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Design and a HalfIs Agile good for UX?Are Agile and UX really compatible ? Does a workflow involving Agile exclude or include UX ? What are some of the pitfalls ?
Video Version: Is Agile good for UX? - YouTube
If you enjoyed this episode, consider liking, subscribing or sharing ! It helps me a lot ! :) However, you watching this is thanks enough for me !
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Design and a HalfUsing trust to build teamsTrust is the buildingblock of all business relationships. Coincidentally, it's also the building block of well-functioning teams. Trust enables people to focus on the work instead of regulating the relationship, and keeping an eye, on what their colleague is doing. Cultivating a transparency culture and a feeling of trust within a well-performing team is paramount.
Video Version: Using trust to build teams - YouTube
If you enjoyed this episode, consider liking, subscribing or sharing ! It helps me a lot ! :) However, you watching this is thanks enough for me !
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com...2021-04-2617 min
Design and a HalfThings I wish I knew as a Junior DesignerAs a Junior, I would've benefitted so much from someone telling me what I'd be facing, going into my design career. That said, I thought of a couple of things that I really wished someone told me about, that would've helped me lower my expectations significantly and be happier overall with myself and my career.
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If you enjoyed this episode, consider liking, subscribing or sharing ! It helps me a lot ! :) However, you listening to this is thanks enough for me !
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Design and a HalfAren't we too focused on stats?2020 is over, and Design and a Half is back in black, with a mean attack. What about ? Stats. They seem to be everywhere, and everything seems to be measured and quantified against stats. But are stats enough ? Are they the be-all and end-all of design ? Of Things in our lives ? Aren't we a bit too focused on getting high stats that we soemtimes lose sight over what's important ? Why we started, why we are doing what we do, and just enjoy our time ? The answer is yours to find. I'm just rattling the cage. :)
Video Version...2021-01-1126 min
Design and a HalfThe Confidence to DisapproveSometimes people say things we don't agree with. Sometimes, we say those things. Whichever the case may be, there is a definite need to express one's disapproval with a situation, conversation or status quo. However, more often than not, those situations can get rather hairy. So, in order for us to get over them, we tend to give in to our most basic desire to forego conflict and discard our own belief. This could lead to dire consequences and may even send of a signal of lack of confidence and disposition to be influenced. Sometimes, we need to confidently...2020-11-2720 min
Design and a HalfLeaders, Managers and MythsLeaders, managers, leads and CEOs everywhere. But not a leader in sight. Well maybe that's not entirely true. There's plenty of leaders out there. But they might be buried knee deep in work, menial tasks, pushing from the back, where nobody notices them, not really wanting recognition for themselves but for their teams. In today's episode, I'm going to touch on the subject of leadership and management, what pushes us to pursue those changes. What motivates us to do it ? Why do we want to climb the corporate ladder ?
If you enjoyed this episode, c...2020-11-2620 min
Design and a HalfDo you use what you design ?Did you ever try to use what you made ? Probably one of the simplest things to do, yet for some very difficult. The concept of dogfooding is something widely used in the tech industry nowadays when talking about using your own products and services to determine how good or bad they are, or to find out what their shortcomings are.2020-11-2317 min
Design and a HalfHow can gaming help with Problem solving ?Games games games! It seems like they are everywhere and are part of our lives! They are here to stay! But are they useful? Are they more than just a waste of time? Is it more to gaming than meets the eye? We’ll find out in today’s episode of Design and a half.If you enjoyed this episode, consider liking, subscribing or sharing ! It helps me a lot ! :) However, you listening to this is thanks enough for me !2020-11-1316 min
Design and a HalfFear of missing outSince Black Friday is just around the corner, it seemed natural to pick out this topic for today's episode, and explain a little bit about the effects of FOMO, as it is so endearingly called among people. FOMO is as old as marketing and was always used to produce artificial need and want in people. Why ? Because limited edition and exclusives are more desireable and they feed the ego, as much as the pockets of those that use this technique.If you enjoyed this episode, consider liking, subscribing or sharing ! It helps me a lot ! :) However, you watching or hearing...2020-11-1117 min
