User Defenders – UX Design & Personal Growth

Becca Kennedy teaches us how to do UX research on a budget. She encourages newer designers to demonstrate their problem-solving superpowers by redesigning sub-par experiences they use regularly. She reminds us that users are human before they’re users. She also shows us how we can have anything in life we want, if we will just help others get what they want. Becca's Tattoo's Origin Story (5:31) Why Psychology? (6:26) What is Human Factors? (11:43) How do we find research subjects? (24:06) The Law of Diminishing Returns (31:16) Awkward Testing Story (32:57) Design Superpower (39:14) Design Kryptonite (40:48) Coping with Imposter Syndrome (44:49) UX Superhero Name (49:10) Should we Call Them Users? (53:45) Fights for Users (56:33) Habit of Success (59:11) Invincible Resource (61:54) Recommended Book (63:54) Best Advice (66:09) Contact Info (70:07) Check out the detailed show notes including mentioned links, transcript and Eli Jorgensen’s astonishing superhero artwork at userdefenders.com/054 This episode is brought to you by Adobe, makers of XD. Try it free at userdefenders.com/xd

Imposter Syndrome is a very common and unwelcome condition especially among creative people. In Jason Ogle's very first monologue episode, he...wait, it's me writing this (and my voice matters, dog gonnit!)...I tackle the important, and very common condition among creative people known as imposter syndrome. I address what it is, why we have it, and how to kick it in the privates! Check out the detailed show notes including mentioned links and transcript at userdefenders.com/impostersyndrome This episode is brought to you by Adobe, makers of XD. Try it free at userdefenders.com/xd

Denise Jacobs teaches us how to banish our inner critic. She motivates us to realize what we’re capable of creatively. She encourages us to overcome the fear of the unknown by turning that fear into curiosity. She also guides us into how to ask for feedback in a way that’s healthy and beneficial to us. Why do so many think they're not creative? (6:08) Name that inner critic! (28:13) Listener Question: (43:35) Best advice for imposter syndrome sufferers? (80:34) Check out the detailed show notes including mentioned links, transcript and Eli Jorgensen’s astonishing superhero artwork at userdefenders.com/innercritic-2 This episode is brought to you by Adobe, makers of XD. Try it free at userdefenders.com/xd Get your FREE audiobook from Audible at userdefenders.com/freebook. No commitment. Cancel in 30 days, and you won't be charged. The book is still yours to keep.

Denise Jacobs teaches us how to banish our inner critic. She motivates us to realize what we’re capable of creatively. She encourages us to overcome the fear of the unknown by turning that fear into curiosity. She also guides us into how to ask for feedback in a way that’s healthy and beneficial to us. Why did you write “Banish Your Inner Critic”? (8:27) We’re all born creative…what happens to us? (27:11) Creativity > public school (35:04) Do you have Dunning Kruger effect? (39:49) The value of a creativity cheerleader (49:25) Listener question: How can I assure my self worth is not dependent on external sources? (57:05) Check out the detailed show notes including mentioned links, transcript and Eli Jorgensen’s astonishing superhero artwork at userdefenders.com/innercritic-1 This episode is brought to you by Adobe, makers of XD. Try it free at userdefenders.com/xd Get your FREE audiobook from Audible at userdefenders.com/freebook. No commitment. Cancel in 30 days, and you won't be charged. The book is still yours to keep.

Josh Clark enlightens us to everything we need to know about the current state of UX in AI. He takes us on an unsettling stroll through uncanny valley. He encourages us to let machines do what they're really good at, and humans do what they're really good at. He guides us into how to begin getting our hands dirty with AI/Machine-Learning. He also articulates how our software/machines are embedded with values, and inspires us (for future's sake) to be intentional about the kinds of values we embed into them. Josh passes the Turing Test (07:33) What is AI/Machine Learning? (10:04) Is AI’s uncertainties driving engineers nuts? (18:28) Listener Q: How do we address AI's failure in presenting errors? (27:00) Taking a stroll down "uncanny valley” + “mechanophilia" (34:35) Is there hope for the UX of Voice UI? (42:05) Will the machines we’ve built eventually overtake and destroy us? (55:08) Will AI eventually take our jobs? (68:35) Is there a specific area of focus that will benefit designers interested in AI? (77:50) Listener Q: At what point in the AI development process should UX get involved and how? (91:09) Do we take these awesome technologies for granted? If so, why do we do that? (100:13) If today was your last day, what would be your final plea to designers and developers building the future of AI? (105:03) Check out the detailed show notes including the transcript at userdefenders.com/uxai This episode is brought to you by Adobe, makers of XD. Try it free at userdefenders.com/xd Get your FREE audiobook from Audible at userdefenders.com/freebook. No commitment. Cancel in 30 days, and you won't be charged. The book is still yours to keep.

