Tape Letters shines light on the practice of recording and sending messages on cassette tape as an unorthodox method of communication by Pakistanis who migrated and settled in the UK between 1960-1980. Season 1: Tape Letters England. Season 2: Tape Letters Scotland. This series features original tapes collected from families in Pothwari, Punjabi, Urdu, and English, as well as oral history recordings and behind-the-project interviews with the people involved in collecting this body of work.
…
continue reading
Be welcome Cover art photo provided by Timo Volz on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/@magict1911
…
continue reading
This podcast is the product of an interesting experiment, which is to see if podcasting can help individuals with speech related issues. Cover art photo provided by Christopher Burns on Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/@christopher__burns
…
continue reading
The Aligned Podcast Show, formerly DesignOps Aligned, is the essential listen for everyone who shapes digital products. From UX and UI creators to product managers, engineers, researchers, and delivery leads, we decode the playbooks, mindsets, and metrics that turn bold ideas into market-ready experiences. Expect candid conversations with trailblazing leaders and hands on practitioners, reusable frameworks that transform creativity into repeatable results, and a front row seat to the trends ...
…
continue reading

1
Modus Operandi - Episode 3 - Alchemy of Influence - Feat. Miranda Slayter
55:53
55:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:53Modus Operandi - Episode 3 - Alchemy of Influence - Featuring Miranda Slayter In this conversation, Naresh Shan and Miranda Slayter delve into the evolving role of UX designers, emphasising the importance of education, strategic thinking, and collaboration within organisations. They discuss the challenges designers face in being recognised for thei…
…
continue reading

1
“Research is a Slow Process, but Valuable” – Theo Johnson
47:54
47:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:54“Research is a slow process, but valuable” – Act 02 – Scene 37 – Theo Johnson Summary In this episode, Naresh Shan speaks with Theo Johnson, a senior UX researcher at Microsoft. They discuss the challenges and intricacies of UX research within large corporate organisations, the importance of storytelling in presenting research findings, and the evo…
…
continue reading

1
“The Hype of AI: Understanding Its Real Impact” – Brandon C. White
1:18:21
1:18:21
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:18:21“The Hype of AI: Understanding Its Real Impact” – Act 02 – Scene 36 – Brandon C. White Summary In this conversation, Brandon and Naresh explore the evolving landscape of AI, discussing its impact on business, critical thinking, and parenting. They delve into the hype surrounding AI technologies, the necessity for businesses to develop coherent stra…
…
continue reading

1
Making Accessibility a Priority” – Maigen Thomas
57:00
57:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
57:00“Making Accessibility a Priority” – Act 02 – Scene 35 – Maigen Thomas Summary In this episode of the DesignOps Aligned podcast Maigen Thomas discusses the critical importance of accessibility in design. They explore the transition from development to design, the challenges designers face in implementing accessibility, and the role of product manage…
…
continue reading

1
“The Future of Prototyping: UXPin vs. Figma” – Jack Behar
49:16
49:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:16“The Future of Prototyping: UXPin vs. Figma” – Act 02 – Scene 34 – Jack Behar In this conversation, Naresh Shan and Jack Behar discuss the capabilities and advantages of UXPin, a design and prototyping platform that aims to bridge the gap between design and development. They compare UXPin with Figma, highlighting UXPin's code-first approach and cen…
…
continue reading

1
“The New Landscape of Design” – Thomas Wilson
1:05:31
1:05:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
“Unlocking the Value of Conferences” – Damian Martone
43:29
43:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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-…
…
continue reading

1
“Balancing Creativity and Business in Design” - Alexander Christian
58:39
58:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
"Career Strategy Lab: A New Approach to UX Education" – Sarah Doody
56:23
56:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
"Navigating the Job Market: Insights from Experts" - Nina & Javier
1:23:27
1:23:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
“Why Design Language Matters” - Ben Callahan
57:54
57:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
“Designing the Future: The Truth About UX” - Felix Lee
36:09
36:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
“Overcoming Fear in Career Changes Mastering Storytelling in UX Design” – Ricardo Brito
47:48
47:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
"From Curiosity to Clarity: Nikki’s Growth in User Research” - Nikki Anderson
52:36
52:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
“Measuring the impact of Content Design” - Jeremy Dodd
45:54
45:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
" Navigating the Future of UX Testing” - Alejandro Rivas-Micoud
45:36
45:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
"Craft will only take you so far in this industry” - Jeremy Miller
47:41
47:41
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
"The Value of Design System Knowledge” - Davy Fung
52:09
52:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
"Mastering Agile: Design & Communication in Sync” - Freya Finnerty
44:38
44:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
"The Role of UX in Agile Development” - Georgina Hughes
47:57
47:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
"The Strength of Consciousness in Adversity” - James Xander
57:29
57:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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 …
…
continue reading

1
"Being Ethical as a Freelancer” - Hannah Knowles
53:34
53:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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 …
…
continue reading
“Other things came, like telephones, and they stopped the tapes.” Generations of Scottish-Pakistanis sent and received Tape Letters, before new means of communication took over: from email to instant messaging, video calls to voice notes. This episode explores evolving technology. How does it impact the use of language, and linguistic identities? “…
…
continue reading
“You go back and listen. People that have passed now, you can hear their voices… it just brings back memories.” Unlike a letter or telegram, or even a video on a screen, a cassette recording can feel like the person is right there in the room. This episode reflects on the deep emotional impact of Tape Letters. It also explores questions of identity…
…
continue reading
“We came here by coach. It took one month to reach here...” Throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s, people migrated to Scotland from Pakistan in significant numbers. What does the archive of Tape Letters reveal about this crucial time? This episode explores what life was like for those who came to Scotland, and for those who remained in Pakistan. How di…
…
continue reading
“Imagine the feeling of pressing play on a cassette tape that’s just arrived from some 5,000 miles away…” What is a 'Tape Letter'? Why did people exchange news and greetings with each other on cassette, and how did they do it? Our series starts with an overview of the Tape Letters Scotland project, and a flavour of the anticipation and excitement o…
…
continue reading

