As a veteran UX Designer, Author, Professor, Podcast Host, and much more, Darren Hood has experienced so many facets of the design world in his 26+ year career. In this episode, you’ll hear about his journey, what motivates him, advice to other UXers, and some excellent sports analogies along the way. You’ll also get a sneak preview of an exciting upcoming project that Darren is working on.

Here’s a look at our discussion:

• 1:00 : What motivates Darren, and how he discovered the importance of “healthy friction” & self awareness
• 10:46 : Hiring the right level of experience for your team
• 13:37 : Cronyism vs. leveraging connections
• 15:32 : Red flags during interviews and how to know if an organization is right for you
• 19:39 : Senior design leadership opportunities, and why senior designers choose consulting instead
• 26:28 : Toxic positivity & accepting feedback/criticism
• 40:45 : The rise of UX influencers on social media
• 46:16 : Standardized accreditation & licensure in the UX industry

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Article: Toxic Positivity & the Decline of UX
• Darren’s Podcast: The World of UX with Darren Hood
• Darren’s LinkedIn Profile