Bear Academy

By Bear Liu

What's Bear Academy about?

Welcome to Bear Academy podcast. Here, we talk things about design, productivity and technology with professionals who work in tech and design industries. Hosted by Bear Liu, a UX designer who lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

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Bear Academy episodes:

03.05.2024
#50 From Pixels to Insights: Ray Tiong's UX Research Journey
Explores Ray Tiong's shift from graphic design to UX research, highlighting his unique approach to blending creativity with analytical insights for a dynamic UX landscape.
10.01.2022
#49 Adobe acquires Figma, Tips for getting a Design job, Digital hygiene
A full episode of 3 topics: Adobe acquires Figma, Tips for getting a Design job, Digital hygiene.
09.10.2022
#48 Armando Torrealba: design is intention
Armando Torrealba: design is intention, find what’s your unique way to add value to your work, mindful design and tips for non-native speakers
09.03.2022
#47 Ciao Chen: A Life Coach’s unexpected digital nomad life
Life Coach Ciao Chen shared her ways of working as a digital nomad travelling in China(currently) and running an international coaching business. It all started because of COVID :)
08.13.2022
#46 Brendan Jarvis: What I learned from podcasting
Brendan Jarvis shared what he learned from 2 years of podcasting experience on finding and interviewing top UX influencers. Highlights
07.18.2022
#45 Bilingual content creator journey with Camellia Yang
Shared my journey of being a bilingual content creator on Chiwi Journal podcast.
07.10.2022
#44 How to take notes from an audiobook?
Listening to an audiobook is a great way to learn new things, but you are more likely to forget most of the learnings as taking notes from an audiobook is tricky. I’ll show you a tip to help you better...
07.03.2022
#43 Do 10 hours for this before adapting 10000 hours rule!
You might heard of 10000 hours rule by Malcolm Gladwell, which is to invest 10000 hours to master something. But how do you know which domain you would like to spend 10000 hours in the beginning? Introducing my 10 hours...
06.26.2022
#42 The Making of a Manager: Best tips from Facebook Design VP!
The making of a manager by Julie Zhuo is an awesome book for designers and design managers. It sounds like it's written for a new manager but I found it insightful and helpful for all the professionals working with other...
06.19.2022
#41 Tips for presenting your design work
7 #tips for presenting your design work like a pro! Presentation is an essential skill for designers, and sometimes it might be overwhelming. Last week, I did a presentation with a wider audience to share what I work at in...
06.12.2022
#40 How to make confident career decisions?
Confident career decisions? It's always hard to make career decisions, no need to say to decide confidently. How do I know if it's the right choice,? As a design mentor, I've been asked this question many times: what if I...
06.05.2022
#39 10 Things You Can Do For Your Design Career In 2022
We all know that uncertainties are something for certain in these years, and 2022 will not different at all. Any career tips 2022 for designer? I wrote a tips list for myself as a reminder for my career in 2022,...
05.29.2022
#38 Top Secret in Comics! Book Review on Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud
Why comics are so popular? What's the secret in comics? How to read comics and most importantly for designers: what's the top tip/secret we can borrow from comics to our work? In this video, I want to share a few...
05.22.2022
#37 Just Enough Research - A Must-Read Book For All Designers!
Finally read Just Enough Research by Erika Hall,, which has been on my reading list for a while. Wow! I feel bad after reading this book: why didn’t I read it when I started my UX design career!? I would...
05.15.2022
#36 How To Get Rich: Naval Ravikant on wealth and happiness
"How to get rich(without being lucky)" is one of the most popular Twitter threads, written by Naval Ravikant, a famous investor of Silicon Valley. I love his tweet so much, that guided me to the book of his thoughts...
05.08.2022
#35 Satya Nadella On Leadership: Hit Refresh
Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft shared his thoughts about the leadership, career and culture of Microsoft in his book, Hit Refresh. I'm quite interested in the leadership part, as Satya's personal journey clearly shows how he built his leadership...
05.01.2022
#34 Crushing It by Gary Vaynerchuk
I have a YouTube channel, and I post videos about design, productivity and other things every week. I want more views and more engagement with my audiences. That's the drive for me to read Crushing it by Gary Vaynerchuk. As...
04.24.2022
#33 5 Amazing Books For Designers in 2022
5 books for designers in 2022 - I have kept reading 50 books a year since a few years ago, and this habit hugely changes my work and life. Since I started to work as UX/Product designer, I noticed that...
04.17.2022
#32 Don't Do New Year Resolution, Do this Instead
Don't do new year resolution! It’s the end of the year, and normally we plan what we want to do in the next year, which is the New Year’s resolution. But, is it work? Half of the new year’s resolutions...
04.10.2022
#31 All the books I've read in 2021!
I have kept reading 50 books a year since a few years ago, and this habit hugely changes my work and life. In this video, I share all the books I read in 2021, and also some tips and finds...
12.07.2021
#30 Do these 3 things in the morning!
People want to be productive, and productivity is not only a common goal for professionals, but also a goal for almost everyone. I think I'm productive, but recently, I just found a tip that can fundamentally improve my productivity to...
12.01.2021
#29 A Lesson from Brain Collins
There are a few things creative people need to do every day, actually, some things need to do for the whole life as a designer, programmer, writer, or any kind of creative people. I've joined an online session with legendary...
11.24.2021
#28 Why should you color-code meetings?
Productive remote meetings, everyone wants them, but it's not easy to be productive during all meetings, especially for remote workers. We need to know not all the meetings are the same, and we should divide them into different types, and...
11.17.2021
#27 Design Principles in Squid Game
I guess most of you guys already watched the Netflix show: Squid Game? As a product and UX designer, I found a few design principles in Squid Game. Sounds interested? Let's jump into the game and review them! Bear Who? Hello, I'm...
11.09.2021
#26 - What does work mean to you?
Work could mean different thing for us. What does work mean to you? Bear Who? Hello, I'm Bear, a UX/UI designer who lives and works in Auckland. I make podcasts and YouTube videos about design, productivity, and tech between my work and...
11.01.2021
#25 - One Tip That Totally Improved My Wellbeing During Lockdown
