Design Leadership Insights is a podcast where Paul, The UX Architect, shares real stories, strategies, and lessons learned from building and leading design teams. With over 15 years of experience navigating the complex world of design leadership, Paul offers practical frameworks and actionable advice for design leaders at all stages of their journey. Voice production enhanced with AI-assisted technology for consistent audio quality.
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Boagworld: UX, Design Leadership, Marketing & Conversion Optimization
Paul Boag, Marcus Lillington
Boagworld: The podcast where digital best practices meets a terrible sense of humor! Join us for a relaxed chat about all things digital design. We dish out practical advice and industry insights, all wrapped up in friendly conversation. Whether you're looking to improve your user experience, boost your conversion or be a better design lead, we've got something for you. With over 400 episodes, we're like the cool grandads of web design podcasts – experienced, slightly inappropriate, but alwa ...
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Cheers & Tiers welcomes you into a circle of design leaders whose bonds were forged during iconic AIGA design leadership retreats and conferences. These gatherings were more than just strategic sessions with the nation’s chapter leaders—they were moments of shared growth, laughter, and camaraderie that shaped careers and lives, blending organizational development with celebratory toasts and even the occasional human pyramid. Fellow design leaders Erik and Rachel as they reconnect with friend ...
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A podcast by and for UX Design & Product Management Leaders. Your host Mark Baldino, Co-Founder of UX design consultancy Fuzzy Math, brings twenty+ years of experience in UX design and strategy into a series of conversations with people who lead UX design teams.
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In our modern business world, increasingly complex, unreliable, and incompressible. Calls for a different mode of leadership. In this podcast, we will explore and discuss with leaders and change-makers how this new leadership approach emerged and how it is transforming institutions and organizations for the better. In Modern Organizations, everyone must be a Leader. Accountable & Proactive, Creative & Resilient, Empowered & Collaborative. Our mission is to empower the future generation of Cr ...
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008: Ashleigh Axios of AIGA DC
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37:10In this Cheers & Tiers episode, Ashleigh Axios shares her journey in design leadership, highlighting her extensive involvement with AIGA and the impact of community engagement on her career. She reflects on memorable experiences at leadership retreats, the importance of building trust within design communities, and the lessons learned from her lead…
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The First 90 Days - A Design Leader's Guide to New Role Impact
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13:26This end-of-season episode demonstrates how effective design leaders navigate their first 90 days in a new role by prioritizing deep understanding and strategic relationship-building before implementing changes, creating a foundation for lasting organizational transformation. Paul reveals a three-phase framework—Listening, Vision Crafting, and Stra…
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This week, we catch up on Paul’s latest adventures—from a memorable dinner with Todd “the accessibility guru” where we talked WCAG 3, to a deep dive into the shifting landscape of design job titles. We’ll share an app that brings real form fields into your Figma prototypes, unpack why “product designer” is suddenly on everyone’s profile, and wrap u…
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Beyond Faster Horses: Uncovering Customer Needs at Scale
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37:11
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37:11Send us a text In this episode of UX Leadership by Design, Mark Baldino talks with Mauricio Steffen, Senior Director of Product Management at Ericsson, about the crucial role customer research and empathy play in successful product management. Mauricio shares his unique career path, transitioning from corrections officer to frontline support, then …
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007: Elysia Syriac of AIGA Colorado
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43:23
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43:23In this engaging conversation, Erik Cargill and Rachel Elnar explore the journey of Elysia Syriac, an experienced designer passionate about design operations and community engagement. They discuss her involvement with AIGA, the impact of mentorship, and the creative skateboard art project that raised funds for students with disabilities. The conver…
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From Metrics to Meaning: Transforming Customer Satisfaction Data into Design Decisions
12:54
12:54
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12:54Design leader Paul reveals how to transform raw customer satisfaction metrics into meaningful design decisions. Drawing from his experience at Expedia and a global logistics company, he shares a proven three-tiered approach to understanding what lies beneath the numbers. Paul demonstrates how leadership that focuses on uncovering human stories behi…
