The DesignOps Aligned - Podcast Show is a podcast dedicated to empowering design teams to work smarter, not harder. Focusing on the intersection of design and business, we bring you proven processes to grow any design team and deliver real value—both creatively and strategically. Whether you’re a design leader or part of an expanding creative team, our episodes offer practical insights into optimizing workflows, boosting ROI, and staying ahead of industry trends. Join us as we dive deep into ...
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A podcast from zeroheight. Let’s be honest, design systems are full of choice wtf moments. Michelle and Luke, two of our resident design advocates, are attempting to combat this with a new regular series, where they answer a single question around design system troubles every two weeks.
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The podcast from zeroheight, where we talk to the best folks in DesignOps from around the world to help you build the best darn DesignOps practice you possibly can. Hosted by Luke Murphy, design advocate at zeroheight, each episode focuses on a specific part of the DesignOps pie, gaining insight from both established DesignOps practitioners, as well as up and coming DesignOps voices.
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A new podcast where Kevin Muldoon and guests wrangle with the big common problems that design systems face. Every episode, they’ll hogtie a challenge, give it a good once over, and share the best techniques they’ve found to conquer them, from dealing with inconsistency to naming to white-label systems.
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Wondering what’s involved in making a successful design system? So is Nef, the newest member of zeroheight’s marketing team. In this podcast, Nef is joined by one of zeroheight’s trustiest Design Advocates, Michelle Chin, to get their questions answered about everything related to the big world of design systems. If you’re eager to make the bestest design system ever, you’ve found the perfect place!
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Design system consultants Amy Hupe and Geri Reid are going back to design systems school. In this series, Amy and Geri put aside their vocal and opinionated assumptions to dive deep on design systems topics; from Figma libraries to design tokens to deciding if AI can really write decent documentation. Climb aboard the school bus for a field trip on the history, the conversations and the foundations that really makes a design system great.It’s time to crack open the textbooks and head back to ...
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Industry experts discussing design and product strategy. Hear from leaders how they are solving the right problems and building products and features that matter most.
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Wrangle a disjointed design process, bring order out of chaos, and cultivate a more simple way of working. Host John Barrier Wilson provides DesignOps tips for individual designers and design teams alike. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/operate/support
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If you think Alvar Aalto, Iittala and Marimekko are what Finnish design is about, you’re mistaken. Hosts Elina Korpela and Maya Pillai, designers at Houston Inc., have taken it upon themselves to tell you that there is more on offer. They talk to the designers and developers behind some of the most exciting digital products and trends coming out of Finland. And give you a glimpse of what’s beyond this pixel pushing life. Nudging Pixels is an original podcast by Houston Inc. New episodes are ...
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The Cha Cha Club is a members' club for full-time ResearchOps professionals. Every year, we partner with amazing companies to help Club members share their expertise and advance the field of ResearchOps. This time, we partnered with Great Question, the all-in-one UX research platform, to produce a limited-edition, six-part podcast series that tackles the great questions facing ResearchOps professionals today. Every episode features a panel of Club members discussing a great ResearchOps quest ...