A big tip that helps my well-being during lockdown is disconnecting. To be specific, disconnect from my devices while eat and sleep. Let's talk about the first one. Eating and scrolling was my default - I always need to find something...
10.28.2021
#24 - How Do Professionals Cope With Lockdown?
Recently I ran a team session with 30+ designers in my team, and got some great tips and suggestions on coping with lockdown. Let's see how those top professionals cope with lockdown! Bear Who? Hello, I'm Bear, a UX/UI designer who lives...
10.25.2021
#23 - 6 Wellbeing Tips Help You Survive And Thrive In Lockdown
New Zealand is currently in a level 4 lockdown, and many people from other places are experiencing the same challenge. In this podcast, I'm going to share a few wellbeing tips that I used and worked for me on coping...
10.21.2021
#22 - I Stopped Making videos for 2 Months, And I’ve Finished A Book!
I consider producing content as a serious thing. Since this year, I've decided to make 2 videos per week. That was my goal, and it still is. But in last two months, I stopped doing it. Why? In this podcast,...
10.18.2021
#21 - 6 Tips From An Introvert For Preparing A Speech
It's not easy to give a speech in front of 100 people as an introvert, with your second language. I'm happy that I did it, but even happier about the things I've learned. In this podcast, I'm sharing a few...
05.11.2021
#20 - How to read 10 books in 30 days
How many books you can read in a month? If can read 1 book per week, you can read 4 books in a month. I got 10 books done in April, with a full-time job, a four-year-old to take care...
05.03.2021
#19 - Things I learned at work as a UX Designer at Vodafone
As a UX designer at Vodafone, things at work are challenging, complex, and exciting. My habit is to review things I learned at work regularly, and as I worked at Vodafone New Zealand for a couple of months already, here...
04.27.2021
#18 - What if I'm not good enough to learn design?
One of the common questions from a self-taught designer is: what If I’m not good enough to learn design? What if I’m not good enough to become a designer? What if it was a wrong choice? I know it as...
04.19.2021
#17 - How to take notes from a book you borrowed
You borrowed a book from library or from your friend. When reading it, you found it was so good that you want to take notes. But how to take notes from borrowed books? You can't write or doodle on the...
04.15.2021
#16 - Why a Growth Mindset for UX Designers is Essential?
In the book Mindset, Dr. Carol Dweck shows the importance of a growth mindset rather than a fixed mindset. Why is a growth mindset essential for UX designers? As a UX designer, you should be bold enough to admit things...
04.13.2021
#15 - Closer or loser? Keep the promise you made and get things done
Be a closer, or be a loser? In my opinion, always closing the thing you plan to do, even in the way you are not satisfied or proud. If you are not a closer, you are a loser. That's why...
04.08.2021
#14 - How did I get the LinkedIn Recommendation from Philip Mills?
Philip Mills, the founder of Les Mills International, recommended me on my LinkedIn Profile. It was such an honor to have a recommendation from one of the top leaders in the global fitness industry. How did I get it? Check...
03.29.2021
#13 - E-Myth: Work on your business, rather than in it
E-Myth is an excellent book about business, especially for helping small businesses grow without them burned out. I like the book's structure by telling a story about Sarah, a small pie Store owner struggling to survive on her own business....
03.24.2021
#12 - Prepare the portfolio that can get you hired
Why do we need a UX portfolio? And how to prepare the portfolio that can get you hired? In this video, I'll share a few tips about portfolios for UX designers and product designers, so that you could know how...
03.02.2021
#11 - Designer Michel Ferreira and his four other hidden roles
A few years ago, when I move to New Zealand from China, as a designer without local experience, references, and didn't even speak the language properly, I had a big question: how can I start? I think it's not only...
02.17.2021
#10 - Design an app to save our grandmas - Story of delivering the NZ COVID Tracer app
The NZ COVID Tracer app took an essential part during the whole COVID-fighting process - more than half of the people in New Zealand using the app to help save people's lives. The app was developed and delivered by RUSH,...
01.21.2021
#09 - There Are no "BAD" replies for your job applications
We all received emails like this: "Thank you for applying this role, we really appreciate your time and effort putting on this. Unfortunately, you will not go to the next stage. All the best and good luck to your job...
01.16.2021
#08 - 5 tips to onboard a new job like a pro
Onboarding a new job could be overwhelming - you might look calm on your face, but totally freak out inside. I have some experience of onboarding new jobs, new projects in different countries, and I found there are things in...
01.05.2021
#07 - These are the tips that helped me to read 1 book per week
I read 54 books in 2020, which is the sixth year that I keep reading one book per week. What are the books I read and what are the recommendations? How did I do it? And why? Check the video...
12.25.2020
#06 - Use these 4 pillars to plan your design career in 2021
When I planned to change my career to UX a few years ago without local working experience and academic background, I created a strategy with 4 pillars and succeed. If your career goal of 2021 is to land a job...
12.06.2020
#05 - Designer, you should learn drawing!
This might be an unpopular opinion: designers should learn how to draw, and it's even more important in the digital age. I have three reasons: ✅ Better communication - using sketch or doodle to communicate is a great way. Architecture...
11.29.2020
#04 - Number 8 Wire Dilemma for NZ Innovators - Brendan Jarvis
"In New Zealand we have so much potential, but we still have this belief in number 8 wire innovation. It’s a total myth and seriously limiting, especially when it comes to achieving future prosperity. We need to start taking ourselves and...
11.08.2020
#03 - The Designer Who's Trapped On A Tropical Island - Peter Atcheson
Imagine you and family went to a tropical island for a three-night trip, and you were trapped on the island because of the pandemic, not a few days, not a few weeks, but nearly nine months. How about that? A few...
11.01.2020
#02 - You're a designer, and now what? - Jeff Gothelf
"As a guy who dreams of becoming a great designer, I got a design job and worked as a designer every day. I got myself in the party, and now what? How could I become a senior designer? What are...
10.16.2020
#01 - The Design System of Xero with Zac Sanderson-Harris
Xero, is a company with 3000+ employees, 2 million users, in 2014 and 2015, Xero was identified by Forbes as World’s Most Innovative Growth Company. Their design team is an army of 57 product designers, 13 researchers, 2 content strategists...

