040: Should Developers Design with Laura Elizabeth

User Defenders podcast
User Defenders podcast
Web Dev
040: Should Developers Design with Laura Elizabeth
Loading
/

User Defenders "Reflection" Laura Elizabeth

Laura Elizabeth reveals how developers can learn design. She articulates the importance of reflecting on our users’ needs more than our personal tastes. She touches on how making a product makes us better designers. She also inspires us to always be genuine in our dealings with our customers if we want to build (and keep) trust.

Laura Elizabeth is an independent designer with a hankering for cross stitch and rockets. She runs Design Academy which aims to help developers conquer their fear of design. She recently launched her first product called Client Portal—a client-friendly way to keep projects organised. When she’s not writing or speaking, she’s likely watching reruns of Star Trek Voyager or Next Generation.

  • Secret Identity (4:05)
  • Origin Story (9:55)
  • Biggest Superhero (13:32)
  • Biggest Failure (16:23)
  • Design Superpower (20:54)
  • Transition from Freelance to Product (23:04)
  • Design Kryptonite (26:13)
  • Design Superhero Name (29:34)
  • Should Developers Design? (34:10)
  • Habit Of Success (42:59)
  • Invincible Resource (48:55)
  • Book Recommendation (52:09)
  • Listener Question (54:58)
  • Best Advice (59:39)
  • Connect & Keep Up (64:08)

LINKS
Laura’s Twitter
Laura’s Website
Design Academy
Client Portal
Laura Elizabeth at Smashing Conference on Selling Design Systems [VIDEO]
William Shatner Sings Rocket Man At the 1978 Science Fiction Film Awards [VIDEO]

[RESOURCE] Styleguides.io
[BOOK] Badass: Making Users Awesome


SUBSCRIBE TO AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE NEW EPISODES
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora | Amazon Music | Stitcher | Android | Google Podcasts | RSS Feed

USE YOUR SUPERPOWER OF SUPPORT
Here’s your chance to use your superpower of support. Don’t rely on telepathy alone! If you’re enjoying the show, would you take two minutes and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts? I’d also be willing to remove my cloak of invisibility from your inbox if you’d subscribe to the newsletter for superguest announcements and more, occasionally.


Continue reading 040: Should Developers Design with Laura Elizabeth

031: Getting Scrappy with Mat Marquis

User Defenders podcast
User Defenders podcast
Web Dev
031: Getting Scrappy with Mat Marquis
Loading
/

User Defenders "Muscles McTouchdown" Mat Marquis

Mat Marquis reminds us that web design is scrappy business. He inspires us to fight for what we truly believe in. He shows us how we can take our designs and skills further by learning a little code. He motivates us to continue to hone our communication skills by writing a lot. He also encourages us to surround ourselves with people who inspire us, and make us better.

Mat Marquis is an Inclusive Web Developer at Bocoup where he makes fast, accessible and responsive websites. He’s the Chair of the Responsive Issues Community Group where he spearheaded the effort to bring native responsive image solutions to the HTML5 specification. He’s the author of A Book Apart published “JavaScript for Web Designers”. He’s a former editor at A List Apart, and member of the jQuery team. Mat is a frequent speaker at one of my favorite web conferences, An Event Apart. He’s an ex-carpenter, amateur boxer and also bakes a mean batch of croissants.

  • Secret Identity/Origin Story (7:25)
  • Biggest Superhero (15:35)
  • Second Career Choice (17:17)
  • Biggest Failure (18:55)
  • Awkward Testing Story (21:49)
  • Design Superpower (27:11)
  • Design Kryptonite (29:00)
  • Design Superhero Name (34:25)
  • Fight For Users (39:58)
  • Future Of UX Design (43:00)
  • Habit Of Success (53:54)
  • Invincible Resource (55:37)
  • Book Recommendation (59:55)
  • Best Advice (62:52)
  • Most Excited About (70:12)
  • Contact Info (71:27)

Continue reading 031: Getting Scrappy with Mat Marquis

028: Be Persistent with Chris Coyier

User Defenders podcast
Web Dev
028: Be Persistent with Chris Coyier
Loading
/

User Defenders "CSS Man" Chris Coyier

Chris Coyier teaches us that if we care about succeeding in something, we need to be willing to persist for a long time. He inspires us to grab hold of the joy that comes from building for ourselves, too. He encourages us to not just use a framework because we’re “supposed to”, but to use whatever tool is right for the job. He also enlightens us to the superpower of using SVG in practical ways.

