Shows
Design Life309: Become a design manager or stay an IC? How to make the choice.This episode is sponsored by Mobbin, which is the largest design reference library for mobile and web, offering practical inspiration from real apps that address diverse design challenges. Don’t forget to mention Design Life when you register at Mobbin!Femke and Charli respond to a listener's question about how to choose between pursuing a career as a design manager or an individual contributor (IC). They share their personal experiences navigating their career paths, discuss the factors they considered in their decision-making, and outline the skill sets required for each role.Timestamps: 01:06 Episode sta...2025-04-2829 min
Design Life308: Making the jump from mid to seniorThis episode is sponsored by Mobbin, which is the largest design reference library for mobile and web, offering practical inspiration from real apps that address diverse design challenges. Don’t forget to mention Design Life when you register at Mobbin!Femke and Charli explore the transition from mid-level to senior roles and touch upon the changes in responsibilities. They delve into practical tactics for boosting confidence and understanding workload expectations, as well as strategies to help listeners feel more secure in their new positions. Femke and Charli also give advice on embracing new opportunities while managing feelings of...2025-04-1427 min
Design Life307: Will AI take your design job? (Hot takes from later adopters)This episode is sponsored by Mobbin, which is the largest design reference library for mobile and web, offering practical inspiration from real apps that address diverse design challenges. Don’t forget to mention Design Life when you register at Mobbin!Femke and Charli explore effective ways for designers to incorporate AI into their everyday workflows, sharing practical insights on how they use AI tools in their own work. They also tackle the question of whether AI will replace designers and examine the current trajectory of AI adoption within the design industry.Timestamps:1:04 Episode st...2025-03-3130 min
Design Life306: Building a team for your side projectsThis episode is sponsored by Mobbin, which is the largest design reference library for mobile and web, offering practical inspiration from real apps that address diverse design challenges. Don’t forget to mention Design Life when you register at Mobbin!Femke and Charl share their insights gained from their experiences with outsourcing for their side projects. They discuss the strategies they employed to find the right talent. Charli elaborates on potential hires she would consider for her upcoming business and outlines the tasks she would prioritize for outsourcing. Femke discusses the roles she is contemplating for outsourcing to...2025-03-1731 min
Design Life305: If we started our side projects all over again...This episode is sponsored by Mobbin, which is the largest design reference library for mobile and web, offering practical inspiration from real apps that address diverse design challenges. Don’t forget to mention Design Life when you register at Mobbin!In this episode, Femke and Charli discuss the evolution of their side projects and reflect on what they’ve learned and how they would approach them differently if they were to start over. Femke and Charli share their personal side project journeys and discuss if side projects should be treated as passion projects or potential income sources. They...2025-03-0331 min
Design Life304: Setting our goals and intentions for 2025This episode is sponsored by Playbook, which is a collaborative platform for creatives to store, organize, and share their work. It features AI-powered search and integrates seamlessly with design tools, making it a great space to manage all your files and projects. Join the "30 Days of 30 Projects" Challenge with Playbook to elevate your creative skills and unlock your full potential!In this episode, Femke and Charli share their goals for 2025, including how Femke plans to approach her return to work and engage with her new community as well as Charli's business aspirations, plans for YouTube videos and...2025-01-1336 min
Design Life303: Changes in the design industry (specialists vs generalists?)This episode is sponsored by Playbook, which is a collaborative platform for creatives to store, organize, and share their work. It features AI-powered search and integrates seamlessly with design tools, making it a great space to manage all your files and projects. Join the "30 Days of 30 Projects" Challenge with Playbook to elevate your creative skills and unlock your full potential!Femke and Charli engage in a conversation about the advantages of being a generalist versus a specialist, explore the various types of skill sets needed to future-proof your career, and discuss whether incorporating AI into your skill...2024-12-3029 min
Design Life302: Design maturity and culture in a company (and how to influence it)This episode is sponsored by Playbook, which is a collaborative platform for creatives to store, organize, and share their work. It features AI-powered search and integrates seamlessly with design tools, making it a great space to manage all your files and projects. Join the "30 Days of 30 Projects" Challenge with Playbook to elevate your creative skills and unlock your full potential!In this episode, Femke and Charli discuss design maturity within organizations, the importance of establishing a strong design culture, practical advice for implementing changes, and personal experiences of integrating new design practices in the workplace....2024-12-1627 min
