Design Table Podcast

Nick Groeneveld, Tyler White
  • 0.0 (0)
  • 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. 6D AGO

    The AI Skill Most Product Designers Are Sleeping On

    Like many product designers, you’re using AI. You get decent results by prompting and copy-pasting. Yet, you're still doing all the work. WHat if you didn't have to? In this episode of the Design Table Podcast, we talk about how designers can move beyond prompting and start using AI to actually execute tasks. Nick walks us through how he’s setting up simple workflows using Claude Skills to (more or less) automate small but meaningful pieces of work, from fixing things on his site to handling repetitive tasks. We also talk about what’s changing, how fast things are evolving, and why the real change is about giving away your work. This episode is about rethinking how you use AI as a product designer. It is a must-listen for anyone trying to stay ahead of how work is changing. In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 The difference between prompting and delegation🔸 How to use AI to actually execute tasks🔸 Simple ways to automate small workflows🔸 Why AI changes how designers work🔸 The risks of moving too fast🔸 What the next bottleneck actually is ⏱ Chapters00:00 How designers are using AI today03:00 From prompts to execution08:00 Automating small tasks14:00 The speed shift20:00 The new bottleneck26:00 What this means for designers 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

    39 min

  2. APR 22

    Your Portfolio Platform Doesn't Matter (Stop Overthinking It)

    You’re stuck building your portfolio. Should you use Webflow? Framer? WordPress? Maybe you rebuild everything from scratch and start over? There are so many opinions on design social media that it is impossible to know what to do. In this episode of the Design Table Podcast, we discuss why designers obsess over portfolio tools and why that’s (mostly) a waste of time. We talk about what actually matters when someone reviews your work, why presentation beats platform, and how small details like having a custom domain has more impact than the tools you use. We also cover platform tradeoffs (in case it matters), cost considerations, and when it actually makes sense to switch. This episode is about focusing on what actually gets you hired instead of getting stuck in tool discussions. It is a must-listen for any designer building or rebuilding their portfolio. In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why portfolio tools don’t matter as much as you think🔸 What hiring managers actually care about🔸 What custom domains tell your audience🔸 When platform choice does matter🔸 The hidden cost of switching tools🔸 Why shipping your portfolio matters more than perfecting it ⏱ Chapters00:00 The portfolio tool debate03:00 Why designers overthink tools07:00 What actually matters12:00 Custom domains and perception18:00 Platform tradeoffs25:00 Just ship it 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

    34 min

  3. APR 15

    This Product Designer Built a SaaS Product in a Weekend (And There's No Way Back)

    You keep hearing that UX and product designers should build. Yet, most designers don’t. Why is that? Are designers right? Is it just a case of social media nonsense? To find out, we looked at what happens when someone actually does it. Not a side project they’ll finish later (but never do) or another concept that never makes it out of Figma. It is a real product and it is live. All in one weekend. And for Tyler, the designer who built it, it changes everything. In this episode of the Design Table Podcast, we discuss just that; what actually happens when a designer stops talking about building and forces the constraint to ship something real. We get into the tools, the process, and what surprised us once the product was live and usable. But more importantly; what this changes about how you think about your career (and what stays the same). Because once you realize it’s possible to go from idea to something real that fast, you stop looking at job applications, portfolios, and “waiting your turn” the same way. This episode is about what happens when the builder mindset stops being theory and becomes real. In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why most designers stay stuck in the idea phase🔸 What actually happens when you try to ship in a weekend🔸 The tools that make building possible without a dev team🔸 What surprised us after launching something real🔸 Why this changes how you think about portfolios and jobs🔸 What it means to stop waiting and start building ⏱ Chapters00:00 From layoffs to building05:00 Why talking about building isn’t enough10:00 The weekend challenge15:00 Tools used to build the product20:00 What actually worked and what didn’t26:00 What changed after shipping32:00 Why this changes your career strategy 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

  4. APR 8

    How Designers Actually Get Hired (After Being Laid Off)

    You lose your job. No warning. Or maybe you felt it coming. Either way… now you’re sitting there thinking: “What the hell do I do next? How do I find a new product design role?!” In this episode of the Design Table Podcast, we discuss what actually happens after getting laid off as a product designer and how to succeed at the job search that follows. We talk about the emotional side of layoffs, what goes through your head in those first few days, and how quickly reality sets in when you realize you need to find your next role. We also get into real strategies that worked for us (we found out the hard way), including how job searching has changed, why job boards aren’t as effective anymore, and how to approach applications in a much more intentional way. This episode is about getting back on your feet and moving forward with a plan. It is a must-listen for any designer who's been part of layoffs or is preparing for their next role. In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 What goes through your mind after getting laid off🔸 Why job boards don’t work like they used to🔸 How the design job market has changed🔸 The difference between volume and quality applications🔸 Why tailoring your resume actually matters🔸 How to manage rejection without burning out ⏱ Chapters00:00 Getting laid off as a designer03:00 The emotional aftermath07:00 Job search strategies then vs now12:00 Why job boards are less effective18:00 Volume vs quality applications24:00 Building a real application strategy 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

