Unthinking Space (formerly Design Feeling)

#026 - To wrap up the year, I had a candid chat with 3 friends who are all design leaders and creatives. Egle is a designer, researcher and lifestyle photographer who leads design teams for a global corporation. Rafa is a Design Director, Product Design Consultant, and Visiting Lecturer at The Bartlett (UCL) and London College of Communication (UAL). Sinem is a Principal UX Designer and Design Lecturer. We talked about how the year 2022 was for each one of them and their biggest challenges, learnings and advice for designers.

In this episode:

• Active listening and trusting people first before trying to solve problems with design
• Importance of alignment, trust and connection
• Letting go of methodologies and building your agility in a cross-functional team
• Not trying to control all the outcomes
• Thinking about the long-term impact on product and people
• Being comfortable with uncomfortable feelings and uncomfortable situations

Shownotes

Happy Startup School

https://www.thehappystartupschool.com/

Brene Brown

https://brenebrown.com/

Amy Edmondson

https://amycedmondson.com/

The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter

https://eastermichael.com/book/

The Making of a Manager by Julie Zhuo

https://juliezhuo.com/book/manager.html

Design, When Everybody Designs by Ezio Manzini

https://direct.mit.edu/books/book/4460/Design-When-Everybody-DesignsAn-Introduction-to

Brave New Work by Aaron Dignan

https://www.bravenewwork.com/

Four Thousand Weeks

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56155228-four-thousand-weeks

F*ck It by John C. Parkin

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4837266-f-k-it

Egle Beliunaite

https://www.linkedin.com/in/egle-beliunaite/

Rafa Prada

http://rafa.madeabroad.io/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafaprada/

Sinem Erdemli

https://tinyurl.com/sinsplace

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sinemerdemli/

Show credits

Illustrations by Isa Vicente

https://www.instagram.com/isadezgz/

Music by Brad Porter

https://prtr.co/

Follow Design Feeling on social!

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/designfeelingco

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/designfeelingco/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/designfeelingco

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@designfeelingco

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/designfeelingco

Iranian-born architect and recent UX design graduate shares her experience of moving from Iran to the UK, studying UX at General Assembly and looking for her first UX job. Nirish answers her mentoring questions too.

In this episode:

• Moving from architecture to UX design
• Creativity as self-expression
• Overcoming the language barrier
• The benefits of an interactive teacher-led course
• Coming out of your comfort zone as a teaching assistant
• Pros and cons of not being a non-native speaker
• Looking for your first UX job as an immigrant
• and much more!

Shownotes

Dorsa Mokhtari

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorsa-mokhtari/

https://www.dorsamokhtari.com/

@ux_land on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ux_land/

General Assembly

https://generalassemb.ly/

Show credits

Illustrations by Isa Vicente

https://www.instagram.com/isadezgz/

Music by Brad Porter

https://prtr.co/

Follow Design Feeling on social!

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/designfeelingco

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/designfeelingco/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/designfeelingco

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@designfeelingco

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/designfeelingco

#024 - We’ve seen a lot of layoffs in the tech industry. Whatever the reasons might be, it can be one of the lowest points in your career and your life. Whilst our natural reaction is to find another role as quickly as possible especially if finances are a concern for you, using this transition to stop, reflect and recalibrate your career trajectory can help you grow and find the next step that aligns with your values and gives you the joy and meaning you seek. In this episode, Design Leader and Coach, Kate Pincott, shares her step-by-step guide to do just that.

In this episode:

• Accepting the circumstance and negative emotions that come with it
• Reframing the situation
• Identifying your deeper needs
• Dealing with rejections
• Reaching out and connecting with others
• Using crisis as an opportunity
• Bringing joy back
• And much more!

Shownotes

Book a free coaching session with Kate to get clear on your goals and plans

https://calendly.com/kate-pincott/coaching-taster-designfeelings

Mention DESIGNFEELINGS in the form to get 10% off the program

Kate on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pincott/

Flexi working

https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working

How to Find a Flexible Job
https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/how-to-find-a-flexible-job/

10 iconic businesses created during a recession

https://www.businessleader.co.uk/10-businesses-created-during-a-recession/

Kate’s Reality Prototype Program

https://www.realityprototyping.com/

Show credits

Illustrations by Isa Vicente

https://www.instagram.com/isadezgz/

Music by Brad Porter

https://prtr.co/

Episode edited by Niall Mackay

https://sevenmillionbikes.com/

Follow Design Feeling on social!