Design Life301: Learning management skills as a design managerThis episode is sponsored by Playbook, which is a collaborative platform for creatives to store, organize, and share their work. It features AI-powered search and integrates seamlessly with design tools, making it a great space to manage all your files and projects. Join the "30 Days of 30 Projects" Challenge with Playbook to elevate your creative skills and unlock your full potential!In this episode, Femke and Charli delve into the journey of transitioning from an individual contributor to a design manager, including distinct responsibilities and skills required for effective management in the creative industry. They talk about their...2024-12-0330 min
Design Life300: Live Q&A - Answering Your Top Design Questions on AirThis episode is sponsored by Playbook, which is a collaborative platform for creatives to store, organize, and share their work. It features AI-powered search and integrates seamlessly with design tools, making it a great space to manage all your files and projects. Join the "30 Days of 30 Projects" Challenge with Playbook to elevate your creative skills and unlock your full potential!In this live Q&A session, Femke and Charli dive into key topics for designers, including staying relevant in the industry, navigating stakeholder misalignment, making career moves, and the challenges and rewards of building a design culture...2024-11-1143 min
Design Life299: How to get better at collaborating with cross-functional partnersThis episode is sponsored by Playbook, which is a collaborative platform for creatives to store, organize, and share their work. It features AI-powered search and integrates seamlessly with design tools, making it a great space to manage all your files and projects. Join the "30 Days of 30 Projects" Challenge with Playbook to elevate your creative skills and unlock your full potential!Charli and Femke explore the challenges and best practices in cross-functional collaboration, including navigating role overlaps, planning for future initiatives, understanding how other teams work, leading effective meetings, and how cross-functional feedback fits into performance reviews.2024-10-2830 min
Design Life299: How to get better at collaborating with cross-functional partnersThis episode is sponsored by Playbook, which is a collaborative platform for creatives to store, organize, and share their work. It features AI-powered search and integrates seamlessly with design tools, making it a great space to manage all your files and projects. Join the "30 Days of 30 Projects" Challenge with Playbook to elevate your creative skills and unlock your full potential!Charli and Femke explore the challenges and best practices in cross-functional collaboration, including navigating role overlaps, planning for future initiatives, understanding how other teams work, leading effective meetings, and how cross-functional feedback fits into performance reviews.2024-10-2830 min
Design Life298: Behind the scenes of launching ConvertKit's rebrand to KitFemke and Charli dive into the experience of rebranding ConvertKit into Kit. Charli shares a behind-the-scenes look at launch day and the rebranding process, including what didn’t make it into the final launch but is on the roadmap, as well as key lessons learned and what could have been done differently.Timestamps: 0:33 - Intro & Life Update3:32 - How did it feel when the rebrand was finally complete?5:26 - What was the public’s reaction? Walk us through the launch day—how did it unfold?9:33 - Reflecting on the yoga re...2024-10-1427 min
Design Life297: What it's really like to go on parental leave as a designerFemke shares her experience navigating the challenges of parental leave, including her decision to take extended time off supported by her employer and Canadian government benefits. She reflects on the challenges of staying connected with the design industry while on parental leave and the potential motivations for returning to work earlier than planned. Femke also discusses how her perspective on work-life balance has evolved over time as she adjusts to her new routine.Timestamps:01:42 - Life updates from Charli and Femke05:16 - Deciding how much time to take off and Canadian parental leave benefits2024-09-3027 min
Design Life296: How to land a promotionCharli and Femke talk about Charli’s recent promotion and how she approached this process. They explore the importance of taking ownership of your professional growth, including how proactively seeking feedback and showing initiative can help advance your career.They also cover important questions like when to bring up a promotion, what the promotion process entails, and how tools like a promotion matrix and self-evaluation can help you in that process. Femke shares her past experiences with promotions, addressing the challenges of unmet expectations and what happens when someone believes they deserve a promotion but receives feedback su...2024-09-0929 min
Design Life295: The perks and pitfalls of working with a freelancerCharli and Femke dive into their experiences working with freelancers and agencies in their side projects and day jobs. Charli shares the decision-making process behind choosing an agency for a recent rebrand at Convert Kit, the challenges they encountered, and how involved they were in the collaboration. The hosts also offer practical advice for anyone deciding whether to keep a project in-house or outsource it to freelancers or agencies.Show Timestamps: 0:46 - Episode introduction1:38 - Charli’s update3:04 - Femke’s update5:04 - Femke and Charli share their experiences worki...2024-08-2630 min
Design Life294: Behind the scenes of a company rebrandFemke and Charli dive into the exciting world of rebranding Convert Kit. We explore the origins of the rebrand, discussing whether it began with a name change or a complete repositioning. Charli explains why they decided to make the rebranding process public instead of opting for a big splashy launch.Given the scale of the project, we delve into the various roles and responsibilities that are crucial for the rebrand’s success. Charli shares surprising challenges they've encountered so far, as well as the reception from customers and the public.We delve into how the reb...2024-07-2930 min
