Ran Talks Design

Ran Liu
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The podcast for UX designers who want to build a great product, grow in their career, and lead with impact without any direct reports.

  1. UX Researcher of 25 Years Teaches How to Use AI Without Losing Trust

    11/10/2025

    UX Researcher of 25 Years Teaches How to Use AI Without Losing Trust

    AI can summarize—but can it understand?In this episode, I sit down with Kyle Soucy, a UX researcher with 25 years of experience and one of the most respected voices in the research community.We talk about how to use AI in your research workflow without losing trust, rigor, or your job to a chatbot.You’ll learn:- How to spot AI hallucinations in your data- What makes synthetic users risky (and where they might be useful)- How to prompt AI tools for personas and journey maps- The right way to cross-check AI insights against real human data- Why the future of research is AI-assisted, not AI-replacedMentioned in the show:- Kyle's write up: https://medium.com/user-experience-design-1/using-ai-to-streamline-persona-and-journey-map-creation-37fa859dafb0- Connect with Kyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-soucy-a844b4/- UX Consultants Lounge: www.uxconsultantslounge.com- Usable Interface: www.usableinterface.comConnect with Ran: - LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ranliudesign 💕 Love the content? Consider supporting the channel by buying me a coffee! buymeacoffee.com/rantalksdesign

    43 min
  2. How Designers Earn a Seat at the Table: Influence, Credibility, and Career Growth with Ryan Scott

    09/08/2025

    How Designers Earn a Seat at the Table: Influence, Credibility, and Career Growth with Ryan Scott

    Many designers struggle to earn credibility in business conversations. In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Scott (Airbnb, DoorDash, MBA @ Berkeley) to unpack why PMs often get promoted faster than designers—and what to do about it. We cover the 3 patterns that quietly erode design influence, how to speak the language of business, and how to use empathy not just for users, but also for stakeholders. If you’ve ever wondered how to finally get your “seat at the table,” this conversation is for you.

    48 min
  3. How UX Designers Can Use AI as a Creative Superpower — with Shane Fontane (ex-Grammarly)

    07/21/2025

    How UX Designers Can Use AI as a Creative Superpower — with Shane Fontane (ex-Grammarly)

    Can ChatGPT become your design partner?💕 support the channel: buymeacoffee.com/rantalksdesignIn this episode, designer Shane Fontane (formerly at Grammarly, Optimizely) reveals how he’s using AI tools like GPT, Midjourney, Claude, and Remini to co-create, synthesize research, generate ideas, and even critique design layouts.We dive into: • How Shane built a custom GPT to scale design critique • The AI stack powering his personal portfolio • Using GPT to turn research docs into product ideas • How hallucinations can be surprising sources of creative inspiration • Why working with AI makes him more strategic, not lessWhether you’re a mid-level designer or staff IC, this episode will inspire you to rethink how you work—with AI as your creative force multiplier.🔗 Shane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanefontane/🔗 Connect with Ran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranliudesign/🎧 Subscribe to Ran Talks Design for more episodes on AI, UX, and creative growth.00:00 Introduction to AI in Design01:02 Meet Shane Fontane01:38 Shane's AI Stack and Workflow02:23 Impact of AI on Design04:03 Using AI for Research and Synthesis12:08 AI in Portfolio Creation16:14 Scaling Design Critique with AI21:45 AI in Content Design26:40 Fun with AI28:41 Future of AI in Design32:00 Conclusion and Call to ActionAI for designers, GPT design feedback, ChatGPT for UX, design portfolio with AI, Shane Fontane, Grammarly design, growth design tools, future of UX design, AI design workflow, design critique GPT

    33 min
  4. From Atlassian Designer to $22M Tech Founder CEO – How Patrick Did It

    07/01/2025

    From Atlassian Designer to $22M Tech Founder CEO – How Patrick Did It

    🎯 Want to be a design founder — but don’t know where to start?In this episode, I talk to Patrick Thompson, ex-Atlassian design leader turned multi-time founder, about exactly how he went from designer → $22M-funded startup founder — without writing a single line of code.Whether you’re a senior designer, growth PM, or aspiring founder, we break down:✅ How to de-risk your startup idea before finding a technical cofounder💡 The truth about founder-led sales, fundraising, and team building as a designer🧠 Patrick’s step-by-step blueprint from Iteratively to Clarify🧩 How your design superpowers can become startup leverage🔗 Connect with RanLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranliudesign/🔗 Connect with PatrickLinkedin:https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickt010/Clarify: https://www.clarify.ai/💕 Love the content? Consider supporting the channel by buying me a coffee! buymeacoffee.com/rantalksdesign00:00 Introduction to Clarify and Patrick Thompson01:24 Patrick's Career Journey: From Marketing to Design03:28 Founding Iteratively and Lessons Learned04:44 Building Clarify: Vision and Challenges09:55 The Importance of Networking and Support18:59 Balancing Quality and Speed in Product Development23:13 Resource Constraints and Team Growth23:59 Design Principles and Hiring24:32 Advantages of a Design Background26:04 Learning Sales as a Founder27:16 Balancing Multiple Roles29:19 Becoming an Investor35:51 Challenges of Being a Designer Founder39:27 Advice for Aspiring Founders42:36 Clarify and Final Thoughts

    43 min
  5. The Real Reason You’re Not Getting Promoted (And What to Do About It)

    06/16/2025

    The Real Reason You’re Not Getting Promoted (And What to Do About It)

    How do you actually get promoted from Senior to Staff Product Designer? What skills, mindset, and strategies matter most at the Staff level? In this episode, I talk with Catt Small, a Staff Product Designer, developer, and game maker who’s worked at companies like Asana, Etsy, SoundCloud, and Nasdaq, about how to move up the design career ladder and build influence as a senior IC. We cover: What hiring managers look for in Staff Designer interviewsThe difference between Senior and Staff DesignersHow to demonstrate staff-level impact without being a managerThe reality of career resets, emotional burnout, and how to stay in love with the craft Mentioned in the show: https://www.cattsmall.comhttps://maven.com/catt-small/staff-designer Whether you’re a Senior Product Designer trying to get promoted, or you’re aiming to understand the Staff+ IC career path, this conversation is full of real talk and tactical advice.

