“What would it take for design to have its vinyl moment — and reclaim its power beyond JIRA tickets and design systems?”
Summary
In this episode, Danny sits down with James Box, designer, author, and co-founder of Berst - to talk about the changing shape of design careers, the realities of agency vs. product team life, and why so many designers feel trapped in “mechanistic” delivery work. James reflects on his years at ClearLeft, the culture of autonomy and learning that shaped his practice, and the role of communication and uncertainty in good design. They explore Berst’s work with startups and scale-ups, including experiments with equity-based engagements, and discuss how innovation can get dampened as companies grow. The conversation turns to AI: how it’s collapsing the gap between insight and delivery, what “AI-native” products feel like, and why designers need to hold both optimism and skepticism at once. James closes with a hopeful challenge, for designers to embrace entrepreneurship, use new tools to tackle bigger problems, and help design rediscover what it’s uniquely good at.
Guest
James Box
Berst - https://ber.st/
LinkedIN – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbox/
Website - https://jamesbox.me/
Host
Danny Hearn
LinkedIN – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyhearn/
Website – www.dannyhearn.me
Podcast – www.deeplyhumandesign.com
Chapters
00:00 Design careers, JIRA tickets, and the fear of “factory design”
01:21 James Box’s journey: agency roots, entrepreneurship, and writing a UX book
03:52 T-shaped designers and the overlooked skill of defining the real problem
06:36 What consulting forces you to learn: adaptability + communication
08:14 Divergence vs. convergence in modern product teams
09:18 Why the agency path is disappearing — and what that means for new designers
10:18 What made ClearLeft distinctive: UX, community, events, and products
13:18 Pace, autonomy, and the “jet engine” feel of agency work
14:38 Intimidation, improvisation, and learning culture in early ClearLeft days
16:14 Anxiety and uncertainty as part of the designer’s job
21:46 A remembered moment: finding rhythm, flow, and ownership in delivery
23:59 The “black hat” approach: leaning into fears to surface truths and mitigate risk
26:57 Scale-ups and the loss of innovation energy as teams operationalise
30:07 Why “the job isn’t done” after product-market fit
32:14 Equity work with startups: incentives, “skin in the game,” and the reality check
35:58 Why the VC-style equity model doesn’t easily work for studios long-term
38:31 Keeping work close to founders and C-suite to protect impact
39:41 Optimism as a designer’s grounding belief — and how it differs from naïveté
44:09 AI as unprecedented tech: holding risks and benefits at once
47:09 Danny’s dual view: macro anxiety, micro empowerment, and moving fast with agents
51:38 “AI-native” experiences and the stages from tool → assistant → peer
56:39 Copilot Studio, enterprise adoption, and the coming wave of internal agents
1:00:50 Why problem framing still matters most, even as delivery speed collapses
1:02:39 James’s concern: shrinking design impact — and the “vinyl moment” hope
1:06:03 Designing for entrepreneurship, invention, and meaningful progress
1:07:02 Closing: Merry Christmas and the future of design
"As soon as tools exist that don’t require Figma’s learning curve, a very large number of designers will find themselves out of work"
Summary
Today I’m sharing a wide-open, deeply honest conversation with Andy Budd — designer, founder, conference creator, coach, investor, and one of the most quietly influential forces behind the UK design and product community. If you’ve worked in UX anytime in the last two decades, you’ve almost certainly felt Andy’s impact: Clearleft, UX London, dConstruct, Leading Design, CSS Mastery, the Brighton Digital Festival… the list is long for a reason.
In this episode, we dig into the questions so many designers are quietly wrestling with; Have we already passed “peak designer”? And what does a meaningful, sustainable design career look like on the other side?
We explore why 2020–21 marked the high-water point for UX hiring, how AI and automation are reshaping the work, and why “Figma operator culture” was always a dead end. Andy maps the design chaos from identity crisis many designers are feeling, the discomfort of reinvention, and why embracing uncertainty is now a core skill. We also journey through his experiences with the early web, Clearleft, building communities, leadership — and the ongoing search for new personal S-curves.
If you’re feeling energised, anxious, confused, optimistic (or all of the above) about where design is heading, this one will resonate deeply.