Design Life293: Why you need to understand the impact of your workFemke and Charli dive deep into the topic of the business impact of design decisions. We discuss whether impact is expected in the product design world and if it is an integral part of the design process. We also cover how to measure success and incorporate metrics into the design process.Additionally, we highlight the importance of sharing real experiences, including conflicts with PMs, design failures, and working without data. We discuss why it is important for designers to share stories of their failures and what they learned from them. We also discuss the resistance to owning...2024-07-0825 min
Design Life292: Config 2024 Figma release reactionsIn today’s episode, we are gonna discuss and break down the recent announcements from Figma Config 2024 conference that took place on June 26-27 in San Francisco, California. We are going to talk about Figma's UI3 redesign, new features such as Figma Slides, Code Connect, new AI features, project transfers, connected workspaces, and many more.Show Timestamps:0:45 Intro01:16 Is it “cOnfig” or “confIg”?02:04 Update to the Autolayout04:25 Figma’s redesign - new UI307:19 Project transfers and connected workspaces9:58 New AI features15:12 AI Rename layers featu...2024-07-0230 min
Design Life291: When a side project totally failsFemke and Charli delve into the difficulties of managing a side project that isn't going well. Charli shares her personal experience of trying to organize a live workshop in New Zealand and not managing to attract enough participants. The hosts discuss what Charli learned from this experience and how the situation could have been handled better.Show Timestamps:2:03 Update from Femke’s side4:14 Update from Charli’s side6:23 Background of the situation12:18 What is your reflection on this situation?13:44 What are some lessons learned from this situation? Why...2024-05-2127 min
Design Life290: Landing a new design job in 2024Femke and Charli share their insights on how to approach the application process in the 2024 design job market. The hosts share strategies on how to optimize your application, stand out from the crowd, and increase your chances of securing your desired position. As competition intensifies and hiring standards rise, it is important to excel in every aspect of your application, whether it's a case study, website, or resume. Tune in to discover how to effectively showcase your design expertise and gain essential guidance for thriving in today's fiercely competitive job market.Show Timestamps:01:40 Catch up2024-05-0628 min
Design Life289: How to know when it's time to move on from a jobCharli reflects on her 7-year journey at her current workplace, emphasizing the importance of difficult conversations in clarifying issues such as salary and job satisfaction. Femke talks about the struggles she experienced of leaving behind internal reputation and connections when transitioning roles, highlighting the value of established relationships within a company. They discuss the concept of "golden handcuffs" and the need to see if current job aligns with personal growth and challenges. Charli and Femke also share personal experiences of leaving previous jobs in tech, offering insights into recognizing signs for change and taking the first steps towards opportunities.2024-04-2230 min
Design Life288: Making the most of team retreats and offsitesCharli and Femke talk about their experience of having retreats with their teams, how retreats should be structured, what is their purpose and how to make the best out of in-person time with your teammates.As remote work becomes increasingly prevalent and we usually do not get the chance to see our co-workers’ faces outside of video-calls, team offsites can greatly improve the team dynamic and subsequently enhance communication between team members. Changing scenery and experiencing new things with your team will create space for creativity to approach challenges and open doors to have crucial discussions, paving th...2024-04-0829 min
Design Life287: Why your personal brand mattersFemke and Charli delve into the concept of personal branding. They discuss whether personal branding requires strategic planning and the level of intentionality one should have regarding their personal brand. Femke and Charli explore the distinction between personal and company brands, the objectives personal branding can help achieve and whether individuals can truly control others' perceptions of them through personal branding. Femke and Charli also touch upon the importance of personal branding for designers and how to cultivate it within a company they work at. Finally, the hosts address the issue of misalignment between one's perceived and desired personal...2024-03-2625 min
Design Life286: Should you take deadlines seriously?Charli and Femke give an elaborate reply to one of the listener's requests: whether deadlines should be taken seriously. The hosts share real stories of how they approached deadlines in different projects, how unrealistic deadlines should be handled, what to do in situations when a deadline cannot be met, how to discuss deadlines and set reasonable expectations, and how one's perspective on them changes depending on their role in the project. Show Timestamps:01:13 Intro02:34 Charli’s workshop and life updates04:21 Femke’s life update07:01 Question submission from a lis...2024-03-1131 min
