Episode DescriptionIn this episode, Chris Abad sits down with Dean Broadley, a design leader who transformed a banking design team of 150+ people and founded Designing Humans. Dean shares his unconventional journey from teenage comic book designer to design leadership, revealing why self-awareness is the missing ingredient in most design teams. Learn why Dean believes mistakes are your greatest assets, how to identify when designers are stuck, and practical techniques to foster growth through reframing and embracing discomfort.

About Dean BroadleyDean Broadley is the founder of Designing Humans, a consultancy focused on helping companies build effective design teams. With experience leading large design organizations across multiple countries, Dean specializes in helping designers break through career plateaus by focusing on self-awareness and relationship-building rather than rigid processes. His philosophy centers on the idea that "you're not designing experiences or products, you're designing humans."

Key Topics & Timestamps00:00 E019 Dean Broadley (Spotify)01:33 Early Influences and First Design Job03:03 University Challenges and Digital Shift06:24 Breaking Boundaries and Finding Opportunities14:29 Founding Designing Humans16:50 Implementing New Processes and Structures20:01 The Importance of Self-Awareness in Relationships20:10 Building Products People Love20:30 Team Dynamics and Self-Knowledge20:53 Honest Conversations with Customers23:25 Tools for Improving Self-Awareness25:16 Helping Others Overcome Challenges29:36 Embracing Mistakes as Learning Opportunities33:37 Evolving Leadership Styles40:33 Advice for Early Career Designers42:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Key Quotes

"You cannot be in any effective relationship without knowing yourself really, really well." - Dean Broadley"We ask permission to participate in the lives of our customers. They're not thinking about us. And that's okay." - Dean Broadley"Nine times out of ten, when a system's not working, it has nothing to do with what you drew on a slide." - Dean Broadley"Just get stuck in. There's no time for perfection. There's only time for effectiveness." - Dean Broadley"I am long-term lazy. I will work very hard so I don't have to work again." - Dean Broadley"If it wasn't for my mistakes, I wouldn't know half the things I know." - Dean Broadley

Resources Mentioned

• Johari Window - A self-awareness tool Dean uses for personal and team development
• Formula D Interactive - The company where Dean got his first professional design job

Connect with Dean Broadley

• LinkedIn: Dean Broadley
• Twitter/X: @BroadleySpoken

Connect with Chris Abad

• LinkedIn: Chris Abad
• Twitter/X: @chrisabad
• Website: pixelatedpath.com
• Newsletter: Pixelated Path on Substack

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00:00 Introduction to Jason Bly's Journey

01:27 Early Career and Internships

03:38 Discovering a Passion for Graphic Design

06:26 The Importance of Attention to Detail

12:06 Navigating Design Critiques

17:40 Transitioning to the U.S. for Education

26:46 From Print to Digital Design

31:23 First Full-Time Role at Kodak

35:09 Transitioning from Kodak to Effective

35:58 Navigating Career Growth and Titles

36:29 Challenges and Responsibilities at Kodak

39:19 Joining Google: The Journey Begins

39:58 Landing the Role at Google

44:14 Proudest Accomplishments at Google

53:00 The Impact of Layoffs

57:37 Processing the Layoff

01:01:51 Advice for Navigating Layoffs

01:04:54 What's Next: Future Plans

01:08:14 Conclusion: Embracing Change

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00:00 Introduction

00:52 Matt Armstrong's Early Career at Dropbox

05:01 Discovering a Passion for Design

11:19 Learning from Diverse Inspirations

15:56 The Role of Critiques in Design

29:23 Transitioning to a Design Career at Zendesk

31:55 The Zendesk Rebrand Journey

33:08 Navigating Criticism and Design Twitter

34:39 Reflections on Design Choices

38:44 The Importance of Therapy and Mental Health

49:13 Imposter Syndrome in Design

01:02:07 Advice for New Designers

01:06:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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00:00 Introduction to Beril's Journey

00:53 Early Inspirations and Architectural Beginnings

01:44 Transition to Technology and UX

04:54 Skills and Resilience in UX

13:23 Navigating Career Challenges and Layoffs

22:17 Visa Challenges and Career Decisions

24:39 Transition to Management at Salesforce

30:52 Overcoming the Fear of Asking for Help

31:36 Tips for Early Career Struggles

33:07 Balancing Design Purity and Business Needs

35:53 Navigating UX Constraints and Collaboration

39:50 Transitioning Between Industries

42:15 Advice for Shifting Career Paths

46:03 Crafting a Standout Resume and Portfolio

49:45 Differences Between Senior Manager and Director Roles

52:32 Mentoring and Team Management Insights

55:16 Handling Layoffs and Career Uncertainty

01:00:02 Final Thoughts and Where to Connect

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00:00 Introduction: The Designer's Dilemma

00:58 Jenna Bilotta's Journey into UX

04:14 The Fascination with Human Behavior and Technology

07:37 Transitioning from Academia to the Workforce

10:38 The Value of Graduate Education in UX

14:28 The Evolution of UX Design with Emerging Technologies

20:53 The Importance of Logic Over Pixels in UX

25:35 Framework Design: Moving Beyond Pixels

27:38 Mapping Nouns and Verbs in System Design

28:06 Categorizing Objects and Altitudes

28:55 Game Design Analogy for Product Altitudes

30:04 Framework Design in Complex Projects

31:44 The Role of a Systems Designer

33:38 Career Launch at Google

37:53 Transition to Entrepreneurship

39:59 Balancing Design and Product Roles

43:47 Advice for Aspiring Designers and Product Managers

48:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, host Chris Abad interviews Peter Merholz, an influential design executive and co-founder of Adaptive Path. Peter chats about his unconventional journey from an anthropology major to a design pioneer, and how his background uniquely impacted his approach to human-centered design. They discuss the challenges and insights gained from scaling design teams, spearheading innovation in user experience, and the evolving landscape of design leadership. For anyone curious about blending creativity, technology, and leadership in a design career, this conversation offers invaluable advice and inspiration.

00:00 Introduction

00:48 Discovering Design Through Books

02:52 Transitioning from Web Development to Design

03:44 Anthropology's Influence on Design

06:39 Early Career and First Management Role

09:32 Founding Adaptive Path

16:06 Challenges and Evolution of Design Leadership

32:12 Aligning on Values 33:21 Consulting Business Dynamics

34:54 Innovative Approaches and Utilization Rates

37:05 Transition and Exit from Adaptive Path

38:26 Impact on User Experience Profession

40:49 Writing and Impact of 'Design for Design Orgs'

42:13 Challenges in Scaling Design Teams

52:00 Recruiting and Hiring Practices

56:59 Navigating the Interview Process

01:03:37 Final Thoughts and Advice