Best Jake Burdess Podcasts (2025)

1
DD0023 - Design After AI: How to Stay Irreplaceable by 2030 8:36

1d ago8:36

8:36

AI is rapidly swallowing up the repetitive parts of design work—wireframes, layout tweaks, content variants. So where does that leave you as a designer? In this solo episode, Jake breaks down what design after AI really looks like, why pixel-pushing is no longer enough, and how to shift toward high-value roles like orchestration, systems thinking, …

1
DD0022 - Design at a Crossroads: Thriving in the 2025 AI Revolution 8:45

9d ago8:45

8:45

Design is at a pivotal crossroads in 2025. AI is dramatically reshaping our tools, redefining our roles, and transforming our industry. In this deeply reflective and extensive episode, I'll explore in detail how designers can not only survive, but genuinely thrive, in the era of AI. We'll discuss preserving the essence of craft, cultivating critica…

1
DD0021 - Why Great Design Leadership Starts with Systems, Not Just Taste 7:08

16d ago7:08

7:08

In this episode, I explore a big shift in how I think about design leadership. It's not just about having great taste or a strong creative vision. Those things matter, but they don't scale. What does? Building systems. Systems that help your team make great decisions, move with clarity, and carry your standards forward without you having to be invo…

1
DD0020 - A Chat with Matt Turnbull from Vocal 1:29:51

23d ago1:29:51

1:29:51

In this episode of Design Different, I talk with Matt Turnbull. A thoughtful product designer and former freelance colleague, Matt and I chat about about navigating change in the creative world. We explore the shifting landscape of design careers, the impact of AI on creative practice, and how to stay intentional about the work we say yes to. From …

1
DD0019 - Why Your Creative Freedom Depends on Having a System 7:41

29d ago7:41

7:41

In this episode, we unravel one of the biggest myths in design: that creativity means total freedom. Drawing on lessons from traditional graphic design, UX strategy, and two decades of real-world practice, we explore why structure, systems, and constraints are actually what unlock your best work. This is a must-listen for anyone stuck in the chaos …

1
DD0018 - Decision Logic: The Missing Layer in Your Design System 6:05

1M ago6:05

6:05

In this episode, we dig into a problem no one talks about enough: the lack of decision clarity in modern design teams. It’s not that we don’t collaborate. It’s that no one knows who’s making the final call. From rigid systems to endless feedback loops, we explore why design systems break, and how to fix them with decision logic, creative leadership…

1
DD0017 - From Motion to Meaning: Building Momentum in a World Obsessed with Speed 4:31

1M ago4:31

4:31

Speed looks productive. It flatters the roadmap. It makes teams feel like they’re moving. But what if all that motion isn’t getting you anywhere? In this episode, Jake unpacks the critical difference between speed and momentum in design. You’ll hear why fast workflows—especially when powered by AI—can create the illusion of progress while burying c…

1
DD0016 - Design ROI: Turning Pixels into Profits 6:23

2M ago6:23

6:23

Design can be the strongest growth lever in your business—if you know how to prove it. In this episode Jake breaks down the concrete framework he uses with founders to translate pixels into profit. You will learn the three lenses of design ROI, the exact metrics that convince finance, real case studies that moved seven-figure numbers, and a step-by…

1
DD0015 - Design Systems That Breathe: How to Keep Yours Alive 7:53

2M ago7:53

7:53

Most design systems launch in a blaze of excitement, then fade into cluttered folders and copy-pasted code. In this episode of Design Different I explain why that slow decay happens, how to run a design system as a living product, and what founders, designers, and developers can do to keep it breathing. Expect practical tactics, real-world stories,…

1
DD0014 - Start Less. Finish More. 5:05

2M ago5:05

5:05

Designers are brilliant at starting things, but finishing? That’s where everything stalls. In this episode, Jake unpacks why so many creative projects die unfinished, and what indie hackers get right about momentum, mindset, and leverage. If you’ve ever felt stuck in loops of perfectionism or struggled to ship your own work, this one’s for you. Lea…

1
DD0013 - Your Work Is Good. Your Message Isn’t Clear. 7:19

2M ago7:19

7:19

Why do great designers struggle to sell themselves, and why do polished brands fall apart the moment they go online? In this episode, we explore the deeper systems failure at the heart of both problems. Whether you’re a founder watching your brand unravel in the wild, or a designer whose work isn’t landing with clients, this episode is your wake-up…

1
DD0012 - From Chaos to Clarity: Why Systems Make Creative Work Better, Not Worse 7:37

3M ago7:37

7:37

Creative work often feels chaotic, and design systems often get mistaken for rigid templates. In this episode, we explore what’s really behind the friction, and how the right systems can transform not just your workflow but your entire creative experience. For designers, founders, and anyone building something meaningful: this one’s for you. Read m…

1
DD0011 - Design as Leadership: Why Thinking Like a Designer Changes Everything 9:18

3M ago9:18

9:18

Design isn’t about visuals, and strategy isn’t a deliverable. In this special episode, we explore how thinking like a designer and making strategy a core leadership practice helps founders, creative leaders, and teams create clarity, alignment, and stronger outcomes. From common misconceptions to practical shifts in mindset, this is how design thin…

1
DD0010 - Clarity and Consequence: What Makes Design Actually Work 7:57

3M ago7:57

7:57

Design isn't just about how something looks — it's about what it enables. In this episode, we unpack why clarity is the most undervalued skill in modern design and explore how real design impact is measured in outcomes, not visuals. If you've ever questioned whether your work is actually working, this one's for you. Read more: https://www.jakeburde…

