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