Justin Zalewski - Solo to Squad: How freelancing prepares you for agency life

Hey there, loyal podcast listeners. We have an update from Seth on The Product Design Podcast. Don't hesitate to reach out and share your thoughts and ideas to help shape the future of the show! Don't forget to catch up on all 56 episodes https://www.uxcabin.com/the-product-design-podcast Thanks for listening to The Product Design Podcast with Seth Coelen, CEO at UX Cabin! Where to find UX Cabin: -Twitter: https://twitter.com/uxcabin -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uxcabin/ -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uxcabin -TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uxcabin?lang=en -YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/UXCabin -dribbble: https://dribbble.com/uxcabin -Website: https://uxcabin.com -Blog: https://www.uxcabin.com/blog

In episode 56 of The Product Design Podcast, Seth Coelen interviews Niel McLean, Director of Product Design at Evolus. Niel brings his perspective of a servant leader, sharing what he has learned about leadership throughout his career. During our chat, Niel shared how he got his start in design and how mentorship had been a key to his long-term success. He discusses how to gauge if your team is burning out and how to nurture your team to ensure their long-term success. This episode will help leaders to make a more significant impact on their organization and product designers looking to grow into leadership roles. During our interview with Niel, you will learn: -Niel's non-traditional journey into design -How mentorship can impact your career -Impact of burnout and how to protect your team from it -How Niel nurtures his design team through servant leadership -How a leader can help their team member level up So happy to have you join us today! 00:00 Introduction 02:48 Niel's non-traditional journey into design 07:20 How Niel's boldness set him up for success and the lessons he learned early in his career 17:37 Mentorship: How it created the highs and lows of Niel's career 21:04 Traits and attributes Niel looks for when he is building a UX team 30:23 How Niel gauges the best team size needed on a product or initiative as a leader to take care of his team 36:55 Impact of burnout and how to handle it 40:03 How a leader can measure the success of a UX team 42:10 Leveling up a team member that is not performing the way you want them to on the team Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this video please like and subscribe so I can keep making content for you good people! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3aRBoqF6mAD1PnQwj86dX Don't forget to read our blog and sign up for reminders when new episodes will be available! https://www.uxcabin.com/podcast/niel-mclean-building-a-design-team-with-servant-leadership Make sure to follow Niel after the podcast to stay on top of what he is up to! -Twitter: https://twitter.com/oamclean -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niel.mclean/ -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oamclean/ Where to find UX Cabin: -Twitter: https://twitter.com/uxcabin -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uxcabin/ -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uxcabin -TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uxcabin?lang=en -YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/UXCabin -dribbble: https://dribbble.com/uxcabin -Website: https://uxcabin.com

In episode 55 of The Product Design Podcast, Seth Coelen interviews Adam Perlis, CEO and Founder of Academy UX, which offers UX recruitment and staffing. He has had a fascinating design journey that led him to where he is today. During our talk, Adam shares the career lows that launched him into his career highs, his unique approach to UX recruitment, and what he looks for in product design talent. Adam also gives excellent strategies for applying to different companies, regardless of how long you have been in the industry. During our interview with Adam, you will learn: -Adam's exciting career journey that led him to UX -How your mindset can change the trajectory of your career -Adam's unique approach to his recruiting business, Academy -What Adam looks for in product design talent -Strategies for applying to different types of companies -Adam's take on if now is a good time to break into the industry So happy to have you join us today! 00:00 Introduction 02:54 Adam's early creative interest and career journey into UX 06:56 How your mindset can change the trajectory of your career 13:57 Career lows that launched Adam into his career highs 20:53 Adam's unique approach to his recruiting business, Academy 28:51 How Adam gets connected to designers 30:49 What Adam looks for in product design talent 36:45 Strategies for applying to different types of companies, regardless of how long you have worked in this industry 47:38 Adam's take on if now is a good time to break into the industry or apply for a new job 53:37: The last word Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this video please like and subscribe so I can keep making content for you good people! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3aRBoqF6mAD1PnQwj86dX Don't forget to read our blog and sign up for reminders when new episodes will be available! https://www.uxcabin.com/podcast/adam-perlis-ux-recruitment-strategies-top-tips-for-designers Make sure to follow Adam after the podcast to stay on top of what he is up to! -Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdamPerlis -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adam_perlis/ -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamperlis/ -YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@academyux -Advisory Website: https://adamperlis.com/ -Academy Website: https://www.academyux.com -Blog: https://blog.academyux.com -Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0cAfSJ8X4bUtFHSRQ6okZE?si=o1BDnh7lRE6cHNMPzZ2Bnw Other mentioned links: - Building a Brand Story by Donald Miller: https://buildingastorybrand.com - Gabe Cagara: https://gabecagara.com Where to find UX Cabin: -Twitter: https://twitter.com/uxcabin -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uxcabin/ -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uxcabin -TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uxcabin?lang=en -YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/UXCabin -dribbble: https://dribbble.com/uxcabin -Website: https://uxcabin.com -Blog: https://www.uxcabin.com/blog

