Brave UX with Brendan Jarvis πΊπ¦ Dave Hoffer β Empathy, Courage, and the Future of Design
Dave Hoffer shares why design demands empathy π§ , courage π‘οΈ, and long-term thinking π±βand how amplifying others can transform leadership in uncertain times π.
He explores designβs shifting role in business, the disruptive rise of AI, and why resilience and critique will shape the future of design.
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Episode Chapters
00:00 β Why Empathy Matters in Design
01:02 β Introducing Dave Hoffer
03:17 β Amplifying Others Over Self
05:00 β Layoffs, Resilience, and Mission-Driven Work
12:12 β Hope and Long-Term Thinking in Design
14:20 β Courage, Critique, and Speaking Truth to Power
17:24 β Design Under Pressure and the AI Disruption
22:20 β Why Designers Must Experiment With AI Tools
31:30 β Lessons from Kasparov on Humans + Machines
33:00 β Spectral Thinking and Understanding People on a Spectrum
37:11 β The Hard Cost of Empathy in Design
42:05 β Why Executives Need Firsthand Empathy
50:30 β Empathy, Judgment, and Learning from Outliers
58:13 β Physical Labor and Shifts in Perspective
1:04:00 β Think Like a Gardener, Not an Architect
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Who is Dave Hoffer?
Dave Hoffer is a seasoned design leader and strategist whose career spans product design, digital innovation, and design transformation π.
He has:
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Led design teams at Frog Design, PwC, and McKinsey & Company
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Grown McKinseyβs global design practice from a handful of designers to hundreds π
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Brought design strategy into the heart of business and policy change
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Advised mission-driven organisations like Safe Kids AI π¨βπ©βπ§βπ¦
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Advocated for amplifying others and championing empathy and critique as foundations for impactful leadership β¨
Today, Dave advises organisations as an independent consultant, helping them embed human-centered design practices into strategy and transformation initiatives.
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Find Dave Hoffer here:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-hoffer/
Website: https://www.mpqd.com/
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Hosted by Brendan Jarvis:
- Brendan Jarvis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/
- The Space InBetween Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/