    41 min
  6. How Promotions Really Work Behind Closed Doors — Career Growth for Designers with Leslie Yang (Lyft, OpenTable)

    05/19/2025

    How Promotions Really Work Behind Closed Doors — Career Growth for Designers with Leslie Yang (Lyft, OpenTable)

    Ever wondered what really happens when managers decide who gets promoted?In this episode of Ran Talks Design, I sit down with Leslie Yang, design leader at Lyft (formerly OpenTable, Pivotal Labs), to pull back the curtain on how promotion decisions are made — from calibration meetings to performance reviews and the real factors that influence career growth in design.This is the conversation we all wish we had earlier in our careers.🎯 What we cover: • How to know if you’re actually ready for promotion • Why doing great work alone isn’t enough • What happens inside closed-door calibration meetings • Building a strong promotion case (with examples) • What to do when your manager isn’t supporting your growthWhether you’re a mid-level designer, aiming for senior or staff, or managing ICs yourself — this episode will help you navigate the unspoken rules and build a path toward real growth.⸻👤 Guest: Leslie YangLeslie Yang leads product design for core platform teams at Lyft. She loves tackling complex team, product, and user challenges that propel business growth. Prior to Lyft, she led product design for enterprise at OpenTable and taught product discovery and designed 0-1 products from startups to big enterprise clients at Pivotal Labs.https://leslieyang.substack.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-yang-design/⸻🔗 Connect with RanLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranliudesign/💕 Love the content? Consider supporting the channel by buying me a coffee! buymeacoffee.com/rantalksdesign🔔 New episodes on growth, product strategy, and startup design every week.If this helped you, share it with someone you care about. Talk soon.00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction00:21 Leslie Yang's Career Journey01:42 Career Growth Framework04:00 Defining Career Growth04:55 Promotion Criteria and Process06:42 Advice for Aspiring Designers09:12 Handling Career Pathway Challenges16:32 Building a Strong Case for Promotion22:05 Aligning Passion with Career Growth23:47 Monthly Check-ins for Growth24:50 Impact of Activities on Promotions26:05 Building a Strong Case for Promotion28:38 Collecting Feedback for Promotion32:33 Understanding the Promotion Decision Process39:09 Managing Up with an Inexperienced Manager40:55 Regular One-on-One Meetings44:01 Reflecting on Career Mistakes45:23 Staying Connected and Continuous Learning

    46 min
  7. Design Leadership: Driving Innovation in Reluctant Orgs | Erika Flowers

    04/02/2025

    Design Leadership: Driving Innovation in Reluctant Orgs | Erika Flowers

    Join us for a groundbreaking episode of Ran Talks Design, where we sit down with Erika Flowers, a design leader with over 25 years of experience at top companies including Intuit, Mural, and NASA. Erika shares her journey and insights on driving design innovation in traditional and complex organizations. We delve into topics such as the effective integration of AI in design, the importance of charisma and business acumen in design leadership, and the future of virtual reality in professional settings. Learn how Erika has harnessed collaborative and innovative approaches to overcome organizational resistance and promote human-centered design. Whether you're a seasoned design professional or just starting out, this episode is packed with actionable insights that could change the way you view design forever.

    59 min
  8. The Growth Equation: Why Startups Win or Die with Andy Budd

    03/11/2025

    The Growth Equation: Why Startups Win or Die with Andy Budd

    My guest today is Andy Budd, veteran design leader, venture capitalist, and author of "The Growth Equation."Andy brings unique insight from both sides of the startup ecosystem - as a designer who's advocated for UX, and as a VC who reviews over 7,000 of startup pitches yearly. In this conversation, we explore why most startups fail, when founders should bring in designers, and how designers can have maximum impact in early-stage companies.🔑 KEY INSIGHTS:Why having a "good product" is never enough for startup successThe counterintuitive timing for hiring your first designerHow to recognize true product-market fit Why the best startups build far less than they think they needAnd more...00:00 Introduction02:51 Challenges and Reasons for Startup Failures06:21 The Role of Design in Startups15:25 Designers as Founders21:09 Understanding Product Market Fit25:47 The Return of the Technical MVP26:31 Stripping Back to the Essentials27:19 Learning from Usage and Research27:33 The Airbnb Example: Testing Innovative Ideas29:09 The Role of Research in Early Stages30:45 Avoiding the Feature Fallacy32:39 Finding the Right Niche Market34:38 Balancing Quality and Enterprise36:21 The Growth Equation and Designer's Role40:49 Delighting Users and Adding Value44:20 The Growth Equation: A Design Book in Stealth48:37 Final Thoughts and Advice for DesignersFollow Andy Budd:Website: https://andybudd.com/bookTwitter: https://twitter.com/andybuddConnect with RanLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranliudesign/💕 Love the content? Consider supporting the channel by buying me a coffee! buymeacoffee.com/rantalksdesign

    50 min
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About

The podcast for UX designers who want to build a great product, grow in their career, and lead with impact without any direct reports.

Information

  • Creator
    Ran Liu
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Ran Liu
  • Show Website
    Ran Talks Design