UX Leadership By Design

In Episode 6 of Season 2 of UX Leadership by Design, host Mark Baldino chats with Bridget McMullan, Director of Technology Innovation at Elevance Health, about the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), user experience design, and product management. They dive into the critical role of human creativity and critical thinking in effectively integrating AI into product development and design processes. Bridget shares insights from her diverse background in product development and her teaching experiences, highlighting practical examples of AI applications. The conversation also touches on ethical considerations, potential biases, and the importance of human intervention in AI's development and implementation. Whether you're a designer, product manager, or simply an AI enthusiast this episode explores the transformative potential of AI in creating innovative, user-centered design solutions. Key Takeaways: AI and Human Creativity in UX Design: The integration of artificial intelligence in user experience design highlights a unique overlap where AI enhances human creativity, leading to the development of innovative solutions that blend the best of technology and human insight. Human-Centered Design in the Age of AI: Despite the transformative potential of AI, the core principles of human-centered design remain paramount. This approach ensures that design solutions prioritize user-friendliness, intuition, and ethical responsibility, keeping human needs and values at the forefront. Ethical AI Use and Bias Prevention: The ethical integration of AI in design practices emphasizes the importance of bias prevention and aligns technological advancements with human values, ensuring that AI serves the genuine needs of users. Evolving Role of AI in Product Development: Artificial intelligence is increasingly shaping the future of product development, introducing new methodologies that streamline the design process and encourage innovation, thereby transforming how products are conceived and brought to market. Critical Thinking and Human Insight in AI Implementation: In the implementation of AI-driven solutions, critical thinking and human intervention play crucial roles, ensuring that technology is applied in a manner that is both practical and deeply attuned to user needs. Navigating the AI Landscape in Design and Technology: As AI continues to evolve, understanding its impact on design and technology becomes essential. This encompasses both the benefits and challenges of AI, highlighting how it can enhance user experiences while also presenting new considerations for designers. Connect with Bridget on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridgetmcmullan/ Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

In Season 2, Episode 5 of UX Leadership by Design, Mark Baldino is joined by Pooja Vijay Kumar from Autodesk to discuss the transformative shift from product-centric to platform-centric design. Pooja shares her journey and the strategic importance of breaking down complex systems into atomic elements for better communication and understanding. The episode highlights Autodesk's approach to supporting a myriad of products and features while maintaining a cohesive infrastructure. The conversation offers practical advice for designers, product managers, and technologists navigating the evolving landscape of design. Tune in to learn about the future of design and how to thrive in a platform-centric environment. Key Takeaways: Shift to Platform-Centric Design Thinking: The episode underscores the essential transition from product-centric to platform-centric design, emphasizing the need for designers to adopt a mindset focused on creating systems that support multiple products and services. This shift involves breaking down complex systems into atomic elements for clarity and effective communication. The Role of Strategic Questioning and Business Acumen: Designers are encouraged to ask pertinent questions to grasp the business value of their projects fully. Understanding and articulating the business context of design work is highlighted as a crucial skill for influencing decision-making and asserting the strategic importance of design in achieving business objectives. Navigating Organizational Dynamics for Impact: The discussion on entering and exiting "the right rooms" metaphorically speaks to the importance of designers positioning themselves in situations where they can significantly impact and participate in crucial decision-making processes. It's about finding the balance between contributing value and seeking opportunities for meaningful involvement in strategic discussions. Innovations in Platform Content Design: Pooja Vijay Kumar shares insights into the unique challenges and approaches in platform content design, including crafting language and metaphors that anchor user experiences. This involves a sophisticated understanding of data models, concepts, and the transition from legacy systems to more granular, data-centric approaches. Future Directions in Design: The conversation points towards the future of design, stressing the importance for designers to equip themselves with platform-centric thinking, strategic questioning, and an understanding of business value to navigate the evolving landscape of technology and design effectively. Connect with Pooja on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/poojavijaykumar/ Pooja on ADPList: https://adplist.org/mentors/pooja-vijay-kumar Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

