In this episode, we're joined by Antonija and Vitali to discuss their views on ChatGPT and generative AI, and the impact it will have on design. One of our guests believes that AI will help us become better designers, while the other thinks that the future of AI could lead to even less demand for designers. Listen in to find out who holds which view, and what it could mean for the future of the design industry.

Links mentioned in the episode

• ChatGPT https://chat.openai.com/chat
• Dall-E https://labs.openai.com/
• Bing AI https://www.bing.com/new
• WriteSonic https://writesonic.com/
• Jasper https://www.jasper.ai/
• Contentinator https://contentinator.com/
• FigGPT https://www.figma.com/community/plugin/1207913933994957698/FigGPT
• Diagram - Magician and Genius https://diagram.com/

Here are resources for further reading.

https://www.nngroup.com/articles/design-operations-101/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylDed18OVdY

https://www.figma.com/community/plugin/843461159747178978/Figma-Tokens

Antonija invited a guest co-host Stefan to talk about startups and being the only designer.

Contact for design help
@heystefan_
@antonijapek

What are soft skills and why do we need them as a designer and a human being? In this episode Helena and I are talking about — soft skills. Remember to leave us a voice message on Anchor!

Antonija, Helena and Vitali are discussing about services and apps they don't like because of a bad UX

Helena and Antonija are discussing ways to show your work while having all of those NDAs hovering around you

Antonija and Vitali share tips and insights on design processes.

Tools mentioned:
https://spline.design/
https://rotato.app/
https://jitter.video/
https://rive.app/
https://motionplugin.com/

In this episode of Design Party, the hosts dive into a thought-provoking Twitter discussion about design collaboration and the role of tools like Figma. Antonija, Helena, and Vitali share their perspectives on the topic, highlighting the importance of healthy work environments, effective processes, and open communication. They discuss the impact of micromanagement, the need for better commenting practices, and the challenges faced by designers in today's fast-paced and evolving industry. Join the conversation as they explore how collaboration can be optimized and offer insights on managing burnout in the design field.

Tools mentioned

Productivity tools

Notion

Toggl/Clockify

A timecube!

Linear

Jira

Todoist

Trello

Communication

Slack

Teams

Around

Zoom

Meet

Skype

Design tools

Sketch 🧡

Figma 💜

Principle

ProtoPie

Blush

Spline

Adobe

iPad

Procreate

GoodNotes

Pete Mo is a freelance designer from London and we teamed up in this episode to talk about working remotely, being a freelancer, Pete also illuminated to me that TikTok is for adults as well, and also shared some nice stories and series to watch.

Connect with Pete Mo
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-mo/
https://www.instagram.com/iampetemo/
www.iampetemo.com

Leave me your voice message!
https://anchor.fm/designparty/message

Mentioned in episode

• Abstract on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/fi-en/title/80057883
• Binaural Beats: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=binaural+beats
• Lo-fi hip-hop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qap5aO4i9A
• Think Like a Spy: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Think-Like-a-Spy-Audiobook/B082WC9PVG

Music
Funky One by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3790-funky-oneLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode Helena and Antonija are commenting the dramatic Adobe and Figma divorce. As this is the last episode of the year we are taking some time to chit-chat about 2023.

In this riveting episode, our hosts dive into the fascinating and sometimes controversial world of AI. They explore the cutting-edge tool Supernormal, a game-changer that transcribes and summarizes video calls, revolutionizing user research. The conversation takes a thrilling turn as they delve into the darker side of AI, highlighting the potential threats of convincing deepfakes and an over-reliance on technology. But it's not all doom and gloom; they end on a high note, buzzing with anticipation about the rumored release of Apple's AR glasses. Tune in for an exhilarating journey into the future of AI!

Subscribe to Victor's newsletter Presentable: https://presentable.substack.com/

Find Victor online at https://read.cv/victorkernes

After a long 6-month break, Helena and I decided to catch up and talk a bit about what had happened.

