Felix is the Co-founder & CEO of ADPList and sets the vision and strategy for the company. Founded in 2021, the company grew into a global town square for expert knowledge, with 20K+ Mentors from companies like Netflix, Airbnb, and Google, hosting over 100 million minutes of sessions on topics such as product design, product management, and coding in 140+ countries.

As a designer, Felix has embedded his creative roots in ADPList's culture, product, and community.

Featured on Forbes 30 under 30 Asia List and Tatler's Generation T Future Leader List in 2023. In 2021, ADPList raised $1.3 million from Sequoia Capital India and Goodwater Capital.

The Guest

Felix is the Co-founder & CEO of ADPList and sets the vision and strategy for the company. Founded in 2021, the company grew into a global town square for expert knowledge, with 20K+ Mentors from companies like Netflix, Airbnb, and Google, hosting over 100 million minutes of sessions on topics such as product design, product management, and coding in 140+ countries.

As a designer, Felix has embedded his creative roots in ADPList's culture, product, and community.

Featured on Forbes 30 under 30 Asia List and Tatler's Generation T Future Leader List in 2023. In 2021, ADPList raised $1.3 million from Sequoia Capital India and Goodwater Capital.

In our new episode, we delve into an enriching conversation with Ole Lutjens, exploring the fascinating evolution of design, both in his personal journey and the current technological landscape.

Ole shared captivating anecdotes, starting from his childhood fascination with Commodore 64, where coding ignited his passion for computer graphics.

His pivotal time at an art school in Germany saw a fusion of art and technology, experimenting with Hypercard on Macintosh computers, sparking his interest in motion graphics.

Transitioning to the United States, Ole witnessed the shift from text-based interfaces to mouse-driven interactions, contributing to simulated computer interfaces for television crime shows during his college years.

Throughout our discussion, we navigated through the parallels between the early computing era and today's AI landscape, highlighting the importance for designers to adapt to a more probabilistic interface approach due to AI's influence.

Ole Lutjens currently serves as the VP of Product Design and Research at Udemy. During our conversation, he emphasized the challenges and opportunities brought forth by AI, emphasizing its role as a skill set and discussing the evolving nature of design interfaces in this technological age.

In this episode we talk about:

How early experiences blending art and technology shape your approach to design leadership today?

The transition from being a designer to managing your own business? How did this shift influence your perspective on design at scale?

The challenges faced in achieving a cohesive visual experience for Disney content, particularly concerning collaboration across different divisions?

How to navigate the balance between emotional resonance and content-centric interfaces when designing for brands like Disney, BMW, and Instagram?

What specific design philosophies or strategies did Disney Plus employ to prioritize clarity, simplicity, and swift content delivery in its user experience?

In what ways should we foresee AI becoming a game-changer in content creation and learning experiences, especially within platforms like Udemy?

Looking ahead, how is the evolving role of AI impacting creative teams and product development in the future?

And plenty more!

Thank you very much for your time and knowledge, Ole!

In the episode, together with Wolfgang we talk about what designers need to learn in order to become great design leaders, which kind of skills they need. And how do you push forward design ideas or innovation ideas within an organization and create a win-win between different stakeholders?

Wolfgang has a lot of experience in the space and giving a lot of talks on innovation, leadership, and design. He has gained a lot of experiences, both in the startup area, but then also agencies and enterprises, for example, at Nokia or SAP.

In this episode, we look at:

What are the key elements of effective design leadership?

How important is clear communication in cross-departmental collaboration?

“It's about teamwork and finding allies to make joint decisions for a great product experience.”

Why is it important to have allies who champion the cause of design within the company?

What are the benefits of designers proactively seeking out opportunities to contribute and solve problems within their organization?

"Proactivity and initiative are crucial for changing the perception of design within an organization."

And plenty more!

Thank you very much for your time and knowledge, Wolfgang!

In this episode of we engage in a captivating conversation with Sheng-Hung Lee, an accomplished design expert and a dedicated PhD researcher at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Sheng-Hung's journey in the realms of design, engineering, and academia has equipped him with a wealth of knowledge and insights, making this discussion truly enriching.