In episode 54 of The Product Design Podcast, Seth Coelen interviews Sheryl Cababa, Author of Closing the Loop: Systems Thinking For Designers and Chief Strategy Officer at Substantial. Her book dives into how powerful a systems thinking mindset is for designers and provides tools and frameworks to help define the systems that surround your work. During our chat, Sheryl provides us with an overview of the three concepts of systems thinking for designers, the cascading impact and barriers of systems thinking, and her take on the shortcomings of user-centered design. This episode will help you think deeper about the impact of the products you work on and understand the systems and context that can surround your design decisions. During our interview with Sheryl, you will learn: -Sheryl's journey into design -How Sheryl landed a job at Microsoft -Three concepts of systems thinking for designers -Cascading impact and barriers of systems thinking -Sheryl's take on the shortcomings of user-centered design -How to bring systems thinking to your organization So happy to have you join us today! 00:00 Introduction 02:15 How Sheryl got her start in design 05:40 Landing a job at Microsoft: how one door leads to a bigger opportunity 11:52 Three concepts of system thinking for designers 19:38 Cascading impact of systems thinking 25:16 Sheryl's take on the shortcomings of user-centered design 37:35 Highs and lows Sheryl has experienced during her career 41:54 Should you ask the user what they want in a product? 45:00 Barriers to systems thinking 48:17 How a junior designer or individual contributor can bring systems thinking to their organization Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this video please like and subscribe so I can keep making content for you good people! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3aRBoqF6mAD1PnQwj86dXA Don't forget to read our blog and sign up for reminders when new episodes will be available! http://www.uxcabin.com/podcast/sheryl-cababa-systems-thinking-for-designers Make sure to follow Sheryl after the podcast to stay on top of what she is up to! -Twitter: https://twitter.com/SherylCababa -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherylcababa/ -Blog Website: https://medium.com/@SherylCababa -Closing the Loop: Systems Thinking for Designers: https://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/systems-thinking-for-designers/ --- Coupon code: cababa-pdp Where to find UX Cabin: -Twitter: https://twitter.com/uxcabin -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uxcabin/ -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uxcabin -TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uxcabin?lang=en -YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/UXCabin -dribbble: https://dribbble.com/uxcabin -Website: https://uxcabin.com

