Podcast Awesome

Episode Summary

What makes design hard? It’s not just pixels, software, or tools — it’s people. (Yep, you. And me. And all of us.) In this episode, I sit down with my friend Bryan Zug, co-author (along with Scott Berkun), of the book, Why Design is Hard, to talk about why good design is more than just good ideas — it’s about relationships, collaboration, and the messy, sometimes painful reality of working on creative teams.

Bryan was there in the early days of the web, hacking together sites before CSS was even a thing. He’s built products, led UX teams, and helped companies like Amazon and Zillow figure out how to make design work at scale. But more than that, he’s a community builder, the kind of guy who started hosting backyard firepits during COVID just to keep people connected.

I’ll be honest — this conversation was brutal to edit because Bryan has so much insight to share. If you’ve ever struggled with design bottlenecks, team dynamics, or just getting your ideas off the ground, this one’s for you.

What We Cover in This Episode

💡 Why great design is really about great relationships
 🎨 How designers can avoid getting stuck in “artifact culture” 
 💻 What designers actually do in the real world 
 📖 How storytelling can make or break your influence as a designer
 🤝 The secret sauce to making cross-functional teams actually function
 🦄 Why the lone “unicorn designer” era is over — and what comes next 

*Factually accuracy check at playback: Bryan informed me he misspoke at 7:11 when he said he was at Amazon when the pandemic hit — I was actually Zillow. NBD. Audio not edited. 

⏳ Timestamps

⏲️ [00:00] Intro – A Conversation Years in the Making

⏲️ [02:15] The Big Idea: Why Design is Hard

⏲️ [08:40] The Myth of the “Design Hero”

⏲️ [14:25] Why Design Decisions Happen in Budget Meetings

⏲️ [19:30] The Red Flags of a Company That Doesn’t Truly Value Design

⏲️ [25:10] The #1 Skill Designers Need (Hint: It’s Not Figma)

⏲️ [30:50] What Ignite Seattle Taught Bryan About Telling Better Stories

⏲️ [35:15] Outro – Why You Need to Read Why Design is Hard

Links & Resources

📖 Grab a copy of Why Design is Hard

Learn more about the co-author, Scott Berkun: https://scottberkun.com/
🔗 Connect with Bryan Zug: @bryanzug.bsky.social
🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/

🎵 Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/

🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/ 

"Retro Race" https://pixabay.com/music/video-games-retrorace-108750/

Font Awesome on the Socials

🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com

🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome

📸 Instagram: @font.awesome

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Design engineer. UX engineer. Front-end dev with opinions. What does it all mean?! In this episode, we sit down with Dave Darnes to untangle the ever-evolving world of design and development (And Dave is our first non-Font Awesomer on the pod!). We talk about why job titles keep getting weirder, whether "engineer" is a fair title for folks who work on the web, and how design systems can bridge the gap between teams. Plus, we explore the future of the role — will tools like Figma and AI replace design engineers, or will the internet always need humans who can actually build things?

🚀 Tune in for a fun, insightful, and slightly existential conversation about the intersection of design, dev, and the titles we give ourselves.

🏆 Key Takeaways

• Design Engineer: Job Title or Existential Crisis? Dave breaks down the blurry line between design and development and why this role exists.
• Gatekeeping vs. Open Web: How the internet has democratized career paths—and why some job titles might be a shield against skepticism.
• The Future of Design & Dev: Will tools like Figma and AI squeeze out design engineers, or is there always a place for people who build with craft?
• Design Systems & Developer Relations: Why advocacy (not nagging) makes or breaks adoption.
• Rockstar/Ninja/Unicorn Titles: Just ... don’t.

⏱️ Episode Breakdown

🕛 00:00 - Meet Dave Darnes – 🇬🇧 UK-based designer/developer, father of sick children (but still here for the podcast).

🎤 02:30 - The Legendary "David Darnes" Callout – A completely necessary and extremely fun moment of podcast magic.

🛠️ 06:45 - What is a Design Engineer Anyway? –  The Venn diagram of design and development overlaps in weird ways.

📛 12:15 - Why Job Titles Get Messy –  Specialization vs. generalization and the need to impress hiring managers.

