The hottest of takes on the most trivial of topics. Kate and Laura argue about the future of AR, chatbots, the on demand economy, and whether pattern libraries will finally put designers out of business (fingers crossed!). 

Drink Pairing: Trader Joe's Brand Bourbon (BECAUSE APPARENTLY KATE DRANK ALL THE BLADE AND BOW)

In this episode, Kate and Laura talk about building a personal brand as a designer, and why in the name of all that is holy anybody in their right mind would want to do that. They have some vague advice about speaking at conferences, writing about design, and (don't do it) podcasting. 

Drink Pairing: Blade and Bow Bourbon (Thanks, Bob and Celeste!)

 

In this episode, Kate and Laura discuss a tool and process for tracking the things you believe and getting better at predicting. The tool, predictably, is from Build Better Products. Which you should have bought by now, but if you haven't, there's still time!

Build Better Products: A Modern Approach to Building Successful User-Centered Products $39.00 By Laura Klein

Drink Pairing: Bloody Marys

In this episode, Kate and Laura try and fail to tackle some typical UX questions in 2 minutes or less. Laura gives the most useful advice you will ever get about starting a new job. It's a short one, because frankly, it's the holidays, and this podcast crap is cutting into our drinking time.

Drink Pairing: Veuve Clicquot, Vintage Rosé Brut 2004

In this episode, Kate and Laura talk about picking the right users and advocating for them. Also, they explain why this is not entirely the designer's job. 

Drink Pairing: Mulled Wine

Music: The Future Soon by Jonathan Coulton

In this episode, Kate and Laura plug their new book, Build Better Products, by discussing how the User Map was created. Surprise! It involves design thinking and sketching. 

Drink Pairing: Irish Coffee (this is a long one. you'll need the caffeine.)

Music: The Future Soon by Jonathan Coulton

User Map Template:

Get the Book! Build Better Products: A Modern Approach to Building Successful User-Centered Products $35.73 By Laura Klein

In this episode, Kate and Laura discuss the pros and cons of doing UX work in agencies, big companies, and startups. This is a good one if you're trying to figure out where to go next. 

Drink Pairing: Sidecar

Music: The Future Soon by Jonathan Coulton

Kate and Laura discuss the difference between "building a chatbot" and "building a product that solves a need for a human." Also, we talk about how to decide which platform is right for something that you're building. 

Drink Pairing: Sidecar

Music: The Future Soon by Jonathan Coulton

In this episode, Kate and Laura talk about why sketching is useful and how to get better at it without being an artist. 

Drink Pairing: G&T & keep 'em coming

Music: The Future Soon by Jonathan Coulton

Want more advice from people who know what they're talking about? Check out the User Research for Everyone conference from Rosenfeld Media on October 11, 2016!

Use KLEIN for $50 off the ticket price. 

In this episode, Kate and Laura talk about some of the red flags that can mean a project or a job is not a great place for doing good UX design work. 

Drink Pairing: Red Bull and Vodka

Music: The Future Soon by Jonathan Coulton