Chris Coyier is the founder of everybody’s favorite CSS resource CSS-Tricks, and the author of newly released A Book Apart published “Practical SVG“. He’s a fellow podcaster co-hosting the Shop Talk Show. He co-founded the incredibly innovative web coding playground, CodePen. He loves to share his knowledge as an international speaker and avid blogger. His life goal is to be a banjo player in an old time string band.

Continue reading 028: Be Persistent with Chris Coyier

018: The Beauty of Simplicity with David Demaree

User Defenders podcast
User Defenders podcast
Product Management
018: The Beauty of Simplicity with David Demaree
Loading
/

User Defenders "The Simplifier" David Demaree

David Demaree reminds us of the value of simplicity, brevity, and editing. He encourages us to know who are users are and where they’re coming from. He inspires us not to get too wrapped up into the closeness of our own material and not take the criticism of our work too personally. He also teaches us the importance of staying in touch with the community and to read as much as we can.

David Demaree is a software maker, speaker and blogger. He’s the author of newly released A Book Apart published, Git for Humans. He’s a product manager, designer and web developer for everyone’s favorite groundbreaking font-service software, Adobe Typekit. He’s one of the lucky ones who can say he works really close to a great coffee place…called his kitchen.

LINKS
David’s Twitter
David’s Website

[RESOURCE] Following other product and UX people on Twitter and clicking on interesting links. Staying in touch with the community. Read as much as you can.
[BOOK] The Idea Factory


SUBSCRIBE TO AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE NEW EPISODES
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora | Amazon Music | Stitcher | Android | Google Podcasts | RSS Feed

USE YOUR SUPERPOWER OF SUPPORT
Here’s your chance to use your superpower of support. Don’t rely on telepathy alone! If you’re enjoying the show, would you take two minutes and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts? I’d also be willing to remove my cloak of invisibility from your inbox if you’d subscribe to the newsletter for superguest announcements and more, occasionally.

SUPER-CRED
Artwork by Cesar Lemus | Editing by Chris Combs | Music by Wyman Gentry

Continue reading 018: The Beauty of Simplicity with David Demaree

015: Going the Distance with Rachel Andrew

User Defenders podcast
User Defenders podcast
Web Dev
015: Going the Distance with Rachel Andrew
Loading
/

User Defenders "Super Gran" Rachel Andrew

Rachel Andrew inspires us to understand people who are not like us because most often the products we design are not for us. She motivates us with her successful habit of GTD (Getting Things Done). She teaches us that solid attention to detail and ability to execute can be more important than specific technical skills. She also proves to us that experience never gets old.

Rachel Andrew is a Web Pioneer and the Managing Director and founder of UK-based web development company EdgeOfMySeat.com. She’s a prolific author of a number of Web Development books including her most recent A Book Apart published “Get Ready for CSS Grid Layout“. She’s also an active speaker who has spoken at a number of notable web conferences. When she’s not writing code, or writing about writing code…she’s a taxi to teenagers and quite a fitness buff.

LINKS
@RachelAndrew
Rachel’s Web Site
Perch CMS

[ARTICLE] Perfectionism or procrastination? Reframing the MVP
[RESOURCE] Style guides and pattern libraries
[BOOK] Atomic Design by Brad Frost
[BOOK] The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right by Atul Gawande


SUBSCRIBE TO AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE NEW EPISODES
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Pandora | Amazon Music | Stitcher | Android | Google Podcasts | RSS Feed

USE YOUR SUPERPOWER OF SUPPORT
Here’s your chance to use your superpower of support. Don’t rely on telepathy alone! If you’re enjoying the show, would you take two minutes and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts? I’d also be willing to remove my cloak of invisibility from your inbox if you’d subscribe to the newsletter for superguest announcements and more, occasionally.

SUPER-CRED
Artwork: Cesar Lemus | Editing: Chris Combs | Prep: Win Goodbody | Music: Wyman Gentry


Continue reading 015: Going the Distance with Rachel Andrew