Design Life

Femke and Charli discuss how to balance product quality with commitments, deadlines, and the pressure to ship quickly. They explore the best approaches to building MVPs and new features, and consider whether AI is influencing the expected pace of work in design.Timestamps:01:14 Episode start02:25 Catch up07:56 The background of the issue at Femke’s work10:42 Did Charli experience anything similar?12:56 Has the rebrand and the new systems in place helped your team unlock more velocity, allowing you to work more quickly?17:19 What does your team think about MVP?24:45 As a design manager, what’s your role in solving this?26:07 Any ideas of solutions Femke can share?32:15 Is AI influencing leadership’s push for speed? Do you think it’s making teams move faster?Links: Femke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

Thank you to our sponsor, Framer. Ready to build a site that looks hand-coded—without hiring a developer? Start free today at framer.link/femkeCharli and Femke talk about the challenges of discussing performance reviews and share the actual feedback they received. They discuss how performance reviews work at their companies, including how often they occur, the structure, and the tools used. They also share how AI tools are integrated into the process, explain how promotions are linked to reviews, and highlight key points to keep in mind for the next review cycle.Timestamps:0:51 Episode start.01:39 Framer sponsorship.03:14 What is the structure of the performance review at Femke’s company?06:39 What tools are used during the performance review? How are performance reviews conducted at Charli’s company?09:25 How long is your review period?11:56 How have you incorporated AI into the review process?14:58 Charli and Femke share the feedback they received during their performance reviews.18:20 Femke and Charli go into more detail about their feedback.21:08 How detailed do you prefer your feedback to be?25:29 Charli and Femke share the feedback they received as managers from direct reports.29:28 How does your company handle promotions? Are performance reviews and promotions separate processes?32:20 What key points are you keeping in mind for the next review cycle??Links: A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Framer. Make sure to check them outFemke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

Thank you to our sponsor, Framer. Ready to build a site that looks hand-coded—without hiring a developer? Start free today at framer.link/femkeFemke and Charli discuss various aspects of hackathons, including team organization and timelines, the motivations behind creating dedicated create weeks, whether projects should go live afterward, the competitive dynamics of hackathons, and provide valuable advice for companies interested in hosting their own hackathons.Timestamps:0:47 Episode start01:27 Framer Sponsorship02:43 Have you been part of hackathons before?07:38 How can non-technical team members add value during a hackathon?10:11 Are hackathons competitive?11:10 Do hackathon projects typically go live? What are the next steps afterward?12:03 Do teams intentionally save work for hackathons? Is it part of your roadmap process?15:17 Have you seen projects die after a hackathon?18:12 What motivated you to start these hackathons?22:18 What advice would you give to those wanting to organise a hackathon at their company?Links: A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Framer. Make sure to check them outFemke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm 

Thank you to our sponsor, Framer. Ready to build a site that looks hand-coded—without hiring a developer? Start free today at framer.link/femkeFemke and Charli discuss their perspectives on giving feedback, how their approaches have evolved, the importance of mindful communication, and strategies for providing effective and focused feedback.01:05 Episode start02:01 Framer Sponsorship04:06 How do you feel about giving feedback? How has your approach evolved throughout your career?11:24 How do you develop your ability to give effective feedback? Do you choose your words carefully when framing your feedback?13:45 Femke and Charli’s approaches to giving feedback18:50 Should you already know the correct approach and solution before providing feedback?20:38 Methods and strategies for giving feedback23:08 How do you decide what to focus on when giving feedback?Links: A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Framer. Make sure to check them outFemke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

Thank you to our sponsor, Framer. Ready to build a site that looks hand-coded—without hiring a developer? Start free today at framer.link/femkeFemke and Charli discuss Gusto's new Creative Director role, including why the company hired for it and what they’re looking for. They talk about whether agency or in-house experience is better, how candidates should prepare for interviews, and what makes a talented brand designer stand out. They also mention whether having a broad or focused portfolio is better, common red flags to watch out for, and offer tips for applying to the brand designer role.Episode timestamps:01:02 Episode start02:16 Framer sponsorship03:45 How did the need for a Creative Director at Gusto come about, and what is the company looking for in this role?08:24 When hiring for a brand role in a tech company, do candidates from agency backgrounds bring unique qualities? Or are in-house candidates generally stronger?11:11 Do you influence the interview questions during the hiring process?13:44 What type of presentation do you expect from candidates?15:33 What distinguishes a truly skilled designer from someone with skill gaps?19:00 How important is breadth of work for a brand designer compared to product design? Do you prefer candidates with diverse experience or specialized expertise?23:25 What are common red flags to watch out for?28:52 Any advice for candidates applying for the brand designer IC role?30:46 Charli's Book Update Links: A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Framer. Make sure to check them outFemke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