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“The New Landscape of Design” – Thomas Wilson
1:05:31
1:05:31
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1:05:31“The New Landscape of Design” – Act 02 – Scene 33 – Thomas Wilson In this episode, Naresh Shan and Thomas discuss the evolving landscape of UX design, emphasising the shift from traditional UI roles to strategic positions within organisations. They explore the impact of AI on design, the importance of understanding business fundamentals, and the ne…
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Inspired by Luke's article on the death of design systems, Michelle and Luke dive into whether design systems have a future... are we at a natural point of evolution or are design systems going to go the way of the dinosaurs?By zeroheight
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“Unlocking the Value of Conferences” – Damian Martone
43:29
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43:29“Unlocking the Value of Conferences” – Act 02 – Scene 32 – Damian Martone Leadership Ateliers Training for upcoming design leaders with multiple workshops and masterclasses in Lisbon (April 23-24), Barcelona (May 5-6) and Berlin (May 21-22). Get €100 off using the code DESIGNOPSALIGNED Website: https://www.leadershipateliers.com Hatch Conference 3-…
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“Balancing Creativity and Business in Design” - Alexander Christian
58:39
58:39
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58:39“Balancing Creativity and Business in Design” - Act 02 - Scene 31 – Alexander Christian In this conversation, Naresh Shan interviews Alex, a seasoned UX leader, about his journey in the design industry, the evolution of design practices, and the challenges faced by junior designers today. Alex shares insights on the balance between creativity and p…
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How big is too big? Is there a point where your design system just becomes unwieldy? Luke and Michelle dive into this question from a previous episode, and try and figure out how you keep your design system to a manageable size. Or is that just a nice problem to have, and we should embracing our systems to grow to the size they need to be?…
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"Career Strategy Lab: A New Approach to UX Education" – Sarah Doody
56:23
56:23
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56:23“Career Strategy Lab: A New Approach to UX Education” - Act 01 - Scene 30 – Sarah Doody In this conversation, Naresh Shan and Sarah Doody discuss the evolution of UX design, the challenges faced by job seekers in the current market, and the importance of effective communication and portfolio presentation. Sarah shares insights from her experience r…
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Detach instance is a concept that has stuck fear into the hearts of design systems folks since the beginning. However, there are definitely instances where it’s totally ok to snowflake components! How should you deal with snowflakes in your system? How does this play into your overall view on flexibility, and can you actually use snowflakes as a wa…
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"Navigating the Job Market: Insights from Experts" - Nina & Javier
1:23:27
1:23:27
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1:23:27“Navigating the Job Market: Insights from Experts” - Act 01 - Scene 29 – Nina & Javier In this episode, Javier Bargas and Nina Weber to discuss the current state of the job market, particularly in the UX design field. They explore the challenges job seekers face, including ghosting in applications, the importance of tailoring resumes, and the impac…
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“Why Design Language Matters” - Ben Callahan
57:54
57:54
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57:54“Why Design Language Matters” - Act 01 - Scene 28 – Ben Callahan In this episode of the DesignOps Aligned podcast, Naresh Shan interviews Ben Callahan, a prominent figure in the design systems space. They discuss the evolution of responsive design, the importance of accessibility, and the shift towards adaptive design. Ben shares insights on the ro…
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“Designing the Future: The Truth About UX” - Felix Lee
36:09
36:09
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36:09“Designing the Future: The Truth About UX” - Act 01 - Scene 27 – Felix Lee In this engaging conversation, Naresh Shan and Felix Lee explore the intricacies of mentorship in the design industry, the impact of social media on perceptions of UX/UI, and the evolving role of AI in design. They discuss the essential qualities of a good mentor, the import…
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“Overcoming Fear in Career Changes Mastering Storytelling in UX Design” – Ricardo Brito
47:48
47:48
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47:48“Overcoming Fear in Career Changes Mastering Storytelling in UX Design” - Act 01 - Scene 26 – Ricardo Brito In this engaging conversation, Naresh Shan and Ricardo Brito explore the complexities of career transitions, the importance of storytelling in personal reinvention, and the impact of trauma on professional dynamics. Ricardo shares his journey…
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"From Curiosity to Clarity: Nikki’s Growth in User Research” - Nikki Anderson
52:36
52:36
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52:36"From Curiosity to Clarity: Nikki’s Growth in User Research” - Act 01 - Scene 25 – Nikki Anderson In this engaging conversation, Nikki shares her journey as a user researcher, emphasizing the field's evolution over the past five years. She discusses the importance of demonstrating user research ROI, KPIs' necessity, and the shift from big reveals t…
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“Measuring the impact of Content Design” - Jeremy Dodd
45:54
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45:54“Measuring the impact of Content Design” - Act 01 - Scene 24 – Jeremy Dodd In this episode of the Design Ops Align podcast, Jeremy Dodd, a content writer at Atlassian, discusses the critical role of content design in the UX process. Topics include measuring the ROI of content writing, integrating content writers early in the design process, and met…
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Sometimes we may feel the urge to include everything in our documentation, to the point where it rivals Lord of the Rings for length and density. However, we may be doing ourselves a disservice! How much is too much documentation? How much is not enough documentation? Do we even need documentation at all? join us for the last Design Systems WTF of …
