Thank you Config for a fantastic conference! In this episode we recap our highlights and chat all about our meetup.

282: Reliving our Config experience

Are you attending a design conference this summer? In this episode we share our favourite tips for making the most of the conference experience to maximise learning, connection and most importantly - fun!

281: How to make the most of a design conference

Preparing for a feature launch as a designer is such an exciting time! To see your work come to fruition brings with it a fantastic feeling, but it's not always plain sailing. In this episode we discuss the highs and lows of working on feature launches as a designer.

280: Preparing for a feature launch as a designer

Today on the Design Life podcast we are answering a listener question from an engineer, who is looking for advice on how to validate a design and communicate this with the relevant stakeholders.

279: Validating design solutions

Wondering if you are on the right path in your design career? Fear not, we have a very reassuring conversation this week on the podcast! Hear all about how we've used the design career checkpoint to help reflect on our careers and set new goals.

278: Are you on the right path in your design career?

This week on Design Life we’re chatting about learning throughout different stages of our design careers, and how our approach to learning has changed over time.

277: Learning throughout different stages of your design career

Find yourself in a new role and managing in different directions? Us too! In this episode we're talking how to make the most of managing in different directions.

276: Managing in different directions

In this episode of Design Life we chat about managing the split between IC work and being a manager and how we balance the responsibilities of both in our day to day work.

275: The realities of being a manager AND an IC

Are you an inexperienced designer if you don't name your layers? In our first episode of 2023 we discuss this question and why gatekeeping like this within the industry holds designers back.

274: Are you inexperienced if you don't name your layers?

In our last episode of 2022, we share our thoughts on the state of the design industry.

273: Our thoughts on the state of the design industry

Design Life is a podcast about design and side projects for motivated creators. It was born after your hosts, two serial side project addicts, saw a gap in the podcast market for a conversational show about design and the issues young creatives face, that was hosted by two females.    This show aims to tackle the big issues designers face like getting paid, overcoming a creative block or managing time, to name a few. We want to open up discussion about things we wish we heard people talk about when we were studying, and we want to chat to you about the joys and the frustrations of working in the tech industry by day, and on our passion projects in the rest of our waking hours. We hope that by doing so, Design Life will give you a dose of motivation or inspiration when you need it.

I’ve listened to this podcast for almost 2 years and I feel so happy every time there is a new episode. Being a female designer, it’s great to listen to 2 females talk about the things I want to talk about. I appreciate their perspectives and their discussions and I will continue to be a listener as long as the podcast continues.

Couldn’t recommend a better design podcast

Whether you’re well established as someone who can translate creative energy into the impact you want to have on the world, or just getting started as a designer - this is a must-listen podcast for you! Charli and Femke do an incredible job leading conversations that cover a huge breadth of topics related to the ins and outs of navigating the shifting landscape of design, freelancing and tech culture - while building a life you&#39;re proud of. Highly recommend listening and subscribing!

Empowering, insightful and actionable! 🔥

Design Life is a podcast about design and side projects for motivated creators. It was born after your hosts, two serial side project addicts, saw a gap in the podcast market for a conversational show about design and the issues young creatives face, that was hosted by two females. This show aims to tackle the big issues designers face like getting paid, overcoming a creative block or managing time, to name a few. We want to open up discussion about things we wish we heard people talk about when we were studying, and we want to chat to you about the joys and the frustrations of working in the tech industry by day, and on our passion projects in the rest of our waking hours. We hope that by doing so, Design Life will give you a dose of motivation or inspiration when you need it.

Design Life

When 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

When 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 <a href="http://www.designlife.fm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.designlife.fm</a>

059: Advice for creating a great portfolio

Learning 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

Learning 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 <a href="http://www.designlife.fm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.designlife.fm</a>

072: Teaching yourself a new skill

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

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 <a href="http://www.designlife.fm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.designlife.fm</a>

038: Jack of all trades - Specialist or generalist?

Hustle 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

Hustle 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 <a href="http://www.designlife.fm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.designlife.fm</a>

049: The hustle mindset

We always want to be moving forward and progressing towards our goals. In this episode we discuss long term thinking and the importance of setting goals for your future. It can be hard to plan the exact steps to take to reach a goal set for five or ten years time, because life happens and your wants and needs may change. But having long term goals means you’ll be able to make decisions now in the present that align to them in order to keep you on the right track. Listen in to hear about our goals and our advice for getting into a long term mindset. More at www.designlife.fm

We always want to be moving forward and progressing towards our goals. In this episode we discuss long term thinking and the importance of setting goals for your future. It can be hard to plan the exact steps to take to reach a goal set for five or ten years time, because life happens and your wants and needs may change. But having long term goals means you’ll be able to make decisions now in the present that align to them in order to keep you on the right track. Listen in to hear about our goals and our advice for getting into a long term mindset. More at <a href="http://www.designlife.fm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.designlife.fm</a>

