UI Breakfast: UI/UX Design and Product Strategy

How can we do better at designing websites and applications, so that they cater for people with special needs? Our guest today is Cat Noone, CEO of Stark. You’ll hear about Cat’s mission-driven SaaS, examples of inclusive design, her tool recommendations, as well as her expert tips on accessible design.Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play Music.Show NotesStark — Cat’s companyHanlon’s razor — a rule of thumb that states “never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity”Figma, AdobeXD, Sketch — popular UI design softwareStark raises $1.5M for a toolkit that helps developers and others create more inclusive design — a TechCrunch announcement of Stark’s recent fundingApple’s Human Interface GuidelinesStark’s blogUnderstanding Conformance — a W3 article on WCAG 2.0 conformance levels (AA/AAA regulations)Apple, Microsoft, Fable, Barclays — companies that do great at inclusive designMicrosoft Design — where to download Microsoft’s inclusive design toolkitSign up for Stark’s newsletterStark’s Slack communityFollow Stark on Twitter and InstagramFollow Cat on TwitterToday’s SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Userlist — a lifecycle messaging tool for your SaaS product. At Userlist, our mission is to make your founder journey more enjoyable and less overwhelming. That’s why we built an email automation tool that does exactly what you need. No more, no less. Manage your users, segment them, and get in touch throughout their journey — all based on their behavior. Try Userlist free whenever you’re ready at userlist.com.Interested in sponsoring an episode? Learn more here.Leave a ReviewReviews are hugely important because they help new people discover this podcast. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a review on iTunes. Here’s how.

How can analytics direct us to the right path for our product? And how can we lay the best foundations for measuring website engagement? Our guest today is Helena Ronis, founder and CEO of AllFactors. You’ll hear Helena’s recommendations on analytics, content marketing, driving traffic, SEO, engagement, readership, and much more.Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play Music.Show NotesAllFactors — Helena’s product, a marketing analytics toolVoxSnap — Helena’s previous productGDPR, CCPA — key privacy actsAdobe Analytics, Google 360 — enterprise web analytics toolsMIT Sloan — MIT’s world-renowned business schoolAllFactor’s Marketing Insights Blog — their blog where you can follow Helena’s SaaS Marketing seriesHow Copysmith is Utilizing The GPT-3 AI to Automate Copywriting for Marketing — Helena’s interview with Copysmith founder Jasmine WangSurvival to Thrival — a two-book series for startups by Bob Tinker and Tae Hea NahmUserlist — Jane’s productFollow Helena on Twitter and LinkedInWomen Founders Community — Helena’s Facebook group for female foundersDrop Helena a line at helena@allfactors.comToday’s SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Userlist — a lifecycle messaging tool for SaaS companies. It’s perfect for sending smart onboarding campaigns, or any other behavior-based communication. We have everything you need to get started quickly and painlessly: developer-friendly API, campaign templates, and hands-on support from the founders. Try Userlist free at userlist.com.Interested in sponsoring an episode? Learn more here.Leave a ReviewReviews are hugely important because they help new people discover this podcast. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a review on iTunes. Here’s how.