In this episode of Design Party Podcast, our hosts Antonija, Vitali, and Helena delve into several pressing topics in the tech and design industry. They discuss the recent wave of tech layoffs impacting companies like Google and Figma, exploring potential reasons behind this trend. The conversation shifts to Figma's new policy of charging for DevMode, sparking a debate on its impact on developers and the industry's reaction. Alongside, the hosts explore innovative tools including Notion Calendar, Amie's public launch, and the Posts iOS app, highlighting their unique features and how they're shaping workflows and collaboration.

Helena and Antonija visit their list of apps with paid subscriptions and come to a shocking realization. Do we live in the era of subscription hell? Is there a better way forward?

Antonija's favorite apps
Grammarly
Flow
Keystroke Pro
Cursor Pro
Spark

Helena and I are chatting about design systems!

Helena and Antonija share tips on how not to embarrass yourself when you are naming your product that will ship globally. We share a little anecdote from rebranding our podcast and examples of big brands. 

Antonija welcomed a guest this time, Dima, who suggested to chat about simplicity and complexity in context of product design. It's not so simple! Defining what is simple and what is complex requires a lot of context and us two are trying to figure out what this actually means!

Check the links mentioned in the episode

- Bret Victor talk about the novel interface to understand complex idea https://vimeo.com/23839605
- https://dimaveremchuk.com
- @vrmchk@mastodon.design

Helena and I are chatting about our journey of becoming designers. All hardships and nice stuff that happened along the way.

In today's episode, Antonija and Helena discuss iOS vs. Android. Weirdy, we both use Android as our daily driver. Antonija is thinking about switching to iOS, but Helena stays loyal to Android, and why is that? Listen and find out.

Check out Vitali's presentation https://youtu.be/cwLepGcOANs

In this episode, Vitali and I went to the public library Oodi in Helsinki and recorded our episode there. We took a walk down a memory lane and reflected on our beginnings in design, where we are now, and where our future is, or at least wishful thinking about where we see ourselves in the next few years.

In this episode, Helena and Antonija discuss what organization and self-organization are. How do we keep up with our daily private and work tasks, and what helps us stay afloat. One of us obsesses about the organization and the other about efficiency! We also share our preferred tools and our workflows.

The newest of the news is our social handles and a website! Join us at http://designpartypodcast.com and on Twitter @designpartyfm

Tools mentioned:

• TickTick
• Things
• Notion
• Flow
• Cron

Finally, we have the magical trio - Helena, Vitali and Antonija gathered for one last episode of 2022. Check Vitali’s design course https://fraktio.teachable.com/p/get-started-with-facilitation

My friend Lena and I are chatting about Impostor Syndrome and how to overcome it. If you have thoughts about it leave a voice message on Anchor!

Learn more about your host Antonija Pek.
Leave us a message https://anchor.fm/designparty/message

Antonija and Helena discuss tips and tricks for junior designers! As with all tips and tricks, this is just a list what we wish someone told us while we were starting our careers. The tips are divided in three categories - general tips, skill tips and personal development! And as always, we steer away from the topic, but in a good way.

If you have any ideas or just want to say hi, leave us a message https://anchor.fm/designparty/message

In this episode, we deep dive into what happened in Figma Config 2021. Helena didn't watch so I am going through features and how I see them as a product designer.

Many of us want to run our own design business but that's no easy task. In this video episode of the Design Party podcast, I have a guest joining to illuminate the topic and share some tips. Philip Wallage is a designer from the Netherlands and as a business owner, he will share incredible information on how to start and maintain your own business.

Antonija and Helena met once again to continue from where they have left of a couple of weeks ago. The chat start with sharing good and bad customer support stories, then it derails into brainstorming if reading human emotions would be a viable source of data for design... And AI again drag itself into our minds!

Links from the episode
https://octopus.do
https://toffeeshare.com

Vitali shares his experiences from an agency life!

Helena and Antonija are discussing non-digital and digital products and ask themselves are they designed for everybody or is accessibility an afterthought?