Thank you to our sponsor, Framer. Ready to build a site that looks hand-coded—without hiring a developer? Start free today at framer.link/femkeFemke and Charli explore their coaching experiences, the importance of active listening, and navigating coaching challenges from both coach and coachee perspectives.0:47 Episode start01:59 Framer sponsorship03:06 What was your coaching workshop experience?09:47 How often do you find yourself in a coaching mindset?15:38 Have you ever used coaching questions to help someone find a solution, only to encounter disagreement or struggle, requiring you to be more directive? How did you handle it?19:59 How do dynamics change with peers once you become a manager?21:53 What is active listening, and why is it important?25:10 What has been your experience as a coachee?Links: A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Framer. Make sure to check them outFemke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

Thank you to our sponsor, Framer. Ready to build a site that looks hand-coded—without hiring a developer? Start free today at framer.link/femkeFemke and Charli delve into the relationship between a designer and a product manager, exploring perspectives on role responsibilities, skill overlaps, relationship-building advice and distinctions between product marketing and brand design roles.Timestamps: 01:27 Episode starts02:22 Framer sponsorship04:00 Typical relationship between a designer and a PM — what it looks like from Fem’s perspective.05:26 Is it the PM's responsibility to set the direction of the role, meaning: defining the problem to solve, outlining potential solutions? And then, is it the designer's role to present what they believe is the best solution?06:55 Is it fair to say that there's a significant overlap in the skill sets of a product manager and a UX designer?11:55 What advice would you give for building a strong relationship? How can designers foster a good partnership with PMs?13:47 What are the key differences between a product marketing manager and a brand designer or marketing designer? Specifically, on the product design side.17:57 Regarding briefs from product marketers — how solution-oriented are they? Are they more focused on campaign goals, or do they also include specific design solutions?19:58 Since you work in a decentralized manner from the product or feature teams, do product marketers coordinate among themselves? What happens if two campaigns conflict or need to be run simultaneously? How does Charli handle such situations?22:57 How do you collaborate with a product marketing manager as a UX designer? Links: A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Framer. Make sure to check them outFemke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

Thank you to our sponsor, Workflow. As a listener, you can experience the Workflow too with an exclusive 30-day trial (instead of the usual 14) — so you can see the magic for yourself. Head to workflow.design/designlife to start your extended trial today.Femke and Charli discuss the nature of vision work—whether it’s expected of designers, how their teams create space for it, their approach to the outcomes of pitches, and the criteria they use to prioritize ideas from vision presentations.Timestamps:0:30 Episode start01:23 Workflow sponsorship02:47 Can you define what vision work is?04:56 In your company, are you instructed to do vision work, or is it something product designers are expected to do at some point? Are you expected to present the vision?10:37 Do you think it's important for designers to make time for this work, especially if they haven't been explicitly asked to do it?12:47 How does Charli's team allocate time for strategic impact work, and what is their approach to it?17:51 Have any outcomes from those pitches surprised you? For example, did you prioritize an idea that ended up being very successful?21:53 If several design visions are presented twice a year, how do you decide when to deeply consider the ideas within those visions?24:36 Did you go through any exercises like vision work prior to your brand redesign?Links:A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Workflow Make sure to check them outFemke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

Thank you to our sponsor, Workflow. As a listener, you can experience the Workflow too with an exclusive 30-day trial (instead of the usual 14) — so you can see the magic for yourself. Head to workflow.design/designlife to start your extended trial today. Femke and Charli reflect on the Figma Config event, exploring exciting new features like Figma Make and Draw, and sharing their thoughts on potential future innovations such as AI-powered tools and conversational interfaces.Timestamps:01:04 Episode intro01:39 Workflow sponsorship02:59 Figma Config event 20256:15 Design leaders were absent from the main stage of the conference.08:39 Femke co-hosted an event at Figma Config09:52 Figma’s new products and features: Grid, Figma Sites, Figma Make, Figma Buzz and Figma Draw10:30 Which new feature excited Femke and Charli the most?12:59 How do you think these updates will impact market designers' workflows?19:38 What are your impressions of Figma Make?23:43 Do you see yourself incorporating Figma Make into your workflow?24:51 What about Draw? Do you think it will be useful for you?30:48 Is Figma concerned about cannibalizing its community—balancing features versus plugins? For example, what used to be a plugin is now integrated directly into the tool.32:55 Do you have any guesses about what might be announced in the future? What features would you like to see? What's currently missing for you?33:50 Do you think Figma will ever develop a chatbox interface?35:36 Finally, what do you think they might announce next year?Links: A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Workflow Make sure to check them outFemke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