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" Navigating the Future of UX Testing” - Alejandro Rivas-Micoud
45:36
45:36
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45:36" Navigating the Future of UX Testing” - Act 01 - Scene 23 – Alejandro Rivas-Micoud Summary In this episode of DesignOps Aligned, host Naresh Shan welcomes Alejandro Rivas-Micoud, CEO of Userlytics, for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of UX research, AI, and accessibility testing. Alejandro shares his insights on how Userlytics, a global le…
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"Craft will only take you so far in this industry” - Jeremy Miller
47:41
47:41
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47:41" Craft will only take you so far in this industry” - Act 01 - Scene 22 – Jeremy Miller In this podcast episode, Jeremy Miller, a well-known UX industry figure, discusses common UX design themes. He discusses the importance of soft skills, communication, and technical skills. He also explores how UX design has evolved from a function of engineering…
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"The Value of Design System Knowledge” - Davy Fung
52:09
52:09
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52:09"The Value of Design System Knowledge” - Act 01 - Scene 21 – Davy Fung In this episode, Davy Fung explores the evolution of design systems, the importance of collaboration between designers and developers, and the biggest challenges teams face when implementing them. He breaks down how to effectively communicate the value of design systems to stake…
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"Mastering Agile: Design & Communication in Sync” - Freya Finnerty
44:38
44:38
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44:38"Mastering Agile: Design & Communication in Sync” - Act 01 - Scene 20 – Freya Finnerty summary In this episode of the DesignOps Aligned podcast, Agile Specialist Freya Finnerty discusses the challenges and benefits of implementing Agile methodologies in organizations. The conversation covers effective communication, the role of metrics, and the sig…
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Where should design systems sit in your org?
29:41
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29:41Design systems should sit in the design team. Design systems should sit in the designops team. Design systems should sit in their own team. There are so many different options that are presented as the ‘truth’ when it comes to design systems and org design. Michelle and Luke are going to wade through the options, weigh up their merits and probably …
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"The Role of UX in Agile Development” - Georgina Hughes
47:57
47:57
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47:57In this episode of the Design Ops Aligned podcast, Naresh Shan speaks with Georgina Hughes, an agile coach, about the intricacies of Agile methodology and its intersection with UX design. They discuss the common misconceptions surrounding Agile, the importance of collaboration, and the challenges organizations face in implementing Agile practices e…
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"The Strength of Consciousness in Adversity” - James Xander
57:29
57:29
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57:29"The Strength of Consciousness in Adversity” - Act 01 - Scene 18 – James Xander In this enlightening conversation, Naresh Shan and James explore the profound themes of consciousness, manifestation, and personal transformation. James shares his insights on how to navigate difficult times, the importance of accepting one's current situation, and the …
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"Being Ethical as a Freelancer” - Hannah Knowles
53:34
53:34
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53:34In this engaging conversation, Naresh Shan and Hannah Knowles explore the intricacies of UX research from the perspective of a freelance researcher, discussing both the challenges and strategies involved. They highlight the importance of research in the design process, the necessity of adapting methods to fast-paced product teams, and the need for …
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Infinite scroll was designed to enhance the UX for browsing search results, but now it's often used to keep users endlessly engaged on social media. As concerns grow about its impact on mental health, especially among young people, it's time to reconsider its place in design systems. What responsibilities do we have as creators when our components …
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"The reality of the field of UX Research” - Dale Husband
45:13
45:13
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45:13"The reality of the field of UX Research” - Act 01 - Scene 16 – Dale Husband In this episode of the DesignOps Aligned podcast, Naresh Shan and Dale Husband discuss the current challenges in the UX research job market, the impact of AI on design and research roles, and the importance of communication and advocacy for UX researchers. They explore the…
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Design systems are often hailed as the ultimate productivity boosters for devs and designers alike, but do they really deliver on that promise? We’ll explore whether design systems genuinely make teams more efficient or if they just add another layer of complexity. Tune in for a reality check on the true impact of design systems on team performance…
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Contribution often seems like the perfect solution for scaling design systems, but is it really? We'll weigh the tough realities of managing contributions and why a federated system might not suit everyone. We'll explore the hurdles of contribution and how to decide if it's the right path for your team.…
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"Embracing Neurodiversity in UX” - Odette Jansen
48:16
48:16
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48:16"Embracing Neurodiversity in UX” - Act 01 - Scene 14 – Odette Jansen In this conversation, Odette shares her extensive experience in UX, detailing her journey from design to research and her accidental entry into ResearchOps. She discusses the importance of ResearchOps in organizations, the challenges researchers face in gaining buy-in, and the nee…
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Live from Converge 2025: When should we be using AI?