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/designfeelingco

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/designfeelingco/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/designfeelingco

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@designfeelingco

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/designfeelingco

#023 - You’re a talented and hard-working doer but have you been putting off putting yourself out there and creating content to help others? In this episode, I chat with Robbie Swale, leadership coach, author and podcaster, who, in 2016, started writing blog-posts on his 12 min train journey to work and after 6 years, he’s now the author of the 12-Minute Method series of books, including How to Start When You’re Stuck, How to Keep Going When You Want to Give Up and How to Create the Conditions For Great Work. Robbie talks about importance of starting small and focusing on what really matters.

In this episode:

• What is the 12-minute method and how to it into a habit
• Getting started with content creation with minimum viable time
• Juggling consistency and intensity
• The pain of shedding your old identities
• Growing your creative confidence using experiments
• Releasing your creation out into the world without expectations
• and much more!

Participant in Robbie’s book giveaway by Thursday 24th Nov at

https://www.linkedin.com/company/designfeelingco

https://twitter.com/designfeelingco

https://www.instagram.com/designfeelingco/

Shownotes

The 12-Minute Method Podcast

https://anchor.fm/12-minute-method

The Coach’s Journey Podcast

https://www.thecoachsjourney.com/podcast

Eisenhower Matrix

https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_91.htm

Gay Hendricks

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_Hendricks

Big Magic by Liz Gilbert

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24453082-big-magic

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

https://stevenpressfield.com/books/the-war-of-art/

Contacting Robbie

www.robbieswale.com

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbieswale/

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5aalWAQqFp6yTk2jghSpeQ

Twitter

https://twitter.com/RobbieSwale

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/robbieswalecoachandauthor

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/robbieswale/

Show credits

Illustrations by Isa Vicente

https://www.instagram.com/isadezgz/

Music by Brad Porter

https://prtr.co/

Follow Design Feeling on social!

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/designfeelingco

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/designfeelingco/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/designfeelingco

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@designfeelingco

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/designfeelingco

#022 - Would you like to get cozy, juicy and real with your colleagues, friends and family? Most of the time, we stay on the surface while interacting with people . We do a lot of small talk on topics like the weather, TV shows or just work. But those conversations don’t allow us to connect with people at a deeper level and get to know the real person behind the social mask.

In this episode, I spoke with with Sophia Lazar and Jed Lazar. Sophia and Jed are board game designers and group facilitators who are on a mission to help people have deeper and more meaningful interactions. I had wonderful chat with Sophia and Jed as they shared their story of co-creating the game with their users and their biggest learnings and tips on building meaningful connections with people through deliberate and carefully designed prompts. If you’re someone who wants to build deeper connections with your team, friends or family, then this episode is for you.

In this episode:

• Creating and co-creating a board game with users
• Biggest challenges for teams in building connections online
• Difference between connecting deeply and oversharing
• Creating a space for trust
• True empathy vs manufactured empathy
• and much more!

Shownotes

Cozy Juicy Real website

https://cozyjuicyreal.com/

Online Team building

https://go.cozyjuicyreal.com/dsf-teams

Physical Board Game for Friends

https://go.cozyjuicyreal.com/dsf-notifyme

Upcoming Cozy Juicy Real events

https://go.cozyjuicyreal.com/ig-links

Dilts Pyramid - The Neurological Levels

https://www.landsiedel.com/en/nlp-library/neurological-levels.html

Rose, Thorn and Bud

https://easyretro.io/templates/rose-bud-thorn/

Appreciative Inquiry

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appreciative_inquiry

The Gottman Institute

https://www.gottman.com/

ManKind Project

https://mankindproject.org/

Show credits

Illustrations by Kim Habib

http://iamk.im/

Music by Brad Porter

https://prtr.co/

Episode edited by Niall Mackay

https://sevenmillionbikes.com/

Follow Design Feeling on social!