1
DD0009 - Good Designers Think in Screens. Great Ones Think in Sequences. 5:59

3M ago5:59

5:59

Most designers focus on the screen in front of them. Great designers focus on the flow between them. In this episode, we unpack why designing in sequences — not just snapshots — separates real experience design from surface-level work. And I’ll share a moment from my own career where I learned that lesson the hard way. Read more: https://www.jakebu…

1
DD0008 - Why You Don’t Need to Be Original to Be Successful in Design 7:47

4M ago7:47

7:47

There’s a persistent myth in the design industry that success depends on being relentlessly original. In this episode, we challenge that belief and explore why the most successful designers are often the most consistent — not the most inventive. This is a conversation about creative maturity, structure, and building a career that’s sustainable, not…

1
DD0007 - Designing for Human Habits (Not Just Usability) 7:54

4M ago7:54

7:54

Usability makes something easy to use. But habit is what brings people back. In this episode, we go beyond clicks and clean UI to explore how designers can align with real human behaviour. Learn how to build meaningful, repeatable experiences that become part of people’s lives. Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/designing-for-human-habits/ Send…

1
DD0006 - How to Build Your First Design System (Even if You’re Solo) 7:25

4M ago7:25

7:25

Design systems aren’t just for big teams. In this episode, we break down how solo designers can build lightweight, practical systems that save time, reduce errors, and bring structure to their work. If you’re tired of reinventing the wheel on every project, this one’s for you. Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/build-your-first-design-system/ S…

1
DD0005 - The Portfolio Isn’t Dead, But It’s Not What Gets You Hired 6:59

4M ago6:59

6:59

Most designers think their portfolio is their golden ticket to landing clients or getting hired. But what if that’s not entirely true? In this episode, we discuss why your portfolio alone isn’t enough, what clients and hiring managers really look for, and how to use your portfolio as a powerful tool for building trust, not just showcasing visuals. …

1
DD0004 - Why Templates Don’t Make You Generic 7:08

4M ago7:08

7:08

If you’ve ever hesitated about using templates, worrying they make your work less original or less creative, this episode is for you. We’re diving into why professional designers rely on templates as powerful strategic tools, not creative shortcuts, and how templates actually help you produce better, more impactful work at scale. Check out www.dqod…

1
DD0003 - You Don’t Need More Clients. You Need a Clear Offer. 6:23

5M ago6:23

6:23

Most designers think they have a client problem. In reality, they often have a clarity problem. In this episode, I talk about why more leads won’t fix a vague offer, how to structure what you do so people actually understand it, and why specificity is the foundation for a sustainable, independent design practice. If your pipeline feels unpredictabl…

1
DD0002 - The Industry Doesn’t Value You, and That Might Be a Good Thing 6:29

5M ago6:29

6:29

The design industry undervalues even its best talent. That might sound grim, but it’s also your biggest opportunity, if you know how to use it. Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/why-the-design-industry-doesnt-value-you/ Send Jake a text message Support the showBy Jake Burdess

1
DD0001 - The Lie of Security in Design Jobs: Why You’re Not as Safe as You Think 7:53

5M ago7:53

7:53

Why design careers feel less stable than ever — and how independent thinking is becoming the new security. Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/the-lie-of-security-in-design-jobs/ Send Jake a text message Support the showBy Jake Burdess

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Jake Burdess Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Design Different

Jake Burdess

1
DD0023 - Design After AI: How to Stay Irreplaceable by 2030 8:36

1
DD0022 - Design at a Crossroads: Thriving in the 2025 AI Revolution 8:45

1
DD0021 - Why Great Design Leadership Starts with Systems, Not Just Taste 7:08

1
DD0020 - A Chat with Matt Turnbull from Vocal 1:29:51

1
DD0019 - Why Your Creative Freedom Depends on Having a System 7:41

1
DD0018 - Decision Logic: The Missing Layer in Your Design System 6:05

1
DD0017 - From Motion to Meaning: Building Momentum in a World Obsessed with Speed 4:31

1
DD0016 - Design ROI: Turning Pixels into Profits 6:23

1
DD0015 - Design Systems That Breathe: How to Keep Yours Alive 7:53

1
DD0014 - Start Less. Finish More. 5:05

1
DD0013 - Your Work Is Good. Your Message Isn’t Clear. 7:19

1
DD0012 - From Chaos to Clarity: Why Systems Make Creative Work Better, Not Worse 7:37

1
DD0011 - Design as Leadership: Why Thinking Like a Designer Changes Everything 9:18

1
DD0010 - Clarity and Consequence: What Makes Design Actually Work 7:57

1
DD0009 - Good Designers Think in Screens. Great Ones Think in Sequences. 5:59

1
DD0008 - Why You Don’t Need to Be Original to Be Successful in Design 7:47

1
DD0007 - Designing for Human Habits (Not Just Usability) 7:54

1
DD0006 - How to Build Your First Design System (Even if You’re Solo) 7:25

1
DD0005 - The Portfolio Isn’t Dead, But It’s Not What Gets You Hired 6:59

1
DD0004 - Why Templates Don’t Make You Generic 7:08

1
DD0003 - You Don’t Need More Clients. You Need a Clear Offer. 6:23

1
DD0002 - The Industry Doesn’t Value You, and That Might Be a Good Thing 6:29

1
DD0001 - The Lie of Security in Design Jobs: Why You’re Not as Safe as You Think 7:53

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