Design Life

Explore the secrets to fostering knowledge sharing in design teams. Discover the effectiveness of structured lunch-and-learn sessions, where personal expertise meets work-related topics. Learn how implementing a 'Failures' segment can help normalize vulnerability and boost team learning. The hosts discuss the balance of sharing roles between leaders and individual contributors, plus the importance of protecting team members' time. Small acts of sharing can lead to significant growth, making knowledge exchange both essential and achievable.

Femke and Charli dive into the challenges of keeping up with AI tools in design. They stress the importance of developing horizontal skills rather than just focusing on specific tools. The duo shares insights on integrating AI into workflows and discusses its financial and environmental impacts. They also explore ways to manage the overwhelming pace of tech advancements while encouraging hands-on learning. Discover why it's crucial to carve out regular time for skill development in this ever-evolving landscape.

Femke and Charli discuss how to balance product quality with commitments, deadlines, and the pressure to ship quickly. They explore the best approaches to building MVPs and new features, and consider whether AI is influencing the expected pace of work in design.Timestamps:01:14 Episode start02:25 Catch up07:56 The background of the issue at Femke’s work10:42 Did Charli experience anything similar?12:56 Has the rebrand and the new systems in place helped your team unlock more velocity, allowing you to work more quickly?17:19 What does your team think about MVP?24:45 As a design manager, what’s your role in solving this?26:07 Any ideas of solutions Femke can share?32:15 Is AI influencing leadership’s push for speed? Do you think it’s making teams move faster?Links: Femke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

Join Charli and Femke as they dive into the nitty-gritty of performance reviews. Discover how different companies structure feedback, from quarterly reviews to innovative AI integration. They reveal the challenges of balancing self-assessments with manager ratings and how these reviews can impact promotions. Tune in to hear their candid reflections on feedback received and preferred styles, plus practical tips for improving future reviews. It's an enlightening discussion for anyone navigating leadership in design!

Thank you to our sponsor, Framer. Ready to build a site that looks hand-coded—without hiring a developer? Start free today at framer.link/femkeFemke and Charli discuss various aspects of hackathons, including team organization and timelines, the motivations behind creating dedicated create weeks, whether projects should go live afterward, the competitive dynamics of hackathons, and provide valuable advice for companies interested in hosting their own hackathons.Timestamps:0:47 Episode start01:27 Framer Sponsorship02:43 Have you been part of hackathons before?07:38 How can non-technical team members add value during a hackathon?10:11 Are hackathons competitive?11:10 Do hackathon projects typically go live? What are the next steps afterward?12:03 Do teams intentionally save work for hackathons? Is it part of your roadmap process?15:17 Have you seen projects die after a hackathon?18:12 What motivated you to start these hackathons?22:18 What advice would you give to those wanting to organise a hackathon at their company?Links: A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Framer. Make sure to check them outFemke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm 

Explore the evolving art of giving feedback in design, where collaboration takes center stage. Discover how mindful communication plays a role and strategies for providing clear, actionable insights. The discussion dives into clarifying questions that foster deeper understanding and effective dialogue. The power dynamics of feedback are examined, highlighting the importance of framing criticism positively. Get ready for a fresh perspective on feedback as a collaborative tool that enhances creativity and aligns project goals!

Thank you to our sponsor, Framer. Ready to build a site that looks hand-coded—without hiring a developer? Start free today at framer.link/femkeFemke and Charli discuss Gusto's new Creative Director role, including why the company hired for it and what they’re looking for. They talk about whether agency or in-house experience is better, how candidates should prepare for interviews, and what makes a talented brand designer stand out. They also mention whether having a broad or focused portfolio is better, common red flags to watch out for, and offer tips for applying to the brand designer role.Episode timestamps:01:02 Episode start02:16 Framer sponsorship03:45 How did the need for a Creative Director at Gusto come about, and what is the company looking for in this role?08:24 When hiring for a brand role in a tech company, do candidates from agency backgrounds bring unique qualities? Or are in-house candidates generally stronger?11:11 Do you influence the interview questions during the hiring process?13:44 What type of presentation do you expect from candidates?15:33 What distinguishes a truly skilled designer from someone with skill gaps?19:00 How important is breadth of work for a brand designer compared to product design? Do you prefer candidates with diverse experience or specialized expertise?23:25 What are common red flags to watch out for?28:52 Any advice for candidates applying for the brand designer IC role?30:46 Charli's Book Update Links: A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Framer. Make sure to check them outFemke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

Thank you to our sponsor, Framer. Ready to build a site that looks hand-coded—without hiring a developer? Start free today at framer.link/femkeFemke and Charli explore their coaching experiences, the importance of active listening, and navigating coaching challenges from both coach and coachee perspectives.0:47 Episode start01:59 Framer sponsorship03:06 What was your coaching workshop experience?09:47 How often do you find yourself in a coaching mindset?15:38 Have you ever used coaching questions to help someone find a solution, only to encounter disagreement or struggle, requiring you to be more directive? How did you handle it?19:59 How do dynamics change with peers once you become a manager?21:53 What is active listening, and why is it important?25:10 What has been your experience as a coachee?Links: A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Framer. Make sure to check them outFemke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

Thank you to our sponsor, Framer. Ready to build a site that looks hand-coded—without hiring a developer? Start free today at framer.link/femkeFemke and Charli delve into the relationship between a designer and a product manager, exploring perspectives on role responsibilities, skill overlaps, relationship-building advice and distinctions between product marketing and brand design roles.Timestamps: 01:27 Episode starts02:22 Framer sponsorship04:00 Typical relationship between a designer and a PM — what it looks like from Fem’s perspective.05:26 Is it the PM's responsibility to set the direction of the role, meaning: defining the problem to solve, outlining potential solutions? And then, is it the designer's role to present what they believe is the best solution?06:55 Is it fair to say that there's a significant overlap in the skill sets of a product manager and a UX designer?11:55 What advice would you give for building a strong relationship? How can designers foster a good partnership with PMs?13:47 What are the key differences between a product marketing manager and a brand designer or marketing designer? Specifically, on the product design side.17:57 Regarding briefs from product marketers — how solution-oriented are they? Are they more focused on campaign goals, or do they also include specific design solutions?19:58 Since you work in a decentralized manner from the product or feature teams, do product marketers coordinate among themselves? What happens if two campaigns conflict or need to be run simultaneously? How does Charli handle such situations?22:57 How do you collaborate with a product marketing manager as a UX designer? Links: A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Framer. Make sure to check them outFemke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

Thank you to our sponsor, Workflow. As a listener, you can experience the Workflow too with an exclusive 30-day trial (instead of the usual 14) — so you can see the magic for yourself. Head to workflow.design/designlife to start your extended trial today.Femke and Charli discuss the nature of vision work—whether it’s expected of designers, how their teams create space for it, their approach to the outcomes of pitches, and the criteria they use to prioritize ideas from vision presentations.Timestamps:0:30 Episode start01:23 Workflow sponsorship02:47 Can you define what vision work is?04:56 In your company, are you instructed to do vision work, or is it something product designers are expected to do at some point? Are you expected to present the vision?10:37 Do you think it's important for designers to make time for this work, especially if they haven't been explicitly asked to do it?12:47 How does Charli's team allocate time for strategic impact work, and what is their approach to it?17:51 Have any outcomes from those pitches surprised you? For example, did you prioritize an idea that ended up being very successful?21:53 If several design visions are presented twice a year, how do you decide when to deeply consider the ideas within those visions?24:36 Did you go through any exercises like vision work prior to your brand redesign?Links:A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Workflow Make sure to check them outFemke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm