Podcast

Fuego’s podcast series interviews design and product leaders and covers the latest in user experience.

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Recent Podcasts

Kevin Hawkins on Design at a Global Scale

On this episode of Design Leader Insights, Alex chats with Kevin Hawkins, Global UX Director at Glovo, about applying research to a global audience, collaborating at a large scale company, and how to get and keep a job in UX today.

Ryan Leffel on UX in the Travel Industry

On this episode of Design Leader Insights, Alex chats with Ryan Leffel, Head of Design at Priceline, about design nuances in the travel industry, advice for new designers, and what he has learned from starting a business from the ground up.

Brian Peterson on Meeting Customer Demand in Product

On this first episode of Where Product Meets Design, Alex chats with Brian Peterson, VP of Product, about the importance of communicating with the customer, how there is no product without design, and where the two cross paths in his industry.

Bob Baxley on the Medium of Software

On this episode of Design Leader Insights, Alex chats with Bob Baxley, SVP of Design at Thoughtspot, about reengaging in your work, what his advice would be to new designers today, and more insights about the medium of software.

Erica Heinz, Founder & Principal Product Designer, 4D Thinking Studio (edited)

On this episode of Design Leader Insights, Alex chats with Erica Heinz, Founder & Principal Product Designer, 4D Thinking Studio. Erica emphasizes the importance of usability, inclusivity, and personalization. She introduces her new book, Think in 4D, which encourages designers to move beyond traditional 2D design layers and consider deeper user interactions over time. Erica shares insights from her work, stressing the value of low fidelity in design and the need to avoid dark UX patterns. She also offers advice for new designers on staying flexible and exploring multiple solutions.

Jason Kopec on Navigating UX in Strong Engineering Cultures

On this episode of Design Leader Insights Alex chats with Jason Kopec, Head of Product Design and Research at Fivetran. Jason shares his unique journey from illustration and graphic design to leading UX teams at both startups and tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon. He delves into the complexities of Fivetran's data movement solutions, the importance of transparency for users, and how his team balances long-term design projects with immediate needs. Jason also offers valuable advice for new designers, emphasizing the importance of tackling challenging tasks and being adaptable.

Zinnia Sophia on Mastering UX Storytelling and Strategy

On this episode of Design Leader Insights, Alex chats with Zinnia Sophia Director Content Strategy, CX, at VML. Zinnia, a seasoned UX expert with a decade of experience shares her journey from human-centered design at the University of Michigan to mastering content strategy and communication. Dive deep as she explores the crucial role of storytelling in design leadership, offering best practices on communicating vision, persuasive storytelling, and inspiring others. Learn how to resonate with your audience, simplify complex information, and elevate your design career.

Karsten Rowe on Designing for Law Enforcement

On this episode of Design Leader Insights, presented by Fuego UX, host Alex Smith interviews Karsten Rowe, Director of Product Design & UX Research at Axon. He discusses Axon's impactful work in public safety, including innovations like the Taser and body cameras, and their new AI-driven report writing tool, Draft One. Karsten also offers valuable advice for new designers, emphasizing hands-on experience, building a strong portfolio, and the importance of persistence in job applications.

Dr. Ari Zelmanow on the Democratization of Research

On this episode of Design Leader Insights, Alex chats with Dr. Ari Zelmanow Head of UX Research, Communications at Twilio. They discuss the five basic research methods every new researcher should master. They also dive into the world of AI, and discuss how how it can level up researchers by allowing them to focus on the more nuanced aspects. They also chat about the democratization of research and how the concept doesn't need to be so polarizing.

Ryan Farina on the Mindset of the Designer

On this episode of Design Leader Insights, Alex chats with Ryan Farina, a design leader from Apple, Meta, Snap and more. Ryan reflects on the shifting perceptions of tech and the importance of nurturing creativity beyond the confines of technology. Ryan emphasizes the value of understanding one's strengths and passions in leadership, the importance of process over results, and the need for a supportive creative environment. He offers advice for aspiring designers to stay curious and focus on continuous learning.