Design Actually: Honest Conversations for New UX Designers

Design Actually is a podcast about what it’s really like to be a designer—especially when you’re just starting out. I’m Stella, transitioning into product design, and this is my way of learning out loud through honest conversations with everyday designers—not the highlight reels, but the messy middle.In this episode, I talk with KD about job hunting, comparison, and learning for the sake of curiosity—not pressure. We get into what keeps him inspired, how he thinks about talent, and why feeling behind doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. If you’ve ever felt stuck or unsure where you’re headed, this one’s for you.-00:00 Highlights01:13 Intro - for anyone who's ever felt behind or stuck02:34 How KD approaches job hunting05:52 Domain fit matters more than you think07:37 What makes a role exciting09:09 Fellow job hunters: be true to yourself10:23 How to keep learning without guilt or burning out19:01 On comparison, pressure, and talent: It may take you longer, but you will get there26:10 What kind of designer are you?28:42 KD's creative toolkit31:05 Outro-🔗 Resources & Mentions from This EpisodeCursor – AI-powered code editor: https://www.cursor.com Cosmos – Visual inspiration board: https://cosmos.so Substack – A platform for newsletters and longform writing: https://substack.com Book: Grid Systems in Graphic Design by Josef Müller-BrockmannBook: Speculative Everything by Anthony Dunne and Fiona RabyAkira Kobayashi – Font designerAgatha Yu – Designer exploring game engines and interaction: https://www.agathayu.comJason Yuan – Designer, founder of New Computer (Dot), formerly Apple: https://jasonyuan.design/-If this episode resonated with you — or if you have feedback, topic ideas, or want to be a guest — I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to reach out:📩 Email: designactually25@gmail.com 🔗 LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/stellayy/

Welcome to Design Actually, a podcast about what it’s really like to be a designer — especially when you’re just starting out.I’m Stella, currently switching careers into product design. This show is my way of learning out loud through honest conversations with everyday designers — not the highlight reels, but the messy middle.In this first episode, I chat with KD, a designer who moved from psychology into UX. We talk about learning the fundamentals without a design degree, balancing data with intuition, and how to grow when you're in a place without strong design culture.-00:00 Highlights00:43 What is this podcast03:41 KD's background - from Psychology to UX design07:51 Advices to career-switchers: staying grounded, staying curious13:32 What it's like and how to navigate in a place without a strong design culture20:52 Balancing data and taste29:06 What research is worth including in a portfolio33:20 Outro and what's next-If this episode resonated with you — or if you have feedback, topic ideas, or want to be a guest — I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to reach out:📩 Email: designactually25@gmail.com 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stellayy/