Design Life285: The truth about burnout (and recovery)Charli shares her personal experience of how she got burned out from her side projects. She talks about the subtle signs and symptoms that indicate burnout and how to confront them. Charli decided to drop her side projects and restructured her life to recover from burnout.Charli and Femke touch upon how burn out can affect your career choices, the importance of diversifying your daily activities and hobbies, why burnout is so prevalent in creative professions and the importance of defining what is healthy balance for you. SHOW TIMESTAMPS:1:18 Femke shares h...2024-02-2727 min
Design Life284: Our Career and Personal Goals for 2024Welcome back, design enthusiasts! We're kicking off 2024 by bring you up to speed on our latest adventures and aspirations.🌟 Life Updates: Tune in as we share the latest updates from our lives – from career milestones to more personal things, we're laying it all on the table.💼 Career and Side Project Plans: Get ready to dive into our ambitious plans for the year ahead. We're talking side gigs, big dreams, and everything in between. Charlie is sharing her plans to organise an in-person meet up in New Zealand, her plans for the upcoming book, while Femke reveals...2024-02-1228 min
Design Life201: Being the only designer on the teamGet 10% off any new annual Webflow plan using the code “designlife” at http://wfl.io/designlife Join the design life communitySupport the show by buying a Pin!Submit a topic
2020-09-2930 min
Design Life200: Does using design freebies make you less of a designer?Thanks to Webflow for sponsoring this episode! Webflow gives designers the power of code in a visual interface, and both of your Design Life hosts love using it for their personal sites.Get 10% off any new annual Webflow plan using the code “designlife” at http://wfl.io/designlife
2020-09-2227 min
Design Life199: How direct is TOO direct with feedback?Thanks to Webflow for sponsoring this episode! Webflow gives designers the power of code in a visual interface, and both of your Design Life hosts love using it for their personal sites.Get 10% off any new annual Webflow plan using the code “designlife” at http://wfl.io/designlife Join the design life communitySupport the show by buying a Pin!Submit a topic
2020-09-1429 min
Design Life198: Making friends at workThanks to Webflow for sponsoring this episode! Webflow gives designers the power of code in a visual interface, and both of your Design Life hosts love using it for their personal sites.Get 10% off any new annual Webflow plan using the code “designlife” at http://wfl.io/designlife
2020-09-0828 min
Design Life138: Salaries and bonusesIn a slight change to our usual series on design careers, in this episode we talk about the compensation packages we have been offered at varying stages of our careers. How can you negotiate to get the most out of your compensation package, and what can be included? Find out how we have used our compensation packages to our benefit.
Full takeaways at designlife.fm/episode/138
2018-09-1836 min
Design Life129: When do you know it’s time to move on?It’s easy to get stuck in the same routine – same job, same tasks, same projects. However there comes a time when maybe it’s time to move on to something new. In this episode we discuss experiences we’ve had with moving on to new endeavours, and how you know you’re ready for a change.
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2018-07-0932 min
Design Life103: Product launches and failuresLaunching something you’ve been working hard on to the world wide internet can be intimidating. In this episode we share what we’ve learned from launching things recently, what we wish we’d done differently, and give you advice to apply to your own launch no matter how big or small your audience might be.
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2017-11-2037 min
Design Life099: What to do when you’re lacking motivationSlumps in motivation happen. No matter how passionate you are, no matter how good you are at time management; sometimes you just don’t feel motivated. In this episode we talk about how we deal with the slump, chat about possible reasons for it occurring, and give advice for trying to get out of it.
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2017-10-2335 min
Design Life098: Sunsetting a side projectWe talk a lot on this show about starting side projects and working on bringing your ideas to life, but what happens when the passion dies and you find yourself not wanting to work on a project anymore? In this episode we discuss our reasons for sunsetting side projects and share ways for you to figure out if you should put an idea on hold.
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2017-10-1638 min
Design Life097: How to start making money from side projects - with Nathan BarryIt’s time to start making money from your side projects. Designer/entrepreneur Nathan Barry joins us for this episode to share advice for selling products without seeming too pushy, setting goals for your side projects, and how to launch them. If you’ve been wanting to start earning money online, this episode will give you the advice and confidence to start doing it.
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2017-10-0346 min
Design Life096: Tech & gadgets for designersHardware is an essential part of the design process, but how much you invest in that is up to you. In this episode we talk about the technology and gadgets that make up our hardware setup and discuss our research process before buying new tech items, along with why you don’t need a shiny new MacBook to be a designer.
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2017-09-2542 min
Design Life092: Advice for applying to design jobsLets say you’ve already done the job hunt – you’ve narrowed it down to a select few companies you want to apply at. Now it’s time to prepare your application. In this episode we share our advice for your CV, cover letter and portfolio, as well as chat about the emotional side of the job application process.