Design and a HalfHow do I design with constraints ?Constraints are part of our everyday lives. We're constrained by budget, tech, availability, and most importantly time. We need to learn that perfect designs don't exist except within the realm of the imaginary and the impractical, and as designers, wee need to make constraints a part of our daily routine. Flexing that muscle to develop creative solutions. In the end, most people have the same problems and the same constraints. Where creativity comes in to play is how we all solve those problems in a different manner.If you enjoyed this video, consider liking, subscribing or sharing ! It helps me...2020-11-0926 min
Design and a HalfWhat's the right design tool ?Ever wondered what the best design tool is ? Ever wondered how to choose between them ? Today I'm debating over how to properly chose design tools within your organisation and why a design budget is quite important to have. If the subject is of interest to you, let me know either by commenting or messaing me, and I'll dive a bit more indepth on the subject.2020-11-0623 min
Design and a HalfIs it difficult to deal with Stakeholders ?Whenever we're talking about a project, we're talking about stakeholders. Project manager, designers, developers, Architects. You name it ! But each of them has their own agenda, their own objectives and thoughts. Is it possible to all coexist in harmony without ripping each other to shreds? Let's find out.If you liked it, subscribe, leave a thumbs up and if you fancy, join Design and a Half Facebook community for more tips, news, and discussions.For the video version, check out my youtube channel2020-11-0416 min
Design and a HalfWhy are we afraid of juniors ?Just why ? What is it that makes companies not want to add juniors on to their rosters ? Why do they keep adding additional hurdles on them, when they know perfectly fine that a junior does not have any type of experience whatsoever ? Is it some sick fetish ? Now more than ever, we need juniors with the correct motivation and mindsets to join organizations. And organizations need to make sure to have juniors on their teams to invest in. School never built professionals. Work has. School was a always a way to educate them and point them in the general direction. H...2020-11-0230 min
Design and a HalfWhen collaboration gets too muchIs there such a thing as too much collaboration ? Well, as a matter of fact, YES. There is. Every person out there is an individual, and while, some thrive on just having endless conversations and ideation sessions, or shadowing session over zoom, slack or skype, some, like me, tend to enjoy when they get some alone time. Time to think for themselves. Time to grab a pen, and just go wild sketching whatever scratches your brain to find a solution. Not worrying about complying to XYZ constraint, or making sure ABC collegue will agree with you or find your solution...2020-10-3022 min
Design and a HalfThings I wish I knew about designOr the challenges of creativity. Problems, own experiences, battle scars... Stuff that is wrong about design right now, and stuff that I would have benefitted me know before diving into design. Every time you do something as a designer, you expose a bit of who you are to the world, and you hope the world will be as gentle as possible. Oftentimes that's now the case. Often times, we break down because of how much we are invested into this passion that is more than just a job. Into this career path...A like, share and comment is greatly appreciated...2020-10-2844 min
Design and a HalfEducating Product ChoiceWe as consumers, can drive and steer the behavior of product companies towards something that adds value and brings change, rather than overselling and underdelivering. Oftentimes, we fall prey to our own vices, but oftentimes, we're manipulated or just purely forced into accepting predatory product tactics from companies that are seeking aggressive profit margins. What we can do, is be more mindful about our purchases, and say NO more often, by making a conscious choice, instead of an impulsive one.If you liked this episde, a follow/subscription, a like or a share would be greatly appreciated !2020-10-2630 min
Design and a HalfThe 5 Why TechniqueIn this episode I'll talk about the 5 why technique and its use cases, origin as well as some tips related to UX interviews. This technique along with a lot of other popular concepts in IT nowadays actually originated in automotive, and more specifically, in the Toyota company, in Japan. Why ? Well, for starters, the Toyota company was one of the pioneers of making things more efficient and reducing waste, as well as Quality Management. Things like Poka Yoke or The fishbone diagram also originated in Japan.If you want to learn more about the inventor of the 5 why technique, you...2020-10-2419 min
Design and a HalfEarly adopters in TechnologyThis episode talks about the drawbacks and the advantages of early adopters, applied to the current case of the newly released iphone. I'm not going to debate specs, since there are lots of ways people can get their hands on them, but I will look at some reasons behind the choices of this new version that was just released. I believe, now, more than before, early adopters look a lot more like angel investors whenever we're talking about products, because of how unstable and insufficient new products are. Tune in for more information !Don't forget to subscribe and share with...2020-10-2134 min