Through this engaging dialogue, we unravel intriguing topics at the crossroads of science, engineering, and design. Sheng-Hung passionately advocates for the necessity of constraints and friction in this intersection, underscoring how these elements serve as catalysts for innovation and the birth of creative solutions.

In the episode, we jump into:

Intersection of science, engineering, and design.

Design in financial services.

How to balance design and engineering perspectives?

Sustainability and design in academic environments.

“As designers and engineers, understanding the user's perspective is essential. It's like speaking a language that the user understands, and that language is empathy.”

What is the power of design in innovation?

"Innovation thrives in constraints. Constraints are not roadblocks; they're the creative boundaries within which we find our best solutions.”

And plenty more!

Thank you very much for your time, Sheng!

In this episode, we explore the dynamic relationship between design as a creative discipline and the systems and tools that shape this creativity, for better or for worse. We delve into the importance of customizing design processes to allow designers to focus on the most impactful aspects of their work, including the strategic and psychological components of problem-solving.

Our guest, Don Norman, a renowned design expert with over four decades of experience in academia and industry, shares his insights on a range of design topics. We discuss the challenges designers face in avoiding quick assumptions and solutions when tackling design briefs and how to choose the most effective methods for problem-solving.

Don also offers guidance on incorporating principles of visual perception and affordance into the design process, as well as creating artificial friction in designs.

In addition, we explore the importance of designing for a better world and the role that sustainability and humanity-centeredness play in this process.

Don shares his thoughts on how designers can effectively communicate the value of design to business stakeholders and the common mistakes to avoid.

We also discuss the need for a different kind of design in the fifth industrial revolution and the arbitrary and artificial measurements that govern our lives.

Tune in to this episode for an engaging conversation on design's impact on the world and how designers can play a crucial role in shaping a better future.

In the episode, we jump into:

Design Industry / Role of designers - how is it changing?

What do you think are key challenges for people to communicate the “value of design” to a business stakeholders? Common mistakes you see? What did you learn about framing design for business stakeholders?

How do you try to balance challenging the status quo and also pushing forward existing initiatives?

“Human behavior brought our world to the brink, human behavior can save us.”

Why do we need to design a better world and what is broken?

"If design got us into today’s mess, can design get us out?”

Why if Design is to Save the World, It Must Be a Different Kind of Design

"Almost Everything I see is Artificial"

"Almost Everything Artificial Has Been Designed"

And plenty more!

Thank you very much for your time and knowledge, Don!

In this episode, we delve into the relationship between design as a creative discipline and how systems and tools shape this creativity for better or worse.

We also talk about why it helps designers to customize their processes and how this allows designers to focus on where they can have the most impact, which is often the strategic side of design, as well as the psychological aspects of the creative problem-solving process.

In this episode, we look at:

How can you challenge the design brief while avoiding "quick assumptions/solutions"?

How do you choose the best methods to solve the problem (JTBD, Sprints, etc.)?

How do you incorporate principles of visual perception and affordance into your design process?

How do you create artificial friction in your designs?

How can designers envision the future using today's tools?

And plenty more!

Thank you very much for your time and knowledge, Mustafa!

******

The Guest

Mustafa is a Staff Product Designer at Twitter working on design systems.

Previously he was UX lead on install-ability on Chrome and Design Advocate at Google. His work involves bridging the Mobile and Desktop PWA Eng through cross-platform designs. He takes concepts through requirements docs to fully finished and implemented designs.

Also he was the UX design lead and manager for the Developer Relations Infrastructure team and launched Google.dev, a learning platform for developers.

He can create interactive prototypes, whiteboard/brainstorming, paper prototyping, and low and high fidelity mock-ups quickly. He is also a Design Sprint Master Trainer and has led numerous design sprints for Google's product teams and top-tier partners.

