Dive Club 🤿

Ellis Hamburger, a talented storyteller and writer with a background at The Verge and Snapchat, shares invaluable insights on crafting compelling narratives for startups. He delves into the art of storytelling, outlining how to create a narrative that resonates with audiences. Listeners will discover effective copywriting strategies, lessons from Snapchat's language team, and tips for making product onboarding unforgettable. Ellis also emphasizes the power of simplicity in app design and the importance of connecting authentically with users.

Delve into the fascinating challenges of designing AI products, where user control must meet simplicity. Discover UI controls like creativity sliders that let users engage creatively with AI outputs. Explore the evolving nature of AI interaction patterns and the importance of innovative user experience. Plus, hear about exciting design tools like Visual Electric and Jitter that enhance creativity. Finally, navigate the intricate balance of intuitive design in AI-driven creative fields, ensuring technology complements user experience.

Alejandro Matamala Ortiz, Co-founder and Chief Design Officer at Runway, shares insights from the forefront of AI-driven design, particularly in filmmaking. He discusses how AI is reshaping product development and blurring traditional roles, emphasizing collaborative environments for innovation. Alejandro highlights the importance of incremental progress in developing AI video tools and the need for curiosity in design. He envisions a future where AI democratizes storytelling, empowering diverse voices and redefining creative processes.

Most designers fall into the same trap when presenting their ideas.So this ~5 min episode breaks down how to pitch your designs like a pro.Chris AbadGabe Valdivia

Christophe Tauziet, Head of Design at Plaid, dives into building a craft-oriented culture within design teams. He shares essential strategies for fostering collaboration and effective feedback loops. Learn how structured reviews and polish sessions can elevate design quality. Christophe emphasizes the importance of understanding user challenges and the iterative nature of design. He also discusses his evolving criteria for selecting design candidates, highlighting curiosity and emotional investment as key traits.

This discussion delves into the vital art of communicating design ideas effectively. It highlights how storytelling and engaging presentations can create a compelling narrative around concepts. Listeners will gain insights from stories of early Facebook, Webflow, and Figma, demonstrating how to gather support and ensure production readiness. The evolving role of designers as content creators is also emphasized, showcasing the power of prototyping and video in winning over stakeholders.

Aashman Goghari, a Design Lead at Palantir, shares his expertise in navigating complex design challenges within a data-rich environment. He emphasizes the art of problem decomposition and discusses effective strategies for collaborating with backend engineers. Aashman delves into the significance of systems thinking, using insights from design challenges at Palantir's Foundry platform. He also explores the balance between edge cases and user-friendly pathways while empowering designers through mentorship and collaboration.

Discover innovative strategies for brand identity that treat brands as relatable personalities. Explore the importance of creativity, adaptability, and experimentation in brand development. Learn about productivity tools like Raycast Focus and Genway that help boost research and innovation. Mike and Cara share their invaluable hacks and mental models for unleashing creativity in branding.

Thiago Costa, co-founder and designer at Fey, shares his extensive expertise in refined visual techniques and beautiful user interfaces. He delves into the evolution of the Fey aesthetic, from version 1.0 to 2.0, and discusses how AI enhances user experience. Thiago draws inspiration from diverse sources, including Caravaggio's mastery of light. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, meticulous attention to detail, and the balance between aesthetics and functionality, making for an insightful conversation on the art and science of design.

In this chat, Ammaar Reshi, the Head of Design at ElevenLabs, shares insights from his viral AI experiments and creative projects. He discusses the future of voice as an interface and how he's redefining interaction patterns in AI design. Ammaar dives into the challenges of collaborating with research teams at fast-growing startups and what he looks for when hiring designers. Plus, he highlights the transformative power of AI in storytelling, especially in children's books, showcasing how technology can enhance creativity.