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006: Mike Joosse, AIGA Director of Chapter Development
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39:59
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39:59In this Cheers & Tiers conversation, Mike Joosse shares his extensive journey with AIGA, highlighting the pivotal role it played in his career and personal growth. He discusses with hosts Erik Cargill and Rachel Elnar his experiences at AIGA leadership retreats, the importance of community building in design, and how he applies the lessons learned …
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Beyond Usability: Why Emotion and Delight Matter in UX
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45:39This week’s episode takes a deeper look at how we define good user experience—and argues it’s time we move beyond the narrow focus of usability. We explore how friction can sometimes enhance an experience, and why emotional design is essential if we want to create interfaces that stick in users’ minds. We also review a new batch of AI-powered desig…
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The Creative Leader's Paradox: How Side Projects Make Better Design Managers
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13:03Design leader Paul explores how seemingly unrelated creative pursuits enhance leadership capabilities. Drawing from his experience with music production, filmmaking, and podcasting, he reveals how these diverse creative domains provide unique perspectives on team dynamics, communication, and problem-solving. Discover the Creative Leader's Paradox a…
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005: David Jon Walker of AIGA Nashville
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33:37In this Cheers & Tiers conversation, David John Walker, a prominent art director and type designer, shares his journey through the design world, his involvement with AIGA and the Nashville chapter, and the evolution of design education. He discusses the importance of networking, community building, and the role of design in social change, particula…
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From Code to Canvas - Why Technical Backgrounds Create Stronger Design Leaders
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10:37Discover how technical backgrounds create stronger design leaders through systems thinking, embracing constraints, and iteration. Former developer turned UX leader Paul shares practical insights on bridging technical and creative domains to build better products and more effective design teams. Learn actionable strategies for leveraging technical k…
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004: Paul Mendoza of AIGA Los Angeles
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34:09In this episode of Cheers & Tiers, hosts Erik Cargill and Rachel Elnar talk with Paul Mendoza around his journey with AIGA Los Angeles, his experiences at AIGA leadership retreats, and how those experiences shaped his career path leading to his current role producing Amazon’s in-house design conference, Conflux. Paul shares stories about karaoke ni…
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On this week's Boagworld Show, we're exploring how UX design leaders can take control of their roles within organizations, why UX agencies might feel doomed (but probably aren't), and how AI is reshaping the way we code and collaborate. We'll dig into practical strategies for UX leaders, share insights on the changing landscape for UX agencies, and…
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Design Leadership as a Bridge - Uniting User Needs with Business Objectives
12:06
12:06
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12:06This episode reveals how effective design leadership bridges the false dichotomy between user needs and business objectives, with real-world examples of uniting these seemingly competing priorities. Through practical strategies like translation tools and cross-functional collaboration, design leaders can transform organizational tensions into oppor…
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003: Christine Sheller of AIGA Philadelphia
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39:44
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39:44In this episode of Cheers & Tiers, hosts Erik Cargill and Rachel Elnar catch up with design powerhouse Christine Sheller. From leading UX teams to shaping AIGA Philly, Christine has done it all—and she’s got the wild leadership retreat stories to prove it! We chat about her journey in design, the magic of community, and how a chance encounter at a …
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Sell Before You Build for Faster Product-Market Fit
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40:02Send us a text In this episode of UX Leadership by Design, Mark Baldino sits down with David Hirschfeld, founder and CEO of Tekyz, about the Launch First methodology—a metrics-driven approach to de-risking product development and achieving product-market fit before building software. David shares insights from working with over 90 startups, highlig…
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Progressive Disclosure in Enterprise Design: Less Is More, Until It Isn't
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13:09
