Design To Be Conversation

In today’s episode, I speak with Jeff Veen. Jeff is a Design Partner and Head of Platform at True Ventures, where he spends his time helping founders create better products. He does this as an advisor, as well, for companies like about.me, Medium, and WordPress. Previously, Jeff was VP of Design at Adobe after they acquired Typekit, the company he co-founded and ran as CEO.

Jeff was also one of the founding partners of the user experience consulting group Adaptive Path. While there, he led Measure Map, which was acquired by Google. During his time at Google, Jeff designed Google Analytics and led the UX team for Google's apps. Much earlier, Jeff was part of the founding web team at Wired Magazine, where he helped build HotWired, Web Monkey, Wired News, and many other sites. During that time, he authored two books: HotWired Style and The Art and Science of Web Design.

We dive into ways in which trust is established at work and how it’s necessary in order for people to be as creative – and successful – as possible.

In today’s episode, I speak with Jeff Veen. Jeff is a Design Partner and Head of Platform at True Ventures, where he spends his time helping founders create better products. He does this as an advisor, as well, for companies like about.me, Medium, and WordPress. Previously, Jeff was VP of Design at Adobe after they acquired Typekit, the company he co-founded and ran as CEO.

Jeff was also one of the founding partners of the user experience consulting group Adaptive Path. While there, he led Measure Map, which was acquired by Google. During his time at Google, Jeff designed Google Analytics and led the UX team for Google's apps. Much earlier, Jeff was part of the founding web team at Wired Magazine, where he helped build HotWired, Web Monkey, Wired News, and many other sites. During that time, he authored two books: HotWired Style and The Art and Science of Web Design.

We dive into ways in which trust is established at work and how it’s necessary in order for people to be as creative – and successful – as possible.

In today’s episode, I speak with Kat Vellos. Kat is a connection coach and trusted expert on the power of cultivating meaningful friendships. In her former career as a user experience designer, she researched, designed, and advised on the user experience of countless flows in digital products serving millions of people at companies like Slack and Pandora. With the publication of her books, We Should Get Together and Connected from Afar, Kat turned her background in UX design towards combating the loneliness epidemic to help millions of people experience greater wellness and fulfillment through thriving platonic relationships. Her interviews can be found in a variety of publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Communication Arts, Thrive Global, Yahoo Lifestyle, and Authority Magazine. Kat is also a sought-after speaker who has graced the stages of TEDx, San Francisco Design Week, Design for America, the Transforming Loneliness Summit, Rosenfeld Media’s DesignOps Summit and many more.

We dive into what workplace loneliness is, the profound impact it can have on you, and how, through practical strategies, you can transform the experience of ‘just a job’ into an experience of community and a place of connection.

In today’s episode, I speak with Kat Vellos. Kat is a connection coach and trusted expert on the power of cultivating meaningful friendships. In her former career as a user experience designer, she researched, designed, and advised on the user experience of countless flows in digital products serving millions of people at companies like Slack and Pandora. With the publication of her books, We Should Get Together and Connected from Afar, Kat turned her background in UX design towards combating the loneliness epidemic to help millions of people experience greater wellness and fulfillment through thriving platonic relationships. Her interviews can be found in a variety of publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Communication Arts, Thrive Global, Yahoo Lifestyle, and Authority Magazine. Kat is also a sought-after speaker who has graced the stages of TEDx, San Francisco Design Week, Design for America, the Transforming Loneliness Summit, Rosenfeld Media’s DesignOps Summit and many more.

We dive into what workplace loneliness is, the profound impact it can have on you, and how, through practical strategies, you can transform the experience of ‘just a job’ into an experience of community and a place of connection.

In today's episode, I speak with Randy Hunt. Randy is a multi-hyphenate designer, executive, artist, musician, and writer. Professionally: Randy is Head of Design Strategy at Kraken, a cryptocurrency exchange. He has served as Head of Design at Grab, Head of Design at Artsy, and VP of Design at Etsy. Randy is the author of Product Design for the Web. He also co-founded Supermarket, a curated design marketplace, founded Citizen Scholar Inc., and worked at Milton Glaser Inc. He is an active writer, lecturer, critic, and visiting designer at many colleges and universities.