In today's episode of Design Party, we dive into the nuances of Figma's Dev mode and explore the benefits of organizing a Figma file efficiently. We discuss the recent changes Figma has made, pushing code inspection behind a paywall, and how this impacts the handoff between designers and developers. Additionally, we share our experiences with Lunacy, praising its potential as a robust design tool. For those interested, we've linked to resources and tools mentioned in the episode: Lunacy, and our favorite weather app, Carrot. Don't forget to check out our newsletter, Design Party Digest, for curated insights and tips in the design world.

In this episode of Design Party Podcast, hosts Helena and Antonija dive into the murky waters of dark UX patterns, with a particular focus on Adobe's complex subscription cancellation process. If you're contemplating canceling your Adobe subscription, you'll want to listen closely; the company's user experience design could leave you with unexpected fees. But it's not all cautionary tales; we also shine a light on companies that prioritize user-friendly experiences. For those seeking alternatives to Adobe, we recommend exploring Serif's Affinity suite, Photomator, Pixelmator, and Procreate, which not only offer exceptional user experiences but also come with fair, one-time payment options. NEW: introducing Design Party Digest, a newsletter for designers and internet nerds. Subscribe at ⁠newsletter.designpartypodcast.com⁠

What are hard skills

• knowing your tools (adaptability)
  for designing
  prototyping
  communication
  coding?

Design theory

• typography
• colors
• rules of visual perception
• common UI patterns
• HIG, Material Design

Management - deep dive next time

Other valuable skills

• Strategic thinking
• networking
• negotiation
• teamwork
• independence
• marketing knowledge
• business knowledge

In this episode of Design Party, Antonija and Helena dive into the intricacies of Figma's Dev Mode pricing, explore Zeppelin as a valuable alternative, and share their experiences with design critiques. They also touch on moving libraries in Figma and the launch of Superlist. A blend of technical insights and personal anecdotes, this episode is a must-listen for designers and tech enthusiasts alike. Links mentioned Zeplin, an alternative to DevMode: https://zeplin.io/ Superlist, a new task management app: https://www.superlist.com/

Today’s episode discusses user research: what it is, what types of research are there, how it can help your work, and where to begin.

Resources mentioned:

Don’t make me think by Steve Krug https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Think-Revisited-Usability/dp/0321965515

Just enough research by Erika Hall https://www.amazon.com/Just-Enough-Research-Erika-Hall/dp/1937557103

Article on how to do remote user research https://uxdesign.cc/how-to-do-user-centered-design-during-the-remote-work-period-9ed223673451

CareerFoundry UX research playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGZGDnTY454&list=PL4GEkVtNYGlIcHp9lPMD9KHMlfc-Jbyjp

Norman Nielsen Group - Why you only need to test with 5 Users https://www.nngroup.com/articles/why-you-only-need-to-test-with-5-users

Startup Graveyard https://startupgraveyard.io

Growth.design https://growth.design

Baymard Institute https://baymard.com/blog

Don’t make me think by Steve Krug https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Think-Revisited-Usability/dp/0321965515

Just enough research by Erika Hall https://www.amazon.com/Just-Enough-Research-Erika-Hall/dp/1937557103

Article on how to do remote user research https://uxdesign.cc/how-to-do-user-centered-design-during-the-remote-work-period-9ed223673451

Antonija and Vitali are recording for the first time ever in the same room!  We are talking about the future of Figma, going into detail about what we like, dislike, and would like to see happen in the next years with our favorite tool for designing. Send us a message if you're listening on Spotify! Leave us a rating if possible — it helps reach more designers.

I invited my friend and fellow product designer Samanta to join me again and in this episode, we will chat about how Coronavirus impacted our industry, how are we coping with it and what are our personal and professional struggles.

Follow Samanta on Twitter!  Learn more about your host Antonija Pek.

Music
Funky One by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3790-funky-one
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

In this episode of Design Party, Antonija and Vitali dive into the hot topic of AI in design. They discuss Figma's new AI features and the excitement around its Slides tool, expressing concerns about AI potentially stifling creativity by reusing existing designs. The hosts also touch on Canva's significant price hike due to new AI features and worry about the future of Affinity's products after its acquisition.

