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Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
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Estimated from 4 chart positions in 4 markets.
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- 🇦🇺AU · Design#39100K to 300K
- 🇪🇸ES · Design#1331K to 10K
- 🇿🇦ZA · Design#110500 to 3K
- 🇹🇼TW · Design#199500 to 3K
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31K to 95K🎙 Daily cadence·41 episodes·Last published 2d ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
102K to 316K🇦🇺95%🇪🇸3%🇿🇦1%+1 more - Active Followers
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41K to 126K
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On the show
Recent episodes
I Spent a Month Trying to Quit Figma. It Failed.
Jun 10, 2026
36m 06s
Product Design Perfectionism: Why 97 Out of a 100 Is Not Good Enough
Jun 3, 2026
32m 10s
I Got Let Go Twice. Here’s How I Still Built a 16-Year Design Career
May 27, 2026
1h 03m 42s
How Nick Became a Freelance Product Designer Making Six Figures
May 20, 2026
45m 21s
Why The Best Product Designers SAY LESS In Interviews
May 13, 2026
31m 11s
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| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6/10/26 | I Spent a Month Trying to Quit Figma. It Failed. | Everywhere we look, product designers are sick and tired of AI this, AI that.It feels like every day, there is a new tool, a new workflow, a new “Figma is dead” post, a new vibe coding demo, and another person telling designers they are either 'cooked', obsolete, or about to become '10x'.Reality is completely different. So try and relax!In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick talk about whether AI is making product design more fun, less fun, or just more overwhelming.They get into the current AI chaos around product design, vibe coding, designers touching code, Figma, Claude, Cursor, transcript-driven workflows, AI bloat, and the blurry line between prototypes, production, and things that only look real but secretly are not.Nick shares his first real experiments with vibe coding, including using Claude to make an interactive prototype he could not easily show in Figma. Tyler shares why he has been trying to skip Figma, why that keeps falling apart, and why polished product design still needs taste, craft, spacing, typography, and all the tiny pixel-level decisions AI does not magically understand yet.They also discuss the return of the builder-designer, why more designers may need to understand code again, and how AI is changing expectations around prototyping, collaboration, and product development.The conversation explores the emotional side of AI too. The fear that craft is disappearing. The weirdness of everyone creating prototypes. The source-of-truth problem. The mental load of keeping up. And why the most useful AI workflows might not be flashy demos, but boring things like transcripts, summaries, prompts, and turning messy meeting feedback into actual next steps.This episode is about staying useful in a design world that keeps changing, without losing your taste, your craft, or your mind because someone on LinkedIn discovered a new tool before breakfast.In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why designers should stop chasing every new AI tool🔸 How to decide whether AI actually helps your workflow🔸 Why vibe coding can be useful for exploring ideas🔸 Where AI-generated prototypes create confusion🔸 Why designers touching code still need to understand developer thinking🔸 Why Figma is not dead just because someone made a shiny demo🔸 How transcripts can improve prompts, workflows, and follow-up work🔸 Why AI bloat can make communication feel less human🔸 Why product design still needs taste, polish, and craftChapters:0:00 - Trying to escape Figma with AI for a month0:57 - Don't fall for the hype — filter by your own workflow3:58 - Roles are flattening and the field moves 3x faster6:12 - Going back to the generalist skillset7:41 - The hidden gap: designers need a developer's mindset9:35 - When everyone prototypes, what's a designer worth?11:17 - Is design still fun in the AI wave?16:53 - "I vibe coded a thing today"21:33 - Five terrible AI ideas that led to the right one23:27 - Transcripts as context: the real AI unlock30:43 - AI-written messages kill human connection34:07 - Quick-fire: will AI take your role?35:25 - Stay positive, think for yourselfSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeResources to help you level up your design career:Get your portfolio and career strategy reviewed with a Design Table Audithttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/products/design-table-auditDownload the Product Design Blueprinthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/products/product-design-blueprintJoin our UX and product design communityhttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/products/ux-and-product-design-communityIn need of support? Take a look at our resourceshttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/learnMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white\Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 36m 06s | ||||||
| 6/3/26 | Product Design Perfectionism: Why 97 Out of a 100 Is Not Good Enough | Two episodes of telling their career stories, and Nick and Tyler kept noticing the same thing: the lessons that actually mattered came from the rejections, the steps backward, and the ego traps nobody warns you about. In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Nick and Tyler sit down for a third session to digest their two previous story episodes and pull out what they actually learned. No new hero's journey. Just two designers comparing notes on the messy, non-linear reality of building a career that lasts. They get into luck and whether you can create your own, why eight months of rejection letters might mean it's time to step back instead of sending out 500 more applications, and how Tyler stumbled into web design through a newspaper ad for a trade program he wasn't even looking for. Nick talks through coaching two people at very different stages, and the hard call of telling someone their skills aren't ready yet instead of just fixing their CV. Tyler shares the ADPList portfolio-review strategy, treating mentor feedback like research data, and why comparing yourself to a 20k-follower influencer is the fastest way to feel like you're never good enough. They also dig into the "I'll show them" drive that pushed both of them forward after getting let go, why it's a double-edged sword, and how it shows up as the 97-out-of-100 perfectionism trap (the Loom recorded 25 times, the Lighthouse score that ruined an afternoon). And they