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2017-08-2842 min
Design Life091: Getting your work noticedDoing great work is just one part of building a reputation and an audience; you also need to get your work noticed. In this episode we give advice for feeling confident sharing your work, and how to go about it in the right way. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-08-2236 min
Design Life090: Job huntingIn this episode we’re kicking off the start of a new mini-series about finding a new job. To start with we’re talking about the job hunt process and giving you advice for where to look for your new role and how to research a company to see if it’s a place you’d like to work. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-08-1440 min
Design Life089: Personal vs professionalDo you feel like you need to be careful what you post online? Can you be yourself on social media? In this episode we discuss the divide between our personal and professional sides and how we handle this online. We’ll share thoughts on how this affects job prospects and some rules of thumb to follow. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-08-0737 min
Design Life088: Shiny Object SyndromeUs creative types can often be distracted by shiny new ideas, especially when we’re at a tough point in a project. The temptation of working on something new is easy to give in to, but it’s not always the best thing for achieving our goals. In this episode we talk about shiny object syndrome, how it’s affected us, and advice for dealing with it to stay on track. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-08-0131 min
Design Life087: Project ScopingProject scoping is one of the scariest and hardest parts of the design process when you’re new to it. It takes time and practice to get right, and in this episode we’re sharing the best tips on project scoping from us and our listeners. You’ll also hear about some times when we got it wrong, so that you can learn from our project scoping mistakes. More at www.designlife.fm.
2017-07-2438 min
Design Life086: Balancing professional growth with getting paidProfessional development and growing your skills is important in any design job, but when you’re freelancing it can be hard to fit in as any time you spend learning is time not spent working for clients. in this episode we discuss the responsibility we have to develop our skills and how we incorporate learning into our projects. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-07-1738 min
Design Life085: Keeping up with new tools and frameworksThe Design Life community beta is open! Join now.
These days it seems like there is always a new tool or framework to try. It’s easy to feel the pressure to keep up with it all and stay relevant; especially when all of your peers are talking about it. In this episode we discuss our approach to trying new software and tools and how we deal with the pressure to stay up to date. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-07-1036 min
Design Life084: Self-doubt and feeling unsuccessfulFeeling down about yourself, and like you’re super uninteresting and unsuccessful isn’t fun. In fact, it downright sucks. But it’s something we all seem to face. So that’s what we decided to discuss in this weeks episode along with feeling too old and comparing ourselves to others. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-07-0339 min
Design Life083: What to do when you’re overwhelmedAs ambitious people, we often find ourselves in situations where we’ve committed to too many things and have to deal with the overwhelm that comes along with it. In this episode we discuss what to do in this situation and how to learn from it for the inevitable next time. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-06-2638 min
Design Life082: When your ideas are bigger than your skillsetWe have ideas all the time, and sometimes those ideas are so big that we don’t have the skillset to actually follow through on them. So what should you do when that happens? In this episode we discuss our approach to big ideas and the learning or asking for help that comes along with them. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-06-1939 min
Design LifeE81: Bullet journalling for task managementBullet journalling has become an incredibly popular way to manage projects and tasks. In this episode we discuss how we use the system and why we decided to try it, as well as give advice for getting started if you’re interested in trying it yourself. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-06-1241 min
Design Life079: The value of designDesign is often misconstrued as being about surface level visuals, when actually a lot of work goes in behind the scenes before you reach a beautiful finished product. In this episode we discuss the difficulties in communicating the value of design and give advice for talking to friends and clients about it so that you can be paid way you’re worth.
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2017-05-2934 min
Design Life078: Using video to build and connect with an audienceIn the future, making videos will be just as common as writing blog posts. In this episode we talk about the benefits of creating online video (hint: it’s more than just audience growth!) and Charli gives advice to Femke for getting started and what to expect. More at www.designlife.fm.