    30 min

  5. APR 1

    How to Survive as the Only Product Designer at a Company

    You join a new company. First of all; congratulations! You arrive on day one and what do you see? There are engineers, product managers, marketers, and a sales team. But there is no design team. Turns out you are the only product designer. Yikes! In this episode of the Design Table Podcast, we discuss what it’s actually like to be the first or only designer at a company, how product designers can survive those early months without burning out, and how you can start to build real design influence. We talk about the reality of introducing design into organizations that have never had it before, why trying to fix everything at once usually goes wrong, and how to gradually build trust across engineering, product, and leadership. This episode is about learning how to create impact when you’re alone. It is a must-see for founding designers, startup designers, and anyone stepping into their first solo design role. In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 What to focus on during your first 30–90 days as the only designer🔸 Why improving the process is more important than perfect design🔸 How to build allies across engineering and product teams🔸 Why presenting aesthetics alone often fails🔸 How internal usability tests can build credibility quickly🔸 How to grow design influence inside non-design organizations ⏱ Chapters00:00 The reality of being the only designer03:00 Tyler’s founding designer experience07:00 Why you shouldn’t try to fix everything at once11:00 The “meet in the middle” process strategy15:00 Why design language must change for stakeholders20:00 Meeting everyone across the company24:00 Using usability tests to build influence29:00 The politics of internal visibility33:00 When to take work outside your role38:00 When it’s time to grow the design team 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

    33 min

  6. MAR 25

    Everyone Can Ship Now… But Should They? Product Designers, AI, and the Shipping Problem

    Designers can ship code now. That's what social media and your manager is telling you. AI tools, vibe coding, and new prototyping workflows mean designers are getting closer to production than ever before. But just because we can ship faster doesn’t mean we should. In this episode of the Design Table Podcast, we discuss the growing pressure for designers to ship quickly, why the “just ship it” mindset can backfire, and how teams should think about quality in a world where building things fast seems more important than building things well. We talk about the collapse of the gap between design and engineering, why shipping too fast can remove the “bad idea filter,” and why guardrails (like pull requests and review processes) are becoming essential. This episode is about navigating speed, experimentation, and responsibility in modern product teams. It is a must-see for designers trying to understand how AI and new tooling are changing the role of product design. In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why designers are starting to ship production code🔸 The hidden risk of the “just ship it” culture🔸 How AI tools are accelerating product experimentation🔸 Why teams need guardrails when everyone can ship🔸 When rapid experimentation actually improves products🔸 How pull requests and reviews protect product quality ⏱ Chapters00:00 Everyone is shipping now02:00 Designers getting access to GitHub06:00 The rise of vibe coding09:00 The “bad idea filter” problem13:00 When shipping fast hurts product quality18:00 Why too many people shipping creates chaos22:00 Pull requests as design guardrails26:00 The danger of constant product changes30:00 Nick ships an AI-built feature 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

    31 min

  7. MAR 18

    How Two Product Designers Actually Use AI (Prompting, Vibe Coding, and Real Work)

    AI won’t replace designers. But designers who don’t know how to use AI properly are already falling behind. That's what you see a thousand times a day on social media. It is maddening. In this episode, we counter that and go deep on how two product designers actually use AI in real design projects. No LinkedIn hype. No “just vibe code bro.” Instead, we talk about prompting, context building, early-stage exploration, and where AI genuinely saves time versus where it doesn't. We discuss how AI fits into modern product teams, how designers are replacing wireframes with working prototypes, and why prompting is quickly becoming a core design skill. This episode is for designers who want to move faster without losing their mind. In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why prompting is more important than the tool you use🔸 How to structure prompts with goals and context🔸 When AI should explore ideas vs. deliver output🔸 Why wireframes are getting replaced by working prototypes🔸 The real meaning of “vibe coding” (and what it is not)🔸 How AI fits into professional, production-level workflows🔸 Why generalist designers adapt faster to AI-driven teams ⏱ Chapters00:00 Why designers struggle with AI adoption03:18 What “vibe coding” actually means07:02 Context first, prompts second10:22 Replacing wireframes with real prototypes14:05 AI as exploration, not final output18:41 Prompting mistakes designers keep making23:12 When to restart instead of fighting the model28:10 Making prototypes realistic for stakeholders33:05 Prompting tips that actually work41:02 Why AI reinforces the generalist shift Subscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe More about the hostsTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

    30 min

  8. MAR 11

    Generalist vs. Specialist Designers: Why “Doing Everything” Is Back (and Who It Hurts)

    Should you specialize or become a generalist as a product designer? Everyone has an opinion. Social media says pick a niche. Job listings say “end-to-end.” Who's right?! Designers are stuck wondering which path actually leads to getting hired and staying hired. In this episode, we solve the generalist vs. specialist debate from the reality of today’s product teams. We talk about why pure specialists are becoming risky outside of massive enterprises, why generalists are quietly back in demand, and how the best designers are combining deep industry knowledge with end-to-end execution. This episode is based on real hiring trends, Tyler's in-house experience, Nick's freelance work, and what actually happens inside modern product teams. In this episode you’ll learn:🔸 Why being “only good at one thing” limits your career options🔸 When specialization actually makes sense (and when it doesn’t)🔸 Why startups and mid-size companies favor end-to-end designers🔸 How generalists gain more influence, visibility, and context🔸 The hidden career risk of staying siloed in one skill🔸 How industry knowledge becomes the real specialization over time ⏱ Chapters00:00 Are you a generalist or a specialist?02:30 Skill specialization vs industry specialization05:37 Why pure specialists struggle outside big companies09:03 Visibility, collaboration, and career growth13:05 Design systems, scaling, and cross-team impact18:49 Go wide first, then go deep22:36 Hiring trends and shrinking teams26:30 Why the generalist is back Subscribe to The Design Table Podcasthttps://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe More about the hostsTyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

    29 min
See All (43)

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
    43
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Nick Groeneveld, Tyler White
  • Show Website
    Design Table Podcast

You Might Also Like