close on the mental tax of staying current in an industry that reinvents itself every five minutes, especially now with AI. This episode is about surviving the messy middle of a design career, knowing when to step back to leap forward, and remembering that your only real competition is your past self. In this episode you'll learn:🔸 Why luck in a design career is mostly preparation meeting opportunity🔸 When to stop applying and go back to sharpen your craft instead🔸 How to use free mentor sessions as portfolio research🔸 Why comparing yourself to influencers quietly wrecks your confidence🔸 How the "I'll show them" mindset can fuel you and burn you🔸 The perfectionism trap of chasing 100 when 97 is already done🔸 Why hating your old work is actually a sign you're improving🔸 The mental tax of staying current as AI reshapes design ⏱ Chapters00:00 What's the difference between 97 and 100?00:43 Why a third recap session01:32 Is a design career all about luck?02:09 Creating your own luck after 8 months of rejection03:12 The hero's journey and the bright-eyed junior myth03:50 Taking a step back to leap forward04:38 Handing out demo reels and getting rejected by mail05:14 When 300 applications get you nowhere06:10 How Tyler chose what to go back and study06:44 The trade school stigma and the newspaper ad08:13 Are they ready, or just presenting it wrong?08:57 The danger of improving your portfolio forever09:47 Replicating designers you admire to find your style10:20 Progress you can't see in the moment11:26 The day-to-day of a demotivated job hunt11:36 Using free mentors as portfolio research12:45 Coaching two people at very different stages13:59 The hard call: skills first, applications later14:54 "I'm not good at math" vs "not good yet"15:28 Compare yourself to your past self, not influencers17:03 Reopening an old file and cleaning up your own mess18:15 Hating your old work means you're getting better18:43 Resilience after being let go early on19:21 Shame, rent, and the reasons you keep going20:53 The volatility and thrill of startup design21:23 Being told you can't build your own thing22:30 The itch to build your own thing23:12 The "I'll show them" superpower and its double edge24:55 The 97-out-of-100 Lighthouse trap26:53 Recording the same Loom 25 times28:47 The performance tax of staying up to date29:49 Why design feels harder than ever with AI30:18 Everyone's journey is different30:44 Get all the help you can: reviews, community, mentorsSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeResources to help you level up your design career:Get your portfolio and career strategy reviewed with a Design Table Audithttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/products/design-table-auditDownload the Product Design Blueprinthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/products/product-design-blueprintJoin our UX and product design communityhttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/products/ux-and-product-design-communityIn need of support? Take a look at our resourceshttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/learnMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white\Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 32m 10s | ||||||
| 5/27/26 | I Got Let Go Twice. Here’s How I Still Built a 16-Year Design Career | Most product designers want to have the clean career story. First, you go to school. You build a portfolio and get hired. Then you get promoted and become a senior product designer. Post something painfully inspirational on LinkedIn about “the journey” and you're there.Cute, but Tyler’s path was not that.It started with trying to get into animation. He soon realised the job market did not care about his art school confidence, so he had to go back to learn graphic design, web design, and coding landing pages. After, he started mailing resumes like it was the stone age and slowly figuring out how to turn all those skills into an actual product design career.So… how do you build a long-term design career when the industry keeps changing every five minutes?In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Nick interviews Tyler about his 16-year journey in design, from animation school and trade programs to web design, e-commerce, agency work, AI products, design leadership, layoffs, and eventually becoming a principal product designer.Tyler shares what he learned from being a designer who could code before that was cool, asking for raises, leaving jobs when growth stalled, getting let go twice in one year, spotting red flags in companies, and finding a role where mentorship, product strategy, and modern design work finally came together.We also get into AI, vibe coding, designers opening pull requests, why the builder-designer might be making a comeback, and why the core thinking behind product design still matters even when the tools change.This episode is about surviving the messy middle of a design career, staying useful as the industry shifts, and not letting one bad job, one layoff, or one weird CEO turn your career into a smoking pile of career anxiety.In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 How Tyler accidentally moved from animation into web design🔸 Why early career confidence can disappear fast in the real job market🔸 How coding helped Tyler stand out as a designer🔸 Why staying current matters more than clinging to one process🔸 How to ask for raises when you can actually back it up🔸 What layoffs taught Tyler about career risk🔸 How to spot red flags before joining a company🔸 Why AI and code are changing the product design role again⏱ Chapters00:00 Why the design industry feels unstable right now02:00 Tyler’s accidental start in design04:30 When art school confidence meets the job market06:20 Learning graphic design, web design, and code08:00 Why old skills still show up later in your career10:11 Going into monk mode to get better12:13 Landing the first internship14:06 Applying for the first real design job16:15 Negotiating salary before knowing what you’re worth19:16 Struggling in the first job21:14 Becoming the only designer23:44 Designers who code and the builder-designer comeback25:39 Leaving a job to keep growing29:38 Taking a pay cut to learn something new32:18 Spotting company red flags34:38 Moving from web designer to UI/UX designer36:23 Agency work, AI, and design leadership40:30 Asking for a $15,000 raise43:03 Fighting for user research44:21 Becoming a solo product designer47:00 Building trust with engineering48:30 Getting let go after four years51:54 Updating the portfolio after a layoff54:04 Joining a sinking ship58:21 Getting let go twice in one year59:19 Finding green flags in the next role01:01:05 Why designers may need to touch code again01:03:59 What designers should do to stay relevant01:06:23 Why your only real competition is your past selfSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeResources to help you level up your design career:Get your portfolio and career strategy reviewed with a Design Table Audithttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/products/design-table-auditDownload the Product Design Blueprinthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/products/product-design-blueprintJoin our UX and product design communityhttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/products/ux-and-product-design-communityIn need of support? Take a look at our resourceshttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/learnMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-whiteNick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 1h 03m 42s | ||||||