022: Long term thinking and planning

In this episode we answer a question from a member of the Design Life community who is wondering if they should follow the advice to ‘fake it ’til you make it’. We discuss the pros and cons of ‘faking it’, how to use it as a tool to boost your confidence if you’re feeling unsure of yourself and when to know to stop. Sarah Doody on ‘Faking it ’til you make it’ Fake it ’til you make it for designers

In this episode we answer a question from a member of the Design Life community who is wondering if they should follow the advice to ‘fake it ’til you make it’. We discuss the pros and cons of ‘faking it’, how to use it as a tool to boost your confidence if you’re feeling unsure of yourself and when to know to stop. <a href="http://www.sarahdoody.com/fake-it-till-you-make-it/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sarah Doody on ‘Faking it ’til you make it’</a> <a href="https://medium.muz.li/is-fake-it-till-you-make-it-a-good-advice-for-designers-3b4c9760db78" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fake it ’til you make it for designers</a>

131: Should you fake it till you make it?

On week days, we get up early to fit in a couple of hours work on side projects before we begin our day jobs. In this episode we chat about how we shifted our schedules to make this hustle happen, and if you’re a night owl who thinks you could never be a morning person, we’ve got advice to help you out. Waking up early is all about forming habits and shifting your body clock incrementally. It’s about setting little goals and choosing what you work on wisely. Set your alarm clock for half an hour earlier tomorrow! More at www.designlife.fm

On week days, we get up early to fit in a couple of hours work on side projects before we begin our day jobs. In this episode we chat about how we shifted our schedules to make this hustle happen, and if you’re a night owl who thinks you could never be a morning person, we’ve got advice to help you out. Waking up early is all about forming habits and shifting your body clock incrementally. It’s about setting little goals and choosing what you work on wisely. Set your alarm clock for half an hour earlier tomorrow! More at <a href="http://www.designlife.fm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.designlife.fm</a>

014: How to get up early

Is the weight of your potential weighing you down? Potential can be both a blessing and a curse. When you feel fulfilled, you are able to focus on the task at hand and complete your best work. If you possess a greater potential than the task at hand requires, over time, completing this task will leave you feeling unfulfilled. In this week’s episode, inspired by Charli’s blog post, we go deep and talk about how fulfilled we feel right now, the weight of potential and getting unstuck.

Is the weight of your potential weighing you down? Potential can be both a blessing and a curse. When you feel fulfilled, you are able to focus on the task at hand and complete your best work. If you possess a greater potential than the task at hand requires, over time, completing this task will leave you feeling unfulfilled. In this week’s episode, inspired by Charli’s blog post, we go deep and talk about how fulfilled we feel right now, the weight of potential and getting unstuck.

172: Fulfilling your potential

Today we are talking about switching careers to become a designer. Charli was asked a question via her Youtube channel by a viewer who wants to switch from a career in marketing to a career in design. The feedback she has been given by recruiters so far is that she is over qualified for a junior role, but lacks the experience for a mid-weight design role. We try to shed some light on how our eager designer can use her prior experience to her advantage in her career switch.

Today we are talking about switching careers to become a designer. Charli was asked a question via her Youtube channel by a viewer who wants to switch from a career in marketing to a career in design. The feedback she has been given by recruiters so far is that she is over qualified for a junior role, but lacks the experience for a mid-weight design role. We try to shed some light on how our eager designer can use her prior experience to her advantage in her career switch.

140: How to switch careers

The interview stage can be both the most exciting and the scariest part of the design job hunting process. In this episode we share our advice for nailing a design job interview: what to bring, how to prepare, what to ask questions about and how to deal with those unexpected curveballs you might be thrown. Join the community Follow Design Life on Twitter

The interview stage can be both the most exciting and the scariest part of the design job hunting process. In this episode we share our advice for nailing a design job interview: what to bring, how to prepare, what to ask questions about and how to deal with those unexpected curveballs you might be thrown. <a href="https://designlife.fm/community/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Join the community</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/designlifefm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Follow Design Life on Twitter</a>

095: Interviewing for design jobs

User testing, or usability testing, can help designers get to know their user even better. It can reveal insights into the use of the product or site that the team otherwise might never know. In this episode we discuss how user testing at Uber works, and how user testing can help to further develop designer’s empathy for the user, benefitting designers and the design process at the same time. Zoom conferencing tool usertesting.com WhatUsersDo InVision

User testing, or usability testing, can help designers get to know their user even better. It can reveal insights into the use of the product or site that the team otherwise might never know. In this episode we discuss how user testing at Uber works, and how user testing can help to further develop designer’s empathy for the user, benefitting designers and the design process at the same time. <a href="https://zoom.us/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zoom conferencing tool</a> <a href="http://usertesting.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">usertesting.com</a> <a href="https://www.whatusersdo.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">WhatUsersDo</a> <a href="https://www.invisionapp.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">InVision</a>

132: User Testing in the design process

In this week’s episode we talk about something which is pretty on-brand for us - weekly planning. We cover how to plan your week, how to stay motivated and how to get things done. We share what works for us and how we plan to update our scheduling routines this year.

In this week’s episode we talk about something which is pretty on-brand for us - weekly planning. We cover how to plan your week, how to stay motivated and how to get things done. We share what works for us and how we plan to update our scheduling routines this year.