1
"The reality of the field of UX Research” - Dale Husband
45:13
45:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
"Embracing Neurodiversity in UX” - Odette Jansen
48:16
48:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading
On 20 January 2025, Tape Letters, the award-winning podcast, returns with a brand-new second series: Tape Letters Scotland. The Tape Letters Scotland project shines a light on the practice of recording and sending messages on cassette tape as an unorthodox method of communication by Pakistanis who migrated and settled in Scotland between 1960-1980.…
…
continue reading

1
"Surviving the UX Industry” - Miranda Slayter
1:07:16
1:07:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
"AI in Business Transformation” - Cindy Candrian
51:16
51:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
"The Design Conductors" - Rachel Posman & John Calhoun
52:48
52:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
"The User Experience team of One" - Joe Natoli
53:10
53:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
"Misunderstandings of Ghosting & UX Recruitment” – Lena Kul
47:49
47:49
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
"How business knowledge and communication can elevate your career?" - Meltem Naz Kaso
52:43
52:43
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
"Bridging the Gap Between Design and Development" - Noelle Lansford
49:19
49:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
"The Decline in Quality and Redundancy of UX Teams" - Dr. Nick Fine
53:28
53:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
"The Importance of Career Strategy in UX Design" - Goodness Adebayo
37:18
37:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading

1
"Behavioural Science: The missing link in design?" - Will Trump
46:35
46:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
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…
…
continue reading
"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…
…
continue reading
"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…
…
continue reading

1
"The Importance of Fundamentals in UX" - Darren Hood
49:39
49:39
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:39"The Importance of Fundamentals in UX" - DesignOpsAligned - Act 01 - Scene 01 - Darren Hood The current state of the UX market is described as 'upside down' with the rise of specializations and the misconception that UX is only about aesthetics. The importance of fundamentals, such as wireframes, and the need for a scientific approach to UX is emph…
…
continue reading

1
TL England 14. Behind the Project: Imran Arif - In a Suitcase
6:59
6:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
6:59Imran Arif is a Social Scientist and was a community engagement officer for the Tape Letters oral history project. He carried out multiple interviews for the archive with the elders of the community in multiple languages. In this episode he reflects on his experience of the project and the importance of preserving the stories of previous generation…
…
continue reading
The Tape Letters project shines light on the practice of recording and sending messages on cassette tape as an unorthodox method of communication by Pakistanis who migrated and settled in the UK between 1960-1980. Drawing directly both from first-hand interviews and from the informal and intimate conversations on the cassettes themselves, the proje…
…
continue reading

1
TL England 12. Behind the Project: Syma Tariq - A Particular Archive
4:33
4:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
4:33Syma Tariq is a Sound Artist and Journalist focussing on history and politics. Her PhD was entitled “Partitioned listening: sonic methodology and the archive after 1947” and is part of the Tape Letters research team. In this episode she describes the Tape Letters archive as a community resource, produced in collaboration with its subject. A Modus A…
…
continue reading

1
TL England 11. Behind the Project - Suna Afshan - It was there in the Potwari for Me to Find
10:57
10:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
10:57The poet Suna Afshan was commissioned by Modus Arts to produce a body of text in response to five cassettes selected from the Tape Letters archive held at the Bishopsgate Institute library. She adopted a poetry as a word-for-word translation approach, and the work is directly informed by the messages and languages on the cassettes, with the aim of …
…
continue reading
This episode looks at the origins, characteristics, and generational evolution of Pothwari, an oral-only language with no written form. You’ll also delve deeper into some of the hierarchy and class differences that are associated with Pothwari when compared to Urdu or Punjabi. Including the dilemma of modernisation and preserving the ‘mother tongue…
…
continue reading

1
TL England 9. Behind the Project: Karamat Iqbal - A Hostile World
5:57
5:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
5:57Karamat Iqbal is an education professional based in Birmingham. He contributed an oral history and 7 cassette tapes to the Tape Letters Archive. In this episode he describes the discrimination Pakistani’s faced during the 1970s in Britain. A Modus Arts Production. Audio Production and Sound Design by Oliver Sanders, Producer Leona Fensome, Executiv…
…
continue reading

1
TL England 8. Migration From Pakistan To The UK
15:08
15:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
15:08In this episode, interviewees of the Tape Letters project remember their experiences of leaving Pakistan and migrating to Britain, a country they had never seen before. Common jobs taken up by migrants were mainly in mills and factories, and often based in northern areas of the UK where there were greater opportunities at the time. You’ll also hear…
…
continue reading

1
TL England 7. Behind the Project: Maryam Wahid - Portrait of Halima Jabeen
5:19
5:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
5:19The award-winning photographer Maryam Wahid was commissioned to produce a photo series for the nationwide iteration of the Tape Letters project. One of the photographs featuring Halima Jabeen, a Tape Letters archive contributor, was awarded the prestigious Portrait of Britain award by the British Journal of Photography. Maryam talks about the conne…
…
continue reading