This episode is sponsored by Mobbin, which is the largest design reference library for mobile and web, offering practical inspiration from real apps that address diverse design challenges. Don’t forget to mention Design Life when you register at Mobbin!Femke shares her experience returning to work, exploring team dynamics, personal impacts, surprises, challenges, and positive aspects of re-entering the workplace after maternity leave.Timestamps:0:49 Episode intro01:39 Mobbin sponsorship06:56 How did your first days back at work go?10:15 Did it feel like you were joining the same company, or was it a different experience? How did it feel to meet your new team?11:58 Your team previously had a manager. How do they feel about you joining the team? Were there any steps you took to establish a positive relationship from the start?13:23 Can you tell me more about what your team does?14:40 How would you describe your current responsibilities? How do they compare to your responsibilities before your maternity leave?17:42 When you first joined Gusto as a manager, was your role a backfilled position, or was it a new managerial role?19:10 What has been the personal impact of returning to work? How was your first week back as a working mom?21:49 One of the biggest surprises upon your return has been the influence of AI. How has this impacted your work?25:09 What has been the most surprising and the most challenging aspect of coming back to work?28:15 And finally, what has been the most rewarding or positive aspect of going back to work?Links:A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Mobbin! Make sure to check them outFemke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

This episode is sponsored by Mobbin, which is the largest design reference library for mobile and web, offering practical inspiration from real apps that address diverse design challenges. Don’t forget to mention Design Life when you register at Mobbin!Femke and Charli respond to a listener's question about how to choose between pursuing a career as a design manager or an individual contributor (IC). They share their personal experiences navigating their career paths, discuss the factors they considered in their decision-making, and outline the skill sets required for each role.Timestamps: 01:06 Episode starts04:36 Mobbin sponsorship06:11 Femke shares her journey in choosing between an individual contributor (IC) role and a managerial position.07:43 What factors influenced your decision to pursue a career as a design manager?13:43 Advice on how to determine which career path is right for you.17:19 Have you ever considered different direction when you were in a design manager role?23:45 Does Femke envision herself managing people, and what key responsibilities define the role of a design manager?Links:A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Mobbin! Make sure to check them outCharli's latest Youtube videoFemke's livestreamsFemke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

This episode is sponsored by Mobbin, which is the largest design reference library for mobile and web, offering practical inspiration from real apps that address diverse design challenges. Don’t forget to mention Design Life when you register at Mobbin!Femke and Charli explore the transition from mid-level to senior roles and touch upon the changes in responsibilities. They delve into practical tactics for boosting confidence and understanding workload expectations, as well as strategies to help listeners feel more secure in their new positions. Femke and Charli also give advice on embracing new opportunities while managing feelings of impostor syndrome.Timestamps: 0:48 Episode begins2:01 Mobbin sponsorship3:54 Transitioning from mid to senior: How did responsibilities change? Was it a significant shift?12:01 Tactics to boost confidence and support in your new role—understanding expected responsibilities and seeking peer insights.15:08 Is this level of responsibility common for senior roles? Insights on expected workload.21:11 Additional strategies for listeners to gain confidence in their new role.24:26 Advice for embracing new opportunities versus dealing with impostor syndrome.Links:A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Mobbin! Make sure to check them outFemke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

This episode is sponsored by Mobbin, which is the largest design reference library for mobile and web, offering practical inspiration from real apps that address diverse design challenges. Don’t forget to mention Design Life when you register at Mobbin!Femke and Charli explore effective ways for designers to incorporate AI into their everyday workflows, sharing practical insights on how they use AI tools in their own work. They also tackle the question of whether AI will replace designers and examine the current trajectory of AI adoption within the design industry.Timestamps:1:04 Episode start2:23 Mobbin sponsorship4:15 What is the current state of AI in design? Charli's experience using AI in a hackathon project11:48 Will AI take away our jobs?13:29 Potential workflows for designing with AI15:01 Recommendations for AI tools23:11 How prevalent is the use of AI tools across the industry?Links:A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Mobbin! Make sure to check them out Femke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