| 5/20/26 | How Nick Became a Freelance Product Designer Making Six Figures | Lots of product designers dream about going freelance. No boss. No performance reviews. And you decide where and when you work.And then reality shows up.No guaranteed paycheck. No HR department. No sales team. No legal department. No one magically handing you clients because you updated your LinkedIn headline to “freelance product designer.”So… how do you actually become a fully booked freelance product designer making six figures without setting your career on fire?In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler interviews Nick about his full journey into product design. From discovering UX by accident during an internship, to losing early jobs, to slowly building enough confidence, visibility, and client demand to go freelance full time.Nick shares that he is now a full-time freelance product designer in the Netherlands and has been fully booked with design projects for as long as he can remember.We talk about design education, internships, getting your first job, startup chaos, consultancy life, salary negotiation, writing online, building a network, and the uncomfortable moment when you realize your employer is charging a lot more for your work than you are actually taking home.Nick also shares why freelancing is not just “doing design without a boss.” It is sales, visibility, taxes, client relationships, risk management, delivery, and learning how to stay useful in rooms where your future clients already hang out.This episode is about the messy, non-linear path into product design and what it actually takes to build a freelance design career with more control, more ownership, and slightly fewer surprise layoffs.In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 How Nick accidentally discovered UX through an internship🔸 Why real design work moves faster than school projects🔸 What losing early jobs taught him about control🔸 Why freelancing started as a small side income🔸 How writing online helped Nick build visibility🔸 Why joining non-design communities can help you find clients🔸 What designers should know before going freelance🔸 Why luck matters more than most career advice admits⏱ Chapters00:00 Nick’s 11-year journey in product design01:44 Discovering UX by accident03:13 Landing the first design internship06:30 Learning more in two weeks than two years of school08:18 The shock of real-world project timelines10:43 Design thinking versus real-world design work12:00 Getting the first in-house design job16:46 Losing a job and realizing how little control you have20:02 Joining a startup as the first designer23:44 Losing confidence after two jobs ended24:19 Writing online and helping other designers27:49 Moving into consultancy32:00 Discovering the business side of design34:46 Making the jump toward freelance38:19 Building visibility and finding clients41:40 The smartest way to get freelance work46:08 The role of luck in a design career49:05 Why freelancing worked out for NickSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeResources to help you level up your design career:Get your portfolio and career strategy reviewed with a Design Table Audithttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/products/design-table-auditDownload the Product Design Blueprinthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/products/product-design-blueprintJoin our UX and product design communityhttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/products/ux-and-product-design-communityIn need of support? Take a look at our resourceshttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/learnMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-whiteNick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 45m 21s | ||||||
| 5/13/26 | Why The Best Product Designers SAY LESS In Interviews | Most product designers spend weeks (or even months) polishing their portfolio website. And then they get into the actual interview, open their mouth, and suddenly their clean case study turns into a 14-minute hostage situation.Awkward questions and most likely no follow-up after the interview. Back to square one.So… how do you actually present your design work without rambling, panicking, or over-explaining every single pixel?In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, we talk about the portfolio presentation stage of the product design interview process. The part where you’re no longer just showing your work, but proving how you think, communicate, handle questions, and tell a clear story.Nick shares what he teaches product designers he mentors, including why you should say less at the beginning, how to let hiring teams choose the project they care about, and why you should keep a few cards close to your chest instead of explaining every single detail upfront.We also get into slide decks, Loom videos, roleplay interviews, talking about failed launches, what to do when you don’t know the answer, and why portfolio presentations are really a two-way filter.This episode is about helping product designers present their work with more clarity, confidence, and control, without turning the interview into a sweaty design TED Talk nobody asked for.In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why designers talk too much during portfolio presentations🔸 How to structure your portfolio review like a story🔸 Why you should let hiring teams choose which project to see🔸 How to talk about results without killing the curiosity🔸 What to do when you don’t know the answer to a question🔸 Why failed projects can make your portfolio stronger🔸 How to use slide decks and Loom videos to stand out🔸 Why interviews are a two-way filter, not just a performance⏱ Chapters00:00 Why portfolio presentations feel so awkward01:00 The biggest mistake designers make when presenting03:00 How to turn interviews into conversations05:00 