Design and a HalfThe Pressure of perfectionWe've all been there. Beating ourselves up for not finishing something on time, trying to squeeze in those extra work hours to finish something up that needs to be polished juuuuust a little bit more. Ever think why we do that ? What causes that ? Today's episode is a foray into our own selves as we discuss about perfection and the downsides of always trying to be perfect as well as how this ties into our current society.Seeking approval, wanting validation and feeling the need to be appreciated. We all do it. What about some self-love ? Make more mistakes. Enjoy...2020-10-1929 min
Design and a HalfSelf-Learners, the new StudentsThinking about today's status quo, and the economic situation we find ourselves in, it might not be that farfetched for education to become fully online and more accessible to people that would otherwise not afford a college or university education via traditional means. Looking at you United States ! That's right ! Imagine how great it would be for companies to accept people with online education as often as ones with ivy league education and to give people access to jobs. This would be especially crucial in developing countries, but also in countries where the cost of education still means only some g...2020-10-1622 min
Design and a HalfThe role of Business in DesignToday's episode covers an aspect oftentimes overlooked in Design School, and design classes, which is Business. Understanding how a business operates, as well as understanding business concepts, today, is vital in surviving as a designer, and when pitching design solutions to potential clients out there. This episode tries to break the ice and dive in a bit into what a Business object is, what a business goal is, as well as the all important cost that dictates directions.As mentioned in the episode, I am attaching some links to help you understand what Business Model Canvas is all about and...2020-10-1437 min
Design and a HalfRoadmap Planning for designersIn today's episdoe we're talking about what a roadmap is, and how it can help you, as a designer, plan out work and align with the overall plans of the company that you are working for. It is part of a longer series that aims to explain business concepts that are otherwise traditionally, not part of a designer's dictionary. Remember to subscribe and share with your designer friends, if you feel this episode has brought you value, and as usual, feel free to comment and let me know what you think ! I must admit this episode made me quite anxious...2020-10-1224 min
Design and a HalfPHF - 9 October 2020Woop woop ! It's weekend ! And that means tech time on Product Hunt !Here are today's top 5 most popular producthunt items:1. Saucy 3D iphone mockups from Bemore:https://www.bemore.graphics/?ref=producthunt2. Tradeswell, a new Shopping Insights Platformhttps://www.tradeswell.com/?ref=producthunt3. Radix. Cool icons from the creators of Modulzhttps://icons.modulz.app/?ref=producthunt4. Bittle, the palm sized pethttps://www.indiegogo.com/projects/bittle-a-palm-sized-robot-dog-for-stem-and-fun#/5. Product Club Podcast with Jeff Morris Jr.https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/product-club-with-jeff-morris-jr/id1529620656?ref=producthuntDon't forget to subscribe to my podcast for more good vibe and hopefully useful information !2020-10-0928 min
Design and a HalfEthics in Design and Social mediaIn today's podcast I'm going to talk about things like dark patterns used in products, as well as services, strategies some people are using to attract attention onto their products as well as debating about how social media could still be used to sell products, but at the same time, have a more ethical approach to it. I'll also rage a little bit about how we, as a design community have a tendency to be demolishers instead of creators, and the unhealthy competition that is within. I am not doing this for money or fame, but because I would like t...2020-10-0739 min
Design and a HalfCritical Thinking as a skillWe'll be having a look at the concept of "Critical Thinking" as well as what it means, how it can be useful and why it's become so popular lately among the skills that employers ask for.If you like the podcast, consider subscribing, either on youtube, spotify, apple podcast, google podcast or podbean ! I appreciate every single one of you listening in and hope to see you next time.The Facebook page where I am regularly posting new information and useful articles related but not limited to design, tech and business. https://www.facebook.com/podcastandahalf2020-10-0630 min
Design and a HalfProductHunt Fridays - 2 October 2020Welcome to this week's ProductHunt Friday ! In this episode we're going to go through a series of apps that range from funky elevator music, a statistic of how much time you've spent chatting with your friends on whatsapp to a really cool AR and MR marketplace ! Trying out a livelier format this time, so please let me know if you like it ! As usual, comment, like share with your friends if you deem it worthy and hope to see you again next week !Don't forget to also visit the facebook page and hit it with a likeAs usual you can...2020-10-0227 min