Guest
Andy Budd
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/andybudd/
Website – https://andybudd.com/
Book – https://andybudd.com/book
Website – https://seedcamp.com/
Host
Danny Hearn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyhearn/
Website – www.dannyhearn.me
Podcast – www.deeplyhumandesign.com
Chapters
00:00 Have We Reached “Peak Designer”? The Hiring Boom and Slowdown
01:08 Introducing Andy — Designer, Founder, Investor, Pilot, Diver, “Shark Wrangler”
01:42 Origin Story — Geeky Kid, Early Web, and Falling in Love with the Internet
04:35 From Dive Instructor in Asia to Self-Taught Web Designer
07:26 Discovering UX and Helping Bring User Experience Design to the UK
10:34 Meeting Rich and Jeremy, Web Standards, and the Birth of Clearleft
18:43 Inside Clearleft — Culture, Community, and a Different Way to Run an Agency
22:15 Burberry, “Hyper-Alignment,” and How Clearleft Actually Worked Day to Day
32:24 UX London, Leading Design, and the “Accidental Design Leader”
47:16 Broken Web, AI, the Future of Design — S-Curves, Uncertainty, and Learning to Flow
“What does it mean to recruit in a turbulent UX market — and where is the industry heading?”
Summary
In this episode, Danny speaks with long-time UX and design recruiter Nick Grantham about the realities of today’s hiring landscape. Nick shares his journey from studying design to becoming a specialist design recruiter, the emotional side of matchmaking candidates and teams, and why the last few years have reshaped expectations for designers, hiring managers, and recruiters alike. They discuss the impact of interest rates, AI, internal talent teams, CV myths, candidate overwhelm, and how to stay resilient while navigating a challenging market. Nick brings clarity, honesty, and grounded optimism to a conversation many designers need right now.
Guest
Nick Grantham
Nick is an Associate Director at Zebra People, who are a long-standing, digital specialist recruitment agency. Nick himself has been leading UX and product design recruitment across start-ups, scale-ups, and major brands for the past 15 years. With deep experience shaping design teams and advising on hiring strategy, Nick brings a no-nonsense approach to his trade and had even started his career in design before switching to recruitment.
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickgrantham/
Website – https://zebrapeople.com/
Host
Danny Hearn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyhearn/
Website – www.dannyhearn.me
Podcast – www.deeplyhumandesign.com
Chapters
00:00 Why bring a recruiter into a design podcast
02:02 Nick’s journey from transport design to UX recruitment
08:27 What recruiters actually do (and how matchmaking really works)
10:14 The human side of recruitment, emotions, and life-changing moves
13:51 “Champagne and razor blades”: the highs and lows of placements
23:22 Why this downturn feels different: interest rates, budgets, and AI
30:21 Adapting as a designer: UX, product, research, and service design
35:26 Specialising, doubling down on strengths, and applying strategically
38:33 Tasks, process design, and the impact on diversity and inclusion
54:17 The future of recruitment, AI, and cautious optimism for the market
In this episode I catch up with Sol Rogers — my old next-door neighbour from Totnes who’s now the Global Director of Innovation at Magnopus and founder of the award-winning immersive studio Rewind. Sol’s career has spanned VR, film, and emerging tech for Disney, Jaguar, and Meta, and he’s earned an honorary doctorate for his impact on the industry.
We talk about his unconventional start as a new-age traveller, the realities of success, ADHD, fatherhood, and what it means to build communities that truly support people. Sol shares stories of breakthroughs, burnout, and staying grounded in a fast-moving world — including how a VR demo for Jaguar unexpectedly reshaped car design.
A thoughtful, open conversation about creativity, purpose, and time.
🔗 Links & references
Dr Solomon Rogers
LinkedIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/solrogers/
Magnopus https://www.magnopus.com/
Danny Hearn
Website - www.dannyhearn.me
Podcast - www.deeplyhumandesign.com
Julia Petretta — Systems, Stories & Staying Human in Design
What happens when design grows up? Julia Petretta joins Danny to explore how systems thinking, organisational politics, and the changing design industry are reshaping what it means to do meaningful work.
They talk about finding your voice, designing relationships (not just interfaces), and the myth that design always “makes the world better.” From the disintegration of UX to the rise of product thinking, it’s an honest look at where our craft stands — and how to stay grounded through art, nature, and reflection.