Why roleplay interviews help designers improve07:00 What to do before the portfolio interview08:45 Let the hiring team choose the project10:45 Why you should not explain everything upfront12:00 Where to place results in your case study14:30 Don’t repeat what is already on your portfolio17:30 What to do when you don’t know the answer20:30 Handling weird interview questions23:00 Why you should talk about what went wrong25:45 Portfolio presentations are storytelling28:15 How to use slide decks as visual aids30:00 Sending Loom videos before interviews32:30 Interviews are a two-way filterSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeResources to help you level up your design career:Get your portfolio and career strategy reviewed with a Design Table Audithttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/products/design-table-auditDownload the Product Design Blueprinthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/products/product-design-blueprintJoin our UX and product design communityhttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/products/ux-and-product-design-communityIn need of support? Take a look at our resourceshttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/learnMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-whiteNick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 31m 11s | ||||||
| 5/6/26 | If Figma Disappeared Tomorrow, Would You Still Have a Job? | Like many product designers, you’ve probably ran into one of the following challenges. One PM shows up with a prototype, an engineer suggests a user flow, or someone who has never opened Figma suddenly has strong opinions about spacing, UX, and “how the screen should work.”So… is everyone a designer now?In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, we talk about why designers feel threatened when other people start doing pieces of design work, why that fear is understandable, and why the real value of a designer is not about the tools they use.We also get into AI, vibe coding, Figma Make, product managers building prototypes, designers jumping into code, and what actually separates a designer from someone who just has an idea and a tool.This episode is about the changing role of product design and why your moat is how you think, validate, challenge, facilitate, and help a team make better decisions.In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why everyone feels like they can “do design” now🔸 Why Figma is not your real moat as a designer🔸 How to handle PMs or engineers bringing design ideas🔸 Why designers need to become better at pushing back🔸 How AI and vibe coding are changing product design🔸 Why your value is in judgment, not just execution⏱ Chapters00:00 Everyone has an opinion on design03:00 What actually makes someone a designer05:00 When PMs bring their own prototypes08:00 The sanity check layer designers provide10:00 Why designers need to push back14:00 If Figma disappeared, what value would you add?17:00 Why bad ideas can still move the team forward20:00 Is the designer role actually changing?23:00 Figma Make, vibe coding, and prototyping in code27:00 Why code is harder to collaborate on30:00 The existential crisis happening across techSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeIn need of support? Take a look at our resourceshttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/learnMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-whiteNick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 29m 30s | ||||||
| 4/29/26 | The AI Skill Most Product Designers Are Sleeping On | Like many product designers, you’re using AI. You get decent results by prompting and copy-pasting. Yet, you're still doing all the work. WHat if you didn't have to?In this episode of the Design Table Podcast, we talk about how designers can move beyond prompting and start using AI to actually execute tasks.Nick walks us through how he’s setting up simple workflows using Claude Skills to (more or less) automate small but meaningful pieces of work, from fixing things on his site to handling repetitive tasks.We also talk about what’s changing, how fast things are evolving, and why the real change is about giving away your work. This episode is about rethinking how you use AI as a product designer. It is a must-listen for anyone trying to stay ahead of how work is changing.In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 The difference between prompting and delegation🔸 How to use AI to actually execute tasks🔸 Simple ways to automate small workflows🔸 Why AI changes how designers work🔸 The risks of moving too fast🔸 What the next bottleneck actually is⏱ Chapters00:00 How designers are using AI today03:00 From prompts to execution08:00 Automating small tasks14:00 The speed shift20:00 The new bottleneck26:00 What this means for designersSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-whiteNick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 38m 58s | ||||||
| 4/22/26 | Your Portfolio Platform Doesn't Matter (Stop Overthinking It) | You’re stuck building your portfolio. Should you use Webflow? Framer? WordPress?Maybe you rebuild everything from scratch and start over? There are so many opinions on design social media that it is impossible to know what to do.In this episode of the Design Table Podcast, we discuss why designers obsess over portfolio tools and why that’s (mostly) a waste of time.We talk about what actually matters when someone reviews your work, why presentation beats platform, and how small details like having a custom domain has more impact than the tools you use.We also cover platform tradeoffs (in case it matters), cost considerations, and when it actually makes sense to switch.This episode is about focusing on what actually gets you hired instead of getting stuck in tool discussions. It is a must-listen for any designer building or rebuilding their portfolio.In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why portfolio tools don’t matter as much as you think🔸 What hiring managers actually care about🔸 What custom domains tell your audience🔸 When platform choice does matter🔸 The hidden cost of switching tools🔸 Why shipping your portfolio matters more than perfecting it⏱ Chapters00:00 The portfolio tool debate03:00 Why designers overthink tools07:00 What actually matters12:00 Custom domains and perception18:00 Platform tradeoffs25:00 Just ship itSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-whiteNick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 33m 53s | ||||||
