Pixelated Path is your map to navigate the exciting, sometimes challenging, journey of being a UX designer. We explore practical tips, share inspiring stories, and equip you with the tools to level up your skills and carve your own path to design mastery.
www.pixelatedpath.com (https://www.pixelatedpath.com?utm_medium=podcast)
Why Your Design Team Feels Stuck (And How to Fix It)
Episode Description
In this episode, Chris Abad sits down with Dean Broadley, a design leader who transformed a banking design team of 150+ people and founded Designing Humans. Dean shares his unconventional journey from teenage comic book designer to design leadership, revealing why self-awareness is the missing ingredient in most design teams. Learn why Dean believes mistakes are your greatest assets, how to identify when designers are stuck, and practical techniques to foster growth through reframing and embracing discomfort.
About Dean Broadley
Dean Broadley is the founder of Designing Humans, a consultancy focused on helping companies build effective design teams. With experience leading large design organizations across multiple countries, Dean specializes in helping designers break through career plateaus by focusing on self-awareness and relationship-building rather than rigid processes. His philosophy centers on the idea that "you're not designing experiences or products, you're designing humans."
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
01:33 Early Influences and First Design Job
03:03 University Challenges and Digital Shift
06:24 Breaking Boundaries and Finding Opportunities
14:29 Founding Designing Humans
16:50 Implementing New Processes and Structures
20:01 The Importance of Self-Awareness in Relationships
20:10 Building Products People Love
20:30 Team Dynamics and Self-Knowledge
20:53 Honest Conversations with Customers
23:25 Tools for Improving Self-Awareness
25:16 Helping Others Overcome Challenges
29:36 Embracing Mistakes as Learning Opportunities
33:37 Evolving Leadership Styles
40:33 Advice for Early Career Designers
42:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Key Quotes
"You cannot be in any effective relationship without knowing yourself really, really well." - Dean Broadley "We ask permission to participate in the lives of our customers. They're not thinking about us. And that's okay." - Dean Broadley "Nine times out of ten, when a system's not working, it has nothing to do with what you drew on a slide." - Dean Broadley "Just get stuck in. There's no time for perfection. There's only time for effectiveness." - Dean Broadley "I am long-term lazy. I will work very hard so I don't have to work again." - Dean Broadley "If it wasn't for my mistakes, I wouldn't know half the things I know." - Dean Broadley
Resources Mentioned
Johari Window - A self-awareness tool Dean uses for personal and team development
Formula D Interactive - The company where Dean got his first professional design job
Connect with Dean Broadley
LinkedIn: Dean Broadley (https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanbroadley/)
Twitter/X: @BroadleySpoken (https://twitter.com/broadleyspoken)
Connect with Chris Abad
LinkedIn: Chris Abad (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisabad)
Twitter/X: @chrisabad (https://twitter.com/chrisabad)
Website: (https://pixelatedpath.com/)pixelatedpath.com (https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanbroadley/) (https://pixelatedpath.com/)
Newsletter: Pixelated Path on Substack (https://substack.com/pixelatedpath)
Get full access to Pixelated Path at www.pixelatedpath.com/subscribe (https://www.pixelatedpath.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4)
10 Mar 2025
The Art of Self-Awareness in Design: Insights from Dean Broadley
Episode DescriptionIn this episode, Chris Abad sits down with Dean Broadley, a design leader who transformed a banking design team of 150+ people and founded Designing Humans. Dean shares his unconventional journey from teenage comic book designer to design leadership, revealing why self-awareness is the missing ingredient in most design teams. Learn why Dean believes mistakes are your greatest assets, how to identify when designers are stuck, and practical techniques to foster growth through reframing and embracing discomfort.
About Dean BroadleyDean Broadley is the founder of Designing Humans, a consultancy focused on helping companies build effective design teams. With experience leading large design organizations across multiple countries, Dean specializes in helping designers break through career plateaus by focusing on self-awareness and relationship-building rather than rigid processes. His philosophy centers on the idea that "you're not designing experiences or products, you're designing humans."
Key Topics & Timestamps00:00 E019 Dean Broadley (Spotify)01:33 Early Influences and First Design Job03:03 University Challenges and Digital Shift06:24 Breaking Boundaries and Finding Opportunities14:29 Founding Designing Humans16:50 Implementing New Processes and Structures20:01 The Importance of Self-Awareness in Relationships20:10 Building Products People Love20:30 Team Dynamics and Self-Knowledge20:53 Honest Conversations with Customers23:25 Tools for Improving Self-Awareness25:16 Helping Others Overcome Challenges29:36 Embracing Mistakes as Learning Opportunities33:37 Evolving Leadership Styles40:33 Advice for Early Career Designers42:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Key Quotes
"You cannot be in any effective relationship without knowing yourself really, really well." - Dean Broadley"We ask permission to participate in the lives of our customers. They're not thinking about us. And that's okay." - Dean Broadley"Nine times out of ten, when a system's not working, it has nothing to do with what you drew on a slide." - Dean Broadley"Just get stuck in. There's no time for perfection. There's only time for effectiveness." - Dean Broadley"I am long-term lazy. I will work very hard so I don't have to work again." - Dean Broadley"If it wasn't for my mistakes, I wouldn't know half the things I know." - Dean Broadley
Resources Mentioned
Johari Window - A self-awareness tool Dean uses for personal and team development
Formula D Interactive - The company where Dean got his first professional design job
Connect with Dean Broadley
LinkedIn: Dean Broadley (https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanbroadley/)
Twitter/X: @BroadleySpoken (https://twitter.com/broadleyspoken)
Connect with Chris Abad
LinkedIn: Chris Abad (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisabad)
Twitter/X: @chrisabad (https://twitter.com/chrisabad)
Website: pixelatedpath.com (https://pixelatedpath.com)
Newsletter: Pixelated Path on Substack (https://substack.com/pixelatedpath)
24 Feb 2025
Your Most Powerful Design Asset: A Portfolio That Tells a Story
In this episode of Pixelated Path, host Chris Abad discusses the secrets of creating standout UX design portfolios with industry expert Stefan Klosik. Stefan reveals how hiring managers often make interview decisions within 60 seconds of viewing a portfolio, emphasizing the importance of storytelling, clarity, and showcasing a few strong projects. Key topics include the significance of presenting design constraints, the balance of words and images, and the future role of designers in an AI-driven world. This episode is a must-watch for anyone looking to land their next UX job.
00:00 Introduction
01:02 College Days and Early Design Experiences
03:41 First Job and Learning on the Job
04:14 Navigating the Dot-Com Boom
05:58 Building a Career in Design
08:18 The Importance of a Strong Portfolio
10:03 Tips for Crafting a Compelling Portfolio
15:21 Evaluating Portfolios and Hiring Designers
24:19 Training Recruiters and Final Thoughts
29:03 Exploring Design Thinking Beyond School
29:43 The Value of Constraints in Design Projects
30:28 Balancing Real-World Constraints and Creativity
33:27 The Role of AI in Modern Design
35:04 Future Skills for Designers in an AI-Driven World
46:55 Critical Thinking and Judgment in Design
58:27 Practical Tips for Building a Design Portfolio
01:03:46 Connecting and Sharing Your Work
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Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 47 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
82
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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