New Layer

Looking for your first design job? Thinking of making the switch to a larger or smaller company? Moving from freelance to in-house? Each type of job has different benefits and drawbacks, as with most things we discuss today: the right type of job for you is going to depend a lot on who you are and what you want from your career.

In this episode, Jasmine and Tanner discuss some of the tradeoffs they've observed with each different type of job designers might consider. Personal stories, lessons learned, and skills (plus a reminder) all designers should be mindful of no matter what stage of a career they're in.

Is there space in the product design industry for older designers? What should designers do as they reach ages 40, 50, 60 and beyond? A New Layer listener recently asked and in this episode we answer. Jasmine and Tanner talk about what it means to be an older designer: the advantages and disadvantages faced, who to look for as an example, why you should keep designing no matter your age, and the role biases play in the hiring of older designers. This and more in this episode of New Layer!

What is interaction design, why does it matter, and how do you go about it? In this episode of New Layer, Tanner and Jasmine outline what interaction design is and why it's a core part of digital product design; from mapping out comprehensive user experience to defining and understanding the underlining architecture of a digital experience, interaction design is a core part of the product design skillset.

Resources for learning more about interaction design:

• Interaction design basics from usability.gov
• A visual vocabulary  for describing information architecture and interaction design
• NNGroup Journey Mapping 101

How do product designers build a portfolio when they don't have much work to show? Jasmine and Tanner explore the question in this episode of New Layer, highlighting the importance of creating work for yourself, diving deep into whatever work you do have, and always being honest in your portfolio.

What does the next few years hold for product design? If you're starting out in design today, or studying to work in product design, what should you focus on in order to get ahead of the curve? In this episode, Jasmine and Tanner explain why predictions are often silly things to focus on, and what you should look to instead.

Related: Morgan Housel's The Psychology of Prediction https://www.collaborativefund.com/blog/the-psychology-of-prediction/

A question designers ask at one point or another: when is a design actually done? In this episode of New Layer, Tanner and Jasmine discuss what it means to design, how that definition helps define when the work is done, and why that definition is going to be different for each individual, team, and company. If you want to better align your team (or just yourself) around design work, you'll want to listen to (and share!) this episode.

When it comes to taking breaks: are you proactive or do you wait until you're burned out and need it most? In this podcast episode, Tanner and Jasmine discuss the importance of proactively taking breaks from work. Whether small breaks throughout your day or work week, or larger breaks during a quarter or year. Hear from their experiences and insights on why breaks matter, how to make them effective, and what to do when the break is over and you're transitioning back into work.

Each December presents itself an opportunity to reflect over the past year as well as look ahead to the next. Both activities are prime for defining success, for yourself and your team. In this episode of New Layer, Tanner and Jasmine discuss the different factors that go into defining success and what it means for leaders on a design team: both formal people managers and individual contributors.

What is systems thinking and why does it matter for product designers? Tanner and Jasmine share why they believe systems thinking is a critical skill most designers today are missing, and what the root cause of that might be. Join us to hear anecdotes and examples of systems thinking in practice, as well as the relationship between systems design and service design, and much more.

When it comes to working in the modern design industry, there are challenges all designers must face. Tanner and Jasmine talk about the two most daunting challenges from their own career experience, as well as what to do when facing those challenges. This episode is a must-listen for all product designers, new and experienced.