149: Weekly Planning

This week we’re talking about why it’s better to attract clients than go out and approach them yourself. We think it’s the best way to get a professional working relationship off on the right foot and we’ll explain why. Attracting clients is a ‘long play’ involving positioning yourself as an expert in your niche by doing content marketing and being picky about what work you take on. It takes time to build your reputation in this way, but we think it’s worth it. We’re both in different stages with our client work, so listen in to hear about our experience with client work, and what we’re doing to attract the type of projects we really want to work on. More at www.designlife.fm

This week we’re talking about why it’s better to attract clients than go out and approach them yourself. We think it’s the best way to get a professional working relationship off on the right foot and we’ll explain why. Attracting clients is a ‘long play’ involving positioning yourself as an expert in your niche by doing content marketing and being picky about what work you take on. It takes time to build your reputation in this way, but we think it’s worth it. We’re both in different stages with our client work, so listen in to hear about our experience with client work, and what we’re doing to attract the type of projects we really want to work on. More at <a href="http://www.designlife.fm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.designlife.fm</a>

013: Attracting Clients

In 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

In 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 <a href="http://www.designlife.fm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.designlife.fm</a>

090: Job hunting

Freelancing 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

Freelancing 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 <a href="http://www.designlife.fm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.designlife.fm</a>

042: The truth about freelance marketplaces

Ever have that feeling where you have too many passions and not enough time to do it all? This week we address this question from a listener who’s been struggling with feeling as though she has too many passions, and share our experience.

Ever have that feeling where you have too many passions and not enough time to do it all? This week we address this question from a listener who’s been struggling with feeling as though she has too many passions, and share our experience.

118: Too many passions, not enough time

As designers it sometimes feels like we are perpetually redesigning our own websites! In this episode we discuss our approach to tackling our redesigns and what tools we’re using to build the site, as well as share some advice for not getting overwhelmed with the task. Join the community!

As designers it sometimes feels like we are perpetually redesigning our own websites! In this episode we discuss our approach to tackling our redesigns and what tools we’re using to build the site, as well as share some advice for not getting overwhelmed with the task. <a href="https://designlife.fm/community/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Join the community!</a>

112: Redesigning your website

Today we are talking about the a hot topic in the design industry - Design Systems. In today’s episode we share our experience of working with design systems, their benefits and how using an efficient design system can help your team. Join the community! Skillshare: Digital Product Design: Build a Flexible Design System That Lasts How to build your design system in Figma Complete guide to designing a site using a collaborative and powerful design system Design Systems at Deliveroo

Today we are talking about the a hot topic in the design industry - Design Systems. In today’s episode we share our experience of working with design systems, their benefits and how using an efficient design system can help your team. <a href="https://www.designlife.fm/community" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Join the community!</a> <a href="https://www.skillshare.com/classes/Digital-Product-Design-Build-a-Flexible-Design-System-That-Lasts/1170825650?via=search-layout-grid" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Skillshare: Digital Product Design: Build a Flexible Design System That Lasts</a> <a href="https://www.figma.com/blog/how-to-build-your-design-system-in-figma/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How to build your design system in Figma</a> <a href="https://designcode.io/design-system-in-figma" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Complete guide to designing a site using a collaborative and powerful design system</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C0yvuWJc84" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Design Systems at Deliveroo</a>

150: Working with design systems

Is your first idea ever your best idea? Is there ever a time where you design something once and then - BOOM! That’s it, done. In this episode of Design Life we discuss iteration. As a designer, when you design something new, it's the beginning of a process. Iteration takes practice. It takes time to refine your taste and your skill in design, you don’t just come up with one idea and call it done. We discuss the process and how we use iteration to our advantage in our work.

Is your first idea ever your best idea? Is there ever a time where you design something once and then - BOOM! That’s it, done. In this episode of Design Life we discuss iteration. As a designer, when you design something new, it's the beginning of a process. Iteration takes practice. It takes time to refine your taste and your skill in design, you don’t just come up with one idea and call it done. We discuss the process and how we use iteration to our advantage in our work.

142: Iteration

Imposter syndrome, that feeling that you’re not good enough for what you’re doing, affects many creatives and it can be hard to overcome. In this episode we chat about how it affects us, and when and where it strikes most often. We also talk about social media’s role in this, and how we shouldn’t compare ourselves to others. We’ll give you some strategies for coping if this is something you’re struggling with too, and hopefully this episode will help you feel like you’re not alone in feeling a bit of self doubt every now and then. More at www.designlife.fm

Imposter syndrome, that feeling that you’re not good enough for what you’re doing, affects many creatives and it can be hard to overcome. In this episode we chat about how it affects us, and when and where it strikes most often. We also talk about social media’s role in this, and how we shouldn’t compare ourselves to others. We’ll give you some strategies for coping if this is something you’re struggling with too, and hopefully this episode will help you feel like you’re not alone in feeling a bit of self doubt every now and then. More at <a href="http://www.designlife.fm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.designlife.fm</a>

015: Facing Imposter Syndrome

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