26:48
26:48
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26:48Luke and Michelle come to you direct from Converge to talk about AI (again). Is there a place for AI in our design systems?By zeroheight
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"Surviving the UX Industry” - Miranda Slayter
1:07:16
1:07:16
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1:07:16"Surviving the UX Industry” - Act 01 - Scene 13 – Miranda Slayter In this engaging conversation, we explore the multifaceted world of UX design, discussing career transitions, the importance of communication skills, and the evolving role of AI in the industry. Miranda shares insights from her journey, the purpose behind the UX Survival Guide, and p…
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"AI in Business Transformation” - Cindy Candrian
51:16
51:16
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51:16"AI in Business Transformation” - Act 01 - Scene 11 – Cindy Candrian https://www.delta-labs.ch/ In this episode, we dive deep into the transformative power of AI in today’s business landscape with expert Cindy Candrian, founder of Delta Labs. Cindy shares insights from her journey, including her pioneering research on human-AI interaction and her w…
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"The Design Conductors" - Rachel Posman & John Calhoun
52:48
52:48
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52:48"The Design Conductors" - Act 01 - Scene 11 – Rachel Posman & John Calhoun https://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/design-operations/ In this episode, we sit down with Rachel Posman and John Calhoun, leading experts in Design Operations, to discuss their new book, The Design Conductor. Together, we explore the essential role of Design Ops in bridging desi…
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Why aren’t people contributing to the design system?
30:12
30:12
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30:12If you're struggling to get contributions to your design system, you might think it’s a governance issue. But it might not be the real issue. In this episode, we'll consider why people aren't contributing and examine factors beyond governance that might be preventing contributions. We’ll discuss the motivations and barriers that impact participatio…
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"The User Experience team of One" - Joe Natoli
53:10
53:10
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53:10"The User Experience team of One" - Act 01 - Scene 10 - Joe Natoli Link to the book: https://rosenfeldmedia.com/books/the-user-experience-team-of-one-second-edition/ Link to Joe's AI Course: https://www.udemy.com/course/genai-fundamentals-for-ux-designers-researchers/ In this episode, Joe dives into his journey of co-creating the influential boo…
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Where can AI actually help with design systems?
27:18
27:18
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27:18We're cutting through the AI hype and getting to the good stuff—practical ways AI can supercharge your design system. From streamlining workflows to generating documentation, we'll explore real-world applications of AI that can make your life easier. Plus, we’ll guide you through creating a custom GPT to assist with your design system needs. Are yo…
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"Misunderstandings of Ghosting & UX Recruitment” – Lena Kul
47:49
47:49
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47:49"Misunderstandings of Ghosting & UX Recruitment” - Act 01 - Scene 9 – Lena Kul In this episode, Lena Kul dives into the challenges of UX recruitment and offers valuable advice for both candidates and hiring managers. She discusses the evolving landscape of hiring in the design industry, the misconceptions around applicant tracking systems (ATS), an…
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Live from Hatch: Do we need to stop making components?
41:08
41:08
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41:08In this episode, we’re challenging the status quo of design systems by questioning the necessity of components. Are we too focused on building and maintaining a library of components when we should be thinking bigger? What if our obsession with components is actually holding back innovation? Join us as we explore whether it’s time to shift our atte…
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"How business knowledge and communication can elevate your career?" - Meltem Naz Kaso
52:43
52:43
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52:43"How business knowledge and communication can elevate your career?" - Act 01 - Scene 8 - Meltem Naz Kaso In this conversation, Meltem Naz Kaso, a UX career coach, discusses the challenges and opportunities in the UX industry. The discussion covers the importance of career coaching and how it helps professionals navigate the current job market. It a…
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"Bridging the Gap Between Design and Development" - Noelle Lansford
49:19
49:19
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49:19"Bridging the Gap Between Design and Development" - Act 01 - Scene 7 - Noelle Lansford Noelle Lansford, a product designer and design systems expert, discusses the importance of having development knowledge for UI designers. She explains that while UX and UI are often combined in smaller teams, there is value in understanding the scientific aspects…
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"The Decline in Quality and Redundancy of UX Teams" - Dr. Nick Fine
53:28
53:28
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53:28"The Decline in Quality and Redundancy of UX Teams" - Act 01 - Scene 6 - Dr. Nick Fine The current state of the UX industry is characterized by a lack of standardization and a high signal-to-noise ratio. Many newcomers are drawn to something that is sold as UX but isn't truly UX. This has led to teams being made redundant and the quality of UX prac…
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"The Importance of Career Strategy in UX Design" - Goodness Adebayo
37:18
37:18
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37:18"The Importance of Career Strategy in UX Design" - DesignOpsAligned - Act 1 Scene 05 - Goodness Adebayo Goodness Adabayo, author of the UX Career Strategy book, discusses her inspiration for writing the book and the importance of mentorship in the UX design field. She emphasizes the need to understand the fundamentals of UX design and how it goes b…
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What assumptions or beliefs would the ResearchOps profession benefit from letting go of?