Today we invite you to listen to another one of our Better Done Than Perfect episodes. Our guest is Alli Blum, SaaS consultant extraordinaire and onboarding strategist. You’ll learn about Alli’s professional journey, her definition of ideal onboarding, customer success milestones, and her bulletproof advice on conducting customer interviews.Please head over to the episode page for the detailed recap and key takeaways.Show notesalliblum.com — Alli’s websiteUI Breakfast Episode 112: Optimizing SaaS Trials with Alli BlumConducting Switch Interviews — an article by ThoughtbotJTBD for User Onboarding with Ramli JohnStop Aiming at Happiness: Unconventional Wisdom for Customer Success — Anna Jacobsen’s Microconf talkWhat is a North Star metric? — a Mixpanel articleHow Long Should Your Pages Be? — an article on stages of awareness by Copy HackersThe JTBD methodology by Bob Moesta and Chris Spiek, one of Alli’s recommended resourcesForget the Funnel by Claire Suellentrop and Gia Laudi — one of Alli’s recommended resourcesCopy Hackers by Joanna Weibe — one of Alli’s recommended resourcesThe Mom Test — a book by Rob Fitzpatrick, Jane’s recommendationThanks for listening! If you found the episode useful, please spread the word about this new show on Twitter mentioning @userlist, or leave us a review on iTunes.SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Userlist — a lifecycle messaging tool for your SaaS product. At Userlist, our mission is to make your founder journey more enjoyable and less overwhelming. That’s why we built an email automation tool that does exactly what you need. No more, no less. Manage your users, segment them, and get in touch throughout their journey — all based on their behavior. Try Userlist free whenever you’re ready at userlist.com.Interested in sponsoring an episode? Learn more here.Leave a ReviewReviews are hugely important because they help new people discover this podcast. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a review on iTunes. Here’s how.

Today we celebrate episode #200 with Dennis Field, who was our first guest when the podcast started in 2014. Dennis is the brand specialist at InVision, and the founder of Happy Patron. We talk about branding — the buzzword of the century. How do we define it, and how do we apply this knowledge to UI/UX design? What is the user’s role in your brand’s story? You’ll hear Dennis talk about his work process, brand amplification, storytelling, finding your “why”, employee branding, and the various facets of brand love.Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play Music.Show NotesEpisode 1: Dennis FieldEpisode 50: Becoming a Brand Evangelist with Dennis FieldInVision — one of the most popular product design platforms, where Dennis worksHappy Patron — Dennis’s productFundamental UI Design — Jane’s InVision courseWhat is Employee Branding? Why Does Your Company Need It? — an article by Migs BassigStart With Why — a popular book by Simon Sinek, Jane’s favoriteCulture Amp — an employee branding and amplification toolWho Gives a Crap — an outstanding brand of organic toilet paperHomesick Candles — a unique candle company (another great example of brand storytelling)Episode 178: Your Personal Design Style with Meg LewisEpisode 169: Building Your Brand with Austin ChurchFreehand — InVision’s free whiteboard featureiamdennisfield.com — Dennis’s personal websiteFollow Dennis on LinkedIn and TwitterToday’s SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Userlist — a lifecycle messaging tool for your SaaS product. At Userlist, our mission is to make your founder journey more enjoyable and less overwhelming. That’s why we built an email automation tool that does exactly what you need. No more, no less. Manage your users, segment them, and get in touch throughout their journey — all based on their behavior. Try Userlist free whenever you’re ready at userlist.com.Interested in sponsoring an episode? Learn more here.Leave a ReviewReviews are hugely important because they help new people discover this podcast. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a review on iTunes. Here’s how.

Thought-based technologies might often be a cause for fear, but they are nothing new under the sun. By learning more about these technologies and dismantling negative beliefs, designers may be able to stay ahead of the game by catching glimpses into the future. Our guest today is Afshin Mehin, designer and founder of Woke Studio. We dive into the world of thought-based interfaces where you’ll learn about neurotechnology, robotics design, user psychology, and the fascinating potentials for UX design.Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play Music.Show NotesWoke — Afshin’s product design studioIdeo — Afshin’s previous place of workNeuralink — a company founded by Elon Musk (Woke designed enclosures for their R1 surgical robot)Neuroplasticity — a Wikipedia articleKinesthesia — a Wikipedia articleInfluence: the Psychology of Persuasion — a book by Robert B. CialdiniEpisode 173: Voice UX with Sina KahenSeeing Around the Corners — a book by Rita McGrathNeurotech — a popular conference on nThe Woke blogFollow Woke on InstagramToday’s SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Userlist — a lifecycle messaging tool for SaaS companies. It’s perfect for sending smart onboarding campaigns, or any other behavior-based communication. We have everything you need to get started quickly and painlessly: developer-friendly API, campaign templates, and hands-on support from the founders. Try Userlist free at userlist.com.Interested in sponsoring an episode? Learn more here.Leave a ReviewReviews are hugely important because they help new people discover this podcast. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a review on iTunes. Here’s how.