| 4/15/26 | This Product Designer Built a SaaS Product in a Weekend (And There's No Way Back) | You keep hearing that UX and product designers should build. Yet, most designers don’t.Why is that? Are designers right? Is it just a case of social media nonsense?To find out, we looked at what happens when someone actually does it.Not a side project they’ll finish later (but never do) or another concept that never makes it out of Figma.It is a real product and it is live. All in one weekend. And for Tyler, the designer who built it, it changes everything.In this episode of the Design Table Podcast, we discuss just that; what actually happens when a designer stops talking about building and forces the constraint to ship something real.We get into the tools, the process, and what surprised us once the product was live and usable.But more importantly; what this changes about how you think about your career (and what stays the same).Because once you realize it’s possible to go from idea to something real that fast, you stop looking at job applications, portfolios, and “waiting your turn” the same way.This episode is about what happens when the builder mindset stops being theory and becomes real.In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why most designers stay stuck in the idea phase🔸 What actually happens when you try to ship in a weekend🔸 The tools that make building possible without a dev team🔸 What surprised us after launching something real🔸 Why this changes how you think about portfolios and jobs🔸 What it means to stop waiting and start building⏱ Chapters00:00 From layoffs to building05:00 Why talking about building isn’t enough10:00 The weekend challenge15:00 Tools used to build the product20:00 What actually worked and what didn’t26:00 What changed after shipping32:00 Why this changes your career strategySubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-whiteNick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 27m 52s | ||||||
| 4/8/26 | How Designers Actually Get Hired (After Being Laid Off) | You lose your job. No warning. Or maybe you felt it coming. Either way… now you’re sitting there thinking:“What the hell do I do next? How do I find a new product design role?!”In this episode of the Design Table Podcast, we discuss what actually happens after getting laid off as a product designer and how to succeed at the job search that follows.We talk about the emotional side of layoffs, what goes through your head in those first few days, and how quickly reality sets in when you realize you need to find your next role.We also get into real strategies that worked for us (we found out the hard way), including how job searching has changed, why job boards aren’t as effective anymore, and how to approach applications in a much more intentional way.This episode is about getting back on your feet and moving forward with a plan. It is a must-listen for any designer who's been part of layoffs or is preparing for their next role.In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 What goes through your mind after getting laid off🔸 Why job boards don’t work like they used to🔸 How the design job market has changed🔸 The difference between volume and quality applications🔸 Why tailoring your resume actually matters🔸 How to manage rejection without burning out⏱ Chapters00:00 Getting laid off as a designer03:00 The emotional aftermath07:00 Job search strategies then vs now12:00 Why job boards are less effective18:00 Volume vs quality applications24:00 Building a real application strategySubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-whiteNick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 29m 56s | ||||||
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| 4/1/26 | How to Survive as the Only Product Designer at a Company | You join a new company. First of all; congratulations!You arrive on day one and what do you see? There are engineers, product managers, marketers, and a sales team. But there is no design team. Turns out you are the only product designer. Yikes!In this episode of the Design Table Podcast, we discuss what it’s actually like to be the first or only designer at a company, how product designers can survive those early months without burning out, and how you can start to build real design influence.We talk about the reality of introducing design into organizations that have never had it before, why trying to fix everything at once usually goes wrong, and how to gradually build trust across engineering, product, and leadership.This episode is about learning how to create impact when you’re alone. It is a must-see for founding designers, startup designers, and anyone stepping into their first solo design role.In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 What to focus on during your first 30–90 days as the only designer🔸 Why improving the process is more important than perfect design🔸 How to build allies across engineering and product teams🔸 Why presenting aesthetics alone often fails🔸 How internal usability tests can build credibility quickly🔸 How to grow design influence inside non-design organizations⏱ Chapters00:00 The reality of being the only designer03:00 Tyler’s founding designer experience07:00 Why you shouldn’t try to fix everything at once11:00 The “meet in the middle” process strategy15:00 Why design language must change for stakeholders20:00 Meeting everyone across the company24:00 Using usability tests to build influence29:00 The politics of internal visibility33:00 When to take work outside your role38:00 When it’s time to grow the design teamSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 32m 51s | ||||||
| 3/25/26 | Everyone Can Ship Now… But Should They? Product Designers, AI, and the Shipping Problem | Designers can ship code now. That's what social media and your manager is telling you. AI tools, vibe coding, and new prototyping workflows mean designers are getting closer to production than ever before.But just because we can ship faster doesn’t mean we should.In this episode of the Design Table Podcast, we discuss the growing pressure for designers to ship quickly, why the “just ship it” mindset can backfire, and how teams should think about quality in a world where building things fast seems more important than building things well.We talk about the collapse of the gap between design and engineering, why shipping too fast can remove the “bad idea filter,” and why guardrails (like pull requests and review processes) are becoming essential.This episode is about navigating speed, experimentation, and responsibility in modern product teams. It is a must-see for designers trying to understand how AI and new tooling are changing the role of product design.In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why designers are starting to ship production code🔸 The hidden risk of the “just ship it” culture🔸 How AI tools are accelerating product experimentation🔸 Why teams need guardrails when everyone can ship🔸 When rapid experimentation actually improves products🔸 How pull requests and reviews protect product quality⏱ Chapters00:00 Everyone is shipping now02:00 Designers getting access to GitHub06:00 The rise of vibe coding09:00 The “bad idea filter” problem13:00 When shipping fast hurts product quality18:00 Why too many people shipping creates chaos22:00 Pull requests as design guardrails26:00 The danger of constant product changes30:00 Nick ships an AI-built featureSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 30m 36s | ||||||