48:08
48:08
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48:08In this final episode, Jenna Lombardo from Workday, Kasey Canlas from Genesys, and Stephanie Kingston from Cisco tackle this great ResearchOps question: "What assumptions or beliefs would the ResearchOps profession benefit from letting go of?" Around halfway in, Ned Dwyer, the co-founder and CEO of Great Question, shares his point of view on the to…
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"Behavioural Science: The missing link in design?" - Will Trump
46:35
46:35
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46:35"Behavioural Science: The missing link in design?" - DesignOpsAligned - Act 01 - Scene 04 - Will Trump In this conversation, Naresh Shan interviews Will Trump, a behavioural scientist, about integrating behavioural science into UX design. They discuss the definition of behavioural science and its application in designing environments to shape human…
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Why do we need to care more about patterns?
26:48
26:48
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26:48In this episode, we’re focusing on patterns, the often-overlooked pillar of your design system. Why should we focus on patterns more than components? Are your components really as reusable as you think, or are they just static building blocks without a solid pattern to guide them?By zeroheight
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What are the pros (and cons) of ResearchOps reporting into research versus other ops, like ProductOps or DesignOps?
55:43
55:43
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55:43In this episode, Stephanie Marsh from Springer Nature Group, Ed Lyon from Wise, and Shane Olbourne from MongoDB tackle this great ResearchOps question: "What are the pros (and cons) of ResearchOps reporting into research versus other ops, like ProductOps or DesignOps?" Around halfway in, Ned Dwyer, the co-founder and CEO of Great Question, shares h…
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"The Challenges in UX" - DesignOpsAligned - Act 01 - Scene 03 - Debbie Levitt The conversation explores the challenges faced by UX designers and researchers in the industry, including the misconception that their work is easy and the lack of understanding and appreciation for their role. It discusses the need for good UX leadership to address these…
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How can I build a compelling business case to convince leadership to establish the first ResearchOps position in the company?
51:20
51:20
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51:20In this episode, Emily Wever from Appfire, Shannon Lu from IKEA, and Bryna Tsai from Verily tackle this great ResearchOps question: "How can I build a compelling business case to convince leadership to establish the first ResearchOps position in the company?" Around halfway in, Ned Dwyer, the co-founder and CEO of Great Question, shares his point o…
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"Empowering UX Teams" - DesignOpsAligned - Act 01 - Scene 02 - Laura Baker In this podcast episode, a global design director, Laura Baker, shares insights on what it takes to be a good design director and the challenges they face. She emphasizes the importance of finding your leadership style and learning from good and bad leaders. Laura also discu…
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In this episode, we explore the enigma that is design system versioning. How do we make sense of versioning? How do you sync versions between code, design, and documentation? Maybe it’s easier to ignore versioning, but at what cost?By zeroheight
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Beyond the Button #10: How do design systems foster user trust?
58:27
58:27
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58:27This month, Michelle is joined by two new faces: Tim Legierse, one of the most tenured members of the zeroheight team, and Beau Ulrey, Sr. Design System Manager at U.S. Bank. This month’s discussion is about how design systems can foster user trust. Sure, a good set of reusable components can create a more consistent product. But what does that mea…
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Back to School #6: Accessibility and Design Systems
59:35
59:35
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59:35Is there really such a thing as an accessible design system component? How can the systems team ensure accessible products? Geri and Amy turn the colour contrast up to 11:1 in their final podcast on accessibility.By Amy Hupe and Geri Reid
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