Vitali and Antonija are watching Apple event and sharing their thoughts.

• 🎤 Antonija podcasts through her fifth day with Covid.
• 🎧 The team delves into the unexpected drama of Linus Tech Tips.
• 📚 Discussion on the journey of a designer's education, from online courses to mentorships.
• 🤝 Vitali talks about the nuances of interactive psychological safety in workshops.
• 💡 Helena ponders the allure of hard skills for young designers.
• 🚴‍♀️ Helena's potential fusion of downhill mountain biking with design insights.

Today I invited my friend and a product designer Samanta Aquino to talk about remote working during COVID19 and staying productive. Welcome to the first episode! Follow Samanta on Twitter!

Learn more about your host Antonija Pek at https://apek.me/

Apps mentioned in the podcast
linear.app
miro.com
https://store.steampowered.com/app/442070/Drawful_2/

Music
Funky One by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3790-funky-one
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Daniel Motta is a design leader from Brasil, now located in Helsinki. I had a blast chatting with Daniel about many lives of a designer where we discuss changing disciplines, learning new ones, and life as a designer in general.

The game I mentioned. It is called Science Kombat. It was made by Daniel's friend Diego Sanches, who's an amazing illustrator who found a niche in Pixel Art.

Meet your hosts

Daniel Motta - https://danielmotta.design

Antonija Pek - https://apek.me

Leave me an anchor message and let's chat!

In this episode we dive into the world of design tokens and explore the relationship between designers and developers. Join us as we delve into the world of UI/UX and product design and explore the future of collaboration. 

- https://design-tokens.github.io/community-group/format/ 

- https://www.fraktio.fi/blogi/mikä-erottaa-design-systemin-ja-komponenttikirjaston (in Finnish still) 

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03Hp-bHLftM

Antonija and Vitali are chatting about getting rejected from job applications. We are sharing tips on how to apply, how to handle rejects, and sharing some salty personal stories.

Helena, a designer from Croatia, and I are chatting how to design for users, we also touch Dribbble and asking tools from your managers (and failing). You can see more about Helena on her Linkedin. If you want to leave us a voice message go to anchor.fm/designparty.

In this episode of a very attractive title, Helena is joining me in discussing the UX tools survey for 2021. We talk about the state of the tools, give our opinions on whether we agree or if there is something surprising, and as announced - we passively aggressively bash on (almost) everything. Not to be lazy, we also give out a list of tools we would like to see grow, use more or just enjoy using. Find everything notable we mentioned below!

• Whimsical
• Miro
• Figma (and Figjam)
• Adobe XD
• Sketch
• Framer
• Affinity
• Protopie
• Principle
• Zeplin
• Abstract
• Zeroheight
• Storybook
• Notion <3
• Maze
• User testing
• Lookback
• Dovetail
• Optimal workshop
• Spline
• Sprig

Recordings

In this episode, we dive into the unexpected controversy surrounding .io domains as the UK's handover of Indian Ocean territories to Mauritius raises questions about their future by 2030. We then explore Figma's new UI3 update, discussing its mixed reception among designers, the surprisingly useful AI features (currently free but becoming paid in 2025), and ongoing usability challenges with the new interface. The conversation wraps up with a candid wishlist for design innovation, including ideas for customizable workspaces, quick action menus, and better integration for non-designer roles.

Amazing designer Vitali Gusatinsky is joining me in this episode to talk about 2022 and what it means for product design. We speculate what will be trendy this year and where designers' focus will shift in order to craft better experiences.

My friend and a product designer Samanta joined me to talk about our experiences of moving to another country to work as designers. Samanta moved a bit more, even switched continents between the US and Europe and I talk about my experience moving to Finland.

Follow Samanta on Twitter! Learn more about your host Antonija Pek.

Leave us a message https://anchor.fm/designparty/message

Music

Funky One by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3790-funky-oneLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Antonija and Vitali share their experiences around error handling and some good practices.