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13:09Paul shares leadership strategies for implementing progressive disclosure in enterprise UX design, navigating competing stakeholder priorities, guiding cross-functional teams, and transforming complex interfaces into intuitive experiences that satisfy both business requirements and user needs. Learn how effective design leaders balance complexity a…
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002: Josh Silverman of AIGA Rhode Island
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39:21
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39:21In this episode of Cheers & Tiers, hosts Erik Cargill and Rachel Elnar sit down with design veteran Josh Silverman to discuss his 30-year career spanning entrepreneurship, education, and community leadership. Josh reflects on how volunteering with AIGA Boston early in his career transformed his professional journey. What started as a simple act of …
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On this week's Boagworld Show, we delve into the powerful concept of invisible user research - tackling how to conduct essential UX work even when stakeholders resist investing in formal research. We explore the often-overlooked impact of UX debt, crown a new champion among user-testing apps, and surprisingly, find ourselves nodding along with McKi…
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Beyond Basic vs. Premium - Reimagining the Flight Booking Experience
18:56
18:56
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18:56In this episode, I share how my team transformed confusing airline fare options into an intuitive booking experience. Rather than trying to explain complex fare differences, we created a customized approach where travelers select desired features first. By implementing progressive disclosure techniques and focusing on user decision-making patterns,…
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In this episode, I reveal how to transform design critiques from anxiety-inducing sessions into catalysts for innovation through a four-part framework: 24-Hour Context Share, 15-Minute Solution Story, Structured Feedback Rounds, and Documented Action Items. Learn to frame feedback as questions and create psychological safety for all team members. K…
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001: Amanda Hovest of AIGA Los Angeles
29:37
29:37
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29:37In this episode of Cheers and Tiers, hosts Erik Cargill and Rachel Elnar welcome Amanda Hovest, a seasoned graphic designer with over 18 years of experience. The conversation explores Amanda's journey in design leadership, her impactful role at AIGA Los Angeles, and the importance of networking and mentorship in the design community. They discuss t…
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The Metrics Trap: Are You Measuring the Wrong Things?
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49:34This week, we’re tackling a biggie—how to avoid the pitfalls of metrics. We’ll explore why tracking the wrong numbers can send your entire organization in the wrong direction and what you should be focusing on instead. We also have a fantastic Figma plugin to make your mockups more realistic, a thought-provoking read on AI’s impact on UX, and a lis…
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Psychological Safety in Design
10:19
10:19
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10:19In this episode, Paul explores how psychological safety transforms design teams into innovation powerhouses. Learn how a junior designer's breakthrough idea led to a 42% increase in user onboarding completion rates, and discover practical frameworks for creating an environment where team members feel empowered to take creative risks and challenge e…
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Philosophy Meets Product: Pragmatism, Internal Politics, and Product Ops
35:59
35:59
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35:59Send us a text In this episode of UX Leadership by Design, Mark Baldino sits down with Mike Nowak, Principal Product Manager at Deloitte Digital, to explore the philosophy and pragmatism behind product management. Mike shares his unconventional journey from theology and philosophy to product leadership, emphasizing the importance of humility, adapt…
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000: Grab Your Name Tag and Join Us For Cheers & Tiers
2:59
2:59
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2:59Meet Erik and Rachel as they introduce the Cheers & Tiers podcast, where AIGA chapter leadership stories come alive. Discover how design community bonds formed at leadership retreats shaped careers and created lasting friendships. Pour yourself something nice and join us for these tales of triumph, growth, and occasional shenanigans. What’s in this…
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The 89% Solution: How to Build and Retain a High-Performing Design Team
9:59
9:59
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9:59In this episode, Paul reveals the strategies behind achieving an impressive 89% retention rate across a global team of 16 designers. Learn about the PETaLS framework for meaningful one-on-ones, creating personalized growth paths, building psychological safety through structured critique, and empowering designers by involving them in the business co…
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Digital Fatigue: The Case for Face-to-Face Meetings
47:58
47:58
