Design Chat with Josh

This episode I share some of the interesting lessons I’ve learned or was reminded of while consuming way more video games than usual (thanks to the pandemic). These lessons are things that can help remind us how to design usable, accessible, and in some cases beautiful UI in products like apps, websites, and software.

[Explicit] This episode we dive into the minds of the ego-driven designer. Something that isn’t just for one type of designer either, but both graphic and product designers.

This episode is all about designing for senior citizens! One of the most rewarding and challenging (also really fun) groups of people to design digital products for. This audio version of my Medium article dives into some lessons I’ve learned over a couple years of designing exclusively for the aging population. Book mention from episode: The Longevity Economy, by Joseph F. Coughlin

This episode marks the official return and Season 2 of Design Chat with Josh! That’s right! After some lovely responses to the special episode earlier in the year, I’ve resurrected the podcast. This episode is all about product design programs (software) that people should learn. I get asked this question a lot from designers curious about getting into the product design world - and so here’s my personal and professional take on it. Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as you might think!

I'm back with a special 2020 episode to talk about the design industry and being a designer in these really strange times. This year has been tough for all of us, and some have felt the pain of the pandemic more than others. I want to unpack how our industry and roles have changed, share a little of how I've adapted, and hopefully shed some light that it won't be all doom and gloom forever. We will get out of this, and designers will always have a place in the world. If you liked this episode and want to hear more, leave a nice review in the Apple Podcast realm and perhaps I'll revive this podcast for a full second season.

I’m coming back to the mic with a special episode of Design Chat with Josh to talk about 2020, the changes to the industry, and some words of encouragement during this weird year.

In this final episode I talk about accessibility and why it matters to every designer. I also share some of the top things I keep in mind when I’m designing to strive for better usability by virtually everyone, no matter what limitations they may have. Thank you all so much for tuning in to these 47 episodes (49 including the bonus episodes). It’s been a blast and I hope some of the things you heard were helpful!

This episode is all about presenting your work to make it sell. From client or internal stakeholder presentations, to portfolio showcases - I share some lessons learned from both working in marketing and product when it comes to presenting your work as a designer.

This episode was inspired by the amazing Evolve Design Conference last weekend for Phoenix Design Week. I talk about “finding your why” or finding the purpose behind what we do as designers. It’s incredibly important to care about things beyond great portfolio pieces - it’s important to care about the products, people, or services were designing for.

This episode is not here to crush dreams, it’s to help take a look in the mirror and ask if you really want to take on the world of product. I share some of the tough questions I had to ask myself before finding out I really wanted to be designing products and unique experiences.

This episode I break down the million dollar question: What skills has a graphic designer can directly help and translate to UX design? This episode is really focused on UX and less about the UI or overall product design, but I also touch on what visual design skills help if you’re responsible for the end result of the product.

This episode I talk about what the heck CX is any why it is not something exclusive to us UX designers.

This episode is all about mistakes a lot of us designers make when creating a user interface. From lack of hierarchy to poor color usage, I share things that I’ve come across (and even have been guilty of at one point), and how to avoid them.

For episode 40 I’m showing a little love for the podcasts that have helped shape me as a designer, and then some that are just fun to listen to. [Complete List: The Crazy One | What is Wrong with UX | Design Matters with Debbie Millman | Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet | Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend | Raised By TV | Why’d You Push That Button?]

This week’s episode is all about hobbies - non-design hobbies - and why they’re important to us as designers!

This episode is all about little lessons I’ve learned from some of the amazing leadership I’ve worked with over the years. These things stuck with me and someday I hope to carry them on to a team that I will lead and inspire. This is just a small sampling, so after this episode share your leadership advice to be featured in a possible future episode (focus on the good!).

Episode 37 is all about going the extra mile and conducting your own mini user surveys in everyday life. I talk a bit about why watching people interact with digital products beyond your own is useful, as well as some pointers on how to not be a total creeper while you observe.

This episode is one that I’ve been pretty excited to talk about. Having 10 years of marketing design experience and then switching to product design - I have a unique perspective (and empathy) for each of those teams. Fortunately I’ve worked on some incredible teams that had good relations with each other, so this episode I share some things that marketing and product teams out there should know about one another, as well as some tips to work better together.

In this episode I talk about when UI design should be brought into the design process and why it’s still critical to focus on for a successful product.

This week’s special episode has two fantastic guests - Mike Marinello (Director of Phoenix Design Week) and Ryan Lowry (Design Lead at Ideas Collide). As you can probably guess we talk about this years upcoming Phoenix Design Week and why this event is so amazing. If you’re interested in attending be sure to get your tickets at PHXDW.com!

This episode is a series of mini reviews on my favorite product and UX books I’ve been reading lately. I talk about what value each of these books brought to me as a designer and why I highly recommend them. Here’s the full list of books and authors: (1) Make Time by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky (2) Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time by Jeff Sutherland (3) Inspired by Marty Cagan (4) UX Lifecycle by Jeremy Baines and Clive Howard (5) The Longevity Economy by Joseph F Coughlin.