In Episode 4, Season 2 of "UX Leadership By Design," Denise Tilles discusses the critical role of product operations in scaling businesses and enhancing product development. She underscores the necessity of integrating product and design teams with a strong emphasis on leveraging data and research operations to drive impactful business results. Denise targets a broad audience for the book, including product managers, VPs, CPOs, and CEOs, to emphasize the universal benefit of adopting product operations frameworks. Key insights include the essential nature of operationalizing product teams, the significance of data in refining product strategy, and the importance of cross-functional collaboration for effective operationalization. Key Takeaways: Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:13 Discovering Product Operations 04:26 Defining Product Management 05:29 Target Audience for the Book 08:14 When to Operationalize Product Teams 10:36 The Role of Data in Product Operations 18:09 Overlap and Collaboration with Other Ops Teams 22:03 Aligning Design and Product for Operationalization 23:45 The Importance of Research Ops 26:00 Collaboration between Design and Product 28:23 Talue of Product Operations Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

Welcome to Episode 3 of Season 2 of UX Leadership By Design. In this episode, Mark speaks with Mollie Cox, Director of Product Design at Fleet.io and Adjunct Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Mollie shares her career journey and the connection between her early career, playing hopscotch, teaching, and leadership style. She emphasizes the value of teaching practical skills. Mollie also discusses the concept of radical softness, using our emotions as a strength and not a weakness. She also explains how she carves out time for growth and mentorship within her design team, aligning individual goals with organizational goals. Mollie's commitment to designer growth is evident in her approach to leadership and mentorship. All leaders can learn a tremendous amount from Mollie's leadership style and ethos "Grow my people". Takeaways Topics covered Links Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

The title says it all -- we cover a ton in Season 2, Episode 2 of UX Leadership By Design, as Mark Baldino talks with Shan Shen, a Principal UX designer at Custom Ink. Shan shares her background in design and her transition to a leadership role as they discuss the challenges designers face in a remote work environment and the importance of creating support systems. Shan shares tips for designers and leaders in navigating difficult situations and emphasizes the need for designers to understand the language of business and focus on delivering value. We'll say it again -- value is the love language of business. Takeaways Topics Covered: Links: Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

Welcome to Season 2 of UX Leadership by Design. In this episode, we talk to Bryn McCoy, a seasoned UX design leader, who shares her journey from a maker in tech to a design leader. Bryn emphasizes the importance of collaboration between product and design teams, addressing challenges in the tech industry, and the need for innovation in times of uncertainty. Bryn also highlights the significance of maintaining creativity and motivation within teams and stresses the importance of personal and cultural growth. The episode covers various topics including the transition from making to leading, collaboration strategies, and maintaining team motivation amidst challenges, ending with recommendations for further resources. Takeaways Topics Covered Links: Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

In this episode, we explore design leadership and entrepreneurship with Cameron Ridenour, Chief Design Officer of CoNote. Cameron brings listeners into the process of novel product design - highlighting the intricate journey of aligning user requirements with a company's strategic goals. Mark and Cameron discuss transitioning from a traditional design roles to a co-founders and product leaders. This is a great episode for UX Design leaders who are interested in strategies for harmonizing often conflicting aspects of product development. Through practical, real-world examples, listeners gain an understanding of how to maintain a clear and consistent product design direction, even when faced with varying user feedback or short-term opportunities from stakeholders. TOPICS: 1. Non-Traditional Paths to Design Leadership 2. The Evolution of UX Research Tools 3. Balancing User-Centric Design with Commercial Viability 4. The Role of UX in Product Development at Startups 5. Managing Technical Debt in UX Design 6. User-Centered Design Across Different Mediums 7. Building a Cohesive Design Team 8. UX Leadership and Positive Team Culture 9. AI in UX: Enhancing Research and Synthesis 10. Tools and Strategies for Effective Research Synthesis LINKS: Cameron Ridenour on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/voltronfutura/ CoNote: www.conote.ai Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug : https://sensible.com/dont-make-me-think/ Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/ Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

In Episode 11 of UX Leadership by Design, Joana Castro, Director of UX at Buildium in Portugal explains how she leverages UX Maturity models at Buildium, and more broadly, how organizations can use UX maturity assessments to measure progress (and regression), demonstrate the value of UX, and secure investment in user experience. This episode offers practical advice for UX leaders interested in implementing a UX maturity model in their organization, effectively using storytelling as a strategy to help stakeholders connect to user problems, and hiring and developing junior designers. TOPICS: 1. The State of the UX Market in Portugal 2. Building and Managing UX Teams 3. The Importance of Soft Skills in UX 4. Using storytelling to cultivate stakeholder buy in 5. Transitioning from Individual Contributor to UX Leader 6. The UX Maturity Model by Nielsen Norman Group 7. Assessing and Demonstrating UX Value 8. Demonstrating ROI and Business Value of UX 9. The Impact of UX Maturity Assessments LINKS: Joana Castro LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joana-isadora-castro/ Buildium: https://www.buildium.com/ Atlas (North American Report) by Sequoia: https://atlas.sequoiacap.com/ Nielsen Norman Group: 6 Levels of UX Maturity Model: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ux-maturity-model/ Nielsen Norman Group: UX Maturity Survey: https://forms.nngroup.com/s3/Maturity-Quiz Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