Design and a HalfDevelopment vs Design CommunicationIn today's episode, we'll take a look at the eternal struggle happing in most organizations that employ developers and designers, main friction points, tips on how to better work together as well as an answer to the age old question: "Should designers learn to code?". Find all about it today ! Oh and if you like the podcast, consider subscribing and sharing it with your designer or developer buddies ! :) I'd be happy to know you found some value in these tips! Stay safe!2020-10-0131 min
Design and a HalfDigital Designer Flavors.Today's episode talks about the types of digital designer's you'll find around in ocmpanies as well as some of the more or less subtle differences between them. I'll be covering UX Designers vs UI designers vs UX Researchers vs Digital Product Designer. This comes as an effort to provide both context as well as to educate as to some of these role's main differences and areas of expertise. However, as usual, there is no black and white line separating them, as most of the roles illustrated are defined largely by the companies that employ them.2020-10-0132 min
Design and a HalfProduct Debate - Android vs iOS Apps SupportIn today's episode we're talking between some major differences between Android and iOS but instead of just looking at the obvious things, we're also going to talk a bit more indepth about subtle customer experience issues as well as some really annoying things that are going on with particular products. DJI I'm looking at you ! No bueno what you're doing with the DJI mimo app, leaving us users in the ditch ! Shame on you !2020-09-2925 min
Design and a HalfDesign Jobs in today's MarketWe'll be having a look at the present situation of the gig and freelancing market as well as how it impacts companies in a positive way and how it impacts the workers negatively. Would love to know what you guys think either on the youtube channel or on podbean ! If you like this podcast, consider sharing and subscribing !Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpaYc-ITzoslvgk9ai9zO1gPodbean: https://designandahalf.podbean.com/Additionally you can also find us on apple podcast too starting todayApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ro/podcast/design-and-a-half/id15335784462020-09-2828 minDesign and a HalfDesign tests and ChallengesIn today's episode I'm going to talk about Design tests and challenges. A surefire way to turn designers away, and a very profitable habit for a lot of companies looking to make design hires. We'll be looking at reasons why they are wrong, and alternative ways to judge a designer's fit based on his resume and his portfolio, instead of doing work for free. If you're a designer, or a Human Resources person or a Design Recruiter, I'd love to know you input on this subject as well. As always, if you like the podcast, consider subscribing for that extra...2020-09-2723 min
Design and a HalfProducthunt Fridays - 25 Sept 2020Starting this Friday, I'll be doing a review of the 5 most popular producthunt items for that specific Friday, live, without having any prior knowledge about them. Sort of like a live User Testing Session where I see the product for the first time ! Let me know if it's something you'd like to see done more often and if you'd like me to change the format. Also, please consider subscribing to my podcast, or liking the episodes, since it incentives me to post more and help my podcast grow ! Thanks so much and have an amazing weekend ! In today's premiere, we'll b...2020-09-2518 minDesign and a HalfProduct Debate - Facebook's new desktop websiteThe new facebook desktop website redesign has been slowly rolling out, and ever since I became a beta tester for it, it just annoyed the ever living daylights out of me. Initially I was intrigued, tried it out for a week, and then was so frustrated with it, i switched back to the older version of the website. Obviously, they forced it upon everyone, and now, there is no way of going back, lest you do some non-orthodox javascript finagling. And so, I decided to share my own Product critique/debate with regards to the new website design, from both...2020-09-2322 minDesign and a HalfHow I started out as a UX DesignerI really don't like talking about myself usually because I am not keen on bragging, but I realised I never properly introduced myself, and how I came to do UX design in the first place, and so, in today's episode, you'll learn a little bit about my design background. Hope you'll enjoy it !2020-09-2223 minDesign and a HalfSmall vs Large Scale DesignIn this episode, we're going to be looking at the difference between design in smaller vs larger companies. We're going to look at what makes them different, why and what would best fit you.2020-09-2027 minDesign and a HalfCommunication and DesignWhy is communication important ? How can I communicate better and what are some good books on communication I can read to improve the way I communicate with others ? These are some questions that are answered in this first episode of Design and a Half.2020-09-1957 min