2017-05-2238 min
Design Life077: The future of the design industryDesign software is becoming more and more accessible, with some tools offering automatic layouts and quick logos. As designers should we worry about this future? In this episode we discuss the commodification of design and give thoughts on the future of our industry and what we can do to make sure we’re providing value. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-05-1540 min
Design Life076: The pros and cons of procrastiworkingProcrastiworking is work you do instead of another task; think of it as productive procrastination! But it is still just that: procrastination. In this episode we talk about the process and cons of it and give our tips for avoiding it or making it work to your advantage. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-05-0832 min
Design Life075: Feeling guilty for taking a breakDo you sometimes feel guilty for taking a break? Maybe you tinker on things throughout your break to ease the guilt, or perhaps you feel the guilt after enjoying a weekend away. Well we feel that too, so that’s what we discuss in this episode. You’ll hear our feelings on this guilt, and our advice for overcoming it and allowing yourself the permission to relax. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-05-0132 min
Design Life074: Working from homeWorking from home is becoming more and more common as more creatives take on a freelance life, and more companies embrace the remote way of working. In this episode we discuss the pros and cons of making your living space your working space, and give advice for combatting loneliness, switching off and distraction. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-04-2440 min
Design Life073: What to do when you run out of passionUs designers can be emotional people. We love our jobs and we feel passionately about our creative projects. But what happens when that passion wanes? In this episode we talk about what it’s like to lose the passion you once had for a project, and what to do about it. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-04-1737 min
Design Life072: Teaching yourself a new skillLearning a new skill can be hard, especially when you’re teaching yourself. But it’s also a vital part of growing as a designer throughout your career. In this episode we chat about how we teach ourselves new skills, the struggles we face, and how we deal with them. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-04-1044 min
Design Life071: Feeling confident as a designerStruggling with confidence is a big problem creatives face. We’ve all had days where we feel like we can’t keep going on our creative journey; that we’re not good enough and should just give up. But facing those hurdles is a part of the learning process and something we have to learn to deal with. In this episode we discuss confidence issues and give advice on ways to feel more confident in your work and abilities. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-04-0334 min
Design Life070: How to package up client deliverablesSending a client the deliverables is the last step of a project, so it’s one that can have a lasting impression. In this episode we discuss our process for sending client deliverables and some improvements we want to make to end the project on a really professional note. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-03-2732 min
Design Life069 - Stepping out of your comfort zoneStepping out of your comfort zone is something you have to do every now and then to learn and develop. In this episode we talk about what that means for us in terms of our side projects, taking on new opportunities, and also with our design style. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-03-2034 min
Design Life068: Speeding up your workflowWhen you’ve got a tight deadline to meet (or when you’ve just got a lot to do) little tricks to speed up your workflow can make all the difference. In this episode we talk about how our workflows have improved over the years and suggest some ideas for you to try. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-03-1337 min
Design Life067: We need more crappy workThe design world has gotten a little too perfect. All we see are beautiful finished products. The ideas thrown out along the way never get shared. But there is value in sharing your process and it can help others learn. In this episode we talking about perfectionism and sharing, and about how we need to see more crappy work. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-03-0634 min
Design Life066: Morals in designHow do your personal morals fit in with your design work? As designers, and as humans, we have a responsibility to think about the user and put forward work that makes the world better rather than worse. In this episode we discuss ethics and morals, and share examples of a few things we draw the line on. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-02-2731 min
Design Life065: Life after design schoolIn this episode we reflect on what it’s been like to leave design school and start designing full time. We cover the many differences in the design process and the people you work with in school vs out in the “real world” and share advice for making the transition smoother. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-02-2041 min
Design Life064: Consistency in content creationWhen it comes to creating content online, consistency is the key to building a reputation and an audience. In this episode we discuss how we stay consistent with our content creation and share advice for how to overcome some common struggles. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-02-1343 min
Design Life063: Advice for remote workingRemote working is becoming more and more common, and more and more desirable these days. In this episode we discuss our remote jobs and share advice for focussing and connecting with your team as a remote worker, and making the most of your nomadic situation. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-02-0644 min
Design Life062: Taking control of your design careerWhen it comes to your design career, you need to think about what you want out of it and where you want to end up in the future so that you can make steps towards it now, and make choices that align with those goals. In this episode we discuss the career goals of our listeners (and our own!) and share tips for figuring out what you want, and working towards it. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-01-3033 min
Design Life061: Constraints breed creativityConstraints breed creativity. If they’re not too restrictive, they give you a starting point and a box to think outside of. In this episode we discuss how to see constraints in a positive light and share advice for setting your own constraints on side projects. We also talk about what to do when a client is overly prescriptive and the constraints box you into a corner, and how to treat budget and time constraints as a good thing. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-01-2430 min
Design Life060: Focus timeLack of focus is our biggest enemy when it comes to productivity. In this episode we talk about focus time and how we can create it for ourselves. We discuss some different apps and techniques that help towards finding focus, but we also talk about the fact that focus looks different for everyone. The thing that helps someone else focus may not work for you, but it’s about experimenting and seeing what sticks. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-01-1636 min
Design Life059: Advice for creating a great portfolioWhen it comes to getting jobs in creative industries, your portfolio is more important than your resumé. Your portfolio should show your best work, and should demonstrate why you’re the person to hire for the job. It can be tough to create a good one. There are lots of decisions to be made, from what work to include and how to talk about it, to what platform to use and how much process to show. In this episode we share advice for all of these things and more. More at www.designlife.fm