In this episode I go into greater detail about the critical mindset change you must go through if you’re a graphic designer moving into UX design. It’s not easy, and it’s not for everyone, but it could be perfect for you. I share what my own battles were as well as some helpful advice on how I tested the waters before filling jumping into my first UX role.

Let’s talk about prototypes! In this episode, I share the importance of prototyping and why every product designer should be creating and testing them. Also discussed are the different stages of prototyping and tools you can use to get your ideas out there as fast as possible.

Happy 30th episode! This week’s topic is personal for me: colorblindness. I talk about why color matters in our designs, what types of colorblindness are out there, how to design for the colorblind, and then share some of my advice for those of us designers we have our own color deficiency.

This month marks my first official year as a UX designer! So, what has it been like transitioning from the graphic design world to the product design world? Brace yourself, because there’s a lot to talk about in this episode!

In part 2 of random thoughts from a UX designer, I thank about paper vs digital prototypes, benefits of understanding Scrum and Product Management (as a designer) and why developers should be included early in your process.

Whoa! A special bonus episode!? That’s right! This episode is answering a lot of questions that many of you had around creating your own podcast. Truth is, it’s easier than you think. So listen on for tips on creating your own design podcast!

Empathy is a term thrown around a lot in the product design world, but what is it really and are we truly empathizing with our users? This episode I talk about what empathy is and why it’s important that it goes beyond designers.

I’m super excited about foldable screens on phones like the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X, but what does that mean for us designers? How do we design an experience for a medium that physically changes size and shape?

In this episode I talk about the difference between true product design and the reality of project design. Also a little on how product teams should be structured. [Note] The book talked about in this episode is called “Inspired: How to Create Tech Products Customers Love” by Marty Cagan.

Being inspired is a big part of our daily lives as designers, but how do we continue that inspiration? How do we reignite inspiration when the flame has started to fizzle out? In this episode I share some of the ways I’ve stayed inspired, including a new way I just started today!

I answer the age old question that, for some reason, we are still asking in 2019: Should is designers learn to code? The answer is...complicated, but I answer it with my own experience on this matter.

We often feel like there’s not enough time to do everything (and in most cases there isn’t), but how should designers take charge of their time so we can actually work through our processes and create valuable work? In this episode I share some of my tactics of how I manage my time better, and try not to feel guilty during mental rests and time off.

In this episode I chat about what is the most important part of our beloved UX process. The answer might not be what you expected.

Today was one of those days - a creative block hit. In this episode I talk about those nasty blocks and how I’ve dealt with them in the past, and present.

In this episode I talk about experimenting with apps that aren't in your language and testing designs with users far outside your userbase - to an international level.

In this episode I’m all jazzed up about design for voice. With the rise of AI assistants and voice tech, there’s a growing need for good voice experiences. So how do we design for what we can’t see?

Happy New Year! In this episode I talk about some of the exciting trends I think we should be aware of in 2019!

In this episode I share some do’s and don’ts I’ve learned about mobile design this year.

In this episode I try to explain what agile is and how I thought “scrum master” was a made-up title. Get ready for the unfiltered viewpoint of someone who’s fairly new to agile!

In this episode, I talk in 5 minutes or less about random thoughts as a product designer. This grab bag episode is all the things that may not be a full 40 minute discussion... yet.

In this episode I talk about the shift in perception we should have when it comes to what is sexy in design (Hint: it should be usability).

An often discussed topic: designers and imposter syndrome. In this episode I talk about what it is, some personal experiences with it, and how to professionally handle imposter syndrome as a designer.

In this episode I talk about the experience a lot of us go through: how to work on a team that doesn’t have enough designers. It’s a blessing and a curse all at once, but what are some ways to work with what you got?

In this episode I talk about two things I love: cars and design, and rant about why I think infotainment systems in cars are poorly designed to the point of being dangerous.

In this episode I talk about why it’s more important to get things done vs. getting hung up on perfection with our designs.

In this episode we discuss whether designers should have their own visual style in the work they produce, or should it be agnostic and follow the brand?

In this episode I chat about research in the design world and why it's important, when we need it, and how to use it.

In light if the recent announcement of The Art Institute closing several campuses, I talk about whether design school is really worth it.

In this 3rd episode, I talk about public speaking in all forms, and how to get better at it as a designer.

In this second episode I discuss whether or not design conferences are worth the money, and if so, how to pay for them on a tight budget.

In this first episode of Design Chat with Josh, I talk about the difference between visual and product design. We also dive into what to know before jumping into product design as a former graphic designer.

Welcome to a podcast about all things design! Product design, UX design, UI design, interaction design, graphic design, marketing, branding - you name it, this podcast you s probably going to be talking about it. I’m Josh Reach, a designer with over 10 years of visual design experience who switched careers to product design in 2018. My hope is that the topics covered in this podcast will help inspire or maybe even challenge you, whether you’re a seasoned designer or just starting out.