Description

What happens when the tools we’ve mastered become obsolete overnight? 

In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Pete are joined by one of the OGs of UX, Nick Cawthon, the founder of Gauge, to help organizations with evidence-based strategy and product decisions. In this conversation, we explore “thinglessness” — the idea that design is less about the artifact and more about the human experience it creates. From AI’s impact on design velocity to the need for cross-functional collaboration, we dig into how designers can stay relevant and impactful in a world where technology moves at jet-pack speed.

• Understand why letting go of attachment to specific tools makes you more adaptable in a rapidly changing landscape.
• Learn how to balance AI-enabled speed with the strategic thinking needed to head in the right direction.
• Discover practical ways to preserve and strengthen core human-centered design capabilities that AI can’t replace.

Meet Our Guest Nick Cawthon

Nick helps design teams stay ahead of the curve with their AI transformation. He has been curating self-assessments for UX & Design Teams at retrain.gauge.io, helping analyze industry trends and removing barriers to adoption. Nick founded Gauge in 2001 in the San Francisco Bay Area to help organizations with evidence-based strategy and product decisions. Clients have grown to include Electronic Arts, Genentech, Airbnb, Adobe and many others. Nick is a professor in Data Literacy and Visualization in the Design Strategy MBA program at his alma mater, California College of the Arts. 

Learn more about Nick's work https://retrain.gauge.io/

Show Notes

Thinglessness: Beyond the Artifact
Design isn’t about the deliverable — it’s about the entire experience. When tools change, the value comes from understanding people, solving the right problems, and creating impact.

The E-Bike Analogy
AI gives designers “jet-pack” speed, but speed without direction just gets you to the wrong place faster. The real advantage is using extra time to think deeper, not just produce more.

Collapsing Silos
The boundaries between design, product, and engineering are dissolving. The most effective teams work in shared code bases, make decisions together, and learn each other’s craft.

Skills Worth Keeping
As AI automates tasks, certain human capabilities — empathy, problem framing, collaboration — become more valuable, not less. Losing them puts long-term adaptability at risk.

History Repeats Itself
From typists evolving into administrative assistants to designers moving beyond Figma, tech shifts always require upskilling and a broader set of capabilities.

Human Connection as a Differentiator
In a world where AI is everywhere, genuine human connection will be the true competitive advantage — for both products and organisations.

Practices You Can Apply

• Fall out of love with tools – Treat technology like a fling, not a lifelong commitment.
• Sharpen the front end – Spend more time on research, problem definition, and anticipating unintended consequences.
• Work across boundaries – Pair designers with engineers and product teams to build shared knowledge.
• Audit your core skills – Identify which human capabilities you want to retain and strengthen in an AI-heavy workflow.
• Upskill with intention – Look to history for clues on how roles adapt when tech changes the game.

Memorable Quotes

• “Tools come and go. Capabilities are what keep you relevant.” — Nick Cawthon
• “Velocity without direction is just faster failure.” — Nick Cawthon
• “We need to stop falling in love with technology and start having flings with it.” — Dr Dani
• “If any