🏗️ 18:30 - Engineer as a Title — Does It Matter? –  Structural engineers hold up buildings; do web engineers hold up the internet? (Kinda, yeah.)

🔄 24:00 - The Evolution of Design & Dev Roles –  How web components, CSS variables, and other tech are shifting expectations.

🥕 30:45 - How to Get People to Actually Use a Design System –  Hint: Be more carrot, less stick.

🤖 35:00 - The Battle Between Figma & AI –  Will design engineers survive the encroaching automation?

🔄 40:30 - If You Had to Rename 'Design Engineer'... – Dave's answer is almost annoyingly simple.

🔗 Resources & Links

• Check out Dave’s work: https://darn.es/
• His blog on design systems: designsystems.wtf
• Is 2025 the Year of the "Design Engineer"? 
• Submit your own “David Darnes” callout on his website (seriously, do it).
• 🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/
• 🎵 Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/
• 🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/ 
• "After School Keyboard Club" https://pixabay.com/music/video-games-after-school-keyboard-club-casio-vl-tone-80s-chiptune-retro-151684/
  
  
• Font Awesome on the Socials
• 🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com
• 🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome
• 📸 Instagram: @font.awesome

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In this episode, Dave and Matt explore First LEGO League, where kids as young as third grade tackle robotics and engineering challenges. As a coach, Dave shares how he guides his team to embrace the golden rule of engineering: Keep it simple, keep it sturdy.

Listeners will learn how to spot the difference between over-the-top complexity and straightforward solutions that just work. Practical beats fancy almost every time.

Dave also shares how his time at MIT taught him that simplicity is the secret sauce of reliable design. His mantra “Boring is Best™” takes center stage as he unpacks how choosing functional, dependable solutions often leads to bigger wins.

But this isn’t just about gears and sensors — it’s about the people behind the bots. Coaching young engineers shines a light on the ultimate truth: Good engineering is all about putting people first.

Key Takeaways:

• LEGO League 101: Where third graders gear up to build and program robots like tiny pros.
• Simple Wins: In engineering, simple and sturdy beats flashy but fragile every time.
• Dave's MIT Mantra: Inspired by his alma mater, Dave champions practical, reliable solutions.
• Power of Basics: Stick to the fundamentals, and you’ll go further than you think.
• Test, Tweak, Repeat: Early testing and iteration > chasing perfection out of the gate.

This episode is proof that when it comes to engineering (and life), keeping it simple doesn’t just work — it wins.

Timestamp

🧩 0:32 – Coaching Kids in Engineering Through First LEGO League
⚖️ 5:31 – Balancing Simplicity and Creativity in Engineering Solutions
🤖 8:02 – Simplifying LEGO Robotics: Achieving Success Through Minimalism
🤿 10:54 – Innovative Solutions for Underwater Exploration Challenges
🏆 12:38 – Boring Solutions Win Engineering Competitions
🚀 15:45 – Balancing Innovation with Customer Needs in Tech Startups
🔄 17:35 – Embracing Iteration and Accepting Being Wrong for Faster Success
🛠️ 20:01 – Embracing Simplicity and Iteration in Product Development

Resources:

Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/
The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin
Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions
Aurora Holiday Dance

Font Awesome on the Socials

• First LEGO League
• 🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com
• 🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome
• 📸 Instagram: @font.awesome
• 💼 LinkedIn:   / fontawesome   

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It’s finally happening! In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we sit down with Lea Verou to talk about all things usability, web standards, and her journey into tech. From childhood tinkering with imaginary product ads to shaping the future of CSS and web development, Lea has done ... a lot!

You’ll hear about her work at MIT, her time on the W3C TAG, and what led her to join Font Awesome as Product Lead. Plus, we get into the finer points of her experience as a hardcore food blogger, and why Greek food just doesn’t do it for her anymore. Oh, and did we mention she may have been the first person to use an icon font on the web?

Tune in for an insightful, nerdy, and entertaining deep dive into Lea’s world.

Timestamp Summary

🎙️ 0:01 | Welcome Lea Verou: The One We Finally Tracked Down 

🤗 2:11 | Font Awesome’s Biannual Snuggle: Cozy or Creepy? 