2017-01-0942 min
Design Life057: Surrounding yourself with good peopleThe people you surround yourself with can have a huge impact on your life. That impact can be positive and uplifting, or it could be negative and crush your dreams; it’s up to you. In this episode we talk about how to find inspiring people and make them a part of your life, and also about how to let go of people who might be having a negative impact on you. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-12-1932 min
Design Life055: Design contracts & why you should have oneA contract is an essential part of being a freelancer. Even if you’re just starting out, it’s valuable to put one in to your process as soon as possible. In this episode we share advice for creating your contract and some hurdles to watch out for, alongside so many useful resources in our show notes. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-12-0536 min
Design Life054: Advice for content marketingContent marketing doesn’t have to be a thing only big businesses do to seem like they know their customers; it’s something we as creatives can do to get our names out there, attract the right type of client, and become a part of the creative community by giving knowledge back. In this episode we discuss the benefits we’ve gotten from content marketing, as well as tips for creating content. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-11-2840 min
Design Life053: Should you market yourself as an individual or a studio?When you market yourself for freelance work, there are two main ways to brand yourself: as an individual or as a studio. In this episode we discuss the pros and cons of each and help you figure out which option is best for you. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-11-2136 min
Design Life052: Hearing your struggles (Birthday episode)For Design Life’s one year anniversary episode we invited our listeners to send in an audio recording telling us about something they’re struggling with at the moment. We do our best to answer their questions about managing time, confidence, finding clients and opportunities, and creating content.In this episode you’ll hear advice for getting through the struggles and share our own stories on the topics. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-11-1435 min
Design Life051: How to get clients to pay upWe often hear stories of designers waiting months for payment. It’s hard asking for money, so how do you get clients to pay up? In this episode we talk about issues with payments, and share advice for making the payment process professional and easy. Remember, you deserve to be paid for your work in a timely manner, and there are things you should be doing that will help make this happen. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-11-0734 min
Design Life050: The value of conferencesGoing to conferences is something most professionals end up doing at some point in their career. But when should you start going to some? How do you know which ones are best? What should you do when you’re there? We discuss all these things in this latest episode and share how conferences have impacted our careers, as well as give you advice for how to get the most value from them. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-11-0237 min
Design Life049: The hustle mindsetHustle is a buzz-word we see a lot these days. In this episode we discuss what it means to us, and the effect it has on our mental state and our work. It’s easy to feel a lot of pressure to hustle when you see others achieving so much, but it’s important not to let the hustle take over your life, so listen in for some advice on balancing that. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-10-2436 min
Design Life048: Repositioning your online presenceRepositioning your niche or your content isn’t necessarily about what you’re doing, but how you’re doing it. You may find yourself going down a path that’s not quite right for you, or perhaps your goal changes and you need to reposition to reflect that. In this episode we talk in detail about some changes we’re making to the content we put out online and why we feel this change is necessary. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-10-1738 min
Design Life047: How to price your design workThe topic of pricing is often taboo in the design world, but we think it helps everyone to talk more openly about it. In this episode we discuss how we price our work, and how that’s changed from when we started out in design. We also debate the merits of project based vs hourly pricing. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-10-1042 min
Design Life046: Dealing with harsh critiqueHarsh critique is something we all encounter, and when you’ve not yet built up a thick skin it can be very hard to deal with. In this episode we give you advice for taking this feedback on board without letting it affect you emotionally. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-10-0334 min
Design Life045: Advice for finding a job in the design industryGetting a job in the design industry is all about building up experience and making connections. In this episode we talk about how we’ve landed the creative roles we’ve had so far, and share advice for portfolios, job hunting, and nailing an interview. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-09-2645 min
Design Life043: How to decide what to work onTime and energy are precious resources, and in order not to waste them we must be picky with what opportunities we take on, and what ideas we act on. In this episode we discuss our process for deciding what side projects and client briefs we work on, and which we say ‘no’ to. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-09-1234 min
Design Life042: The truth about freelance marketplacesFreelancing websites that offer the opportunity to bid for projects or compete to have your logo design chosen by a company are damaging to the way design is valued. In this episode we discuss our thoughts and experiences with these sites and explain why they should be avoided. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-09-0539 min
Design Life041: Making the most of design schoolGetting a degree is not a requirement for making it in the design industry, and that means that it is up to us to make the most of our time at design school to get the most value from it.
You shouldn’t sit back and do the bare minimum; you should make the most of the opportunities and contacts available to you at your school and push yourself to do more than just get good grades.
In this episode we discuss our design school experience and share some things we wish we’d known, or d...2016-08-2939 min
Design Life040: Fear of FailureA fear of failure can hold us back from going after opportunities, starting new projects, and aiming high. In this episode we talk about how failure is a natural part of the learning and making process, and it’s only an end point if we let it be. In the end the only real failure is giving up, or not even trying it in the first place. You’ll hear advice for pushing through this fear, and hear us talk about the mindset shift you need in order to see the positives in your failures. Find out more at www...2016-08-2236 min
Design Life039: Agency vs freelance vs in-house designThere are three main types of design job: agency/studio (where you work as part of a team who does work for clients), freelance (where you work for yourself and have your own clients) and in-house (where you’re a designer on a team at a single company working on projects for them). They each have their own pros and cons, and we discuss them in this episode. We’ll also give you advice for choosing the path that suits you best. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-08-1631 min
Design Life038: Jack of all trades - Specialist or generalist?In the tech industry especially, there is a lot of pressure on designers to excel at everything involved in the design and development process and be “unicorns”.