He has over twenty years of experience working with a variety of organizations, including News International, Middlesex University, Metro Newspaper, BBC/Arts Council of England, and Macmillan Publishing, in a variety of sectors, including publishing, charities, local, central government, education, and finance.

He has also been asked to write articles for the Times Online and.netmagazine, as well as to speak at Future of Web Design and London Web Meetup.

The Guest

Lindsey Mosby is a partner in Prophet’s Austin office, specializing in healthcare transformation and innovation. For nearly two decades, she has worked to make healthcare more connected, compassionate, transparent, and, dare we say, delightful.

That necessitates thinking big, being brave, and listening well, all of which she has honed over her 20 years in design strategy and innovation. (Being a mom, a road warrior, an industry speaker, and auditioning for Lilith Fair also helped.) She focuses on envisioning and executing innovation programs that lead to a more human and sustainable healthcare ecosystem, working with both legacy and start-up healthcare players.

She previously led global strategic design for Philips Design and Philips Healthcare Transformation Services before joining Prophet. She spent seven years at frog Design building the healthcare practice from the ground up. Pfizer Consumer Health, the Mayo Clinic, Kaiser Permanente, UCSF, TEVA, Johnson & Johnson, AARP, Otsuka, Boston Scientific, Merck, Medtronic, and Cigna are among the key clients.

In addition to her work as a client advisor and team lead, Lindsey speaks on design strategy and healthcare experience innovation to audiences all over the world, including organizations in Copenhagen, Shanghai, Singapore, and Australia.

****

In the episode, we focus on how to design and develop better healthcare experiences both digitally and physically, looking at the entire customer journey as well as opportunities for creating innovations when it comes to the power of cross-industry learning. So, what can we learn from the hospitality industry, What can we learn from the finance industry to improve health-care experiences.

In this episode, we look at:

What is the state of healthcare today?

What opportunities do designers have to influence the healthcare industry?

Are we making the move from "Healthcare as an event" to "Health as a journey and mindset"?

How do we shift from "solving" to "prevention" and become more strategic in this context?

In terms of experience design, what can the healthcare industry learn from the financial industry?

In a data-driven world, how is the concept of "personal advisor" changing?

And plenty more!

Thank you very much for your time and knowledge, Lindsey!

In EP75, we had the pleasure of speaking with James Martin, co-founder of BabyGiant Design Co. and the founder of Made By James, a brand-focused and design-led creative agency in the UK, also the author of the book "Made by James: The Honest Guide to Creativity and Logo Design" which was released this year.

His clients include The Chainsmokers, Michael Ray, and Carter McLean, as well as brands like Bishop Slayer Oyster Stout and Plastic Freedom.

James believes that there is no shortcut to creative freedom and a life of self-employment.

Being good at what you do isn't enough. His words of wisdom? Work with a team first to gain experience, then go out on your own once you've mastered prospecting, pricing, and presenting.

In this episode, James discusses how to systemize your creative design process and how designers can do so to scale their services and make them more efficient.

We also talk about what makes a great logo and how effective brand designs can help brands advance.

In this episode, we look at:

The commercial significance of a new logo design.

What is the most underrated aspect of a great brand and communication design?

How do you develop your design's narrative and strategy?

When it comes to new clients, how important is your "design style," or are you completely adaptable?

What is the most difficult aspect of selling brand design?

How do you explain the positive impact of a brand design project?

And plenty more!

Thank you very much for your time and knowledge, James!

****

The Guest

In EP74, James Martin is the co-founder of BabyGiant Design Co. and the founder of Made By James, a brand-focused and design-led creative agency in the UK, also the author of the book "Made by James: The Honest Guide to Creativity and Logo Design" which was released this year.

Musical heavyweights like The Chainsmokers, Michael Ray, and Carter McLean are among his clients, as are brands like Bishop Slayer Oyster Stout and Plastic Freedom.

James Martin honed his illustration skills before becoming a self-described "bad" teacher and then a less-than-dedicated tattoo apprentice. He eventually worked in design agencies, honing his craft and gaining experience in order to launch his own brand and business.