What are the main differences between running desktop apps versus web apps? And which of the two comes with less hassle and problems down the line? Our guest today is Steve McLeod, the founder of Feature Upvote and acquirer of Saber Feedback. You’ll hear Steve’s opinion on switching from desktop to web-based apps, the various maintenance and support issues that may arise, the “boring” aspects of running complex software, and how to prevent the stress that often comes with SaaS.Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play Music.Show NotesFeature Upvote,Saber Feedback — Steve’s SaaS productsPatrick McKenzie — Steve’s inspirationWhy I sold my startup for £100,000 — the story of Saber Feedback acquisition by its original founder Matt BearmanBootstrapped.fm — Steve’s podcast for bootstrapped SaaS foundersEpisode 135: Multi-Product Portfolio Model for SaaS with JD GraffamUserlist — Jane’s SaaS productUlysses — a writing app by Max SeelemannEpisode 161: Managing Product Versions with Max SeelemannScreenFlow, Sublime, Balsamiq, iA Writer, Byword, 1Password — some of the apps Steve and Jane useFollow Steven on TwitterToday’s SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Userlist — a lifecycle messaging tool for your SaaS product. At Userlist, our mission is to make your founder journey more enjoyable and less overwhelming. That’s why we built an email automation tool that does exactly what you need. No more, no less. Manage your users, segment them, and get in touch throughout their journey — all based on their behavior. Try Userlist free whenever you’re ready at userlist.com.Interested in sponsoring an episode? Learn more here.Leave a ReviewReviews are hugely important because they help new people discover this podcast. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a review on iTunes. Here’s how.

Today we invite you to listen to one of our latest episodes from Better Done Than Perfect, a new show for SaaS founders. Enjoy this interview with Christopher Gimmer, co-founder of Snappa, where we explore the fascinating topic of templates and onboarding videos. You’ll learn all about these powerful onboarding tools and how to use them effectively in your SaaS company. You’ll also hear Christopher’s take on repurposed content, conversions, the friction of confirmation emails, and much more.Please head over to the episode page for the detailed recap and key takeaways.Show notesSnappa — Christopher’s SaaS product together with Marc ChouinardProduct-Led Institute by Wes BushChecklist — a productivity appInspire, Not Instruct: How We Do User Onboarding at UserlistFollow Christopher on TwitterThanks for listening! If you found the episode useful, please spread the word about this new show on Twitter mentioning @userlist, or leave us a review on iTunes.SponsorThis show is brought to you by Userlist — the best tool for sending onboarding emails and segmenting your SaaS users. To follow the best practices, download our free printable email planning worksheets at userlist.com/worksheets.

Classic product recommendation is to focus on something, but “all-in-one” products can also get wildly successful. How are they made? Do their multiple features cause chaos and anxiety, or is there a secret sauce to creating harmony? Our guest today is developer, advertizer, and Bento founder Jesse Hanley. You’ll hear how Jesse has been expanding his product over the years, and how he masterfully juggles multiple features, a large user base, support tickets, and much more.Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play Music.Show NotesBento — Jesse’s all-in-one SaaS product, email marketing automationUserlist — Jane’s SaaS productDrip, Klaviyo, Intercom — other popular marketing automation platformsBasecamp — a popular project management and team communication toolReact Native — a tool for building mobile appsSlack — a popular team communication appLoom — a video messaging toolElasticsearch, Honeybadger — tools Jesse uses for fast search queries and error reportingBraze — a mobile engagement automation companyDynamic Yield — a UX optimization platform, acquired by McDonald’s in 2019RightMessage — a web personalization tool by Brennan Dunn and Shai SchechterFollow Bento on TwitterFollow Jesse on Twitter or send him a DMjessehanley.com — Jesse’s personal websiteToday’s SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Userlist — a lifecycle messaging tool for SaaS companies. It’s perfect for sending smart onboarding campaigns, or any other behavior-based communication. We have everything you need to get started quickly and painlessly: developer-friendly API, campaign templates, and hands-on support from the founders. Try Userlist free at userlist.com.Interested in sponsoring an episode? Learn more here.Leave a ReviewReviews are hugely important because they help new people discover this podcast. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a review on iTunes. Here’s how.