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47:58Welcome to another packed episode! This week, we're diving into three topics we think you'll find fascinating. First up, we're exploring why face-to-face meetings still matter in our digital world. Then, we'll share our favorite A/B testing tools (since Google Optimize is no longer with us), and finally, we'll look at how AI is reshaping UX with so…
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Scaling Design Impact: From Solo Contributor to Team Leader
9:27
9:27
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9:27In this first episode, Paul shares how he built a thriving design team of 16 designers across three regions, starting from literally zero. Learn about securing leadership buy-in through data-driven approaches, strategic hiring for long-term impact, building structured design processes that work across time zones, and creating genuine connections in…
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Promoting Your Work to Colleagues
57:38
57:38
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57:38In today's episode, we dive deep into how UX professionals can effectively demonstrate their value within organizations, especially during challenging times when the shine has come off UX and attention has shifted to AI. Form Analysis Tools: A Game-Changer for UX We kick off by exploring some exciting form analysis tools that can revolutionize how …
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Building a Culture of Innovation: A Guide for Leaders
38:22
38:22
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38:22Send us a text In this episode of UX Leadership by Design, Mark Baldino talks with Dave Seligsohn, founder of A2O Consulting, about creating a culture of innovation and driving business growth. Drawing from his rich background in education and leadership, Dave shares insights into the challenges small businesses face, such as breaking revenue ceili…
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Enhancing the Experience of Using AI
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10:23
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10:23I've watched with fascination how AI is reshaping the design landscape. While we've made incredible strides in using AI to enhance our design processes, I believe we're overlooking something crucial: the human experience of interacting with AI itself. You might wonder why this matters. Well, as AI becomes more deeply woven into our daily lives, the…
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Harness the Power of AI: Transform Your UX Workflow
49:58
49:58
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49:58Introduction: Embracing AI for UX Productivity In this episode of the Boagworld Podcast, we delve into the transformative role of AI in UX and web design. From cutting-edge Figma plugins to tools that revolutionize SEO, Paul Boag and Marcus Lillington share insights, tools, and strategies that can elevate your workflow. Whether you're a seasoned de…
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What Does 2025 Hold for UX? As we approach the new year, it's time to reflect on the state of user experience design and look ahead to what 2025 might bring. In this episode of the Boagworld Podcast, Marcus and I dive into the trends, challenges, and opportunities that lie ahead. Here are the key takeaways from our discussion. The Rise of Seamless …
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Building Better Products Faster with Generative AI
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33:55
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33:55Send us a text In this episode of UX Leadership by Design, Mark Baldino sits down with Joe Sticca, a seasoned expert blending technology, digital experiences, and product innovation, to explore the transformative impact of generative AI on product management and design. Joe shares his journey from software development to digital experience leadersh…
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Why We Need to Rethink Invitations to Tender in Digital Projects
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50:12
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50:12In this episode, we dive into the frustrating world of Invitations to Tender (ITTs), explore why Notion might be the only app you need, and discuss treating AI like your newest intern. We also share our thoughts on Adobe's latest AI innovations and why UX seems to have lost its shine. The Problem with Traditional Tenders Our main topic for this sho…
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WP Engine vs WordPress, SUPA, and AI-Powered UX Reviews
51:35
51:35
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51:35Hello and welcome to the Boagworld Show, the longest-running web design podcast where we look at user experience design, conversion optimization, and working in the web. This week, we've got quite the lineup for you. WP Engine vs WordPress: A Cautionary Tale We kick things off with a look at the recent controversy between WP Engine and WordPress. I…
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Unlocking Growth Through Team Alignment in Product Management
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45:57
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45:57Send us a text In this episode of UX Leadership by Design, Mark Baldino and Bruce McCarthy discuss the challenges and solutions around stakeholder alignment in product management. Bruce highlights the importance of bridging communication gaps across departments to achieve unified goals and emphasizes the role of empathy, strategic prioritization, a…
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