In this episode of the Beyond the Interface podcast, Stephen Gates shares his extensive journey in the design industry, discussing his experiences from working with major brands like Apple and American Airlines to leading design teams and mentoring emerging designers. He emphasizes the importance of leadership evolution, the challenges faced in navigating corporate culture, and the role of design systems in fostering creativity. Stephen also delves into the significance of mentoring, the impact of layoffs on mental health, and the future of design in the age of AI. His insights provide valuable lessons for both aspiring and established designers.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stepdgat/

https://www.youtube.com/@StephenGates

https://thecrazy1.com/

https://crzydesign.com/

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Stephen Gates and His Journey

03:37 Career Highlights and Key Projects

06:23 The Evolution of Leadership in Design

09:33 Navigating Leadership Challenges

12:26 The Importance of Authenticity in Leadership

15:33 Adapting to New Environments

18:29 Creating Organizational Change

21:20 Strategies for Overcoming Resistance

24:26 Final Thoughts and Advice for Designers

28:22 Challenging Mediocrity and Embracing Risk

30:35 Cultivating New Leaders in Design

34:40 Leadership Lessons from Sports and Culinary Arts

38:24 The Balance of Systems Thinking in Design

41:33 Navigating Design Systems: Flexibility vs. Rigidity

48:47 The Passion for Mentoring and Its Impact

58:54 The Power of Vulnerability and Self-Reflection

01:01:14 Navigating Job Loss and Redefining Success

01:05:35 Building a Supportive Community During Tough Times

01:10:32 Creating Accountability and Momentum

01:13:27 Lessons from InVision: The Importance of Adaptability

01:20:53 The Future of Design: Embracing Change and Creativity

In this conversation, Jason Mesut shares his journey from industrial design to coaching, emphasizing the importance of personal growth and the dynamics of coaching. He discusses the challenges of finding the right coach, the common scenarios he encounters in coaching sessions, and the development of his Shaping Design series, which aims to help individuals understand their unique skills and growth paths in the design field. In this conversation, Jason Mesut discusses the unexpected applications of design frameworks, the debate surrounding designer skill sets, and the challenges leaders face in navigating the evolving landscape of design. He emphasizes the importance of allowing designers to explore their creativity without the constraints of traditional roles, while also addressing the issue of role dilution and the need for organizations to support individual designers in their career growth. In this conversation, Jason Mesut discusses the importance of embracing constraints in design to foster creativity, the evolving landscape for new designers, and the significance of building relationships and empathy in the design process. He shares insights on how curiosity and active listening can enhance design practices and emphasizes the need for designers to navigate their roles in a rapidly changing industry. Jason also talks about his future projects, including a podcast focused on creativity and resilience in a capitalist world.

Episode Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmesut/

https://medium.com/@jasonmesut

https://medium.com/shapingdesign

https://medium.com/@jasonmesut/the-exhaustion-of-designer-skillset-expansion-and-dilution-65fe61f2ada2

Chapters:

00:00 Episode Intro

00:32 Introduction to Jason Mesut's Journey

06:21 Transitioning to Coaching and Personal Growth

11:17 The Dynamics of Coaching and Accessibility

18:24 Finding the Right Coach

24:10 Common Coaching Scenarios and Insights

25:12 Exploring the Shaping Design Series

31:15 Exploring Unexpected Uses of Design Frameworks

36:34 The Debate on Designer Skill Sets

41:48 Navigating Leadership Challenges in Design

47:04 The Individual Designer's Journey and Role Dilution

01:00:37 Embracing Constraints for Creativity

01:08:51 Navigating the Future of Design

01:18:33 Building Relationships and Empathy in Design

01:21:19 Jason's Future Endeavors and Insights

Keywords

coaching, design, career development, personal growth, leadership, UX design, mentoring, shaping design, designer skills, team dynamics, design leadership, role dilution, creativity, nurturing designers, empathy, career growth, humanity-centered design, constraints in design, future of design, designer skills

Sham shares his extensive journey through the customer service and experience landscape in this conversation, highlighting the importance of data-driven insights and cross-functional collaboration. He discusses the evolution of customer experience roles, the significance of strategy, and the challenges of defining customer experience in today's business environment. The conversation also delves into the future of AI in customer service, exploring its potential to enhance customer interactions while emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human touch in complex situations. In this conversation, Sham from Sentisum discusses the integration of AI in customer experience, the challenges faced during career transitions, and the importance of networking and personal branding. He shares his journey through redundancies, emphasizing resilience and the power of relationships in securing job opportunities. Sham also highlights the significance of building partnerships in the B2B landscape and offers practical advice on finding one's voice and establishing a personal brand. Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shamasaziz/ Chapters: 00:00 Reunion and Career Journey 02:53 From Customer Service to Customer Experience 06:06 Data-Driven Insights in Customer Experience 09:14 Identifying and Solving Customer Issues 11:56 Cross-Functional Collaboration for Customer Experience 15:09 The Evolution of Customer Experience Roles 17:55 Understanding Customer Experience Definitions 21:08 The Role of Strategy in Customer Experience 24:13 Talent and Product Market Fit 26:56 Attracting Talent in Customer Experience 29:57 The Future of AI in Customer Service 32:56 AI's Role in Solving Customer Queries 35:54 The Balance of AI and Human Interaction 41:13 Harnessing AI for Enhanced Customer Experience 45:16 Navigating Career Challenges and Redundancies 51:04 The Power of Networking and Personal Branding 01:02:21 Building Partnerships in the B2B Landscape 01:11:42 Finding Your Voice and Building a Personal Brand