Are design leaders and their teams neglecting the power of wireframing in UX design? In the latest episode of UX Leadership by Design, Mark Baldino explores this question, and others, with Billy Carlson, a design leader and educator. The episode dives deep into the often underestimated process of wireframing, emphasizing its critical role in project development. Billy underscores the value of staying in the the "gray areas" of low-fidelity design early on, as it allows teams to refine their ideas, establish content structures, and secure stakeholder buy-in before transitioning to high-fidelity design. They also talk about Billy's recent book, "Wireframing for Everyone," which aims to democratize wireframing, making it accessible to both designers and non-designers. If you're a design leader in the UX field, this podcast episode offers a fresh perspective and actionable insights to elevate your team's design process. ABOUT OUR GUEST: Billy Carlson is a design educator at Balsamiq, where he helps new and non-designers learn best practices for all phases of user interface and digital product design. He teaches university-level UX and design thinking courses, and, as a designer since 2005, he’s worked on myriad products and led large UX teams at various organizations. TOPICS: The Role of Wireframing in UX Design Importance of Staying in Low Fidelity Strategies to Encourage Collaboration in Wireframing Challenges Faced by Design Leaders Benefits of Concept Development in Design Balancing Control and Collaboration as a Design Leader Transitioning from Individual Contributor to Design Lead The Intersection of Design Leadership and Education The Process of Writing a UX Design Book Effective Communication in Early Design Phases LINKS: Wireframing for Everyone: https://abookapart.com/products/wireframing-for-everyone Balsamiq Wireframes Academy: https://www.balsamiq.com/learn Billy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billycarlson Balsamiq: https://www.balsamiq.com/ Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

In Episode 9 of UX Leadership by Design Mark talks to Tom Scotto, a design leader and consultant. Tom explains how embracing a quirky and creative team environment fosters innovation and collaboration and provides strategies to navigate and communicate the disruptive nature of design, both within your team and outside the design walls. Tom emphasizes the importance of recognizing that all design is disruptive and encourages a shared understanding of this concept among team members and stakeholders. Gain valuable tips on presenting disruption positively and collaborating effectively across disciplines. This episode is a valuable resource for UX Design leaders looking to drive change, build collaborative team cultures, and facilitate effective communication. TOPICS: 1. The value of fostering a creative, quirky, and collaborative environment. 2. Disruption as an inherent aspect of design and its impact on all facets. 3. Encouraging a quirky mindset within design teams for enhanced creativity. 4. Balancing disruption with collaboration across different functional teams. 5. The importance of understanding disruption within and outside design. 6. Overcoming hurdles in communicating design changes and driving innovation. 7. Strategies for effectively presenting disruptive design concepts to non-designers. LINKS: Tom Scotto on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tjscotto Tom Scotto's Website - https://tomscotto.com/ Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

EPISODE DESCRIPTION: UX design leader Maria Giudice joins host Mark Baldino to discuss the core qualities that UX leaders need to become effective change agents. Drawing from three decades of experience, Maria underscores the significance of integrating design principles into leadership roles, enabling anyone to champion change. Maria's approach, outlined in her book Changemakers: How Leaders can Design Change in an Insanely Complex World focuses on empathy, shared goals, and effective communication, making it accessible for both designers and non-designers alike. TOPICS: 1. Changemaker Approach in UX Leadership 2. Change Management 3. Building Trust and Vision 4. Empathy and Collaboration 5. Strategies for UX Leaders 6. Art of being a Changemaker LINKS: Rise of the DEO, Leadership by Design: https://www.amazon.com/Rise-DEO-Leadership-Design-Voices/dp/0321934393 Changemakers: How Leaders can Design Change in an Insanely Complex World: https://www.amazon.com/Changemakers-Leaders-Design-Insanely-Complex/dp/1959029142 Maria on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariagiudice Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