🔗 Links & references
👉 Julia Petretta on LinkedIn
👉 Dave Stewart — The Work Is Never Just the Work
👉 Basecamp — Shape Up
👉 Thinking Paradigms in UX (systems thinking in design)
🎧 Listen to more episodes → deeplyhumandesign.com
Small correction
I had said that Julia spoke at 'UX Brighton' but it was in fact 'TalkUX in Brighton'
In this insightful episode, UX coach Amy Santee joins host Danny to explore the complexities of navigating a career in the ever-evolving field of user experience. They delve into the emotional and practical challenges faced by UX professionals, from the initial idealism of advocating for users to the harsh realities of corporate constraints. Amy shares her personal journey of adapting to change, embracing unconventional career paths, and finding meaning beyond traditional job roles. Together, they discuss the importance of self-reflection, community, and creativity in overcoming professional hurdles and redefining success. This episode offers valuable perspectives for anyone grappling with career uncertainty and seeking to align their work with their values.
Amy Santee
https://thejawbreaker.beehiiv.com
--
Danny Hearn
Join the award winning Caroline McElroy, a service designer as she opens up about her journey through the tech industry, sharing candid insights on embracing imposter syndrome, the importance of authenticity, and her passion for empowering young women in tech. Discover how vulnerability and honesty have shaped her career and inspired others. #TechTalk #Empowerment #Authenticity
Caro McElroy
LinkedIN
Danny Hearn
LinkedIN
Website
In this episode, I sit down with Joe Knowles to explore his career journey, where he grappled with the challenges of a fast-paced UX career. We reflect on his "Icarus moment"—the point where his professional climb led to a personal re-evaluation—and discuss the honest struggles of UX leadership. Joe opens up about the intersection of introversion and authenticity, and the power of being vulnerable in an industry that can often feel like a performance. This conversation is for anyone navigating their own path and seeking a more human-centered approach to their work.
Joe Knowles
LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-knowles-41a80a20/
Danny Hearn
Substack - https://deeplyhumandesign.substack.com
Web - https://www.dannyhearn.me
LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyhearn/
In this conversation, we explore themes ranging from AI and the future of design to the more personal side of the industry - mental health and the importance of support. Gavin highlights the often-overlooked need for personal and professional care, especially for those just starting out.
We also discuss how to build environments that foster growth and make the design industry more sustainable for everyone.
Gavin Elliot
Web - https://gavinelliott.co.uk/
LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavin-elliott-x/
Danny Hearn
Substack - https://deeplyhumandesign.substack.com
Web - https://www.dannyhearn.me
LinkedIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyhearn/
Chris Compston
Substack | Website | LinkedIN
Danny Hearn
Substack | Website | LinkedIN
In this insightful episode, we delve into the evolving landscape of design roles and the increasing specialisation within the industry. Join Chris Compston and me as we explore the dynamics of inclusivity in design leadership, reflecting on personal experiences and the subtle power shifts in remote meetings. Discover how these changes are shaping the future of design and the importance of taking action to foster a more inclusive environment. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that challenges the status quo and inspires reflection on our roles within the design community.
In this conversation, Carmen and I explore the evolution of UX design, the importance of user research, and the challenges faced in the current job market. They discuss the impact of AI on the industry, the role of imposter syndrome, and the significance of outcomes in design. Carmen shares her insights on the changing landscape of product design and the need for innovation in a challenging economy, emphasising the value of research in shaping successful products.
In this engaging conversation, Kirtika and I explore the multifaceted world of UX design, discussing the importance of discovery, research, and empathy in creating user-centered solutions. Kirtika shares her journey from graphic design to UX, emphasising the value of questioning and understanding both user and business needs. They delve into the challenges of company culture, the interview process, and the balance between creative expression and professional growth. The discussion culminates in reflections on personal experiences and aspirations in the design field.
About Kirtika
Her amazing artwork - https://www.instagram.com/dirtykirti/
LinkedIN -
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkir/
Welcome to the deeply human design podcast. In this short introduction, I invite you to explore the heart and soul of working in design. My aim is to create a space for authentic conversations about the messy, inspiring, and very human side of our work. Join me as we uncover the stories and insights that make design a truly human experience.
Learn more about me and what I do
www.dannyhearn.me
In this first episode, I sit down with Gavin, a designer, builder and creator of Figma plugins downloaded over 600,000 times. We talk about the messy, emotional side of design: instinct, burnout, psychological safety and how our environments shape the work we do. Gavin shares his journey from Rolls Royce to government projects to building tools for designers, and we explore what it takes to balance empathy, pragmatism and craft in today’s shifting UX landscape.
Gavin's figma plugins
https://www.figma.com/@gavinmcfarland
Gavins website
https://gavinmcfarland.co.uk/