In episode 53 of The Product Design Podcast, Seth Coelen interviews Mimi Nishiguchi, Senior Product Designer, and YouTube Content Creator. You have probably seen her YouTube channel, where she shares videos on all things UX, including topics like boot camps, a day in the life of a UX Designer, and her couch confessions related to her experience switching to a career in UX. During our chat, Mimi shares her take on boot camps, tips on switching to a UX career, advice on getting an initial interview, and talks to Seth about some of his favorite videos on her channel. This episode is full of great advice for anyone considering a switch to UX, and if you have been a fan of Mimi for a while, you will get to hear about her long-term vision for her YouTube Channel. During our interview with Mimi, you will learn: -How Mimi landed on a UX design career path -Why Mimi chose the boot camp route -Mimi's experience with DESIGNLAB: was it worth it? -Strategies for getting an initial interview and UX job in this market -How Mimi grew from her career lows 00:00 Introduction 01:46 How Mimi landed in a product design career path 04:12 Why Mimi decided to take the boot camp route 06:16 Mimi's experience with DESIGNLAB: how long it took, and did it prepare her for her first job 12:28 The most challenging time in Mimi's career and the soft skill she honed quickly during that time 17:16 Mimi's career lows that led to boosting her confidence as a UX Designer 22:26 Tips from Mimi for people looking to make the switch to UX design 23:23 A glimpse into why Mimi wanted to get her YouTube channel started 29:23 The long-term vision of Mimi's YouTube channel 31:04 Mimi's take on UX generalist versus specialist 36:33 Seth's favorite YouTube video topics from Mimi: from overcoming fears of a career change to strategies for getting a UX job in this market 43:23 Mimi's advice on getting an initial interview 45:53 Stuff that no one tells you about UX Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this video please like and subscribe so I can keep making content for you good people! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3aRBoqF6mAD1PnQwj86dX Don't forget to read our blog and sign up for reminders when new episodes will be available! www.uxcabin.com/podcast/mimi-nishiguchi-realistic-strategies-for-transitioning-to-ux-design Make sure to follow Mimi after the podcast to stay on top of what she is up to! -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mimimichigucci/ -YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@mimimichi -Interview Questions Study Guide: https://payhip.com/b/gycaW Other mentioned links: - General Assembly: https://generalassemb.ly - DESIGNLAB: https://designlab.com - Articulating Design Decisions by Tom Greever: https://amzn.to/3MTiLV6 Where to find UX Cabin: -Twitter: https://twitter.com/uxcabin -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uxcabin/ -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uxcabin -TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uxcabin?lang=en -YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/UXCabin -dribbble: https://dribbble.com/uxcabin -Website: https://uxcabin.com

In episode 52 of The Product Design Podcast, Seth Coelen interviews Nathalie Stratton, Co-founder and Head of Product Design and Engineering at Hearth. Hearth Display is a digital touchscreen for family management and productivity, made to lighten the load of organization for busy families. During our chat, Nathalie discusses her early transition from architecture to product design. Nathalie shares how she was inspired to create Hearth, the challenges she faced during the product design and launch process, and what she feels is the most valuable skill set for anyone looking to launch their product into the world. This episode is filled with great advice and learnings on bringing a product to market! During our interview with Nathalie, you will learn: -How Nathalie transitioned from architecture to product design -Red flags to look out for when looking for a new job -What inspired Nathalie to create Hearth -Challenges faced when bringing a product idea to life -Most valuable skill set to have when creating a product So happy to have you join us today! 00:00 Introduction 01:19 How Nathalie moved from architecture to product design 09:04 Getting over imposter syndrome and finding confidence during a career switch 15:19 Nathalie's career trajectory once she landed in product design 20:31 Red flags you should look out for when looking for a new job 23:14 What Nathalie wishes would have been different earlier in life 27:36 Hearth: how Nathalie was inspired to create it 32:06 How is Hearth different than app-based calendars platforms, and what problems does it solve 35:40 The challenges of building Hearth and the difference between building a physical component versus software 37:55 How people interact with Hearth and what it took to bring it to life 42:45 Most valuable skill set to bring a product from your dreams to market 45:17 Nathalie's advice for anyone wanting to build their own product Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this video please like and subscribe so I can keep making content for you good people! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3aRBoqF6mAD1PnQwj86dX Don't forget to read our blog and sign up for reminders when new episodes will be available! https://www.uxcabin.com/podcast/nathalie-stratton-mission-driven-product-design Make sure to follow Nathalie after the podcast to stay on top of what she is up to! -Twitter: https://twitter.com/nathaliemanz -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stratton.nat/ -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathalie-mansueti-stratton/ -Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hearth-display/ Other mentioned links: - Jump the line for your Hearth Display: https://hearthdisplay.com/uxcabin Where to find UX Cabin: -Twitter: https://twitter.com/uxcabin -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uxcabin/ -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uxcabin -TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uxcabin?lang=en -YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/UXCabin -dribbble: https://dribbble.com/uxcabin -Website: https://uxcabin.com