In this UX Leadership by Design podcast episode, host Mark Baldino of Fuzzy Math talks with Alfred Kahn, an experienced design leader and author. They discusses navigating complex problem spaces, infusing consumer-grade UX principles into enterprise design, and strategies for collaborative success between the "tripod" - design, product, and engineering. This episode is a valuable resource for UX Design leaders looking to better understand how to shift design's role within an organization, emphasizing metrics, research, and effective communication, and aligning teams with strategic objectives. Topics: Links: Alfred on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alfredkahn Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

Welcome to the "UX Leadership by Design" podcast, hosted by Mark Baldino, Co-Founder of Fuzzy Math. In Episode 6, we have the pleasure of featuring Santiago Viteri, the Associate Director of UX and Digital Accessibility Standards of the UX Center of Excellence at Bristol-Myers Squibb. Join us as Santiago shares his inspiring journey of helping shape a UX Center of Excellence within a large organization, emphasizing the significance of credibility and problem-solving through a user-focused approach. Discover the pivotal role he sees for digital accessibility and the "shift left" mentality in creating inclusive and user-friendly designs right from the start. Don't miss this insightful conversation on UX, accessibility, and the art of design with a science-driven mindset. Gain valuable insights for building successful UX teams and fostering a culture of innovation. Topics: Links: Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

In this episode of the "UX Leadership by Design" podcast hosted by Mark Baldino of Fuzzy Math, Greg Thomas, Director of User Experience at TaxSlayer, shares how his team captures user data at specific times to make data-driven decisions and presents a strong case to executives, business owners, and product leaders. By using a one-question survey with a one-to-seven scale (Single Ease Question or SEQ) , they prioritize fixes in the backlog and give users a voice without adding any overhead to the team. This episode is a valuable resource for UX design leaders seeking insights into capturing customer data and making better decisions. Topics Covered: - Making data-driven decisions in UX design - Benefits of user-centered design for business success - Importance of data capture tools and user feedback in UX design - Understanding and using Single Ease Question (SEQ) Scores to improve UX design - Prioritizing fixes and challenges in UX design - Building and leading UX research teams - Driving design decisions through in-context data capture - Strategies for Prioritizing Fixes in a UX Design Backlog About our Guest: Greg is a software industry veteran with an extensive background in researching and creating user-centered omnichannel customer experiences and in managing, advising Product Management and helping set strategy going forward. Examples of his work can be found on a wide array of platforms including; web, mobile apps, tablet apps, mobile web, point of sale, pin pad, kiosk, voice systems, mobile payment, and internal employee operation systems. Currently, he is the Director of User Experience Design at TaxSlayer.com where he reports to the CEO and works directly with Senior leadership. Prior to joining TaxSlayer, he worked for Fortune 500 companies such as Walgreens, Motorola and for other industry leaders such as Peapod, and Legacy.com. He holds a Master’s Degree in Human-Computer Interaction from DePaul University in Chicago, a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Butler University, and an executive certificate in Product Management from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. His innovations have led to him being listed as a co-creator of one patent and sole creator of another. Resources & Links - Find Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gthomas10/ - More about Single Ease Question (SEQ): https://measuringu.com/seq10/#:~:text=The%20Single%20Ease%20Question%20(SEQ)%20is%20a%207%2Dpoint,was%20the%20task%20to%20complete%3F Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

This episode of "UX Leadership by Design," the podcast by and for UX leaders, is brought to you by Fuzzy Math, the award-winning user experience design consultancy. In this episode, our host Mark Baldino chats with Nate Felt, a Senior Product Designer at Amazon, about stakeholder communication and management. As a designer, it's easy to focus on creating great UI and deliverables, but when transitioning to a design leader, communication and selling design ideas become crucial skills. Join us to learn from Nate's experiences and find the right balance between design output and communication. Topics Covered: - Transitioning from a design practitioner to a lead role - Non-traditional paths into UX design - Importance of digital storytelling in UX design - Psychology & counseling skills in UX design - Sales skills in UX design - Collaborating with stakeholders in UX design - Design thinking and problem-solving skills in UX design - Importance of empathy in UX design - The role of UX in the internal partner ecosystem - Identifying champions for UX in different parts of the process - Tips for identifying advocates for UX - The importance of passion and decision-makers in UX advocacy. About our Guest: Nate Felt is a Senior Product Designer at Amazon where he measures human behavior and interaction. Nate's goal is to discern people's motives and goals and he uses this information to help improve the technology we use. In addition to 6 years studying psychology and 6 years studying communication technology, Nate has been in the Bay Area working in UX Design for the past 12 years. Resources & Links: 1. Articulating Design Decisions: Communicate with Stakeholders, Keep Your Sanity, and Deliver the Best User Experience by Tom Greever https://www.amazon.com/Articulating-Design-Decisions-Communicate-Stakeholders-ebook/dp/B08FVV7PDN?ref_=ast_author_dp 2. Find & Connect with Nate on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanfelt/ Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

