Content Design with Friends

In this episode, Camila and Laura invite Dean Robertson, Senior Content Design Manager at Expedia Group, to talk about the integration of AI in content design, the importance of maintaining ethical standards, and the irreplaceable human elements in content creation.Dean shares practical applications of AI in his work, emphasizing the need for collaboration and critical thinking in leveraging genAI effectively.Want to share your story? Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at cdwithfriends@gmail.com.

Camila and Susa have both recently stepped into management – and they’re here to share what that’s been like so far. In this episode, they share their experiences, doubts, and lessons as new managers.Whether you’re managing now, thinking about it, or simply wondering how to grow as a leader, this episode reminds you: you don’t need to know all the answers or a fancy title to be a great leader.Featuring Camila Pechous and Susanna Agababyan.Want to share your story? Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at cdwithfriends@gmail.com.

AI is everywhere these days, but how do content designers actually work with it? In this episode, we chat with our special guest Kyra Lee about building AI writing standards, navigating legal landscape, and collaborating across teams in this fast-evolving space. From career pivots to practical tips, Kyra shares her journey into AI-powered products and how anyone can get involved.Featuring Laura Lopez, Rosie Olaivar, Camila Pechous and Susanna Agababyan.Want to share your story? Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at cdwithfriends@gmail.com.

We’re back, friends! Season 3 starts with a big question: What do y’all do all day? In this episode, we peel back the curtain on the life of a content designer – from navigating the double diamond to juggling stakeholders and stress. We talk about collaboration, feedback loops, and using the art of storytelling to ‘sell’ your work. This episode comes with some practical self-care tips.Featuring Laura Lopez, Rosie Olaivar, Camila Pechous, and Susanna Agababyan.Want to share your story? Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at cdwithfriends@gmail.com.

This short trailer gives you a sneak peek at what’s ahead: surprising stories, bold ideas, and fresh voices tackling some of the industry's biggest questions!

In the last episode of season 2, we invited none other than Kristina Halvorson, founder of Brain Traffic and the powerhouse behind one of the most important conferences in the industry, Button. In our conversation, Kristina offers insights into the tumultuous landscape of job titles, and shares her wealth of experience, unique takes on the industry, and aspirations for the field. She delves into the intricate dance between titles, pay bands, and the nuanced identities within the content design realm.  Don't miss out on this rollercoaster of a conversation, full of wisdom and laughter. Featuring Laura Lopez, Rosie Olaivar, Camila Pechous, Laura Costantino, Susanna Agababyan and special guest, Kristina Halvorson. Want to share your story? Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at cdwithfriends@gmail.com.

In this episode of CD With Friends, we dive deep into the art of storytelling and finding your voice, joined by our special guest, Francesca Rodriguez Sawaya, content designer at Cisco.  Francesca shares insights on crafting narratives across various mediums and formats, emphasizing the power content designers have in guiding users and the profound impact of storytelling on building trust with stakeholders. She reflects on how learning to articulate our work not only enhances our understanding but empowers us to speak up and draws parallels between the worlds of weaving and technology. Don't miss this conversation on creativity, connection, and making a meaningful impact in the world of content design. Featuring Laura Lopez, Rosie Olaivar, Camila Pechous, Laura Costantino, and special guest, Francesca Rodriguez Sawaya.

Did you know you can negotiate more than just your salary? In this episode, we’re talking about all the things you can negotiate when a company extends a job offer. We’ll also tell you what to do before you get to the negotiation stage, so that you don’t end up getting underpaid or saying yes to a job offer you’ll later regret. And Rosie will beg that everyone break the money taboo and start sharing their salary and benefits, because as we all know, knowledge is power. Featuring Laura Lopez, Rosie Olaivar, Camila Pechous, Laura Costantino and Susanna Agababyan. Want to share your story? Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at cdwithfriends@gmail.com. Resources discussed in this episode: www.glassdoor.com www.levels.fyi www.teamblind.com https://uxcontent.com/2023-content-design-salary-industry-survey/

How important is it to be a native English speaker when working in content design? Not at all. We get to the bottom of what being a “native” speaker means, why we think it’s discriminatory, and how speaking more than one language is actually a superpower when working as a content professional.  Featuring Laura Lopez, Rosie Olaivar, Camila Pechous, Laura Costantino and Susanna Agababyan. Want to share your story? Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at cdwithfriends@gmail.com.

There’s a lot of talk about employees returning to the office. But what does that look like in today’s world? Are you pro-remote work or couldn’t be more excited to return to the office in-person? In this episode, we explore the different sides of returning to work, what it’s like working through a pandemic, work boundaries, quiet quitting, and what it means for us to normalize rest.  Featuring Laura Lopez, Rosie Olaivar, Camila Pechous, Laura Costantino and Susanna Agababyan. Want to share your story? Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at cdwithfriends@gmail.com.

