
Complementary
A podcast about the principles and practices of interface design.
Latest episodes

Jun 2, 2025 • 37min
59: Material 3 Expressive
Anthony and Katie chat about Material 3 Expressive.Hosts:Anthony Hobday, Generalist Product Designer: https://twitter.com/hobdaydesignKatie Langerman, Systems Designer: https://twitter.com/KatieLangerman

May 18, 2025 • 50min
58: Thoughts on Config 2025
Anthony and Katie share humorous anecdotes about regional accents and the tech world. They discuss the evolving meaning of 'Config' and the challenges of freelance design. The impact of AI on design roles raises concerns about diminishing focus on visual content at conferences. Their reflections on the recent conference emphasize the balance between preparation and engagement. Insights into Figma's new features highlight their effects on usability, while the duo explores the accessibility of code generated by design tools. They also touch on the value of conferences for emerging speakers.

May 4, 2025 • 44min
57: The Gap Between Design and Execution with Alex Krasikov
In this engaging discussion, design engineer Alex Krasikov shares insights on bridging the gap between design intent and execution. He emphasizes the importance of early collaboration between designers and developers to enhance product quality. Alex delves into the nuances of design systems for websites versus applications, exploring how structured approaches can simplify the process. He also highlights the balance between aesthetic design elements and execution efficiency, addressing the evolving role of AI in design and the pressures on designers to embrace coding skills.

Apr 20, 2025 • 52min
56: Navigation
Anthony and Katie discuss navigation patterns.Hosts:Anthony Hobday, Generalist Product Designer: https://twitter.com/hobdaydesignKatie Langerman, Systems Designer: https://twitter.com/KatieLangerman

Apr 6, 2025 • 41min
55: Design is Decision Making
The hosts delve into the art of decision-making in design, emphasizing how choices shape creativity. They discuss the balance of options within design systems, tackling decision fatigue and the need for clear guidelines. The evolution of interface design is explored, revealing how standardization impacts individual creativity. Finally, they illuminate the powerful connection between design and storytelling, showcasing its effects on decision-making and product success, all while sharing a light-hearted take on their podcasting journey.

Mar 16, 2025 • 45min
54: Design vs. Development
Dive into the compelling world of design and development as hosts explore their distinct challenges and collaborative dynamics. Discover how coding can enhance design skills while encountering the realities of environment setup and manual intervention in troubleshooting. The conversation sheds light on the differing workflows and the important need for empathy in fostering collaboration. With a humorous take, they discuss the risks of using design tools and their shared frustrations in the creative process.

Mar 2, 2025 • 1h 5min
53: Deep Dive on the Conceptual Model Layer with Jamie Mill
Jamie Mill, a Paris-based product designer from the UK, shares insights on the intricacies of product design. He discusses the significance of conceptual models that underpin user interactions and how these influence design decisions. Jamie delves into the complexities of e-commerce marketing analytics, explaining the nuances of measuring success through concepts like Return on Ad Spend. He also explores the evolving nature of Agile methodologies and the impact of science fiction on AI development, highlighting its ethical implications in real-world applications.

Feb 16, 2025 • 41min
52: Visual Design Techniques We Love
In a lighthearted celebration of design and creativity, the hosts share their top visual design techniques. They discuss enhancing icons with colorful backgrounds and focus outlines for better user experience. Unique cursor designs are explored, showcasing how they can boost engagement. The importance of structure in web design is emphasized with examples of effective layouts. They also dive into innovative color transitions and 'chonky' design choices that enhance visibility. Throughout, they humorously reflect on their own design challenges.

Feb 2, 2025 • 42min
51: Thoughts on the book Do Design: Why beauty is the key to everything by Alan Moore
The hosts dive into the compelling ideas from Alan Moore's book, discussing the critical role of beauty in design. They reflect on how beauty impacts creativity and collaboration, often under pressure. Curiosity emerges as a key driver in design innovation, promoting meaningful interactions. The importance of mentorship and bravely asking questions is also highlighted, revealing how these elements foster growth and engagement. Ultimately, they emphasize that true design beauty goes beyond aesthetics, rooted in thoughtful processes and genuine connections.

Jan 19, 2025 • 54min
50: Starting from Scratch vs. Improving Existing Design
Anthony and Katie discuss what it takes to start designing something from scratch compared to working on an existing product, and the upsides/downsides of both.
Hosts:
Anthony Hobday, Generalist Product Designer: https://twitter.com/hobdaydesign
Katie Langerman, Systems Designer: https://twitter.com/KatieLangerman