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/designfeelingco

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/designfeelingco/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/designfeelingco

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@designfeelingco

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/designfeelingco

#021 - Too much human-centricity is killing the planet and we’re part of the problem. In this episode, I chat with Dr. Martin Tomitsch on life-centred design, a new way of building products and services that considers the needs of non-human stakeholders and the planet.

Martin is a Professor in Interaction Design at the University of Sydney’s School of Architecture, Design and Planning. He teaches interface design, design thinking, creativity and innovation. He also is the lead author of “Design Think Make Break Repeat”, a handbook of design methods. In this episode, we shift the focus away from human-centred design and into life-centred design. Martin shares real life examples of how human-centricity is not always good for humans or for the planet and how designers can give start to make their work more life-centric. Martin will also be giving away 2 copies of his popular book “Design Think Make Break Repeat”.

In this episode:

• What is life-centred design and how it is different to human-centred design
• Negative impact of human-centred design
• Adding Responsibility to Desirability, Feasibility and Viability
• Creating non-human personas
• and much more!

Shownotes

Follow Martin on

Twitter

https://twitter.com/martintom

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/martintomitsch/

Instagram

https://instagram.com/martintomitsch

Linktree

https://linktr.ee/martintomitsch

“Design, Think, Make, Break, Repeat” Book

http://designthinkmakebreakrepeat.com/

Ripple Impact canvas

http://designthinkmakebreakrepeat.com/methods/impact-ripple-canvas/

Systems mapping

http://designthinkmakebreakrepeat.com/methods/systems-mapping/

Middle Out Design Framework

https://doi.org/10.55612/s-5002-050-006 (Free open access paper)

Template for non-human personas

http://designthinkmakebreakrepeat.com/methods/non-human-personas/

Life-centred design

https://sbi.sydney.edu.au/for-the-sake-of-the-planet-we-need-to-rethink-human-centred-design/

Center for Humane Technology

https://www.humanetech.com/

“Ruined By Design” book

https://www.ruinedby.design/

Cathedral thinking

https://cathedralthinking.com/

“The Good Ancestor” book by Roman Krznaric

https://www.romankrznaric.com/good-ancestor

The Design Squiggle

https://thedesignsquiggle.com/

“Design Your Life” book and course

https://designingyour.life/

“The Contemporary Practice of Design” by Steve Baty at UX Australia

https://vimeo.com/607099038


Show credits

Illustrations by Kim Habib

Music by Brad Porter

Episode edited by Niall Mackay

Follow Design Feeling on social!

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/designfeelingco

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/designfeelingco/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/designfeelingco

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@designfeelingco

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/designfeelingco

#020 - Advisor and coach to CEOs and recovering neuroscientist and UXer, Joe Leech, gives a pep talk for designers who’re feeling bored or trapped and encourages them to question what they’re doing and why.

Most designers pride themselves on their craft. After all, that’s what clients are paying for, right? But is that what they need? In this episode, Joe Leech challenges the notion that delivering designs is a designer’s superpower and how you can find your real superpower instead. We also talk about work-life balance and doing less for more.

Most designers pride themselves on their craft. After all, that’s what clients are paying for, right? But is that what they need? In this episode, Joe Leech challenges the notion that delivering designs is a designer’s superpower and how you can find your real superpower instead. Joe is an advisor and coach to CEOs and recovering neuroscientist and UXer. We also talk about work-life balance and what to do if you’re bored as a designer.

In this episode:

• Why inexperienced designers look for answers
• The role of craft
• What can you do if you're bored as a designer
• What if you realise design is not for you
• Quiet quitting
• A designer's superpower
• A better way to do things
• Determining your value as an employed designer
• Things that scares CEOs the most

Shownotes

Find Joe Leech at

https://mrjoe.uk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeleech/

@mrjoe on Twitter

Professional Principles to work and live by

https://mrjoe.uk/principles-work/

The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna

https://medium.com/@elleluna/the-crossroads-of-should-and-must-90c75eb7c5b0

https://www.goodreads.com/uk/book/show/22859551-the-crossroads-of-should-and-must

Are you an ‘insecure overachiever’?

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20180924-are-you-an-insecure-overachiever

Show credits

Illustrations by Kim Habib

http://iamk.im/

Music by Brad Porter

https://prtr.co/

Episode edited by Niall Mackay

https://sevenmillionbikes.com/

Follow Design Feeling on social!

