New Layer

This is the second part of a two-part episode. Previously, Jasmine and Tanner discussed why it's important to give constructive and timely feedback to those we work with, as well as how to best take critical feedback even when you disagree with it. In this follow-up episode the co-hosts dive deeper into examples of good and bad feedback they've experienced in their careers, and highlight why good feedback can often make or break a team, and organization.

As product designers it's important to learn how to give constructive, actionable, and timely feedback to everyone we work with. That means not only feedback for our design peers, but also to product managers, engineers, researchers, writers, and more. Learning how to give (and take) feedback effectively is a powerful skill that will help you and your team grow. In this part one of a two part episode of the podcast, Tanner and Jasmine discuss best practices (and some not-so-great practices) for providing feedback.

What should designers focus on in order to build a future-proof and sustainable career? VR, AR, AI, blockchain, neumorphism, what's next for design? In this episode Jasmine and Tanner discuss emerging predictions about the future of design and why the best designers are more flexible than specialized. Rather than focusing on any one specific area or industry, product designers who excel at the fundamentals of product design—things like product strategy, research, visual and interaction design—are best setup to adapt as the world changes. That doesn't mean you can't focus on an area you're passionate about, of course.

As a designer, how do you pick the right tool for the job? What should you look for in your design tools and what should you avoid? Trending tools might not be all they're hyped up to be, and there will always be a new and exciting tool in the market, so with so many options it can be hard to define what tool is right for your job. In this episode of New Layer, Tanner Christensen and Jasmine Friedl discuss how design tools have evolved and what designers can do to ensure the tools they're using or trialing are best for the job at-hand.

Should you work to become a director-level individual contributor (IC) or work to become a people manager? Both roles are critical in a mature organization, but each has distinctive responsibilities. One focuses on the craft of the product design work while the other is responsible for the team—people working together. Despite common myths around moving between IC roles and that of people management, there are reasons to make the switch or not, depending on what you're passionate about and where your strengths are.

In this episode of New Layer, Tanner and Jasmine shine a light on some of the most important aspects to being a hyper-senior individual contributor or that of a people manager.

What is design research, how does it work, and what can product designers do to integrate research into their process today? In this special episode of New Layer, Tanner is joined by special guest Paul Derby, UX research manager at Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Tanner and Paul discuss common pitfalls designers encounter when looking to do research, as well as strategies and specific tactics designers can use to conduct better research as part of their design process.

When it comes to interviewing the last thing you want to do is follow a template of questions to ask. Instead, treat the interview as an opportunity to learn the deep truth about the company you're interviewing with and give them a chance to learn about you. When we approach interviewing as a step-by-step, templated process to get through we miss out on discovering ways we can contribute and things we can learn. In this episode of the podcast, Jasmine and Tanner share perspective on how to identify the right questions to ask when it comes to interviews.

Making time for thinking and giving yourself space to think about the work you do as a product designer is crucial. But time away from what we often see as the "work" of a designer—the pixels, the prototypes, wireframes—can feel like procrastination. How can designers make more time for deliberate thinking? What does it look like to dedicate part of the design process to simply think and reflect?

Do designers show more value when they go off on their own to solve a problem, or when they include others in their process? It can feel counterintuitive to prove value and skills by incorporating others into your process, but the reality is designers cannot do their best work unless they involve others; early and often in their process. In this episode Jasmine shares her insights and perspectives into what it takes to be a team player in order to do your best work, while Tanner shares his past struggles around working transparently and collaboratively.

In an industry that is growing more every day, how do product designers set themselves apart from the competition? The answer, as Tanner and Jasmine discuss in this episode of the podcast, might be in specializing, looking at niche spaces to work in, and worrying less about how to stand apart and more about how to just do good work. The type of work that energizes you and ensures you're learning and growing, no matter what phase of career you're in.