Shape FM

James McDonald & Derek Briggs

We dive into design with a focus on learning taste, honing quality, and mastering the craft of great interfaces.

Episodes

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    Episode 9: Claude Code, new design tools and more

    We’re back for our first episode of 2026. It’s only been just over a month since the last episode, but design tooling in the AI era continues to move at breakneck speed. James shares how Claude has become part of his day-to-day workflow, and together he and Derek talk about why it’s such an exciting time to be a creative.

    47 min

  2. 17/12/2025

    Episode 8: Figma design review

    James walks through a Figma file of recent client work for AccessGrid. He goes through his (lack of) organization within the file, communicating the work to the client, and process of iteration.

    56 min

  3. 26/11/2025

    7: Being effective at joining a new team and leveraging AI to build tools for your needs.

    Derek talks about working at Shopify and the day to day processes of joining new teams, and James talks about using AI to build out personal tools for being more efficient designing. Shape FM is sponsored by clerk.com

    57 min

  4. 06/11/2025

    6: Q&A

    James and Derek answer questions around design process, managing deadlines, working with other teams in your company, and coordinating world class design implementations. Shape FM is sponsored by clerk.com

    1h 9m

  5. 28/10/2025

    5: Help with hiring and getting hired

    James and Derek talk about both providing hiring experiences as well as help navigating the various processes in getting hired. Shape FM is sponsored by the amazing clerk.com

    1h 33m

  6. 07/10/2025

    4: Your online presence

    In this episode we talk about the new Cursor website, some folks we've worked with in the past that are available for a new opportunity, how your social presence impacts your hire-ability, and some suggestions on finding inspiration in your designs.

    36 min

  7. 29/09/2025

    3: Motion and animation with intent

    We dive into motion design - why rigid “motion systems” fall short, how product vs. marketing animations differ, using real-world physics for natural feel, and practical ways designers can communicate motion. Plus a Figma breakdown of our new playback UI on shape.fm

    41 min

  8. 17/09/2025

    2: A Designer’s career multiplier: Communication

    Design careers aren’t just built on pixels and pretty work. They’re built on how you show up, communicate, and handle the messy middle. In this episode, we talk about what real progression looks like in design, why communication outpaces raw talent, and how to level up from doing tasks to owning outcomes. We share practical strategies for protecting your focus, avoiding burnout, and building a reputation for reliability and craft. Whether you’re starting out or aiming for leadership, this one’s packed with lessons we’ve learned the hard way.

    1h 8m

  9. 16/09/2025

    1: Introducing Shape, our design podcast

    We kick things off by sharing how we got into design, how we first met, and a nostalgic nod to everyone’s favorite relic - the marquee element. From there, it’s straight into design talk: drop shadows, colors, projects we’ve worked on together, and a roundup of our favorite tweets from the week on X.

    49 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

We dive into design with a focus on learning taste, honing quality, and mastering the craft of great interfaces.

Information

  • Creator
    James McDonald & Derek Briggs
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Shape FM