Antonija and Ali discuss the pros and cons of different mentorship platforms, including the importance of finding the right fit for individual learning styles and the potential problem of mentees ghosting their mentors. Antonija and Ali also touch on the stresses and responsibilities of being a designer, including the anxieties that come with the job.

Check Ali online!

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliangco/⁠ 

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/aliang.co/⁠ 

Posts: ⁠https://posts.cv/aliangco⁠

In this episode we are discussing design trends, we also visit into accessibility in design and then we share our views on trends and what's "in" these days.

In this episode, hosts Antonija and Helena dive into the complexities of job hunting, discussing the importance of self-awareness and asking the right questions to find an optimal job fit. They explore the notion that the "perfect" job may not exist but emphasize the value of knowing what you want in a workplace. The conversation then shifts to Figma's new enterprise-level features, examining how these updates cater primarily to large companies and may inadvertently gatekeep freelancers and smaller teams from certain career opportunities. Finally, they spotlight the upcoming "Be More" festival by ADP List, an event that promises to cover a range of relevant topics for designers. Whether you're on the job hunt, interested in design tools, or looking to stay updated with industry events, this episode has something for you.

"Be More" festival by ADP List

https://bemore.adplist.org/

In this episode, Antonija, Helena, and Vitali are chatting about the recent Twitter fiasco involving the firing of Halli, the famous designer from Iceland. As always lately, OpenAI squirmed into our thoughts once again.

In this episode, Antonija and Vitali chat about prototyping — why do we need it? What tools are out there? And share our own experiences.

In this episode, Antonija and Vitali talk about handling stress and avoiding burnout. We all know recovery is important, but what are the signs we should look out for and how can we manage being overworked? how does the parasympathetic nervous system help us feel balanced? We reflect on our experiences and offer techniques to help tackle these important challenges.

In this episode, Antonija delves into designers' work anxieties by gathering insightful responses from the Posts app. Join Antonija and Vitali as they unpack these candid answers, offering thoughtful commentary on the struggles and pressures designers face in the workplace.

Antonija, Helena and Vitali share their experiences in using music apps and comment their usability, features and everything in between.

In this episode, Vitali and Antonija go through responses Vitali got from designers on a meetup. The question was, "what are your biggest frustrations in your role as a designer". We think responses are pretty relatable, and we decided to take a few and share our thoughts.

In this episode, hosts Antonija Pek and Helena Bukovac discuss the value of customer support in informing and inspiring better user-centered design decisions. They also share their own horror stories where customer support saved the day. Tune in to learn how customer support can provide valuable feedback on user experience, identify pain points, and help designers stay up-to-date on user trends and changing needs. You'll also hear how customer support can collaborate with designers to develop training materials, troubleshoot issues, and track user feedback and sentiment. Join us for an insightful conversation on the importance of customer support in creating a positive brand image and increasing customer loyalty and retention.

In this episode, I had a guest from Belarus living in Finland and a master of languages Maryna! We chat about the struggle to learn Finnish and what do we like about Finland.

Join hosts Antonija and Vitali in this episode of Design Party as we delve into the dynamics of the design world. We explore the challenges in the tech industry with a focus on Nokia's strategic missteps, share valuable tips for navigating the complex job market, and discuss the impact of Figma's latest developments on modern design practices.

Hi, your host Antonija here. I met Riley through Good News and we had a little discussion about the new breed of designes. Who are they? What do we mean? Well, hit play and find out.

Join Antonija, Vitali, and Helena in this episode as they discuss the latest trends and developments in the design industry. They share their insights on Figma's new features and the potential of its new developer mode, fresh from Figma Config 2023. The hosts also delve into the recent acquisition of Diagram by Figma and its implications for the future of design. They discuss the current state of Figma's animation features and express the need for more advanced tools for enterprise-level projects. Towards the end, they share their vision of organizing a design event with workshops to foster learning and collaboration in the design community. Tune in for an engaging and insightful discussion.