| 3/18/26 | How Two Product Designers Actually Use AI (Prompting, Vibe Coding, and Real Work) | AI won’t replace designers. But designers who don’t know how to use AI properly are already falling behind. That's what you see a thousand times a day on social media. It is maddening.In this episode, we counter that and go deep on how two product designers actually use AI in real design projects. No LinkedIn hype. No “just vibe code bro.” Instead, we talk about prompting, context building, early-stage exploration, and where AI genuinely saves time versus where it doesn't.We discuss how AI fits into modern product teams, how designers are replacing wireframes with working prototypes, and why prompting is quickly becoming a core design skill.This episode is for designers who want to move faster without losing their mind.In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why prompting is more important than the tool you use🔸 How to structure prompts with goals and context🔸 When AI should explore ideas vs. deliver output🔸 Why wireframes are getting replaced by working prototypes🔸 The real meaning of “vibe coding” (and what it is not)🔸 How AI fits into professional, production-level workflows🔸 Why generalist designers adapt faster to AI-driven teams⏱ Chapters00:00 Why designers struggle with AI adoption03:18 What “vibe coding” actually means07:02 Context first, prompts second10:22 Replacing wireframes with real prototypes14:05 AI as exploration, not final output18:41 Prompting mistakes designers keep making23:12 When to restart instead of fighting the model28:10 Making prototypes realistic for stakeholders33:05 Prompting tips that actually work41:02 Why AI reinforces the generalist shiftSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about the hostsTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 29m 33s | ||||||
| 3/11/26 | Generalist vs. Specialist Designers: Why “Doing Everything” Is Back (and Who It Hurts) | Should you specialize or become a generalist as a product designer?Everyone has an opinion. Social media says pick a niche. Job listings say “end-to-end.” Who's right?! Designers are stuck wondering which path actually leads to getting hired and staying hired.In this episode, we solve the generalist vs. specialist debate from the reality of today’s product teams. We talk about why pure specialists are becoming risky outside of massive enterprises, why generalists are quietly back in demand, and how the best designers are combining deep industry knowledge with end-to-end execution.This episode is based on real hiring trends, Tyler's in-house experience, Nick's freelance work, and what actually happens inside modern product teams.In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why being “only good at one thing” limits your career options🔸 When specialization actually makes sense (and when it doesn’t)🔸 Why startups and mid-size companies favor end-to-end designers🔸 How generalists gain more influence, visibility, and context🔸 The hidden career risk of staying siloed in one skill🔸 How industry knowledge becomes the real specialization over time⏱ Chapters00:00 Are you a generalist or a specialist?02:30 Skill specialization vs industry specialization05:37 Why pure specialists struggle outside big companies09:03 Visibility, collaboration, and career growth13:05 Design systems, scaling, and cross-team impact18:49 Go wide first, then go deep22:36 Hiring trends and shrinking teams26:30 Why the generalist is backSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about the hostsTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 29m 13s | ||||||
| 3/4/26 | Why (Real) User Research Is Becoming a Career Advantage for Designers (Feat. Sara Fortier) | Your stakeholders say research is a waste of time. Just ship it. We’ll figure it out later. But later never comes. The product misses the mark, teams scramble, and you end up doing twice the work fixing mistakes you saw coming weeks ago. Relatable? For many designers it is...In this episode, we’re joined by Sara Fortier, CEO of Outwitly and author of Design Research Mastery, to talk about just that, what design research really looks like today, and why it’s becoming more important as AI becomes bigger and bigger.We talk about why research is less about methods and more about influence, how junior designers can stand out in today's super competitive market, and why the future favors designers who can connect business risk, human behavior, and product decisions instead of just pushing pixels.In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why design research is an insurance policy against bad decisions🔸 How to introduce research in low-maturity teams without asking permission🔸 Why AI won’t replace research but will raise the bar for designers🔸 How junior designers can use research to stand out and get hired🔸 When research should be deep, lightweight, or skipped entirely🔸 Why UX generalists are becoming more valuable than narrow specialists⏱ Chapters00:00 Why teams say research slows them down03:18 Research vs taste, craft, and AI hot takes07:02 Finding champions inside low-maturity orgs10:22 Asking forgiveness instead of permission14:05 Research as risk reduction and ROI18:41 Why generalists are winning again23:12 AI, research, and the future of design roles28:10 What junior designers should focus on right now33:05 Tools that actually help researchers today41:02 The skills AI can’t replaceLearn more about Sara’s bookhttps://www.designresearchmastery.com/Connect with Sara on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sarafortier/Learn more about Outwitlyhttps://outwitly.com/Subscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about the hostsTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-whiteNick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 43m 12s | ||||||
