The UX Level-Up

A viral LinkedIn post suggests UX involves only battles and compromises, but Sophia passionately disagrees. She condemns the burnout culture and calls for a reclaiming of UX as a transformative craft. The discussion highlights the need for collaboration and proactive approaches in UX design. It also tackles the chaotic nature of design processes and advocates for structured methods to enhance clarity and efficiency. Tune in for an invigorating challenge to conventional thinking in the UX community!

What if prioritizing relationships could boost your bottom line? In this 10th ORCA Series installment, Sophia is joined by former VP of design at Hello Fresh, Certified OOUX Strategist, and Cohort 11 Mentor, Jake Zukowski, to explore how ORCA’s Relationship Prio helps businesses build trust, create clarity around revenue objects, and design strategies that work for both users and businesses.LINKS:1. Join Cohort 11 of the OOUX Certification! Doors are open until Friday 8/29 at 11:59 PM EDT.2. Check out all the amazing testimonials for the OOUX Certification on OOUX.com/testimonials.3. Continue the conversation on the OOUX Forum!

Karen Hewell, an advanced OOUXer and content strategist at Anthrotech, shares her expertise in transforming government agency websites. She discusses the shift from chaotic page-based systems to intuitive object-based designs. Hewell emphasizes breaking down silos, fostering shared ownership, and managing content ecosystems more effectively. The conversation also touches on the importance of permissions management and co-creation, along with personal experiences of overcoming burnout through OOUX training—making content governance not just manageable, but user-friendly.

Explore the transformative power of object prioritization in design processes and how it can alleviate creative chaos. The host shares a journey of self-discovery, discussing the emotional burden of unfinished projects and the importance of acceptance. Discover strategies for managing software design challenges, focusing on objects rather than pages to enhance user experience. The conversation wraps up with encouragement to let go of unproductive commitments, highlighting personal growth and closure in the creative journey.

In this episode, Sophia gets real about the tension between OOUX in theory vs. the messy reality of the real world. Learn how to ask those jaw-dropping, scope-shifting “why?” questions without annoying leadership. She breaks it down into four pro-level steps so you can bring more clarity, alignment, and confidence to your work.LINKS:Join the UX Level-Up free on OOUX.com/levelup! Join the conversation on the OOUX Forum

The host dives into the importance of asking the right questions in design, showing how this shapes perception and understanding of user needs. The discussion highlights the concept of 'complexity wranglers'—designers who tackle interconnected global challenges. Emphasizing systems thinking, they argue for a deeper approach that fosters collaboration and innovation in creating humane technologies. The podcast also explores how understanding human behavior can lead to richer user experiences and effective design solutions.

Frameworks don’t kill creativity — they set it free.In this episode, we're breaking down why UX designers who jump into UI too soon miss the real opportunity for innovation.I’ll show you how ORCA (Objects, Relationships, Calls-to-Action, Attributes) gives you real material to build with — fueling true creativity, better ideas, and a serious competitive edge.🎧 Tune in to rethink your brainstorming, unleash deeper innovation, and start sketching systems, not just screens.LINKS:Join the waitlist for OOUX Foundations!

Discover how OOUX can revolutionize your learning process! The host shares personal growth experiences, highlighting the transformative power of coaching. Learn why investing in self-improvement is crucial for mastering complicated subjects. Dive into effective educational strategies that boost understanding and retention. Plus, find out how stepping away from screens can enhance your comprehension and embodiment of concepts. This episode celebrates the journey of cultivating new skills and trusting your instincts in personal development.

The UX job market is rough. Veterans are being laid off, juniors are struggling to find jobs, and yet, digital experiences are clunky and getting worse. What gives?In this raw and honest solo-episode, Sophia explores why UX has been set up to fail — why big problems remain unsolved, and why leadership often undervalues UX work. You'll hear how we've been pushed into pixel-pushing and spackling over the cracks of complexity instead of tackling structural solutions. And why that's not good enough anymore.But there’s hope. UX can evolve, and we can take back our craft. Discover the Five Core Level-Ups that will empower you to redefine your role and bring deeper meaning into your work.If you are ready for a deep dive into Sophia’s practical how-to, Join our  90-minute, totally free training: The UX Level-Up. You'll learn 20 actionable strategies to start leveling up immediately—yes, right after the training.👉 Register here: https://www.ooux.com/levelupLet’s stop spackling. Let’s build better.

Sophia dives into the intriguing concept of world models in AI, discussing their potential for creating human-like intelligence. She evaluates the arguments for and against training AI with these models, referencing insights from Melanie Mitchell's work. The conversation highlights the limitations of large language models and their reliance on shortcuts rather than true comprehension. Additionally, the principles of Object-Oriented UX are explored as essential tools for enhancing mental models and improving user experience in AI design.