This episode is sponsored by Mobbin, which is the largest design reference library for mobile and web, offering practical inspiration from real apps that address diverse design challenges. Don’t forget to mention Design Life when you register at Mobbin!Femke and Charl share their insights gained from their experiences with outsourcing for their side projects. They discuss the strategies they employed to find the right talent. Charli elaborates on potential hires she would consider for her upcoming business and outlines the tasks she would prioritize for outsourcing. Femke discusses the roles she is contemplating for outsourcing to expand her team, as well as the current tasks she is delegating. Finally, they delve into the costs associated with outsourcing.Timestamps:0:45 Episode intro1:49 Mobbin sponsorship3:11 What has been your journey in hiring people to assist with your side projects, and where did you begin?10:26 What steps have you taken to find the right talent, and what advice would you offer to others?14:51 If Charli were to return to her side projects, who would she choose to hire, and what tasks would she prioritize for outsourcing?22:14 What would be your next hire for Charli’s upcoming business?23:25 Have you received career coaching? Follow Badass Empires with Rosie on instagram24:17 Are there any roles Femke is considering outsourcing to expand her team, and are there current tasks she is thinking about delegating?27:19 What are the costs associated with outsourcing? Links:A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Mobbin! Make sure to check them out Femke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

This episode is sponsored by Mobbin, which is the largest design reference library for mobile and web, offering practical inspiration from real apps that address diverse design challenges. Don’t forget to mention Design Life when you register at Mobbin!In this episode, Femke and Charli discuss the evolution of their side projects and reflect on what they’ve learned and how they would approach them differently if they were to start over. Femke and Charli share their personal side project journeys and discuss if side projects should be treated as passion projects or potential income sources. They also explore the value of different content formats, such as short-form versus long-form content, the effective leveraging of sponsorships and alternative revenue streams, and which platforms to use for posting. Episode timestamps:0:54 Episode start01:37 Mobbin Sponsorship05:52 What was your first side project?9:16 Should you approach your side project as a money-making venture from day one, or is it better to treat it as a personal passion project?14:04 How Femke went from blogging to where she is at now.15:27 Charli's side gigs16:19 How does Charli approach sponsorships in her work?19:00 What are some other methods for generating income aside from sponsorships?20:44 With the knowledge we have now, what steps would we take first when starting our side projects?22:34 Is short-form content truly valuable? Do audiences form attachments to short-form creators compared to those who produce long-form content? Femke and Charli share their perspectives on different formats Links:A huge shoutout to our sponsor for this episode, Mobbin! Make sure to check them out Femke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

This episode is sponsored by Playbook, which is a collaborative platform for creatives to store, organize, and share their work. It features AI-powered search and integrates seamlessly with design tools, making it a great space to manage all your files and projects. Join the "30 Days of 30 Projects" Challenge with Playbook to elevate your creative skills and unlock your full potential!In this episode, Femke and Charli share their goals for 2025, including how Femke plans to approach her return to work and engage with her new community as well as Charli's business aspirations, plans for YouTube videos and content creation, writing projects, and ideas for future books.Episode timestamps:0:37 Episode start1:35 Playbook sponsorship4:04 What was the first goal you wrote down?9:50 Femke’s new community13:36 Other goals on the list28:53 Hobby-related goalsLinks:Big thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Playbook! Be sure to check them out and see how they can elevate your workflowFemke's new communityFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm‍

This episode is sponsored by Playbook, which is a collaborative platform for creatives to store, organize, and share their work. It features AI-powered search and integrates seamlessly with design tools, making it a great space to manage all your files and projects. Join the "30 Days of 30 Projects" Challenge with Playbook to elevate your creative skills and unlock your full potential!Femke and Charli engage in a conversation about the advantages of being a generalist versus a specialist, explore the various types of skill sets needed to future-proof your career, and discuss whether incorporating AI into your skill set is essential.Timestamps: 0:53 - Episode Begins1:43 - Playbook Sponsorship3:16 - Catching Up5:12 - What are the current expectations for skill sets in the design market?10:04 - As a designer, how do you feel about the trend of companies prioritizing shipping over pixel-perfect craftsmanship? Why do some companies address skill gaps by hiring specialists as freelancers?19:38 - What's your stance on specializing versus being a generalist? What changes have you made in your approach recently?20:43 - What constitutes reasonable expectations for a generalist? Is it about specific skills or broader responsibilities? What is a "V-shaped skill set"?22:43 - How do you view the role of AI in future-proofing your career?26:26 - Any advice on how to effectively broaden your skill set? Big thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Playbook! Be sure to check them out and see how they can elevate your workflowFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