| 2/25/26 | Users Lie, Data Misleads, and Why UX Research (Still) Matters | Users say one thing. Then they do something completely different. Nick, co-host at the Design Table Podcast, just found out the hard way.In this episode of the Design Table Podcast, we discuss why user feedback can be misleading, why badly framed research creates false confidence, and how designers should really think about data and user research.We talk about research methods that fail in practice, why people lie during tests, and how relying on a single data point can completely derail your product design decision making.This episode is about moving beyond performative research and building confidence in your decisions using the right mix of qualitative and quantitative signals. It is a must-see for any designer who's interested in UX research.In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why users lie🔸 How poorly framed questions ruin your UX research outcome🔸 When usability testing beats surveys🔸 Why screenshots and explanations often get ignored🔸 How to triangulate research instead of trusting one signal🔸 When to trust data and when to trust experience⏱ Chapters 00:00 “Users lie” and the research crisis 04:00 Why feedback doesn’t match behavior 09:00 Choosing the right research method 15:00 Unmoderated vs moderated testing 21:00 SUS scores and false certainty 27:00 A simple research framework that works 33:00 Why research matters more in an AI-driven worldSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 27m 46s | ||||||
| 2/18/26 | Your Stakeholders Don't Care About UX. Now What?! | Your stakeholders tell you to skip research and just ship it. We'll test later is what they say, but later never comes. The design misses the mark. And now you're doing twice the work to fix what could have been done right the first time. That's the cycle we're discussing in this episode of the Design Table Podcast.In this episode, we talk about what designers are really hired to do and why your job is closer to being an insurance policy than a pixel pusher.We dig into how to handle stakeholders who think UX slows things down, why "ship it and learn" almost never leads to actual learning, and how to reframe your design process in a language executives actually respond to.In this episode you'll learn:🔸 Why designers are an insurance policy between ideas and production🔸 How to handle stakeholders who think UX slows teams down🔸 Why "ship it and learn" usually means "ship it and forget"🔸 How to reframe research as risk reduction, not extra work🔸 Why designers need to stop apologizing for their process🔸 When you should and shouldn't do research on a feature⏱ Chapters00:00 Stakeholders who say "just ship it"03:14 Designers are salespeople and therapists06:12 Design as an insurance policy07:05 The myth of "ship and iterate"10:15 Getting faster to make room for research12:31 Why designers need to stop being too nice17:05 Selling design through company goals and KPIs22:41 When should you actually do research?27:06 Quick summary and takeawaysSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 28m 03s | ||||||
| 2/11/26 | The 4 Real Reasons Companies Hire Designers (And How to Prove Your Value) | Part 2 | Everyone tells you design is about making things look good. But it is not. Design is about saving time, reducing risk, and creating leverage inside a business. That's what we're talking about in this episode of the Design Table Podcast.This is part 2 and we cover the overlooked reasons designers get hired and how to turn your work into measurable impact.We go beyond revenue and look into time savings, operational efficiency, risk reduction, compliance, and long-term brand impact. We share real examples from different industries (construction, pharma, SaaS, and product design) to show you how designers create impact that goes far beyond visuals.In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 How design saves time across teams and operations🔸 Why time saved often turns into revenue and scale🔸 How UX work can reduce business risk including compliance, errors, and lawsuits🔸 Real-world examples from construction workflows and pharma packaging🔸 Why brand, differentiation, and ownership still matter🔸 The hidden trait that makes designers stand out⏱ Chapters00:00 Intro to Part 202:00 Reason 3 Designers save time08:00 Construction workflow example14:00 Translating time saved into money18:00 Reason 4 Designers reduce risk23:00 Pharma compliance example27:00 Brand, differentiation, and ownership32:00 Final thoughtsSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-whiteNick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 27m 08s | ||||||
| 2/4/26 | The 4 Real Reasons Companies Hire Designers (And How to Prove Your Value) | Part 1 | While most designers talk about “crafting delightful experiences", companies hire designers for something else entirely. And that's a problem... for designers looking to get hired.In this episode, Tyler and Nick share the real business reasons designers get hired and how to position your case studies to prove your value.This episode introduces a framework from business thinking applied to UX and product design careers. They discuss why companies hire designers to make money and save money, and how most portfolios completely miss this. You’ll learn how to connect UX work to revenue, conversion, adoption, and cost reduction so your case studies speak the language of business.In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why "delightful UX" is not a strong business argument🔸 How designers help companies make money through conversion, MRR, and adoption🔸 How design reduces support costs and operational waste🔸 How to quantify business impact in your case studies🔸 What to do if you do not have access to metricsSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-whiteNick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 28m 15s | ||||||
| 1/28/26 | Why I'm Building My Own Tools (And Why You Should Too) | In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick discuss a shift that most SaaS and startups are not ready for: internal tools are getting real investment in 2026. That's because their customers are realizing they can build exactly what they need on their own.This changes how SaaS operates. Instead of buying another one-size-fits-all product, more buyers will ask: why don’t we just build this ourselves? Tyler and Nick figure out how SaaS products can survive this shift and why being integration-ready is about more than just “having Zapier.”If you are building B2B SaaS, working in product, or designing enterprise tools, this episode gives you strategy you can actually apply.Here is what is on the table:🔸 Why internal tools are getting bigger budgets in 2026🔸 The new SaaS threat: customers building their own tools🔸 Why enterprises want software tailored to their workflows🔸 The real SaaS moat: flexibility, integrations, and ecosystems🔸 Zapier, Make, MCPs, and why they change retention🔸 Using integrations as product signals for what to build next🔸 Founder-led SaaS, branding, and why “slop” is the new competitionSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 23m 38s | ||||||