What's Bear Academy about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Bear Academy episodes:

#50 From Pixels to Insights: Ray Tiong's UX Research Journey

#49 Adobe acquires Figma, Tips for getting a Design job, Digital hygiene

#48 Armando Torrealba: design is intention

#47 Ciao Chen: A Life Coach’s unexpected digital nomad life

#46 Brendan Jarvis: What I learned from podcasting

#45 Bilingual content creator journey with Camellia Yang

#44 How to take notes from an audiobook?

#43 Do 10 hours for this before adapting 10000 hours rule!

#42 The Making of a Manager: Best tips from Facebook Design VP!

#41 Tips for presenting your design work

#40 How to make confident career decisions?

#39 10 Things You Can Do For Your Design Career In 2022

#38 Top Secret in Comics! Book Review on Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud

#37 Just Enough Research - A Must-Read Book For All Designers!

#36 How To Get Rich: Naval Ravikant on wealth and happiness

#35 Satya Nadella On Leadership: Hit Refresh

#34 Crushing It by Gary Vaynerchuk

#33 5 Amazing Books For Designers in 2022

#32 Don't Do New Year Resolution, Do this Instead

#31 All the books I've read in 2021!

#30 Do these 3 things in the morning!

#29 A Lesson from Brain Collins

#28 Why should you color-code meetings?

#27 Design Principles in Squid Game

#26 - What does work mean to you?

#25 - One Tip That Totally Improved My Wellbeing During Lockdown

#24 - How Do Professionals Cope With Lockdown?

#23 - 6 Wellbeing Tips Help You Survive And Thrive In Lockdown

#22 - I Stopped Making videos for 2 Months, And I’ve Finished A Book!

#21 - 6 Tips From An Introvert For Preparing A Speech

#20 - How to read 10 books in 30 days

#19 - Things I learned at work as a UX Designer at Vodafone

#18 - What if I'm not good enough to learn design?

#17 - How to take notes from a book you borrowed

#16 - Why a Growth Mindset for UX Designers is Essential?

#15 - Closer or loser? Keep the promise you made and get things done

#14 - How did I get the LinkedIn Recommendation from Philip Mills?

#13 - E-Myth: Work on your business, rather than in it

#12 - Prepare the portfolio that can get you hired

#11 - Designer Michel Ferreira and his four other hidden roles

#10 - Design an app to save our grandmas - Story of delivering the NZ COVID Tracer app

#09 - There Are no "BAD" replies for your job applications

#08 - 5 tips to onboard a new job like a pro

#07 - These are the tips that helped me to read 1 book per week

#06 - Use these 4 pillars to plan your design career in 2021

#05 - Designer, you should learn drawing!

#04 - Number 8 Wire Dilemma for NZ Innovators - Brendan Jarvis

#03 - The Designer Who's Trapped On A Tropical Island - Peter Atcheson

#02 - You're a designer, and now what? - Jeff Gothelf

#01 - The Design System of Xero with Zac Sanderson-Harris