We dive into experiences that can unexpectedly elicit joy at work – like discovering and operationalizing a new strength or helping to bring someone else’s vision to life – as well as more intentional practices you can use – like getting clarity on your convictions through open conversation with people you trust.

In today's episode, I speak with Randy Hunt. Randy is a multi-hyphenate designer, executive, artist, musician, and writer. Professionally: Randy is Head of Design Strategy at Kraken, a cryptocurrency exchange. He has served as Head of Design at Grab, Head of Design at Artsy, and VP of Design at Etsy. Randy is the author of Product Design for the Web. He also co-founded Supermarket, a curated design marketplace, founded Citizen Scholar Inc., and worked at Milton Glaser Inc. He is an active writer, lecturer, critic, and visiting designer at many colleges and universities.

We dive into experiences that can unexpectedly elicit joy at work – like discovering and operationalizing a new strength or helping to bring someone else’s vision to life – as well as more intentional practices you can use – like getting clarity on your convictions through open conversation with people you trust.

In today’s episode, I speak with Scott Jenson. Scott has been doing user interface design and strategic planning for over 30 years. He worked at Apple on System 7, Newton, and the Apple Human Interface guidelines. He was the director of Symbian’s DesignLab, manager of mobile UX for Google, and a creative director at frog design in San Francisco. He was a founding member of the biotech company Color. Scott returned to Google working on the Chrome team in 2013 to work on IoT and Android. In 2021 he left to explore the world outside of Google and is now working at Ink & Switch, an industrial research lab.

We dive into how to use meditation to create space for curiosity, how to be unattached to the result so you can be a better listener, and how – in order to be understood – you need to first understand yourself and the situation.

In today’s episode, I speak with Scott Jenson. Scott has been doing user interface design and strategic planning for over 30 years. He worked at Apple on System 7, Newton, and the Apple Human Interface guidelines. He was the director of Symbian’s DesignLab, manager of mobile UX for Google, and a creative director at frog design in San Francisco. He was a founding member of the biotech company Color. Scott returned to Google working on the Chrome team in 2013 to work on IoT and Android. In 2021 he left to explore the world outside of Google and is now working at Ink & Switch, an industrial research lab.

We dive into how to use meditation to create space for curiosity, how to be unattached to the result so you can be a better listener, and how – in order to be understood – you need to first understand yourself and the situation.

In today’s episode, I speak with Chine and Chuba Ezekwesili. Also known as the Ezeks Twins, Chine and Chuba are interdisciplinary designers, artists, and founders of Akanka, a design studio on a mission to create Heaven on Earth. Akanka achieves this mission by partnering with other visionaries to design and build ventures and movements. These include Future Africa, Stand to End Rape, #FixPolitics, and the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG).At Akanka, they have worked with global brands that include Google, The World Economic Forum, Yale University, Duke University, Nexford University, GIZ, and Open Society Foundation.

We dive into how to apply the Ezeks Twins’ nature-inspired Framework of Intention in 3 steps: slowing down to be present and get clarity, giving gratitude for what’s in front of you, and taking responsibility so you can make use of life’s lessons and blessings.

In today’s episode, I speak with Chine and Chuba Ezekwesili. Also known as the Ezeks Twins, Chine and Chuba are interdisciplinary designers, artists, and founders of Akanka, a design studio on a mission to create Heaven on Earth. Akanka achieves this mission by partnering with other visionaries to design and build ventures and movements. These include Future Africa, Stand to End Rape, #FixPolitics, and the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG).At Akanka, they have worked with global brands that include Google, The World Economic Forum, Yale University, Duke University, Nexford University, GIZ, and Open Society Foundation.

We dive into how to apply the Ezeks Twins’ nature-inspired Framework of Intention in 3 steps: slowing down to be present and get clarity, giving gratitude for what’s in front of you, and taking responsibility so you can make use of life’s lessons and blessings.