The UX Growth

New episode of the UX Growth Podcast with Sarah Doody is here!Here’s what we got into:How to reframe the job search as a UX experimentWhy most resumes and portfolios are still not good enoughThe 10% better mindset and why it beats perfectionismThe truth about one page resumesTips to ask stronger questions in interviewsWhat actually makes a senior level designer portfolio stand outHow to do research when you don’t have time, money, or supportAnd why your portfolio should be functional and story drivenThis episode is packed, especially if you’re job hunting, mentoring others, or just trying to become a better designer.

The first non-UX designer on the UX Growth podcast might have just given the most important career advice of the season.Alex Smith, co-founder and Head of Partnerships at Fuego UX, has helped agencies survive when others shut their doors and his perspective flips a lot of common designer beliefs.In this episode, we talk about:• Why 'staying in your lane could be the fastest way to stall your career• The #1 misconception companies still have about designers (and how to fix it)• How to stand out in a sea of portfolios that all say the same thing• The overlooked skill that will keep you valuable no matter where the market goesThis conversation will change the way you think about your role.How to Support Alex:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexsmithcu/Podcast: https://www.fuegoux.com/podcast—You can contact the host, Nick Mann via Email and LinkedIn.Check out my links, such as Patreon, the UX Growth Challenge Newsletter, and the UX Growth Book Series, to help improve your UX knowledge.Thank you for listening, and let's keep growing.

New UX Growth Podcast episode just dropped, and this one surprised me.I didn’t know what to expect going into this, but Rushi brought a calm intensity to the conversation that really stuck with me.He's an information designer with a background in industrial and automotive design. We talk about:– How he made the jump from 3D industrial work to 2D UX– Why most UX portfolios feel fake (and what to do about it)– The real value of research (and when it actually wastes time)– Advice for junior designers trying to stand out in a saturated job marketThis is a great conversation about what UX looks like in the field and how to grow without getting lost.How to Support Rushi:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rushi660/—You can contact the host, Nick Mann via Email and LinkedIn.Check out my links, such as Patreon, the UX Growth Challenge Newsletter, and the UX Growth Book Series, to help improve your UX knowledge.Thank you for listening, and let's keep growing.

I’m joined by Thomas Girard: TEDx speaker, design educator, and host of the Unique Ways podcast. We talk about what doesn’t get talked about enough:Why beginner designers struggle to innovate (and what actually helps)The power of analog UX methods in a world that’s gone all digitalHow frameworks like UX Now help you think, not just executeWhat it really takes to give a TED Talk (and what happens after)Why documentation and iteration matter more than flashy portfoliosIf you’ve ever felt stuck in your head, unsure if your work is “good enough,” or wondering what it means to build something that actually lasts. This one’s for you.That really stuck with me.If you’ve ever felt stuck, lost after a layoff, or unsure what kind of impact you want to make next this one’s for you.How to Support Thomas:Website: https://thomaskgirard.com/Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/uniqueways-with-thomas-girard/id1632267449TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/thomas_girard_how_to_feel_at_home_in_the_airport/up-next—You can contact the host, Nick Mann via Email and LinkedIn.Check out my links, such as Patreon, the UX Growth Challenge Newsletter, and the UX Growth Book Series, to help improve your UX knowledge.Thank you for listening, and let's keep growing.Listen to the full episode :

So much of UX career advice is aimed at juniors.But what about the experienced designers? The ones who’ve ‘made it’ and are still asking, what’s next?In this episode of the UX Growth Podcast, I sat down with Mel, a UX career coach who specializes in helping senior ICs and design leaders navigate career transitions, burnout, layoffs, confidence gaps, and the mental blocks that quietly hold us back.We talked about:✅ Why burnout isn’t just about workload✅ How senior UXers can figure out what truly comes next✅ Networking (without the cringe)✅ Why resumes, portfolios, and LinkedIn alone won’t move the needle✅ Confidence, imposter syndrome, layoffs, and how to bounce backMel has coached designers from Google, Meta, and Amazon and yet, even those top performers wrestle with doubt.That really stuck with me.If you’ve ever felt stuck, lost after a layoff, or unsure what kind of impact you want to make next this one’s for you.P.S. You’ll love Mel’s parting message about how your UX career is your most important product. Don’t miss it.How to Support Mel:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meltemnaz/Website: https://www.careerwithmel.com/—You can contact the host, Nick Mann via Email and LinkedIn.Check out my links, such as Patreon, the UX Growth Challenge Newsletter, and the UX Growth Book Series, to help improve your UX knowledge.Thank you for listening, and let's keep growing.

There’s no single path into UX. And that’s both terrifying and kind of beautiful.In this episode of the UX Growth Podcast, I spoke with Dane O’Leary, a talented freelance UX designer who built his career by blending creativity, self-discovery, and a constant hunger to learn.We covered so much, but a few moments stood out:Why trying different paths isn’t a setback, it’s part of the workHow to stay organized, grounded, and avoid burnout as a freelancerWhy LinkedIn is misunderstood and how to use it without selling your soulThe underrated UX skill that can save projects and relationships: clear communicationThis episode is for anyone who’s figuring it out as they go. For designers who feel scattered, behind, or unsure where to focus next.How to Support Dane:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daneoleary/—You can contact the host, Nick Mann via Email and LinkedIn.Check out my links, such as Patreon, the UX Growth Challenge Newsletter, and the UX Growth Book Series, to help improve your UX knowledge.Thank you for listening, and let's keep growing.

On this episode of The UX Growth Podcast, I talk with Mahnaz Hajesmaeili, a UX designer who blends behavioral science and AI into her work.You don't need a perfect UX origin story to thrive. You just need curiosity and the drive to keep exploring.In this episode, we talk about:→ How to practice UX research without access to real users→ Why designers need to stop settling and how exploration leads to clarity→ Navigating rejection, imposter syndrome, and unclear job postings→ Communicating UX decisions to non-designers with confidence→ What AI's rapid rise really means for your design careerIf you're early in your journey, pivoting, or feeling the weight of all the noise in the industry, Mahnaz’s insight will ground you. How to Support Mahnaz:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahnaz-hajesmaeili/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3OeTWHPc93lsJp9sgFx196?si=3zyIl0K2QgK-ZBWN3ftXdg&nd=1&dlsi=0bd26fca9a5a4050—You can contact the host, Nick Mann via Email and LinkedIn.Check out my links, such as Patreon, the UX Growth Challenge Newsletter, and the UX Growth Book Series, to help improve your UX knowledge.Thank you for listening, and let's keep growing.

“If you don’t feel like a designer yet, that doesn’t mean you’re not one.”Craig Jamieson, former CDO, creative director, and self-taught designer, joins me on the latest episode of The UX Growth Podcast to talk about what it really takes to build a career in design without losing yourself.We cover:Making impact without a fancy titleThe messy, non-linear path to creative leadershipWhy most portfolios fall flat and how to fix yoursBuilding a voice in the industry without selling outIf you're feeling lost, behind, or just burnt out, this one's for you.How to Support Craig:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-jamieson/Website: https://craigjamieson.com/—You can contact the host, Nick Mann via Email and LinkedIn.Check out my links, such as Patreon, the UX Growth Challenge Newsletter, and the UX Growth Book Series, to help improve your UX knowledge.Thank you for listening, and let's keep growing.

Email: nick@nickmanndesigner.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manndesigner/Website: The UXGrowth.com

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