Design and a Half: Recent Episodes
Sorin Jurcut
Design and a half is a podcast about design, for everybody. Regardless if you're a designer, a developer, product owner or just someone really passionate about design-related topics, there's something in it for you too.Available on Spotify, Apple Podcast as well as Youtube.
Are Agile and UX really compatible ? Does a workflow involving Agile exclude or include UX ? What are some of the pitfalls ?
Video Version: Is Agile good for UX? - YouTube
If you enjoyed this episode, consider liking, subscribing or sharing ! It helps me a lot ! :) However, you watching this is thanks enough for me !
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Trust is the buildingblock of all business relationships. Coincidentally, it's also the building block of well-functioning teams. Trust enables people to focus on the work instead of regulating the relationship, and keeping an eye, on what their colleague is doing. Cultivating a transparency culture and a feeling of trust within a well-performing team is paramount.
Video Version: Using trust to build teams - YouTube
If you enjoyed this episode, consider liking, subscribing or sharing ! It helps me a lot ! :) However, you watching this is thanks enough for me !
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As a Junior, I would've benefitted so much from someone telling me what I'd be facing, going into my design career. That said, I thought of a couple of things that I really wished someone told me about, that would've helped me lower my expectations significantly and be happier overall with myself and my career.
If you fancy viewing this episode, it's also available on Youtube
If you enjoyed this episode, consider liking, subscribing or sharing ! It helps me a lot ! :) However, you listening to this is thanks enough for me !
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2020 is over, and Design and a Half is back in black, with a mean attack. What about ? Stats. They seem to be everywhere, and everything seems to be measured and quantified against stats. But are stats enough ? Are they the be-all and end-all of design ? Of Things in our lives ? Aren't we a bit too focused on getting high stats that we soemtimes lose sight over what's important ? Why we started, why we are doing what we do, and just enjoy our time ? The answer is yours to find. I'm just rattling the cage. :)
Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFy1TsKXzCk
If you enjoyed this episode, consider liking, subscribing or sharing ! It helps me a lot ! :) However, you watching this is thanks enough for me !
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Sometimes people say things we don't agree with. Sometimes, we say those things. Whichever the case may be, there is a definite need to express one's disapproval with a situation, conversation or status quo. However, more often than not, those situations can get rather hairy. So, in order for us to get over them, we tend to give in to our most basic desire to forego conflict and discard our own belief. This could lead to dire consequences and may even send of a signal of lack of confidence and disposition to be influenced. Sometimes, we need to confidently say NO.
If you enjoyed this episode, consider liking, subscribing or sharing ! It helps me a lot ! :) However, you watching this is thanks enough for me !
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Leaders, managers, leads and CEOs everywhere. But not a leader in sight. Well maybe that's not entirely true. There's plenty of leaders out there. But they might be buried knee deep in work, menial tasks, pushing from the back, where nobody notices them, not really wanting recognition for themselves but for their teams. In today's episode, I'm going to touch on the subject of leadership and management, what pushes us to pursue those changes. What motivates us to do it ? Why do we want to climb the corporate ladder ?
If you enjoyed this episode, consider liking, subscribing or sharing ! It helps me a lot ! :) However, you watching this is thanks enough for me !
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Did you ever try to use what you made ? Probably one of the simplest things to do, yet for some very difficult. The concept of dogfooding is something widely used in the tech industry nowadays when talking about using your own products and services to determine how good or bad they are, or to find out what their shortcomings are.
Games games games! It seems like they are everywhere and are part of our lives! They are here to stay! But are they useful? Are they more than just a waste of time? Is it more to gaming than meets the eye? We’ll find out in today’s episode of Design and a half.If you enjoyed this episode, consider liking, subscribing or sharing ! It helps me a lot ! :) However, you listening to this is thanks enough for me !
Since Black Friday is just around the corner, it seemed natural to pick out this topic for today's episode, and explain a little bit about the effects of FOMO, as it is so endearingly called among people. FOMO is as old as marketing and was always used to produce artificial need and want in people. Why ? Because limited edition and exclusives are more desireable and they feed the ego, as much as the pockets of those that use this technique.If you enjoyed this episode, consider liking, subscribing or sharing ! It helps me a lot ! :) However, you watching or hearing this is thanks enough for me ! More on FOMO:Coping with FOMOWhat is FOMO ?
Constraints are part of our everyday lives. We're constrained by budget, tech, availability, and most importantly time. We need to learn that perfect designs don't exist except within the realm of the imaginary and the impractical, and as designers, wee need to make constraints a part of our daily routine. Flexing that muscle to develop creative solutions. In the end, most people have the same problems and the same constraints. Where creativity comes in to play is how we all solve those problems in a different manner.If you enjoyed this video, consider liking, subscribing or sharing ! It helps me a lot ! :) However, you listening this is thanks enough for me !
Ever wondered what the best design tool is ? Ever wondered how to choose between them ? Today I'm debating over how to properly chose design tools within your organisation and why a design budget is quite important to have. If the subject is of interest to you, let me know either by commenting or messaing me, and I'll dive a bit more indepth on the subject.
Whenever we're talking about a project, we're talking about stakeholders. Project manager, designers, developers, Architects. You name it ! But each of them has their own agenda, their own objectives and thoughts. Is it possible to all coexist in harmony without ripping each other to shreds? Let's find out.If you liked it, subscribe, leave a thumbs up and if you fancy, join Design and a Half Facebook community for more tips, news, and discussions.For the video version, check out my youtube channel
Just why ? What is it that makes companies not want to add juniors on to their rosters ? Why do they keep adding additional hurdles on them, when they know perfectly fine that a junior does not have any type of experience whatsoever ? Is it some sick fetish ? Now more than ever, we need juniors with the correct motivation and mindsets to join organizations. And organizations need to make sure to have juniors on their teams to invest in. School never built professionals. Work has. School was a always a way to educate them and point them in the general direction. Help people uncover their paths.
Is there such a thing as too much collaboration ? Well, as a matter of fact, YES. There is. Every person out there is an individual, and while, some thrive on just having endless conversations and ideation sessions, or shadowing session over zoom, slack or skype, some, like me, tend to enjoy when they get some alone time. Time to think for themselves. Time to grab a pen, and just go wild sketching whatever scratches your brain to find a solution. Not worrying about complying to XYZ constraint, or making sure ABC collegue will agree with you or find your solution acceptable. Why does this happen ? We're individuals and, as individuals, we all want and need to stand out and be validated. Within a crowd, nobody stands out. Within a team, everything is done together. But when you have to change your job, your team won't be there to support you. That's when your achievements need to speak for themselves ! Paradoxal ? You betcha.Sub if you found the episode thought provoking, and share with a friend who is struggling with all of this over-collaboration-thing that we're going through. And if you have something you'd like to get off of your chest ? Comment ! I'd love to know your stories ! :)
Or the challenges of creativity. Problems, own experiences, battle scars... Stuff that is wrong about design right now, and stuff that I would have benefitted me know before diving into design. Every time you do something as a designer, you expose a bit of who you are to the world, and you hope the world will be as gentle as possible. Oftentimes that's now the case. Often times, we break down because of how much we are invested into this passion that is more than just a job. Into this career path...A like, share and comment is greatly appreciated, but if not, the time you spent listening to my episode is equally valuable and I thank you for sharing it with me. :)
We as consumers, can drive and steer the behavior of product companies towards something that adds value and brings change, rather than overselling and underdelivering. Oftentimes, we fall prey to our own vices, but oftentimes, we're manipulated or just purely forced into accepting predatory product tactics from companies that are seeking aggressive profit margins. What we can do, is be more mindful about our purchases, and say NO more often, by making a conscious choice, instead of an impulsive one.If you liked this episde, a follow/subscription, a like or a share would be greatly appreciated !
In this episode I'll talk about the 5 why technique and its use cases, origin as well as some tips related to UX interviews. This technique along with a lot of other popular concepts in IT nowadays actually originated in automotive, and more specifically, in the Toyota company, in Japan. Why ? Well, for starters, the Toyota company was one of the pioneers of making things more efficient and reducing waste, as well as Quality Management. Things like Poka Yoke or The fishbone diagram also originated in Japan.If you want to learn more about the inventor of the 5 why technique, you can do so by reading about him on his wikpedia page:Sakichi ToyodaEvery like, share or subscribe is greatly appreciated and it nudges me to push myself for more content ! :)
This episode talks about the drawbacks and the advantages of early adopters, applied to the current case of the newly released iphone. I'm not going to debate specs, since there are lots of ways people can get their hands on them, but I will look at some reasons behind the choices of this new version that was just released. I believe, now, more than before, early adopters look a lot more like angel investors whenever we're talking about products, because of how unstable and insufficient new products are. Tune in for more information !Don't forget to subscribe and share with a friend, if you feel like it :)
We've all been there. Beating ourselves up for not finishing something on time, trying to squeeze in those extra work hours to finish something up that needs to be polished juuuuust a little bit more. Ever think why we do that ? What causes that ? Today's episode is a foray into our own selves as we discuss about perfection and the downsides of always trying to be perfect as well as how this ties into our current society.Seeking approval, wanting validation and feeling the need to be appreciated. We all do it. What about some self-love ? Make more mistakes. Enjoy playing the game more than the outcome and the score. Focus more on what's important for us, than what's important for the world. As usual, hit subscribe if you liked this, or share this with someone in need of some mistakes, and imperfection. After all we're all human. :)And before I forget, here's that book I was talking about:No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work: https://amzn.to/349LMox
Thinking about today's status quo, and the economic situation we find ourselves in, it might not be that farfetched for education to become fully online and more accessible to people that would otherwise not afford a college or university education via traditional means. Looking at you United States ! That's right ! Imagine how great it would be for companies to accept people with online education as often as ones with ivy league education and to give people access to jobs. This would be especially crucial in developing countries, but also in countries where the cost of education still means only some get to pursue it. We live in interesting times, and the ones ahead look even more colorful !If you liked this episode, don't forget to follow or subscribe, and if you're on Apple Podcast, give it a rating ! Much appreciated ! Stay amazing !