In episode 51 of The Product Design Podcast, Seth Coelen interviews Danielle Thompson, Founder of Design Match, where they connect ambitious startups with the perfect designers for their projects! During our chat, Danielle talks about how she has progressed along her career path by creating products and launching businesses. Danielle dives into how powerful the proper support can be along your product design career path and why working on your emotional intelligence will set you up for long-term success. She also shares how she came up with the idea for Design Match and how she found quick success with this product. If you are looking to get work as a Product Designer, Design Match may be for you! This episode is filled with fantastic advice for all designers, regardless of how long they have been in the game. During our interview with Danielle, you will learn: -How Danielle found her product design career path -Danielle's approach to advancing her product design career -The Power of Support: Advice for Pursuing Product Design -How emotional intelligence became Danielle's superpower -Who Design Match helps and how to get involved So happy to have you join us today! 00:00 Introduction 01:35 How Danielle found her way into product design 11:23 When Danielle dove headfirst dive into product design and business 18:16 What Danielle has learned on her product design journey 25:59 Danielle's advice on pursuing a career in product design 27:40 How to use coaching, mindfulness and emotional intelligence to succeed in your career 37:42 What is Design Match, and what inspired Danielle to start build this business as an entrepreneur 43:30 Who does Design Match typically help, and how do they find the right designers for projects 47:45 How Design Match makes their successful matches 50:37 Design Match future vision and journey ahead 52:23 The final word with Danielle Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this video please like and subscribe so I can keep making content for you good people! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3aRBoqF6mAD1PnQwj86dX Don't forget to read our blog and sign up for reminders when new episodes will be available! https://www.uxcabin.com/podcast/danielle-thompson Make sure to follow Danielle after the podcast to stay on top of what she is up to! -Twitter: https://twitter.com/danielletdesign -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielletom/ -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellecthompson/ -Website: https://www.designmatch.io -Blog: https://www.designmatch.io/blog/ Where to find UX Cabin: -Twitter: https://twitter.com/uxcabin -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uxcabin/ -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uxcabin -TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uxcabin?lang=en -YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/UXCabin -dribbble: https://dribbble.com/uxcabin -Website: https://uxcabin.com

In episode 50 of The Product Design Podcast, Seth Coelen interviews Bryan Zmijewski, Chief Instigator at ZURB, where Helio was created and a product design company that has been in business since 1998. During our chat, Bryan shares how ZURB was created and his approach to running a business for 25 years. Bryan gives his point of view on what it takes to be a successful business owner for several years, how he builds trust with his clients and team, and the steps he takes to gain clarity so he can lead the direction of a project effectively. This episode is filled with tips and tricks for anyone already running a business or those who want to get started and would like to understand more of what goes into running a business in our industry! During our interview with Bryan, you will learn: -What inspired Bryan to launch and build his company 25 years ago -Embracing the Flames: What It Takes to be a Successful Business Owner -Mistakes companies make when choosing their design partner -How to build trust with clients and team -How to lead the direction and find clarity during a project So happy to have you join us today! 00:00 Introduction 03:39 How Bryan found the desire to start ZURB 05:42 An early failure that helped Bryan understand the importance of building trust with people to make great things 10:13 Bryan's take on running his business for 25 years his favorite thing about being a Founder 14:37 Advice on finding long-term success and the golden egg of getting and maintaining clients 21:44 Bryan's favorite projects he has worked on with ZURB 30:33 Biggest mistakes companies make when they are looking for their design partner 36:04 The feedback loop: how to lead the direction with a client to find clarity during a project 48:26 How to best support your clients to create long-term relationships built on trust 52:22 The final word with Bryan Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this video please like and subscribe so I can keep making content for you good people! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3aRBoqF6mAD1PnQwj86dXA Don't forget to read our blog and sign up for reminders when new episodes will be available! www.uxcabin.com/podcast/bryan-zmijewski Make sure to follow Bryan after the podcast to stay on top of what he is up to! -Twitter: https://twitter.com/bryanzmijewski -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanzmijewski/ -Product Website: https://helio.app -Company Website: https://zurb.com Additional Links: -Peter Drucker: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Drucker Where to find UX Cabin: -Twitter: https://twitter.com/uxcabin -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uxcabin/ -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uxcabin -TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uxcabin?lang=en -YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/UXCabin -dribbble: https://dribbble.com/uxcabin -Website: https://uxcabin.com