We all face some kind of challenge at work. Some of that struggle may be from managing difficult stakeholders, some from not having enough space to do what we need to do. In this episode, we cover our workplace battles and how we deal with them: advocating for our work, gaining influence, finding time to approach our work strategically, but also–learning when to let go and cut our losses. Because not every battle is meant to be fought or won.   Featuring Laura Lopez, Rosie Olaivar, Camila Pechous, Laura Costantino and Susanna Agababyan. Want to share your story? Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at cdwithfriends@gmail.com.

Welcome to our very first episode! We're discussing all things imposter syndrome, something that even high-achieving people often struggle with. How do we frame it? Is it systemic or problematic to even talk about it? Where does it stem from? What can be done to break the cultural and societal layers behind it and instead nurture a healthier outlook on ourselves and the work that we do? We share our personal experiences and some practices that help us deal with imposter syndrome in our daily lives.  Featuring Laura Lopez, Rosie Olaivar, Camila Pechous, Laura Costantino and Susanna Agababyan. Want to share your story? Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at cdwithfriends@gmail.com.

Being a team of one can be empowering or… exhausting. In this episode, we’re joined by Joe Natoli, co-author of the 2nd edition of The User Experience Team of One, to talk about the realities of solo practice in UX. We delve into how this collaboration with Leah Buley came to be, the pros and cons of being a team of one, and what advice Joe has for content designers working solo.Featuring Laura Lopez and Camila Pechous.Want to share your story? Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at cdwithfriends@gmail.com.

This one’s extra special. In this episode, we’re joined by the brilliant and generous Bill Kurland – musician-turned-content-designer-turned-director – who takes us through the twists, turns, and lessons of a career built on curiosity, creativity, and care. From touring in bands to leading experience design at McDonald’s, Bill shares what helped him grow, what made him pivot, and what he wishes he’d known along the way. Whether you're just starting or looking toward your next big move, this one’s for you.Featuring Laura Lopez, Rosie Olaivar, Camila Pechous and Susanna Agababyan.Want to share your story? Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at cdwithfriends@gmail.com.

It’s three of us this time and in this episode, we’re discussing the intricacies of design leadership. We unpack workplace dynamics, share personal stories, and delve into what defines a good and a poor leader. From exploring the burning question of who gets to be a leader, to navigating the highs and lows, we cover it all. Tune in for an honest exploration of the various aspects of design leadership. Featuring Laura Lopez, Rosie Olaivar, and Susanna Agababyan. Want to share your story? Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at cdwithfriends@gmail.com.

On this episode of CDWF, we’re hosting our very first guest, Bobby Roshdi, a content designer, speaker, and one-time stand-up comedian. He’ll share his wisdom on the benefits of speaking up at work, what he does to mentally prepare to speak to audiences big and small, and how he turned perspiration into inspiration!  Join us on this informative and hilarious talk about the human side of speaking up at work.  Featuring Laura Lopez, Rosie Olaivar, Camila Pechous, Laura Costantino, Susanna Agababyan and a special guest, Bobby Roshdi. Want to share your story? Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at cdwithfriends@gmail.com.

In 2023 alone, it happened to over 230,000 tech workers: layoffs. But have we seen the last of mass layoffs in tech? In this episode, we share our personal layoff stories and how you can support yourself, former colleagues, and friends who may be going through a layoff.  Featuring Camila Pechous, Laura Costantino, Laura Lopez, Rosie Olaivar, and Susanna Agababyan. Want to share your story? Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at cdwithfriends@gmail.com.

This episode is a special one. It’s a recording of a live session with our listeners, where we looked back on season 1 and revisited our podcast's creation – our experiences, lessons learned, challenges, behind-the-scenes stories and triumphs in bringing it to life. We talked about the significance of collaboration, the complexities of audio editing, and the joy of connecting with our community. We also gave a sneak peek into what season 2 holds. Featuring Laura Lopez, Rosie Olaivar, Camila Pechous, Laura Costantino and Susanna Agababyan. Want to share your story? Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at cdwithfriends@gmail.com.

We’re back! Well, almost. The friends are back for season 2 and we’re discussing all the juicy topics you want to hear about when it comes to all things design. We’ve also brought on a few all-star guests this season, too! Stay tuned and give us a follow to be notified when we publish all-new episodes this January.  Featuring Susanna Agababyan, Laura Costantino, Laura Lopez, Rosie Olaivar, and Camila Pechous. Want to share your story? Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at cdwithfriends@gmail.com.

In this episode, we cover the content design interview process. We’ll let you know what your interview loop might look like and what might be expected of you at each stage. We also dive into our thoughts on portfolios and those dreaded take-home assignments. Featuring Laura Lopez, Rosie Olaivar, Camila Pechous, Laura Costantino and Susanna Agababyan. Want to share your story? Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Email us at cdwithfriends@gmail.com. Resources discussed in this episode: Transparent Recruiting, by Jonathon Colman https://noti.st/jcolman/jqwupR