In EP75 we interviewed James Martin, who is the founder of Made By James and Co-Founder of BabyGiant Design Co., a brand-focused and design-led creative agency in the UK.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Liliia Mandrino, UX Director at EA Sports, on this episode.

She has also held the positions of Director of Product Design at Fitplan Technologies Inc., Head of Design Foundations (Global Design Language) at HomeAway, and Head of Design & Founder at Olilija DOO - as well as other businesses.

She has spent over ten years investing in continual independent training and skill development, including research, product design, behavioral psychology, and neuroscience.

In the episode, we learn how to create game designs. Games, like automobiles, are highly emotional products, and the design process differs significantly from that of a more utility-driven product, such as a financial application.

We also learn about multisensory design and the importance of conveying a story when it comes to user journeys, which we can apply to other goods after designing for such an emotional product.

In this episode, we look at:

What distinguishes the design process and needs of "creating gaming interfaces" from "common interfaces of digital consumer products"?

Do gaming interfaces foster / empower for creativity?

What are some of the most typical design issues in the gaming UX design space?

How does it affect "cognitive load" and other usability KPIs as game interfaces get more graphically emotional?

How do you strike a balance between the significance of an emotive narrative and design and rational usability considerations?

How does gaming behavior differ (and how does this affect design) across cultures and regions?

What hurdles will designers have while creating for the gaming industry, and what problems will they have to solve?

And plenty more!

Thank you very much for your time and knowledge, Liliia!

******

The Guest

In EP74, Liliia Mandrino, UX Director at EA Sports, and we had a conversation about her work developing a top-tier design team and user experience design field.

Her interest has always been experience design. She adores the multisensory element of it, where music and haptics link what we see and do on the screen into enduring and empowering experiences.

She assists businesses in creating teams and digital goods.

To create things that people adore, Liliia is creating a platform for collaboration between many professions.

She bases her work on research and data-driven insights, which also aid teams in developing memorable and captivating experiences.

She has invested more than 10 years in ongoing independent training and skill development, including in the fields of research, product design, behavioral psychology, and neuroscience.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Paul Lafata, VP of product management at Heal and former CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA/Lab1886 Daimler's USA, in this episode.

He has also worked as the Head of Design & Innovation at Laureti, the Experience Design Director at BCG Digital Ventures, the Design Director at Bird, the Director of User Experience at Qualcomm, and other companies.

Aside from being a great CEO, Design Director Paul distinguished himself by being a true intrapreneur, developing venture ideas, pitching them, and securing funding for them, as well as signing on investors and major clients.

In EP73 we discuss the differences between designing a digital automotive experience and designing a digital consumer app, as well as the opportunities for innovation, with Paul.

We also talk about the true meaning of good design leadership and how we are involved as a designer in building bridges with business stakeholders.

In the episode, we jump into:

How can designers have the most impact on their work from a business standpoint?

In the automotive industry, Where can designers have the most influence?

What new business models are emerging in the automotive industry, particularly in terms of digital products and innovation?

What are the opportunities and challenges for designers in the healthcare space?

How can digital innovation enable people to receive more measurable assistance?

What are the main obstacles to communicating the "value of design" to business stakeholders?

How should design be integrated into an organization to be most effective?

And many more!

Thanks a lot for your time and your learning Paul!

******

The Guest

Paul Lafata is the VP of Product Management & Design at Heal.

He is a product creator, startup builder, and team leader.

He has over 20 years of experience working in design firms, consultancies, tech behemoths, and media conglomerates as a Product Designer, Creative Director, and Venture Studio CEO.

Paul creates consumer products with the goal of providing unique and seamless CX (customer experiences) in healthcare, mobility services, IOT devices, and media.

He guides multidisciplinary teams through the product development process's stages of innovation, incubation, and commercialization.

He has also worked as a product manager and design leader at Heal, Mercedes, BCG Digital Ventures, Bird, Qualcomm, and Nokia, where he built and led teams to create digital products and services.