Design Table Podcast

Nick Groeneveld, Tyler White
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  • DESIGN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Get a seat at the table and build the design career you want. This podcast is for designers looking to break in, level up, and take control of their careers—whether you're freelancing, climbing the corporate ladder, or just trying to get noticed. Every two weeks, we dive into career fundamentals, design best practices, and the hottest topics in the design community.

  1. 22H AGO

    Why (Real) User Research Is Becoming a Career Advantage for Designers (Feat. Sara Fortier)

    Your stakeholders say research is a waste of time. Just ship it. We’ll figure it out later. But later never comes. The product misses the mark, teams scramble, and you end up doing twice the work fixing mistakes you saw coming weeks ago. Relatable? For many designers it is... In this episode, we’re joined by Sara Fortier, CEO of Outwitly and author of Design Research Mastery, to talk about just that, what design research really looks like today, and why it’s becoming more important as AI becomes bigger and bigger. We talk about why research is less about methods and more about influence, how junior designers can stand out in today's super competitive market, and why the future favors designers who can connect business risk, human behavior, and product decisions instead of just pushing pixels. In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why design research is an insurance policy against bad decisions🔸 How to introduce research in low-maturity teams without asking permission🔸 Why AI won’t replace research but will raise the bar for designers🔸 How junior designers can use research to stand out and get hired🔸 When research should be deep, lightweight, or skipped entirely🔸 Why UX generalists are becoming more valuable than narrow specialists ⏱ Chapters00:00 Why teams say research slows them down03:18 Research vs taste, craft, and AI hot takes07:02 Finding champions inside low-maturity orgs10:22 Asking forgiveness instead of permission14:05 Research as risk reduction and ROI18:41 Why generalists are winning again23:12 AI, research, and the future of design roles28:10 What junior designers should focus on right now33:05 Tools that actually help researchers today41:02 The skills AI can’t replace Learn more about Sara’s bookhttps://www.designresearchmastery.com/ Connect with Sara on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sarafortier/ Learn more about Outwitlyhttps://outwitly.com/ Subscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe More about the hostsTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-whiteNick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

    43 min

  2. FEB 25

    Users Lie, Data Misleads, and Why UX Research (Still) Matters

    Users say one thing. Then they do something completely different. Nick, co-host at the Design Table Podcast, just found out the hard way. In this episode of the Design Table Podcast, we discuss why user feedback can be misleading, why badly framed research creates false confidence, and how designers should really think about data and user research. We talk about research methods that fail in practice, why people lie during tests, and how relying on a single data point can completely derail your product design decision making. This episode is about moving beyond performative research and building confidence in your decisions using the right mix of qualitative and quantitative signals. It is a must-see for any designer who's interested in UX research. In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why users lie🔸 How poorly framed questions ruin your UX research outcome🔸 When usability testing beats surveys🔸 Why screenshots and explanations often get ignored🔸 How to triangulate research instead of trusting one signal🔸 When to trust data and when to trust experience ⏱ Chapters 00:00 “Users lie” and the research crisis 04:00 Why feedback doesn’t match behavior 09:00 Choosing the right research method 15:00 Unmoderated vs moderated testing 21:00 SUS scores and false certainty 27:00 A simple research framework that works 33:00 Why research matters more in an AI-driven world Subscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe More about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

    28 min

  3. FEB 18

    Your Stakeholders Don't Care About UX. Now What?!

    Your stakeholders tell you to skip research and just ship it. We'll test later is what they say, but later never comes. The design misses the mark. And now you're doing twice the work to fix what could have been done right the first time. That's the cycle we're discussing in this episode of the Design Table Podcast. In this episode, we talk about what designers are really hired to do and why your job is closer to being an insurance policy than a pixel pusher. We dig into how to handle stakeholders who think UX slows things down, why "ship it and learn" almost never leads to actual learning, and how to reframe your design process in a language executives actually respond to. In this episode you'll learn:🔸 Why designers are an insurance policy between ideas and production🔸 How to handle stakeholders who think UX slows teams down🔸 Why "ship it and learn" usually means "ship it and forget"🔸 How to reframe research as risk reduction, not extra work🔸 Why designers need to stop apologizing for their process🔸 When you should and shouldn't do research on a feature ⏱ Chapters00:00 Stakeholders who say "just ship it"03:14 Designers are salespeople and therapists06:12 Design as an insurance policy07:05 The myth of "ship and iterate"10:15 Getting faster to make room for research12:31 Why designers need to stop being too nice17:05 Selling design through company goals and KPIs22:41 When should you actually do research?27:06 Quick summary and takeaways Subscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe More about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

    28 min

  4. FEB 11

    The 4 Real Reasons Companies Hire Designers (And How to Prove Your Value) | Part 2

