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

Design Different

#Arts #Graphic Design #Jake Burdess #Digital #Design #Systems #Lifestyle #Online #Entrepreneur #Business #Podcasting Education #Course #Learn #Website #Solopreneurs

35:24

Let’s talk about adulting— actual adulting. Not just paying bills or keeping a houseplant alive, but the kind that involves emotional maturity, healthy boundaries, and conscious self-leadership. Because let’s be honest, most of us weren’t taught how to be fully functioning adults… and it shows. Joining us is Michelle Chalfant , licensed therapist turned holistic life coach, creator of The Adult Chair® model, and author of the new book The Adult Chair: Get Unstuck, Claim Your Power, and Transform Your Life . With millions reached through her podcast, coaching programs, and retreats, she’s here to walk us through the five pillars of being a healthy, grounded adult. Here’s the truth: being an adult isn’t about checking boxes or pretending you’re fine. It’s about owning your truth. Feeling your feelings. Practicing compassion without letting yourself off the hook. It’s about setting firm boundaries—with no need for justification—and recognizing that your triggers are not flaws, they’re clues. None of us were handed a guidebook for how to grow up emotionally. We inherited patterns from people who were figuring it out as they went. But what Michelle shares today is empowering: it’s never too late to unlearn what no longer serves you and become the adult you were meant to be. Whether you’re starting this work or knee-deep in your personal development era, this episode will meet you where you are—and help you move forward with clarity, self-trust, and strength. Connect with Michelle: Website: https://theadultchair.com/ Book: https://theadultchair.com/book IG: https://www.instagram.com/themichellechalfant/?hl=en FB: https://www.facebook.com/@TheMichelleChalfant/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/michellechalfant Related Podcast Episodes: How To Build Emotionally Mature Leaders with Dr. Christie Smith | 272 Boundaries vs. Ultimatums with Jan & Jillian Yuhas | 297 Gentleness: Cultivating Compassion for Yourself and Others with Courtney Carver | 282 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

about a year ago 9:18

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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 thinking transforms the way you lead.

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22 episodes

Design Different

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

Design Different

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

Support the show

22 episodes

#Arts #Graphic Design #Jake Burdess #Digital #Design #Systems #Lifestyle #Online #Entrepreneur #Business #Podcasting Education #Course #Learn #Website #Solopreneurs

All episodes

Design Different

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

4 days 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 critical judgement, and uncovering why the future belongs to designers who thoughtfully bridge technology, strategy, ethics, and human-centred design. Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/articles/design-craft-ai-future/ Support the show…

Design Different

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

7 days 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 involved in every detail. This is about the mindset shift that helps good design leaders become great. Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/articles/design-leadership-systems-thinking/ Support the show…

Design Different

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

11 days 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 Matt’s move into remote work and leadership to his reflections on curiosity, motivation, and human connection, it’s a grounded and honest look at how design (and designers) are evolving. Support the show…

Design Different

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

14 days 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 of blank canvases, tool fatigue, or endless reinvention. Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/creative-freedom-needs-systems/ Support the show…

Design Different

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

18 days 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, and user signals that actually matter. Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/collaboration-vs-decision-making/ Support the show…

Design Different

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

21 days 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 clarity, alignment, and long-term value. He shares what creative momentum really looks like, how to build it intentionally, and why slowing down (just a little) might be the smartest move your team makes this year. For designers, founders, and product teams who are tired of the loop and ready to build something that lasts. Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/design-speed-vs-momentum/ Support the show…

Design Different

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

25 days 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-step guide to building your own live ROI dashboard. Stop defending design as a cost and start presenting it as the revenue engine it truly is. Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/how-to-measure-design-roi/ Support the show…

Design Different

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

28 days 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, and a checklist you can act on tomorrow to turn pixel-perfect libraries into business-critical infrastructure. Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/anatomy-of-a-design-system/ Support the show…

Design Different

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

5 weeks 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. Learn how to close loops, create small wins, and start building real freedom with your skills. Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/what-designers-can-learn-from-indie-hackers/ Support the show…

Design Different

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

5 weeks 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 call. Learn how to bridge the gap between vision and execution, why clarity matters more than cleverness, and what it really takes to build a brand that works everywhere it lives. Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/brand-doesnt-work-online/ Support the show…

Design Different

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

6 weeks 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 more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/design-systems-scale-thinking/ Support the show…

Design Different

11 weeks ago7:53