’m still in awe at my panel of bad design Aveng...
Feb 19, 2018•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast Jeremy Keith reveals how the web is neither good or bad, nor neutral, but an amplifier. He inspires us to not let the future be just something that happens to us, but rather something we make with the small things we do today. He encourages us to build software ethically with our users’ psychological vulnerabilities in mind. He motivates us to not build on rented land, but to publish using the superpower of our own URLs. He also shows us how looking to the past is just as important as looking to...
Feb 12, 2018•1 hr 24 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joe Johnston inspires us to embrace the superpowers of curiosity and empathy for our users and business owners. He motivates us to always stay curious, and ask why to get to the heart of the problem faster. He encourages us to make sure we use the shiny objects available to us to actually solve a problem. "Merhl" Backstory (7:40) Secret Identity (11:38) Origin Story (13:46) Empathy is Still Important (18:52) Biggest Failure (24:46) Design Leadership/Culture (28:41) Awkward Testing Story (33:24) ...
Jan 29, 2018•1 hr 8 min•Ep 46•Transcript available on Metacast “Designers are the architects of human behavior. With a consolidated tool like Studio, designers are going to be able to focus a lot more on designing...as they should.” — Tom Giannattasio In this very special episode, I had the great privilege of talking to Studio mastermind Tom Giannattasio all about what went into building what's being touted as "the world' most powerful screen design tool". Tom has an interesting designer origin story. In this interview, you'll hear how his past experiences ...
Jan 19, 2018•50 min•Transcript available on Metacast Alexa Roman motivates us to prove the value of design and contribute to it every single day. She encourages us to always be learning new things since designers work across many different fields. She inspires us to get more excited about analytics and measuring our designs. She also challenges us to think about what we want on our tombstones...while we’re still this side up. Secret Identity (7:49) Origin Story (12:42) What Will Your Tombstone Say? (19:25) Biggest Failure (21:50) Design Superpower...
Jan 15, 2018•1 hr 21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to this very special, quite literally out of this world episode with my father, G.A. “Jim” Ogle. You know how they say it doesn’t take a rocket scientist? Well, my Dad is one. On a recent vacation to Florida to celebrate his 80th birthday, he spent nearly three hours telling me his compelling story. G.A. "Jim" Ogle fell in love with airplanes at the early age of 8 years old. The circumstances that presented this initial passion were far from ideal. He was recovering in a hospital bed fol...
Nov 21, 2017•3 hr 38 min•Transcript available on Metacast Joshua Oluwagbemiga motivates us to allow different inputs to influence our visual outputs. He shows us the effective power of determination when pursuing the craft of design. He also reminds us that inspiration is all around us...if we’re looking for it. Secret Identity/Origin Story (7:05) Biggest Superhero (18:50) Biggest Failure (22:26) Awkward Testing Story (26:14) Design Superpower (29:59) Design Kryptonite (30:55) UX Superhero Name (33:37) Fights for Users (35:15) Habit of Success (38:21) ...
Oct 30, 2017•1 hr 2 min•Transcript available on Metacast On this special episode, Eric Meyer, Jeffrey Zeldman and I discuss the premiere web and UX design conference they started over a decade ago. We talk about the game-changing innovations that have come out of An Event Apart, as well as what to expect at User Defenders' very first Denver appearance on December 11-13, 2017.
Oct 20, 2017•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Rachel Nabors gives us a deep-dive into the art & science of web animation. She motivates us to sell animation as a UX enhancement, rather than a delight factor. She also exhorts us to animate ethically and responsibly. Animation Origin Story (5:44) Getting Animation Buy-off (14:01) Animation is Not About Delight (20:47) Do I Have to Draw to Animate? (33:42) Web Animation Resources (36:41) Future of Banner Ads (46:27) Listener Question (50:59) 24 Hour Comic (55:44) Check out the detailed show no...
Oct 16, 2017•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Laura Klein shows us how User Experience happens whether we design it intentionally or not. She paints a picture of what the the future of UX Design looks like. She teaches us if we’re too close to a project, we ought to step back and let others do the research. She also uses a really effective medical analogy to remind us of the value of specialization. Secret Identity (5:44) Origin Story (10:56) Where is Design Going? (16:04) Do Titles Matter? (24:50) It Just Works? (29:20) Is Everyone a Desig...
Oct 02, 2017•1 hr 13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dan Brown inspires us to get great at asking questions because 'the question' is one of our most invincible resources. He reminds us to maintain a spirit of collaboration with the the team members we’re struggling with since they care as much about the project as we do. He encourages us to always peer beneath the surface at the underlying structure of whatever we’re working on. He also motivates us to never settle. Secret Identity (7:47) Origin Story (9:29) Biggest Failure (20:23) Awkward Testin...
Sep 18, 2017•1 hr 17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Matt Griffin shows us how empathy and sensitivity to the world around us is the key to great design. He teaches us how as a leader, the worst decision is no decision. He explains how hands are his most invincible UX resource or tool. He also inspires us starting out to take 'every damn opportunity we can get'. Secret Identity (4:46) Origin Story (7:18) Bearded Closing its Doors (17:04) Biggest Failure (31:45) Awkward Testing Story (43:21) Design Superpower (45:44) Design Kryptonite (46:54) UX Su...
Sep 04, 2017•1 hr 25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Laura Elizabeth believes developers can learn design. She articulates the importance of reflecting on our users’ needs more than our personal tastes. She touches on how making a product makes us better designers. She also inspires us to always be genuine in our dealings with our customers if we want to build (and keep) trust. Secret Identity (4:05) Origin Story (9:55) Biggest Superhero (13:32) Biggest Failure (16:23) Design Superpower (20:54) Transition from Freelance to Product (23:04) Design K...
Aug 21, 2017•1 hr 7 min•Ep 40•Transcript available on Metacast Joe Leech shows us how psychology helps frame what we’re seeing in user research. He articulates why the superpower we need is understanding how business works. He inspires us get out of our seat and talk to executives in the organization more about the business. He also challenges us to not just always be shipping, but always be shipping the right things. Secret Identity/Origin Story (4:39) Biggest Superhero (14:50) Biggest Failure (22:37) Awkward Testing Story (30:03) Design Superpower (32:03)...
Aug 06, 2017•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast "Do yourself a favor and show this to as many people as you possibly can, because this is going to be the world that we’ll be living in. Being able to show this to somebody and see that click happen, and hear them say, ‘Oh my God, my whole life just changed’ is a really cool thing to witness." – Austin Knight Check out the detailed show notes at userdefenders.com/mr-2
Jul 31, 2017•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
