In this episode, Andy Polaine, Dr. Polaine to some, talks about his career journey, starting with his background in film and interactive media, his transition into service design, and his current focus as a design leadership coach. Andy discusses his coaching approach, which is rooted in his experience as a designer, facilitator, and teacher. He also talks about some of what he's hearing from design leaders right now, emphasizing the importance of reading the room, even in a digital context, and how his work addresses common challenges faced by design leaders, such as imposter syndrome and the "leadership dip" — a period of uncertainty and self-doubt that can arise when transitioning into a leadership role. The interview also touches on the evolving role of design leadership in organizations and how designers can more effectively communicate the value of their work to stakeholders.

Some topics discussed:

• Andy’s career began in the early '90s as an interaction designer, before "UX" or "user experience" were common terms


• He studied film, video, and photography, transitioning into interactive media, which later led him to meeting Ben Reason at LiveWork and getting into service design


• Andy was global Group Design Director of Client Evolution at Fjord and co-leads a Master’s program in service design in Switzerland


• Fluent in German and having lived in Australia, Germany, and the U.K., Andy developed a deep appreciation for cross-cultural communication and how we use language


• Andy describes his transition from filmmaking to design, drawn by the way multimedia integrates sound, video, and interactive elements — modes of storytelling persists today


• Andy’s coaching focuses on supporting design leaders through a number of phases, including "design leadership dip," a period uncertainty common at mid- and advanced-career stages, which he helps leaders navigate


• Andy shares his personal experience with imposter syndrome/phenomenon, emphasizing that it can affect anyone, regardless of background


• Andy highlights the skill of “reading the room," focusing on empathy, active listening, and participant engagement


• He discusses the nuances of digital coaching, using techniques like teleprompters and collaboration tools for increased effectiveness in virtual communication


• Andy reflects on the future of design, noting that designers must focus on discernment and answering the question, So what?!


• He concludes by emphasizing relationships, empathy, and plans for a book on the inner journey of design leadership, including "design leadership dip"


• He talks about the "assembly line" approach to design, likens it to AI — where the subject matter is being treated as a mere tool for rapid prototyping rather than a process for addressing user needs, almost like the discipline is being treated like a GPT itself, which reduces designers to carry out prompts

Stay tuned until the end where we hear a behind the scenes (bts) snippet, a peek into our lives today, where we wait for Andy's wife to open/close some doors as she's seeing a patient at home while we're recording.

Special Guest: Andy Polaine.

Links:

• Ben Reason
• Julian Simpson on Powers of Ten
• MacroMind Director
• ZX Spectrum
• Fjord Fika (last updated in 2018)
• Carl Jung
• Impostor syndrome, also known as impostor phenomenon
• "The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention" by Pauline R. Clance and Suzanne A. Imes — Published in 1978
• The Leadership Dip
• Andy's talking about the dip on his YouTube channel
• Elgato Prompter
• Daniel Stillman - Good Talk
• Malcolm Gladwell's What the Dog Saw
• Peter Merholz
• Dave Gray's "Gamestorming"
• Dave Gray's "Selling to the VP of No" — (Amazon affiliate link)
• You're Inching Me Out — From the first season of Esther Perel's How's Work? They were mates in university before co-founding a successful communications company. They still work together from different coasts, but they barely speak. One wants to move on; the other is grasping for his former friend. Neither can find the words to talk about it.
• Mitchell & Webb — Nazis sketch
• https://www.polaine.com/
• https://www.polaine.com/power-of-ten/
• https://www.polaine.com/coaching/
• https://www.youtube.com/@apolaine
• https://newsletter.polaine.com/