Alan Cooper teaches us what it means to be a good ancestor. He enlightens us to why it’s so hard to build good software. He reveals how money trumps good UX and ethics far too often. He explains why UX is not about finding the best location for a hamburger menu, but about solving the big problems that exist for the user and the business. He also inspires us to consider (and potentially redirect) the footprints we’re leaving now, for the generations to come. Should designers code? (4:40) Specialization vs. generalization (7:41) How do designers get business on board with building great products? (13:19) How do you be a good ancestor? (25:30) Ancestry Thinking (41:06) What does the future of UX look like to you? (44:01) What advice do you have for aspiring UX designers? (53:13) What do you want your legacy to be? (57:16) Check out the detailed show notes including the transcript and Eli Jorgensen’s astonishing superhero artwork at userdefenders.com/053-2 This episode is brought to you by Adobe, makers of XD. Try it free at userdefenders.com/xd Get your FREE audiobook from Audible at userdefenders.com/freebook. No commitment. Cancel in 30 days, and you won't be charged. The book is still yours to keep.

Alan Cooper teaches us what it means to be a good ancestor. He enlightens us to why it’s so hard to build good software. He reveals how money trumps good UX and ethics far too often. He explains why UX is not about finding the best location for a hamburger menu, but about solving the big problems that exist for the user and the business. He also inspires us to consider (and potentially redirect) the footprints we’re leaving now, for the generations to come. There’s no such thing as UX Design? (8:13) Why do you put so much emphasis on Interaction Design? (24:41) How important are design patterns? (31:35) How do you build a product you can’t prove is valuable yet? (45:58) Why are there so many bad products in the world? (50:50) Check out the detailed show notes including the transcript and Eli Jorgensen’s astonishing superhero artwork at userdefenders.com/053-1 This episode is brought to you by Adobe, makers of XD. Try it free at userdefenders.com/xd Get your FREE audiobook from Audible at userdefenders.com/freebook. No commitment. Cancel in 30 days, and you won't be charged. The book is still yours to keep.  

Tim Hykes shines a light on black designers. He shows us how an inspiring idea, and a lot of hard work can make a huge impact. He inspires us to challenge everything, especially the status quo. He motivates us to not wait to be asked to solve a problem, but to be a self-starter and solve it. He also teaches us how being a great designer starts with being a great person. Secret Identity (6:55) Criminal Justice Background (11:47) Why the Web/UX? (13:47) Racist Hand Soap?? (17:00) 28 Days of Black Designers (20:39) Why aren't there more Black Designers? (26:17) Design Superpower (38:11) Design Kryptonite (40:05) UX Superhero Name (42:51) Fights for Users (44:09) Habit of Success (48:07) Invincible Resource (56:11) Recommended Book (57:30) Best Advice (60:21) Contact Info (64:10) Check out the detailed show notes including the transcript and Eli Jorgensen’s astonishing superhero artwork at userdefenders.com/052 This episode is brought to you by Adobe, makers of XD. Try it free at userdefenders.com/xd Get your FREE audiobook from Audible at userdefenders.com/freebook. No commitment. Cancel in 30 days, and you won't be charged. The book is still yours to keep.

Just a small taste of what's to come in what could possibly be the best season yet...Season 5 of User Defenders podcast begins 08.27.17 Featuring in order Alan Cooper, Tim Hykes, Denise Jacobs, Jason Ogle, Josh Clark, Alan Cooper. Be sure to subscribe to automatically receive the incredible new episodes: userdefenders.com/subscribe This was originally recorded as a video (hence the not-great audio quality from my iPhone mic for intro). If you'd like to watch the video, check it out here: userdefenders.com/s5vid Can't wait to serve you this new season, Defender! The dope song playing in the background was written by my friend Alan Oakes from his incredible project, Let Em Riot (letemriot.com).

Here's a bit about what's been going on with me, and what's to come with the show and the forthcoming/exciting Season 5.