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/designfeelingco

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/designfeelingco/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/designfeelingco

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@designfeelingco

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/designfeelingco

#019 - We are all neurodiverse but we’re encouraged to leave our neurodiversities at the door just so we can “fit in”. However, neurodivergent designers can bring in a lot of lived experiences helpful for innovation, especially when designing for neurodivergent users. In this episode, I chat with Matthew Bellringer, creative innovation consultant, neurodiversity advocate and social entrepreneur. Matthew was diagnosed with ADHD when we was 39 and autism at 42. For Matthew, increasing neurodiversity in organisations is not just a morally right thing to do but also a competitive advantage. 

In this episode:

• Neurodivergence in design
• Recognising neurodivergence within yourself
• Filling in the neurodiversity gap and why that's important for innovation
• Fitting in or fitting out: what can you do as a neurodivergent designer?
• Who's responsible for nurturing neurodiversity in organisations?
• Don't create safe spaces, create safe-enough spaces
• and much more!

Shownotes

Join Nirish Shakya and Matthew Bellringer LIVE on Delightful Dissent on Thursday 20th October 1pm UK time

https://www.designfeeling.co/delightfuldissent

Book a no-cost, no-strings 30 minute advice call with Matthew if you’re exploring your own neurodivergence

https://calendarhero.to/mbQuickWebMeeting

Matthew Bellringer on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-bellringer/

Matthew’s website

https://www.matthewbellringer.com/

Delightful Dissent Podcast

https://www.matthewbellringer.com/delightful-dissent

If you’re in tech, consider joining or partnering with NeurodiverseIT, a group for neurodivergent IT professionals, part of BCS, the Chartered Institute of IT

https://www.bcs.org/membership-and-registrations/member-communities/neurodiverseit-specialist-group/

Show credits

Illustrations by Isa Vicente

https://www.instagram.com/isadezgz/

Music by Brad Porter

https://prtr.co/

Episode edited by Niall Mackay

https://sevenmillionbikes.com/

Follow Design Feeling on social!

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/designfeelingco

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/designfeelingco/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/designfeelingco

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@designfeelingco

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/designfeelingco

#018 - As designers and problem solvers, we pride ourselves on our craft and hard skills. But those will only take you halfway. Beyond that, you’ll need people skills to really be an impactful designer.

In this episode, I speak with Trenton Moss, Founder of Webcredible, one of the first UX agencies in the UK and author of ‘Human-Powered’, a book on emotional intelligence for digital product teams.

We explore techniques that will help you understand others better, run more effective meetings and become a people-centred leader.

In this episode:

• No one's interested in your designs
• Making time to understand people will save you time
• Reducing the opportunity cost of meetings
• If you're invited to a badly designed meeting
• A new definition of leadership
• Building relationships in a remote world
• And much more!

Shownotes

Trenton on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/trentonmoss/

Human-Powered Book

https://humanpoweredbook.com/

Webcredible

https://inviqa.com/ux-agency-webcredible

Team Sterka

https://sterka.team/

Show credits

Illustrations by Isa Vicente

https://www.instagram.com/isadezgz/

Music by Brad Porter

https://prtr.co/

Episode edited by Niall Mackay

https://sevenmillionbikes.com/

Follow Design Feeling on social!

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/designfeelingco

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/designfeelingco/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/designfeelingco

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@designfeelingco

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/designfeelingco

• Say 'yes' before you say ‘no’
• Preventing your cognitive goalpost of happiness from shifting
• What is a social enterprise?
• Aligning your needs with your work as a designer
• Starting with your 10-year vision
• Ben's favourite frameworks from his book
• Balancing our need to make sustainable impact with personal sustainability
• and much more!

Get AU$20 off Ben’s new book ‘Solve Problems that Matter’
Go to http://designfeeling.co/solveproblems and use the code SPTM-DFPODCAST at checkout

Double diamond design framework

Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

Logic model

Shawn Achor

Theory of change

Douglas Coupland

Illustrations by Isa Vicente

Music by Brad Porter

Episode edited by Niall Mackay

https://sevenmillionbikes.com/

Follow Design Feeling on social!

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/designfeelingco

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/designfeelingco/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/designfeelingco

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@designfeelingco

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/designfeelingco