On this episode of "UX Leadership by Design" join host Mark Baldino as he interviews Bryan Garvey, the Associate Director of User Experience and Insights at Radio Systems Corporation. Discover Bryan's multi-year journey in bringing UX design to the company, the crucial role of stakeholder management, and the power of fostering a growth mindset among his team. Hear about the challenges of balancing multiple focuses from E-commerce to marketing to physical product design. Learn why it's important to not get too caught up in titles and instead focus on growing the UX department within the organization. Bryan emphasizes the importance of empathizing with stakeholders and understanding the business. Enhance your UX leadership skills today. Topics covered: 1. How to get initial buy-in from stakeholders 2. Identifying the right people to back your plans 3. Collaborative approach between design and development 4. UX design for marketing, websites, apps, to physical product 5. How to expand the role and function of your UX tea 6. Encouraging a "push mindset" in your team 7. Importance of small details to solving design challenges 8. The value of evangelizing 9. Empathizing with Stakeholders About our guest: Bryan first started obsessing over experience details by putting on Star Wars plays in neighborhood backyards. Today he pushes to make things better through research, UX, and industrial design in the world of pet products. In his spare time, he creates different kinds of experiences on live music stages and in the outdoors. Resources & Links: Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

In this episode of UX Leadership by Design, host Mark Baldino interviews Chris Willis, the Chief Design Officer at Domo. As a Chief Design Officer and futurist, Chris combines data technology and emerging trends to make Domo an indispensable platform for its customers. The episode provides practical advice for UX designers looking to have a more impactful career and for design leaders who want to grow and nurture their design team. This is a must-listen episode for anyone in the UX industry who wants to stay ahead of the game, stay competitive in their field, and future-proof their career. About our guest: As Domo's chief design officer and futurist, Chris' hyper-focus on combining data, technology and emerging trends in innovative ways helps to make Domo an indispensable platform for its customers. He has nearly three decades of design leadership experience in web, mobile and data visualization. And as one of Domo's earliest employees, he's involved in every aspect – from initial design, strategy and execution – of building and developing solutions that solve even the most complex problems faced by customers. Topics covered: 1. Transitioning from designer to design lead 2. Importance of a creative's background diversity 3. Data technology and design trends. 4. Soft skills for design leaders 5. Gaps in traditional design education curriculum 6. Aesthetic design vs problem solving 7. Feedback and criticism in design 8. Problem solving skills in design 9. Teamwork and Trust in Design problem solving Resources & Links: Connect with Chris on LinkedIn Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/

Mark Baldino is the host of the UX leadership podcast and the co-founder of Fuzzy Math, a UX design firm. In today's episode, he interviews Parisa Bazl, the Head of User Experience at Commvault, an enterprise data protection and data management software company. Bazl's work focuses on scaling the impact of UX teams within an organization while also promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the design community. She has been able to bring people with non-traditional backgrounds into the design field through a training program using a unique combination of system-level thinking and frameworks. Topics covered: 1. UI and UX design 2. Digital product strategy 3. UX design operations 4. Growing and scaling a UX team 5. Hiring and recruiting for UX 6. Diversity and inclusion in design 7. Best practices for UX leadership About our guest: After studying Information Science in graduate school, Parisa has worked in UX for 12 years and now leads the team at Commvault Systems. Much of her leadership work is focused on scaling the impact of a UX team within an organization while also opening up opportunities for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the design world. She enjoys living in New York City, traveling outside of it, and working with people who bring out the best in each other. Resources & Links: Connect with Parisa on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/parisa-bazl-28395333/ Article Diversify and Scale Your Team by Making UX Design More Accessible: https://dscout.com/people-nerds/ux-design-accessible Fuzzy Math: fuzzymath.com Mark on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markbaldino/