| 1/21/26 | Product Design Jobs Are Disappearing in 2026 (Here's How You Survive) | In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick break down what product design will look like in 2026 and why this year will feel like a shock to a lot of designers. Tyler calls it the year of the builder, where titles start collapsing and the market rewards people who can actually ship.They discuss why design has been misunderstood for years, how that misunderstanding is costing you still today, and why design is slowly getting eaten by product and engineering departments.This is not AI fear and it is not a rant. It is a practical blueprint for how designers stay relevant when the goalposts move.If you want to protect your career and increase your leverage, the answer is simple: skill stack and build.Here is what is on the table:🔸 Why 2026 will be “the year of the builder”🔸 Why design roles are merging into hybrid titles🔸 The designer vs. developer gap and how it wastes time🔸 When building real prototypes beats building Figma prototypes🔸 How AI changes what teams expect designers to ship🔸 The next wave: builders who can design, ship, and think businessSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 31m 32s | ||||||
| 1/14/26 | How Recruiters Actually Work and What Designers Get Wrong | In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick pull back the curtain on the recruiter side of the design job market. This is not a rant and it is not recruiter hate. Instead, it is a practical explanation of how the system actually works.They break down what preferred suppliers are, why some recruiter outreach goes nowhere, and how designers accidentally hurt themselves by ignoring messages or being unprepared. The conversation reframes recruiters as long-term career relationships instead of one-off transactions.If you are job hunting, freelancing, or just want leverage when opportunities appear, this episode gives you context most designers never get.Here is what is on the table:🔸 How recruiters really source and screen designers🔸 What preferred supplier lists are and why they matter🔸 How to identify low-value recruiter outreach🔸 Why replying even when uninterested pays off later🔸 Screening recruiters the same way they screen you🔸 Keeping your CV ready before you need it🔸 Signaling availability without oversharing🔸 Playing the long game with career relationshipsSubscribe to The Design Table Podcast https://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about Tyler and Nick Tyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 28m 46s | ||||||
| 1/7/26 | How Two Senior Product Designers Actually Use AI (Without Losing Their Craft) | In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick break down how experienced product designers are actually using AI in real workflows. Not the hype. Not the panic. The practical reality.They talk through where AI is genuinely useful, where it creates more problems than it solves, and why most of its real value shows up after discovery, not before (like most say).From copy refinement and edge cases to design system consistency and handoff support, this episode shows how AI helps designers move faster without outsourcing judgment.If you feel behind because you are not “AI-first” or worried that tools like Figma Make will replace your role, this conversation will help how you think about AI and your craft.Here is what is on the table:🔸 Where AI actually fits in a real design process🔸 Why AI shines in later-stage design work🔸 Using AI for copy limits, constraints, and edge cases🔸 How Figma Make and vibe coding fit into real projects🔸 Treating AI like an assistant instead of a decision-maker🔸 Why strong design systems matter more than prompts🔸 The risks of hallucinated UI and false confidence🔸 Shipping faster without lowering qualitySubscribe to The Design Table Podcast https://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about Tyler and Nick Tyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 28m 00s | ||||||
| 12/31/25 | How to Start a Design Career in 2026 Without Burning Out or Falling for AI Fear | In the second half of this conversation, Tyler and Nick shift gears and answer a question they hear constantly:“If I am brand new to design, where do I even start anymore?”They break down what actually matters when entering product design today, what beginners should ignore, and how to build real skills without getting lost in tools, certifications, and AI panic.This episode is a practical, honest guide for anyone considering product design in 2026 and beyond. No shortcuts. No fake guarantees. Just clear steps and hard-earned perspective from two senior designers who have seen the industry evolve multiple times. Here is what is on the table:🔸 The first steps every new designer should take🔸 Mentorship vs. coaching and when to pay for help🔸 Why copying work is not cheating at the start🔸 The right way to learn Figma before touching AI tools🔸 Hard skills vs. soft skills and when each matters🔸 Why AI will not replace designers who understand fundamentals🔸 How to avoid burnout, fear cycles, and bad advice onlineSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 30m 28s | ||||||
| 12/24/25 | Design in 2025 Is (Not) Breaking Old Rules. Here’s What Actually Changed | 2025 felt like two years packed into one. In this episode, Tyler and Nick look back on the biggest shifts in product design over the past year and what they actually mean for designers going into 2026.They discuss how AI changed the way design work enters teams, why designers are becoming prototype-first thinkers, and how tools like Cursor, Figma MCPs, and AI image generation are closing the gap between design and engineering faster than most people expected.This is not a hype episode. It is a grounded conversation about experimentation, caution, and why the fundamentals still matter more than chasing every new tool.If 2025 left you excited, overwhelmed, or both, this episode helps you zoom out and make sense of what actually changed and what did not. Here is what is on the table: 🔸 Why 2025 became the year of experimentation🔸 How AI changed the way design requests come in🔸 Vibe coding vs. real production work🔸 Where design and engineering are coming together🔸 Why not every new tool deserves your attention🔸 The difference between hype and reality🔸 What designers should carry into 2026 and what to dropSubscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribeMore about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld | 28m 19s | ||||||
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4 placements across 4 markets.