Today's episode covers an aspect oftentimes overlooked in Design School, and design classes, which is Business. Understanding how a business operates, as well as understanding business concepts, today, is vital in surviving as a designer, and when pitching design solutions to potential clients out there. This episode tries to break the ice and dive in a bit into what a Business object is, what a business goal is, as well as the all important cost that dictates directions.As mentioned in the episode, I am attaching some links to help you understand what Business Model Canvas is all about and how it can help you as a designer. I will most likely need to dedicate an entire episode on Business model canvas' huge influence over other common design practices like design sprints or design thinking.https://vimeo.com/78350794https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Model_CanvasEnjoy and don't forget to subscribe and share this episode with your designer buddies in need of a helping hand !
In today's episdoe we're talking about what a roadmap is, and how it can help you, as a designer, plan out work and align with the overall plans of the company that you are working for. It is part of a longer series that aims to explain business concepts that are otherwise traditionally, not part of a designer's dictionary. Remember to subscribe and share with your designer friends, if you feel this episode has brought you value, and as usual, feel free to comment and let me know what you think ! I must admit this episode made me quite anxious because I am treading into terrain that is not commonly walked by designers, and that generates a lot of powerful and conflicting emotions in people. However, since this subject is quite vast, expect a follow up on Design Project Management sometime in the near future !Reading & Tools:Some really popular tools for roadmappingProduct plan - https://www.productplan.com/Wrike - https://www.wrike.com/va/Aha! - https://www.aha.io/Roadmap - https://www.onroadmap.com/
Woop woop ! It's weekend ! And that means tech time on Product Hunt !Here are today's top 5 most popular producthunt items:1. Saucy 3D iphone mockups from Bemore:https://www.bemore.graphics/?ref=producthunt2. Tradeswell, a new Shopping Insights Platformhttps://www.tradeswell.com/?ref=producthunt3. Radix. Cool icons from the creators of Modulzhttps://icons.modulz.app/?ref=producthunt4. Bittle, the palm sized pethttps://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bittle-a-palm-sized-robot-dog-for-stem-and-fun#/5. Product Club Podcast with Jeff Morris Jr.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/product-club-with-jeff-morris-jr/id1529620656?ref=producthuntDon't forget to subscribe to my podcast for more good vibe and hopefully useful information !
In today's podcast I'm going to talk about things like dark patterns used in products, as well as services, strategies some people are using to attract attention onto their products as well as debating about how social media could still be used to sell products, but at the same time, have a more ethical approach to it. I'll also rage a little bit about how we, as a design community have a tendency to be demolishers instead of creators, and the unhealthy competition that is within. I am not doing this for money or fame, but because I would like to contribute to a really healthy community that is exchanging ideas and debating rather than laughing off others and scoffing at their shortcomings. Educate for the better !As always, consider subscribing if you like the podcast and if you feel it provides value to you and share it with your friends, if you think they would enjoy this.