This episode is sponsored by Playbook, which is a collaborative platform for creatives to store, organize, and share their work. It features AI-powered search and integrates seamlessly with design tools, making it a great space to manage all your files and projects. Join the "30 Days of 30 Projects" Challenge with Playbook to elevate your creative skills and unlock your full potential!In this episode, Femke and Charli discuss design maturity within organizations, the importance of establishing a strong design culture, practical advice for implementing changes, and personal experiences of integrating new design practices in the workplace.Time stamps:0:49 - Introduction1:23 - Playbook Sponsorship3:07 - Catch-Up6:58 - How would you describe the design culture of the places you have worked at so far?9:21 - What about experience with less mature design companies? How can I evaluate my company's design maturity?16:15 - Is there a right time to establish design culture and maturity within an organization?19:57 - Do you have any advice on implementing changes towards better design practices?21:49 - Have you introduced any new practices or changes to workflows since joining your current workplace?Episode Links: Big thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Playbook! Be sure to check them out and see how they can elevate your workflowFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm‍

This episode is sponsored by Playbook, which is a collaborative platform for creatives to store, organize, and share their work. It features AI-powered search and integrates seamlessly with design tools, making it a great space to manage all your files and projects. Join the "30 Days of 30 Projects" Challenge with Playbook to elevate your creative skills and unlock your full potential!In this episode, Femke and Charli delve into the journey of transitioning from an individual contributor to a design manager, including distinct responsibilities and skills required for effective management in the creative industry. They talk about their training experiences, essential books, and learning opportunities that contribute to the development of successful management careers.Timestamps:0:34 - Intro01:16 - Catch-Up03:31 - Playbook sponsorship04:52 - Training for Management Skills06:38 - Charli's Current Management Training at Kit08:24 - Femke’s Training Overview16:15 - Book RecommendationsThe Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You by Julie ZhuoRadical Candor by Kim ScottThe Manager's Path by Camille Fournier19:23 - At what point of your career did you get the coach?21:08 - How to balance the relationship between external coaching and internal management?23:37 - Did you have a chance to coach others in management?25:16 - Is there anything Charli would like to pursue in management training, specifically in design leadership? Big thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Playbook! Be sure to check them out and see how they can elevate your workflowFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm

This episode is sponsored by Playbook, which is a collaborative platform for creatives to store, organize, and share their work. It features AI-powered search and integrates seamlessly with design tools, making it a great space to manage all your files and projects. Join the "30 Days of 30 Projects" Challenge with Playbook to elevate your creative skills and unlock your full potential!In this live Q&A session, Femke and Charli dive into key topics for designers, including staying relevant in the industry, navigating stakeholder misalignment, making career moves, and the challenges and rewards of building a design culture as a founding designer.0:38 Episode start and catch up04:39 Playbook sponsorship06:43 Q1: How do you stay cool and relevant for 9 years in the design industry?08:30 Q2: When stakeholders are misaligned in product leadership, should a designer check in with the project manager to ensure alignment at the team level? Should designers step beyond the technical scope of their role to address misalignment?13:22 Q3: What does it feel like to be a founding designer and how can you create a design culture?15:48 Q4: How do you start a new role after ending on a low note at a previous company?18:04 Q5: What’s the difference between a visual designer and a UI designer?22:20 Q6: What were your sources of inspiration for shaping the new creative direction for Kit?24:04 Follow up on the founding designer question25:17 Q7: How do you view the current job market? Is it important to base career moves on company name recognition, or should you prioritize skills and experience over past employers?30:08 Q8: How can you make your growth plan more actionable and trackable, especially when discussing career progression with your manager?33:40 Q9: What advice do you have for someone hiring and leading a design team for the first time?38:38 Q10: What are the main lessons you’ve learned from doing the podcast and sharing your career journey? Has the podcast contributed to your design thinking and overall creative self-development?Big thanks to our sponsor for this episode, Playbook! Be sure to check them out and see how they can elevate your workflowFemke’s course “Product strategy for designers”Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm‍