In this episode we discuss how the phrase ‘Jack of all trades; master of none’ applies to the design industry, and the pitfalls of spreading yourself thin across many different disciplines. We believe in being specialists rather than generalists and we’ll explain why, as well as give you advice for finding out what you’re best at. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-08-0834 min
Design Life037: Bringing new clients onboardBringing a new client onboard is the start of a new working relationship, and it’s important to get it started on the right foot. Having an onboarding process in place to streamline this beginning phase can save you time and also set expectations with your potential client. In this episode we discuss our process, and share advice for figuring out your own. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-08-0139 min
Design Life036: Blurring the line between life and workDo you work to live, or live to work? Often the latter is seen as a negative thing, but we beg to differ. In this episode we talk about our attitude towards work and how we see it as an integrated part of our life; not a necessary evil. You’ll hear tips for finding fulfilment and looking at your job in a positive light, and encouragement to make changes if the way in which you spend the majority of your day is not enriching your life. Work is a part of our identity, and we don’t think that...2016-07-2537 min
Design Life035: Defining a niche for your workDefining a niche means targeting a specific audience with your work and content. In this episode we discuss the benefits of this focussed approach and discuss the niche(s) we’re aiming our content at. You’ll hear advice for choosing a niche, and we’ll quell any fears that you’ll find it harder to build an audience or find clients if you don’t appeal to everyone. Trust us; you will! More at www.designlife.fm
2016-07-1841 min
Design Life034: Which Design Tools should I use?Design tools are all the things we use to bring our ideas to life.
In this episode we discuss the software we design in, the resources we use, the analogue items we take our workflow offline with, and our top little workflow hacks. While learning design tools doesn’t automatically make you a good designer, it is good to know what tools professional designers use day-to-day to see which ones you should focus your attention on.
We use different tools for different tasks and we share them all along with some background on how we le...2016-07-1139 min
Design Life033: The importance of role modelsNo one is born knowing how to lead a successful life. That’s something we learn along the way from role models. In this episode we discuss the value and importance we place on role models and share our attitude towards taking inspiration from them while still following our own path. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-07-0434 min
Design Life032: Living in the PresentThings get philosophical in this episode as we talk about the importance of living in the ‘now’. It’s so easy to look at successful people and feel pressured to hustle more so that you can achieve what they have, but if you don’t enjoy the journey towards your goals and find fulfilment in the process, will you ever feel content? We want you to know it’s okay to have down time! In this episode we share tips for remembering to enjoy your present, and how this works in with your future goals. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-06-2737 min
Design Life031: Fighting procrastinationProcrastination is the enemy of productivity. The most important thing to do when you’re procrastinating is to take note of the reasons why you’re doing it and try to learn from them for next time. In this episode we talk about what we do when we procrastinate (and what tasks we procrastinate from) and give you advice for breaking through those low-productivity moments. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-06-2036 min
Design Life030: Getting useful feedback on your workFeedback is essential to your work whether it comes from fellow designers, your audience, your clients, or your own gut! In this episode we talk about different types of feedback and when and how to ask for it. We also give advice on ways to improve the quality of the feedback you get so that it will be more useful to your work. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-06-1336 min
Design Life029: Should you follow design trends?Design trends are visual elements or design systems that sweep over the web and start appearing on many different websites. As with most things, there is a time and a place to follow trends and when you’re just starting out in the industry you can feel pressure to make your designs look like the ‘professionals’. In this episode we discuss the impact trends have on our design styles and the level of attention we give to them. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-06-0641 min
Design Life028: Our Design ProcessThe process you follow for design projects will vary depending on the type of work and the client, but in this episode we discuss the basic process we follow for designing websites. We give advice for wireframing, dealing with client feedback and revisions. Your design process is something that will evolve over time and it’s a good idea to always be open to learning new techniques and improving on your process. More at www.designlife.fm
2016-05-3044 min
Design Life027: What if nobody notices?Things get deep this week as we discuss a fear that many creatives have: what if nobody notices my work? When you work hard on something, and especially if the result is something that could help people, there’s no shame in wanting that work to be seen and appreciated.
A lack of recognition or attention can be hard to deal with, especially if you’re not seeing growth in something you’ve been working on for a while. In this episode we chat about situations where we’ve felt this fear, and give solutions for how to deal...2016-05-2337 min