How can we measure the success of our UX work as consultants? How do we even start this conversation with clients, if such metrics involve additional research work?? Our guest today is Mark Baldino, co-founder of Fuzzy Math. You’ll learn all about Mark’s consultancy and his answers to these pressing ROI questions, as well as his view on measuring user satisfaction, creating effective surveys, and more.Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play Music.Show NotesFuzzy Math — Mark’s UX design consultancyEpisode 164: Enterprise Product Design with Rakesh PatwariNPS (Net Promoter Score) — a popular research method (Wikipedia article)SUPR-Q — an 8 item questionnaire for measuring the quality of user experience (you can use the method for free, or buy a license to access industry benchmarks)What Are XLAs? Experience Level Agreements Explained — an article by Joseph MathengeUserlist — Jane’s SaaS productFollow Fuzzy Math’s blogJoin Fuzzy Math's monthly newsletterToday’s SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Userlist — a lifecycle messaging tool for your SaaS product. At Userlist, our mission is to make your founder journey more enjoyable and less overwhelming. That’s why we built an email automation tool that does exactly what you need. No more, no less. Manage your users, segment them, and get in touch throughout their journey — all based on their behavior. Try Userlist free whenever you’re ready at userlist.com.Interested in sponsoring an episode? Learn more here.Leave a ReviewReviews are hugely important because they help new people discover this podcast. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a review on iTunes. Here’s how.

Minimalism may be considered merely an aesthetic choice, but it also determines many other decisions we make in product design and life in general. How can designers implement and stand by their minimalist principles in web and product design? Our guest today is minimalist designer Brian Gardner, founder and CEO of Agent Engine. You’ll learn about Brian’s journey into minimalism, his design philosophy, and his recommendations on staying true to your values.Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Play Music.Show NotesAgent Engine — Brian’s companyStudioPress, Copyblogger — Brian’s previous projectsNo Sidebar — Brian’s famous minimalist projectTony Clark, Jason Schuller — Brian’s Agent Engine partnersCompass, Century 21 — examples of well-designed real estate websitesJoshua Becker — the founder of Becoming MinimalistRafal Tomal — Brian’s previous partner at StudioPressYoga with Adriene — a popular YouTuber’s website, designed by BrianUgmonk — a minimalist clothing brandFigma, Grammarly, ConvertKit — Brian’s favorite toolsSquarespace — a popular website builder with a minimalistic flairTypeWolf, OnePageLove, DarkModeDesign — Brian’s favorite minimalist design resourcesInterfont, FontFoundry — Brian’s favorite font resourcesGoogle Fonts, Adobe Fonts— popular font repositoriesInter — a good minimalist example of Google Fontsbriangardner.com — Brian’s website and portfolioFollow Brian on TwitterToday’s SponsorThis episode is brought to you by Userlist — a lifecycle messaging tool for SaaS companies. It’s perfect for sending smart onboarding campaigns, or any other behavior-based communication. We have everything you need to get started quickly and painlessly: developer-friendly API, campaign templates, and hands-on support from the founders. Try Userlist free at userlist.com.Interested in sponsoring an episode? Learn more here.Leave a ReviewReviews are hugely important because they help new people discover this podcast. If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please leave a review on iTunes. Here’s how.