The ROI Lie: Why Design Is More Than Just Pretty Pixels Design Table podcast

42:37

🎯 "Good design speaks for itself." ... except when it doesn’t. In this episode, Tyler White and Nick Groeneveld break down how to present your work—and yourself—in a way that actually influences decisions. Whether you're in a client pitch, a job interview, or a high-stakes design review, how you communicate your value is just as important as what you design. We’re breaking down: ✅ Why context matters—and how to tailor presentations to different audiences. ✅ The secret to stakeholder engagement (hint: it starts before you show the design). ✅ How to frame your work from a business perspective and prove ROI. ✅ Why transparency and preparation turn meetings into momentum. ✅ Specialist vs. generalist: how to position yourself for the right opportunities. ✅ How AI tools are quietly reshaping the way designers prep, present, and build trust. If you’ve ever struggled to get buy-in, felt overlooked in meetings, or bombed an interview you thought you nailed, this episode will give you the strategies to turn it around. 🎧 Listen now and start presenting like your career depends on it—because it does. 📢 Subscribe to The Design Table Podcast ! 👋 More about Tyler and Nick…

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Sketch, Ship, Scale: The Unsexy Work That Makes Great Designers 50:36

27 days ago50:36

50:36

🛠️ "Design is just making pretty screens, right?" ... Wrong. In this episode, Tyler White and Nick Groeneveld dive into the real (and messy) side of product design—from research and collaboration to freelancing and client communication. It's everything they don't teach you in design school. We’re breaking down: ✅ How user research actually works (and why users shouldn’t design the product). ✅ Why rough sketches and early wireframes still matter—even in an AI world. ✅ Freelancing vs. in-house: the surprising trade-offs you need to know. ✅ How collaborating with developers (and knowing a little code) can boost your impact. ✅ Why side projects aren't a distraction—they're your creative playground. ✅ How mentorship, mistakes, and continuous learning can skyrocket your career. If you've ever felt stuck between "designing" and "delivering real outcomes," or wondered how to stay relevant in a world moving at startup speed, this episode is packed with insights you can start using today. 🎧 Listen now and make your design career future-proof ! 📢 Subscribe to The Design Table Podcast ! 👋 More about Tyler and Nick…

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Figma Make Is Wild. But Is It Really the Future of Design? | Figma Config 2025 Breakdown 26:17

29 days ago26:17

26:17

The design community is divided. Some love the Figma Config announcements while others hate it. We've seen every type of comment from 'the output code sucks' to 'Figma just ended Illustrator'. But which one is true? Or is none of it true? In this episode, Tyler White and Nick Groeneveld discuss Figma Config's 2025 announcements and how Figma Make , Figma Sites , and the rest impact product and UX designers today. We’re breaking down: ✅ Why Figma Make might redefine what prototyping looks like ✅ How Figma Sites could reshape how designers (and non-designers) build for the web ✅ The growing concerns about code quality and accessibility inside design tools ✅ Why coding is becoming critical for freelancers and startup designers ✅ How IPO-level moves from Figma signal a shift in priorities ✅ Why the design community is split and what that says about where we’re headed If you’re wondering whether to embrace AI, pick up coding skills, or double down on prototyping—this episode will help you stay relevant in a post-Config world. 🎧 Listen now and future-proof your career! 📢 Subscribe to The Design Table Podcast! 👋 More about Tyler and Nick Tyler - https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick - https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld…

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Should Designers Learn to Code? The AI Shift No One’s Ready For 48:41

6 weeks ago48:41

48:41

💻"Designers don’t need to code." ...but is that advice still true today? In this episode, Tyler White and Nick Groeneveld unpack why the designer role is evolving fast —and why the next generation of designers will need more than just Figma skills to stay relevant. We’re breaking down: ✅ Why polished prototypes now speak louder than polished decks. ✅ How AI is reshaping prototyping—and why it’s a tool , not a threat. ✅ The real reason coding is becoming a must-have for freelancers and startup designers. ✅ How to build trust with developers (and why it matters more than ever). ✅ Why empathy isn’t just for users—it’s the secret weapon for cross-team collaboration. ✅ How posting on LinkedIn can build visibility and career resilience. If you’re feeling the pressure to level up—or wondering how to stand out as AI and automation shift the game—this episode will help you future-proof your career. 🎧 Listen now and stay ahead of the curve! 📢 Subscribe to The Design Table Podcast ! 👋 More about Tyler and Nick…

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The Mini-CEO Mindset: How Designers Earn Their Seat at the Table 36:33

8 weeks ago36:33

36:33

💡 “Designers need a seat at the table!” …but what if the company doesn’t even HAVE a table? In this episode, Tyler White and Nick Groeneveld unpack the real reason designers struggle to influence decisions— they don’t speak the right language. We’re breaking down: ✅ Why empathy is a designer’s superpower —for users and stakeholders. ✅ The business language hack that gets you taken seriously in meetings. ✅ How to build real influence (hint: visibility = opportunity). ✅ The leadership vs. craft mastery dilemma— which career path should you take? ✅ The real reason mentorship & teaching will 10x your skills. ✅ Should designers learn to code? (Spoiler: It depends.) If you've ever felt undervalued in meetings , frustrated by clueless stakeholders , or uncertain about your career path , this episode will give you the mindset shift you need to thrive. 🎧 Listen now and start making your design work IMPOSSIBLE to ignore! 📢 Subscribe to The Design Table Podcast ! 👋 More about Tyler and Nick…

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Remote Work: The Dream, The Struggle, and The Reality Check 40:48

10 weeks ago40:48

40:48

💭 "Remote work is the future!" they said. "You'll love the freedom!" they promised. And yet… here we are, burnt out, over-snacking, and wondering if we should just buy another standing desk to fix our working lives. In this episode, Tyler White and Nick Groeneveld pull back the curtain on what remote work is REALLY like —from the dream of working in sweatpants to the nightmare of never logging off. We’re diving into: ✅ Why the "remote work dream" is under pressure (and how to stay sane). ✅ The management mistakes that ruin remote teams. ✅ How to build company culture when everyone’s in different time zones. ✅ The freelancing vs. full-time flexibility trap (and what no one tells you). ✅ The silent killer of remote work productivity (hint: it’s not Netflix). 🎧 If you’ve ever found yourself working from your couch, eating lunch at 4 PM, and wondering if you should just go back to an office , this episode is for you. 🔥 Listen now and learn how to thrive in the new world of work! 📢 Subscribe to The Design Table Podcast ! 👋 More about Tyler and Nick…

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The ROI Lie: Why Design is More Than Just Pretty Pixels 35:15

12 weeks ago35:15