In episode 49 of The Product Design Podcast, Seth Coelen interviews Shruti Goli, Co-Founder & Co-CEO at Trymata, where you can build digital experiences users love with their usability testing and product analytics solutions (formerly TryMyUI.) During our chat, Shruti shares her journey into tech and her inspiring take on how failure can propel you forward along your career path. She gives advice on what she learned while landing an internship at Microsoft (on her second attempt) and failing five times before making her breakthrough product. This episode is packed with the tips and tricks you need if you are just starting in product design or are ready to create and launch your own product now! During our interview with Shruti, you will learn: -When Shruti decided that starting her own company was the best route for her -Advice on landing an internship at a company like Microsoft -How Shruti failed five times before her breakthrough product -Shruti's advice on building your own product and starting your business -How to find out if your product idea is worth pursuing So happy to have you join us today! 00:00 Introduction 02:06 Why Shruti knew tech was the path for her from an early age 06:18 When Shruti decided that starting her own company was the best route for her 08:34 Advice on landing an internship at a company like Microsoft 15:01 How Shruti failed five times before her breakthrough product 23:06 What differentiates Trymata from other product analytics tools 25:36 Shruti's advice on building your own product and starting your business 36:05 How to find out if your product idea is worth pursuing 43:40 The highs and lows of creating your own product 48:41 Shruti's final word Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this video please like and subscribe so I can keep making content for you good people! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3aRBoqF6mAD1PnQwj86dX Don't forget to read our blog and sign up for reminders when new episodes will be available! https://www.uxcabin.com/podcast/shruti-goli Make sure to follow Shruti after the podcast to stay on top of what she is up to! -Twitter: https://twitter.com/shrutigoli -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shrutigoli/?hl=en -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shruti-goli-678b0299/ -YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC5Wn8H3Wgtxp_fXxoDGBtw -Website: https://trymata.com Other mentioned links: - Interview Kickstart: https://www.interviewkickstart.com - Payal Kadakia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/payalkadakia/ Where to find UX Cabin: -Twitter: https://twitter.com/uxcabin -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uxcabin/ -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uxcabin -TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uxcabin?lang=en -YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/UXCabin -dribbble: https://dribbble.com/uxcabin -Website: https://uxcabin.com

In episode 48 of The Product Design Podcast, Seth Coelen interviews Brent Palmer, Product Design Manager at Mixpanel, a leading product analytics software company. During our chat, Brent shares how his career path led him into product design leadership and how he knew that was the right path for him. He advises where he has found success in managing a large design team and nurturing culture at scale while helping his team do their best work and flourish in their career paths. This episode is packed with advice for product designers at any stage of their career path, whether you are a junior looking to grow into a manager or a senior leader looking to improve your management style. During our interview with Brent, you will learn: -What early interests started Brent's journey into product design -How Brent found his niche in leadership -How to get the best out of your team and help them flourish -Mixpanel: How Brent knew it would be the right fit for him -How to manage a large design team and nurture culture at scale So happy to have you join us today! 00:00 Introduction 01:43 Brent Palmer's journey into product design 06:40 Advice on how to land your first gig 10:17 How Brent found his niche in leadership 12:04 Career highs and lows during Brent's journey 17:13 Did Brent ever wonder if management was really for him? 21:39 How Brent helps his team to do their best work and flourish 26:13 When to know if a team member is not going to give the team what they need 30:08 Mixpanel: How Brent knew it would be the right fit for him 32:46 How to lead a design team at a large, design-first company 41:14 Brent's guide to becoming a good manager 45:39 What Brent looks for in potential new team members 47:39 How to manage a large design team and nurture culture at scale Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed this video please like and subscribe so I can keep making content for you good people! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3aRBoqF6mAD1PnQwj86dX Don't forget to read our blog and sign up for reminders when new episodes will be available! www.uxcabin.com/podcast/brent-palmer Make sure to follow Brent after the podcast to stay on top of what he is up to! -Twitter: https://twitter.com/brentpalmer -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brentpalmerdesign/ -Portfolio: https://www.brentpalmer.co/ -Blog: https://ic2mgmt.substack.com Other mentioned links: - ADP List: https://adplist.org - The Culture Map by Erin Meyer: https://erinmeyer.com/books/the-culture-map Where to find UX Cabin: -Twitter: https://twitter.com/uxcabin -Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/uxcabin/ -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uxcabin -TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uxcabin?lang=en -YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/UXCabin -dribbble: https://dribbble.com/uxcabin Website: https://uxcabin.com