Avsnitt
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In this episode of Pixelated Path, host Chris Abad interviews UX designer Jen Wong about her courageous transition from a successful role at Dropbox to pursuing her entrepreneurial dreams. Jen discusses her journey, including the foundational role her passion for foster care played, the challenges of navigating a career with ADHD, and her strategies for maintaining mental health. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI and UX design, the importance of authenticity, and valuable insights for early-career designers navigating the current tough job market.00:00 Introduction01:11 Early Career Struggles and Discovering Design02:07 Starting a Nonprofit and Learning UX05:26 The Importance of Being Authentic07:34 Pivotal Career Moments08:13 Leaving Dropbox for Entrepreneurship17:52 Joining Netflix and Balancing Mental Health22:27 Strategies for Managing Mental Health at Work28:12 The Role of a Senior Designer at Netflix32:52 Creativity and Challenging the Status Quo34:14 Navigating ADHD in a Professional Context35:43 Finding Your Flow: Hyper-Focus Strategies36:50 Dealing with Rejection Dysphoria38:18 Balancing Tasks in Large Companies39:59 The Power of Passion Projects41:35 Uncovering Insights Through Investigation44:24 Leveraging AI in UX Design45:53 Future of UX Design with AI53:52 Advice for Aspiring UX Designers57:23 Navigating the Job Market01:03:56 Wrap-Up
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In this episode of Pixelated Path, host Chris Abad interviews Renda Morton about her journey from running a successful design studio in New York to taking on leadership roles at the New York Times and Dropbox. Renda shares her experiences of transitioning from a small studio environment to corporate settings, dealing with challenges, and avoiding burnout while maintaining creative energy. She also discusses the pivotal moments in her career, including the iPad era's impact on digital design, the Wirecutter acquisition, and her recent shift to a more balanced lifestyle as a certified coach. Tune in for valuable insights on navigating career leaps and sustaining passion in design.00:00 Introduction01:14 Early Interest in Art and Design04:11 First Job Abroad: Experience in Holland10:38 Transition to New York's Design Scene16:36 Starting and Running a Design Studio19:58 Challenges of Running a Design Business22:35 Decision to Move to the Corporate World24:55 Navigating Career Transitions27:38 Adjusting to a Corporate Environment32:10 Climbing the Leadership Ladder35:12 The Wirecutter Acquisition39:42 Experiencing and Overcoming Burnout41:24 A New Chapter: Embracing Coaching48:02 Advice for Career Pivots49:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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In this episode of Pixelated Path, host Chris Abad welcomes Josh Silverman and Billie Mandel, two seasoned professionals in UX design and entrepreneurship. The conversation explores their extensive careers, highlighting their roles in major tech companies and their commitment to mentorship and inclusive design. Josh and Billie share stories of their long-standing friendship and professional collaborations, the pivotal moments that defined their paths, and the lessons they've learned in the evolving field of UX. They also delve into the importance of self-leadership and offer valuable advice for upcoming designers. The episode wraps up with an exciting announcement about their new Group Coaching Club, aimed at fostering growth and support within the creative and technical community.
00:00 Introduction
02:12 The Early Days: How Josh and Billie Met
07:12 Entrepreneurial Beginnings
12:20 Josh's Leap into Schwadesign
22:51 Billie's Path to Synesthetics
32:22 First Professional Collaboration
35:36 The Role of AI in Design
36:50 The Importance of Buy-In and Culture Change
37:38 Teaching and Mentoring in Design
39:22 Navigating Workplace Politics
41:03 Building Sustainable and Scalable Products
42:49 Empowering Junior Designers
45:09 The Value of Fresh Perspectives
53:58 The Impact of the Pandemic on Careers
59:09 Launching a Group Coaching Club
01:11:15 Words of Wisdom for New Designers
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Josh Brewer's career in design started with a transition from teaching to freelance work. He developed his skills through self-education and a deep dive into web and graphic design. His early experiences in collaboration with talented engineers shaped his understanding of the importance of design and engineering working together. He emphasized the need for honesty, trust, and integrity in professional relationships and the value of being open and transparent about project challenges.
Brewer's work at Twitter led to the genesis of Abstract, a tool that enables designers to work collaboratively and efficiently.
Josh Brewer shares his career journey from being a teacher to working at Twitter, starting his startup, and now helping startup founders. He emphasizes the importance of collaboration between designers and engineers and the need for designers to understand the business side of things. He also talks about the challenges he faced in his career and the importance of being true to oneself.
Josh advises young designers to lean into their unique qualities, develop business acumen, and constantly create and learn.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:51 Getting Started in UX Design
04:59 Self-Education in Graphic and Web Design
07:46 Transitioning to Startups and the Importance of Collaboration
11:28 Confronting Challenges and Making Career Moves
29:18 Building Trust and Leading by Example
37:43 Navigating Career Transitions and Taking Risks
47:25 Developing Business Acumen as a Designer
49:54 The Value of Creating and Making Things
57:18 Finding Enjoyment in the Work and Being True to Oneself
01:04:54 The Unique Perspective of a Designer in Business