We'll be having a look at the concept of "Critical Thinking" as well as what it means, how it can be useful and why it's become so popular lately among the skills that employers ask for.If you like the podcast, consider subscribing, either on youtube, spotify, apple podcast, google podcast or podbean ! I appreciate every single one of you listening in and hope to see you next time.The Facebook page where I am regularly posting new information and useful articles related but not limited to design, tech and business. https://www.facebook.com/podcastandahalf
Welcome to this week's ProductHunt Friday ! In this episode we're going to go through a series of apps that range from funky elevator music, a statistic of how much time you've spent chatting with your friends on whatsapp to a really cool AR and MR marketplace ! Trying out a livelier format this time, so please let me know if you like it ! As usual, comment, like share with your friends if you deem it worthy and hope to see you again next week !Don't forget to also visit the facebook page and hit it with a likeAs usual you can find the links below to judge them yourselves:Volt: A prototyping starter kitCatchAR 3.0yearin.chatUhmmIndiehackers.tv
In today's episode, we'll take a look at the eternal struggle happing in most organizations that employ developers and designers, main friction points, tips on how to better work together as well as an answer to the age old question: "Should designers learn to code?". Find all about it today ! Oh and if you like the podcast, consider subscribing and sharing it with your designer or developer buddies ! :) I'd be happy to know you found some value in these tips! Stay safe!
Today's episode talks about the types of digital designer's you'll find around in ocmpanies as well as some of the more or less subtle differences between them. I'll be covering UX Designers vs UI designers vs UX Researchers vs Digital Product Designer. This comes as an effort to provide both context as well as to educate as to some of these role's main differences and areas of expertise. However, as usual, there is no black and white line separating them, as most of the roles illustrated are defined largely by the companies that employ them.
In today's episode we're talking between some major differences between Android and iOS but instead of just looking at the obvious things, we're also going to talk a bit more indepth about subtle customer experience issues as well as some really annoying things that are going on with particular products. DJI I'm looking at you ! No bueno what you're doing with the DJI mimo app, leaving us users in the ditch ! Shame on you !
We'll be having a look at the present situation of the gig and freelancing market as well as how it impacts companies in a positive way and how it impacts the workers negatively. Would love to know what you guys think either on the youtube channel or on podbean ! If you like this podcast, consider sharing and subscribing !Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpaYc-ITzoslvgk9ai9zO1gPodbean: https://designandahalf.podbean.com/Additionally you can also find us on apple podcast too starting todayApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ro/podcast/design-and-a-half/id1533578446
In today's episode I'm going to talk about Design tests and challenges. A surefire way to turn designers away, and a very profitable habit for a lot of companies looking to make design hires. We'll be looking at reasons why they are wrong, and alternative ways to judge a designer's fit based on his resume and his portfolio, instead of doing work for free. If you're a designer, or a Human Resources person or a Design Recruiter, I'd love to know you input on this subject as well. As always, if you like the podcast, consider subscribing for that extra boost of energy and positivity ! You're awesome for listening !
Starting this Friday, I'll be doing a review of the 5 most popular producthunt items for that specific Friday, live, without having any prior knowledge about them. Sort of like a live User Testing Session where I see the product for the first time ! Let me know if it's something you'd like to see done more often and if you'd like me to change the format. Also, please consider subscribing to my podcast, or liking the episodes, since it incentives me to post more and help my podcast grow ! Thanks so much and have an amazing weekend ! In today's premiere, we'll be looking at the following top 5 producthunt links:1. Ring - https://blog.ring.com/2020/09/24/introducing-ring-always-home-cam-an-innovative-new-approach-to-always-being-home/?ref=producthunt2. State of Prototyping - https://www.framer.com/state-of-prototyping/3. ReadyMage - https://readymage.com/?ref=producthunt4. MainStreet - https://www.mainstreet.us/join?grsf=ebhh7j5. IosSkins - https://ios-skins.com/bigsur/?ref=producthunt
The new facebook desktop website redesign has been slowly rolling out, and ever since I became a beta tester for it, it just annoyed the ever living daylights out of me. Initially I was intrigued, tried it out for a week, and then was so frustrated with it, i switched back to the older version of the website. Obviously, they forced it upon everyone, and now, there is no way of going back, lest you do some non-orthodox javascript finagling. And so, I decided to share my own Product critique/debate with regards to the new website design, from both the perspective of a user as well as a Digital Product Designer. This is the sort of discussion that always polarizes, so feel free to leave your opinions on facebook (Pun intended) or youtube, or... why not, podbean ! Looking forward to hear your thoughts. And don't forget to hit subscribe if you like this podcast ! It means the world to me !
I really don't like talking about myself usually because I am not keen on bragging, but I realised I never properly introduced myself, and how I came to do UX design in the first place, and so, in today's episode, you'll learn a little bit about my design background. Hope you'll enjoy it !
In this episode, we're going to be looking at the difference between design in smaller vs larger companies. We're going to look at what makes them different, why and what would best fit you.
Why is communication important ? How can I communicate better and what are some good books on communication I can read to improve the way I communicate with others ? These are some questions that are answered in this first episode of Design and a Half.