💡 3:28 | Lea’s Journey into Tech: The Love of Building Useful Things 

💻 5:04 | From Visual Basic to Web Development: The Magic of the Web 

🌍 8:49 | Web Standards & Lea’s Role in W3C’s TAG 

🖍️ 12:31 | CSS Wizardry: The Inline If Function and Design Tokens 

🛠️ 13:53 | How Font Awesome and Lea Crossed Paths 

🔍 17:28 | The Truth About Font Awesome’s Licensing Model 

🚀 18:18 | What Lea’s Working on at Font Awesome (Hint: Usability FTW) 

👥 20:11 | Nerds Who Like People: The Importance of Human-Centric Design 

🍜 25:52 | Lea’s Love for Cooking, Food Blogging, and Spicy Delights 

🇬🇷 37:19 | Greek Food? Meh. Let’s Talk Global Cuisine 

🥩 40:11 | The Steak That Changed Lea’s Life 

🔥 42:02 | Favorite Font Awesome Icons? Dumpster Fire & Poo Storm, Obviously 

🌐 43:34 | Where to Find Lea Online (Spoiler: Not on MySpace)

Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/

The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions

Font Awesome on the Socials

🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com 

🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome 

📸 Instagram: @font.awesome 

💼 LinkedIn: /fontawesome

🖥️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more nerdery, tech insights, and fun!

Lea on the socials! 

🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/LeaVerou

🌤️ Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/lea.verou.me

Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

It’s that time of year again! In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we’re reflecting on all the things that went down at Font Awesome in 2024. From expanding the Awesomeverse with Web Awesome and Eleventy to major product updates like the full release of Duotone Icons and shiny new branding, we cover it all.

You’ll hear about the Web Awesome Kickstarter campaign (success!), the arrival of industry legends Lea Verou and Zach Leatherman, and the behind-the-scenes Font Awesome updates that made 2024 one for the books. As they say. Oh, and don’t miss Jory’s epic tale of a tuxedo kitten named Toast that could easily inspire a heart warming stop motion holiday movie.

Tune in for a fun, nerdy recap of the year that was and a sneak peek at what’s in store for 2025.

Timestamp Summary

🎉 0:08 | Reflecting on 2024 and Font Awesome's Upcoming Plans
 🐾 2:35 | A Christmas Miracle and a Chaotic Kitten Rescue
 🌌 7:26 | Building the Awesomeverse: Font Awesome's Expansion and Success
 🔧 10:28 | Web Awesome Simplifies Website Building with Reusable Components
 🤝 13:12 | Exciting New Hires and Developments at Font Awesome
 🎁 16:41 | Exciting Updates and Offers for Font Awesome Pro
 ✨ 18:51 | Font Awesome's Icon Expansion and Creative Uses
 🎥 25:07 | Behind the Scenes of a New Font Awesome Video
 🛠️ 27:57 | Customizing Font Awesome Kits for Optimal Website Performance
 🌱 30:12 | Evolution ... It'll Save Your Life

Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/
The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin
Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions
Aurora Holiday Dance

Font Awesome on the Socials
 
🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com
🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome
📸 Instagram: @font.awesome
💼 LinkedIn:   / fontawesome   


🖥️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more nerdery, tech insights, and fun!

Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

🍺 What’s the deal with the Ballmer Peak? Myth, meme, or just good old-fashioned developer humor? In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we unpack the hilarity and history behind this coding legend, complete with personal stories, team insights, and a responsible PSA. Whether you’re debugging at 3 a.m. or just love a good laugh, this episode has something for everyone.

(And check out the episode on our YouTube for an even more fun! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb77NS_zFgQ)

🍻 0:00 - Introduction to Ballmer's Peak 
💡 1:31 - What Is Ballmer's Peak? 
🎉 3:13 - Ballmer's Peak at Font Awesome Snuggle 
⚡ 5:15 - Steve Ballmer and Developer Energy 
🚀 7:07 - Achieving Peak Developer Performance 
🎶 8:32 - Real Developer Strategies for Peak Performance 
🔬 9:06 - DIY Breathalyzer and Exploring Ballmer's Peak 
🎬 10:23 - Conclusion and Credits 

Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/
The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin
Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions

Font Awesome on Social 

🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com
🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome
📸 Instagram: @font.awesome
💼 LinkedIn:   / fontawesome   


🖥️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more nerdery, tech insights, and fun!

Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

In this episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt chats with Font Awesome co-founder Dave Gandy about building a workplace that doesn’t just work — but works for everyone. Whether you’re hustling in a startup, navigating open-source communities, or just trying to figure out if your boss actually values your humanity, this one’s for you. 

Dave dishes on the magic of finding the right co-founder (hint: they need to tell you when you're off your rocker), why open-source is about more than just writing code, and how empathy might just be the ultimate leadership hack.  So, if you’re dreaming of cultivating a positive work culture — or just want to avoid soul-sucking jobs — this episode is for you.

Timestamp Summary
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 0:15 | Finding Balance and Empathy in Co-Founder Relationships 
🏢 6:04 | Finding a Workplace That Values Employees as Human Beings 
🌐 14:56 | The Value of Empathy and Community in Open Source 
💡 19:29 | Empathy and Leadership: Building Teams That Care 
🎙️ 24:27 | Behind the Scenes of Podcast Awesome Production   

Key Takeaways: 
The Co-Founder Code: Pick a partner who balances your strengths and isn’t afraid to call out your crazy ideas (yes, you have them). 
Open Source Awesomeness: It’s not just about profit—it’s about passion, collaboration, and making something bigger than yourself. 
Empathy is Everything: Forget power suits; your best leadership tool is actually understanding your team. 
Work-Life Reality Check: When scouting a new job, look for a place that respects *you*, not just what you produce. 
Leadership Done Right: The best managers focus on building teams that are better than them at what matters most. 

Notable Quotes:  
💡 “You need someone next to you that’s going to tell you when you’re crazy—or not—and that is of *such* extreme value.”  
💖 “Empathy is your qualification for leadership.”  
🚀 “Management is more about how you inspire and execute, not just delivering outcomes.”  
🏆 “The best managers hire people who are better than them at the job that needs to be done.”  
🌟 “You call it a lifestyle company like it’s a bad thing. Spoiler: every company is a lifestyle.”  

Resources: 
🎨 Font Awesome: FontAwesome.com 
🐦 Twitter: @fontawesome
📸 Instagram: @font.awesome
🌌 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fontawesome.com
🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/
🎵 Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/
🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/ 

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Ready to geek out? In this episode of Podcast Awesome's Nerd Show and Tell, Matt sits down with none other than Zach Leatherman, the tech dynamo and creator behind Eleventy — the static site generator that’s got web devs buzzing. Zach’s tech-world experience is a wild ride of innovation, grit, and love for the open web. With a little help from our team here at Font Awesome, Zach’s pushing to make open-source sustainable and bring back the glory days of personal websites, free from algorithm overlords.

Zach gets real about the rollercoaster ride of building Eleventy and why owning your corner of the internet is more important than ever. Expect some hot takes on the tech industry, social media, and how platforms like Eleventy could just be the ticket to a new wave of web independence. Plus, you’ll get a peek into the collaborative brainpower with our founders Dave and Travis backing Zach’s mission. Hold onto your icons — this one’s packed!

Key Takeaways:

• Eleventy: Zach’s creation was inspired by Jekyll, but it’s packed with unique features — no messy databases or plugins here! Simple, secure, and seriously impressive.
• Sustainable Open Source: Zach’s career shines a light on the need for open-source projects to be sustainable, allowing devs to thrive without burning out.
• Browser Dev Tools Love: Remember Firebug? Zach does. He spills on how these tools have shaped modern web development practices.
• Indie Web Comeback: Forget the social media maze. Zach’s all about owning your digital real estate, championing a return to independent web publishing.
• Font Awesome Collab: It’s a team effort! With the support of our founders and a shared mission, we’re backing Zach and Eleventy for a brighter, algorithm-free web future.

