Complementary
Anthony Hobday, Katie Langerman
A podcast about the principles and practices of interface design.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 7, 2025 • 49min
71: The materials interfaces are made of
Sometimes interfaces mimic physical materials like paper or metal. Anthony and Katie discuss why this might be, what kinds of materials seem most common and how this has shifted over time.Hosts:Anthony Hobday, Generalist Product Designer: https://twitter.com/hobdaydesignKatie Langerman, Design Technologist: https://twitter.com/KatieLangerman
Nov 23, 2025 • 48min
70: Things that are easy vs. hard to design
Anthony and Katie compare things that feel easy to design vs. hard.Hosts:Anthony Hobday, Generalist Product Designer: https://twitter.com/hobdaydesignKatie Langerman, Systems Designer: https://twitter.com/KatieLangerman
Nov 9, 2025 • 49min
69: Practical Uses of AI for Designers
Explore how AI can enhance design practices without coding! Hosts discuss the hype around AI and its realistic applications in design. Learn about using AI for generating short copy, suggesting ideation strategies, and synthesizing user feedback. They also debate the tradeoffs between setup efforts and future efficiencies. Discover the limitations of current AI tools for designers and why the focus is more on text than visuals. Join in on the conversation about making design more efficient and the future landscape of design workflows!
5 snips
Oct 26, 2025 • 54min
68: Interface Design Assets (typefaces, imagery, icons)
Discover the intriguing world of design assets, where the blurry lines between creating and sourcing come into play. Uncover practical strategies for selecting typefaces and colors, and learn about the impact of various component libraries. Explore debates on stock photography versus custom shoots, and dive into the role of AI in illustration. Plus, find out how sound can enhance interface design. It's a captivating journey through the essentials of modern design!
Oct 12, 2025 • 1h 5min
67: Vector vs. Code Based Design Tooling with Andreas Møller
Anthony and Katie are joined by Andreas Møller, co-founder of Nordcraft. Nordcraft aims to bring design and development closer together, and as you can imagine Andreas has a unique perspective on design tools. What happens to "hand-off" when designers can get their ideas 90% there?Find Andreas on BlueskyHosts:Anthony Hobday, Generalist Product Designer: https://twitter.com/hobdaydesignKatie Langerman, Systems Designer: https://twitter.com/KatieLangerman
Sep 28, 2025 • 1h 16min
66: Interface Design Then & Now with Microsoft's First Interface Designer Virginia Howlett
Anthony and Katie are joined by Virginia Howlett, author of Visual Interface Design for Windows and one of the first interface designers at Microsoft. Virginia is also an artist, and her paintings can be found on her website https://www.virginiahowlett.com/. We discuss what it was like being a designer 30 years ago (spoiler: some things haven't changed!), the connection between graphic design and interface design, and what it was like pioneering design decisions that we take for granted today.Hosts:Anthony Hobday, Generalist Product Designer: https://twitter.com/hobdaydesignKatie Langerman, Systems Designer: https://twitter.com/KatieLangerman
Aug 31, 2025 • 1h 13min
65: Listener Q&A
Anthony and Katie answer a few listener questions.Questions asked: https://x.com/hobdaydesign/status/1961014039368110395Hosts:Anthony Hobday, Generalist Product Designer: https://twitter.com/hobdaydesignKatie Langerman, Systems Designer: https://twitter.com/KatieLangerman
Aug 17, 2025 • 48min
64: Big vs Small Software
Anthony and Katie attempt to define big vs. small software, and then compare the two.Hosts:Anthony Hobday, Generalist Product Designer: https://twitter.com/hobdaydesignKatie Langerman, Systems Designer: https://twitter.com/KatieLangerman
Aug 3, 2025 • 1h 11min
63: Being Intentional About Quality with Lance Willett
In this engaging conversation, Lance Willett, the Chief Quality Officer at Automattic, shares his journey from web designer to quality leader. He dives into the complexities of measuring quality in distributed teams and the importance of fostering a positive feedback culture. Willett emphasizes the balance between craft and care in product development, while discussing innovative practices that enhance collaboration between QA and engineering teams. He also highlights strategies for cultivating a culture of quality that empowers team members and values trust.
Jul 20, 2025 • 53min
62: MacOS Through the Ages
Anthony and Katie discuss the elements of previous MacOS versions that stand out most.Inspired by: https://aresluna.org/frame-of-preferenceHosts:Anthony Hobday, Generalist Product Designer: https://twitter.com/hobdaydesignKatie Langerman, Systems Designer: https://twitter.com/KatieLangerman