    Everyone tells you design is about making things look good. But it is not. Design is about saving time, reducing risk, and creating leverage inside a business. That's what we're talking about in this episode of the Design Table Podcast. This is part 2 and we cover the overlooked reasons designers get hired and how to turn your work into measurable impact. We go beyond revenue and look into time savings, operational efficiency, risk reduction, compliance, and long-term brand impact. We share real examples from different industries (construction, pharma, SaaS, and product design) to show you how designers create impact that goes far beyond visuals. In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 How design saves time across teams and operations🔸 Why time saved often turns into revenue and scale🔸 How UX work can reduce business risk including compliance, errors, and lawsuits🔸 Real-world examples from construction workflows and pharma packaging🔸 Why brand, differentiation, and ownership still matter🔸 The hidden trait that makes designers stand out ⏱ Chapters00:00 Intro to Part 202:00 Reason 3 Designers save time08:00 Construction workflow example14:00 Translating time saved into money18:00 Reason 4 Designers reduce risk23:00 Pharma compliance example27:00 Brand, differentiation, and ownership32:00 Final thoughts Subscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe More about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-whiteNick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

    27 min

  5. FEB 4

    The 4 Real Reasons Companies Hire Designers (And How to Prove Your Value) | Part 1

    While most designers talk about “crafting delightful experiences", companies hire designers for something else entirely. And that's a problem... for designers looking to get hired. In this episode, Tyler and Nick share the real business reasons designers get hired and how to position your case studies to prove your value. This episode introduces a framework from business thinking applied to UX and product design careers. They discuss why companies hire designers to make money and save money, and how most portfolios completely miss this. You’ll learn how to connect UX work to revenue, conversion, adoption, and cost reduction so your case studies speak the language of business. In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why "delightful UX" is not a strong business argument🔸 How designers help companies make money through conversion, MRR, and adoption🔸 How design reduces support costs and operational waste🔸 How to quantify business impact in your case studies🔸 What to do if you do not have access to metrics Subscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe More about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-whiteNick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

    28 min

  6. JAN 28

    Why I'm Building My Own Tools (And Why You Should Too)

    In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick discuss a shift that most SaaS and startups are not ready for: internal tools are getting real investment in 2026. That's because their customers are realizing they can build exactly what they need on their own. This changes how SaaS operates. Instead of buying another one-size-fits-all product, more buyers will ask: why don’t we just build this ourselves? Tyler and Nick figure out how SaaS products can survive this shift and why being integration-ready is about more than just “having Zapier.” If you are building B2B SaaS, working in product, or designing enterprise tools, this episode gives you strategy you can actually apply. Here is what is on the table:🔸 Why internal tools are getting bigger budgets in 2026🔸 The new SaaS threat: customers building their own tools🔸 Why enterprises want software tailored to their workflows🔸 The real SaaS moat: flexibility, integrations, and ecosystems🔸 Zapier, Make, MCPs, and why they change retention🔸 Using integrations as product signals for what to build next🔸 Founder-led SaaS, branding, and why “slop” is the new competition Subscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe More about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

    24 min

  7. JAN 21

    Product Design Jobs Are Disappearing in 2026 (Here's How You Survive)

    In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick break down what product design will look like in 2026 and why this year will feel like a shock to a lot of designers. Tyler calls it the year of the builder, where titles start collapsing and the market rewards people who can actually ship. They discuss why design has been misunderstood for years, how that misunderstanding is costing you still today, and why design is slowly getting eaten by product and engineering departments. This is not AI fear and it is not a rant. It is a practical blueprint for how designers stay relevant when the goalposts move. If you want to protect your career and increase your leverage, the answer is simple: skill stack and build. Here is what is on the table:🔸 Why 2026 will be “the year of the builder”🔸 Why design roles are merging into hybrid titles🔸 The designer vs. developer gap and how it wastes time🔸 When building real prototypes beats building Figma prototypes🔸 How AI changes what teams expect designers to ship🔸 The next wave: builders who can design, ship, and think business Subscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe More about Tyler and NickTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

    32 min

  8. JAN 14

    How Recruiters Actually Work and What Designers Get Wrong

    In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick pull back the curtain on the recruiter side of the design job market. This is not a rant and it is not recruiter hate. Instead, it is a practical explanation of how the system actually works. They break down what preferred suppliers are, why some recruiter outreach goes nowhere, and how designers accidentally hurt themselves by ignoring messages or being unprepared. The conversation reframes recruiters as long-term career relationships instead of one-off transactions. If you are job hunting, freelancing, or just want leverage when opportunities appear, this episode gives you context most designers never get. Here is what is on the table:🔸 How recruiters really source and screen designers🔸 What preferred supplier lists are and why they matter🔸 How to identify low-value recruiter outreach🔸 Why replying even when uninterested pays off later🔸 Screening recruiters the same way they screen you🔸 Keeping your CV ready before you need it🔸 Signaling availability without oversharing🔸 Playing the long game with career relationships Subscribe to The Design Table Podcast https://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe More about Tyler and Nick Tyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

    29 min
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About

Get a seat at the table and build the design career you want. This podcast is for designers looking to break in, level up, and take control of their careers—whether you're freelancing, climbing the corporate ladder, or just trying to get noticed. Every two weeks, we dive into career fundamentals, design best practices, and the hottest topics in the design community.

Information

  • Creator
    Nick Groeneveld, Tyler White
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Nick Groeneveld, Tyler White
  • Show Website
    Design Table Podcast