Timestamp Summary 

🚀 0:00 | Zach Leatherman Discusses Eleventy and Open Source Challenges  

💸 1:59 | Navigating the Challenges of Open Source Project Funding  

⚖️ 13:04 | Balancing Open Source Passion with Sustainable Business Models  

🌟 20:15 | The Joy of Building Websites and Creative Storytelling  

🧻 25:26 | Debating the Proper Way to Hang Toilet Paper  

🌌 26:27 | Eleventy's Future and Integration into the Awesome Universe  

Links and Resources:

• Twitter: @fontawesome
• Instagram: @font.awesome
• Eleventy Documentation
• Zach Leatherman on GitHub

Credits:

• Theme music by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/
• Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/
• Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/

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🎙 In this episode, Font Awesome founder Dave Gandy joins our host Matt Johnson for an honest, unfiltered convo about what it means to build a *lifestyle company* (and wear that badge proudly 💪). This isn’t your typical startup hustle. We’re diving into the “people-first” culture that makes Font Awesome a standout, from character-driven hiring to redefining what success means beyond growth on charts and graphs. 🏆💼

As Dave says, instead of climbing someone else’s ladder, Font Awesome is building its own way up, with purpose, transparency, and some solid work-life balance goals. Here’s why we believe that putting *people* over profit isn’t just good business — it’s just the way the work should be. 🌱💼

 🔑 Key Takeaways:

Lifestyle Company, Proudly: We’re embracing the “lifestyle” label, focusing on growth, happiness, and well-being over sky-high returns. 📈💆‍♂️

Character > Skills: At Font Awesome, character-first hiring = trust, respect, and people who actually *want* to stick around. 🫶✨

VC Vibes Not Required: Font Awesome skips the “thousand-X-or-bust” mentality for a sustainable, fulfilling work culture. 👋💸 

 Life Outside Work Matters: The best parts of life are outside the office—so why not bring those values in? 🏠🌅 

The Right Partner in Crime: Success means finding a partner who balances your quirks. 👯‍♂️ The perfect co-founder is a friend, critic, and cheerleader rolled into one.

Timestamp Summary

0:12 | 🌱 Building a Lifestyle Company Focused on Well-Being and Growth 
6:52 | 💼 Creating a People-First Company Against Conventional Practices 
12:04 | 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Human-Centric Product Design and Company Culture 
15:59 | 🤝 The Importance of Balanced Partnerships in Business 
20:38 | 🫶 Embracing a People-First Culture at Font Awesome

Links and Resources:

• Podcast Awesome: https://www.podcastawesome.com/
• Font Awesome Hiring Philosophy: https://blog.fontawesome.com/company-culture/
• Twitter: @fontawesome

Credits:

• Theme music by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/
• Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/
• Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/

Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness! 

In this edition of Podcast Awesome, Matt sits down with Font Awesome founder, Dave Gandy, at the 2024 Snuggle in Bentonville, Arkansas. Between karaoke sessions and Hoobastank choruses (blame Ed), Matt and Dave discuss a topic on a lot of minds lately: How do you build a company where people actually want to stick around?

With a tech industry average of just 18 months at a job, Font Awesome breaks the mold — no one has left in over 10 years. Dave and Matt dive into Font Awesome’s  hiring philosophy, the importance of building a people-first culture, and how giving employees autonomy and treating them like adults might just be the magic recipe for success. 

Key Takeaways:

• Loyalty Beyond the Paycheck: At Font Awesome, it’s about treating people as humans first — loyalty comes from loyalty. Simple, right?
• Hire for Character: Skills are important, but character and culture fit are what truly makes a team thrive.
• Autonomy Matters: Give people the freedom to make decisions, and watch creativity and innovation skyrocket.
• It’s Not Just Business: A company’s culture is built on everything someone brings from outside of work, not just the hours they log in the office.

Timestamp Breakdown:

• 0:05 | 🎤 Welcome to the Snuggle: Karaoke, Game Nights, & Company Culture
• 2:30 | 🏢 The Importance of Building a People-First Culture in Tech
• 6:45 | 🧠 How Loyalty and Trust are Built When You Hire for Character
• 11:10 | 👨‍💻 Autonomy is Key: Why Giving Employees Freedom is Essential
• 15:55 | 💡 Solving Problems vs. Solving Interesting Problems: Finding the Balance
• 21:30 | 🚀 How Font Awesome Created a Company People Want to Stick With

Links and Resources:

• Podcast Awesome: https://www.podcastawesome.com/
• Font Awesome Hiring Philosophy: https://blog.fontawesome.com/company-culture/
• Twitter: @fontawesome

Credits:

• Theme music by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/
• Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/

Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!