UX Banter

Galaxy UX Studio
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The fun, friendly, and quirky podcast

  1. Designing Across Cultures and Careers with Aysha Samrin , S6, E7

    قبل يومين

    Designing Across Cultures and Careers with Aysha Samrin , S6, E7

    In this episode, we are joined by Aysha Samrin, UX Design Architect at McAfee. Aysha’s journey is a testament to the power of creativity and resilience. From illustrating children’s books and building brands to leading UX strategy in global tech, her path has been shaped by cultural influences spanning India, Abu Dhabi, the UK, and Canada. Alongside her industry roles, she also mentors the next generation of designers as a Senior UX Instructor at the Vancouver Institute of Media Arts. Discussion Points - ~ What was your journey like from illustration and branding to becoming a UX leader? 1:47 ~ What is PropTech? 12:58 ~ How have cultural influences from India, Abu Dhabi, the UK, and Canada shaped your design approach? 13:45 ~ Rapid Fire Round 20:48 ~ How are you experimenting with AI tools, and what opportunities or challenges do you see for designers? 26:54 ~ What has your experience been like teaching UX at VanArts and mentoring the next generation of designers? 29:57 ~ What advice do you have for young designers who are just beginning their careers in this field? 35:34 Show notes - ~ A lot of cultural influences show up in my design without me consciously putting them in—it’s what I’ve grown up with and observed. ~ Illustration taught me storytelling, and that skill has been invaluable in UX. ~  Understanding cultural context, like payment methods, colors, or patterns, can make or break a user experience. ~ Exploring AI tools has been eye-opening, not to replace designers, but to see how they can support creativity. ~ Teaching reminds me that design fundamentals never go out of style. ~ Formal design education matters; it gives you a foundation to build a long-term career instead of realizing too late that you’re in the wrong field. ~ Living and working across different countries taught me that even simple design choices, like colors or payment methods, carry deep cultural meaning. Aysha’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aysha-samrin/

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  2. Designing for Complex Challenges with AI and UX — Ryan Brink, S6 Ep. 6

    ١٠ سبتمبر

    Designing for Complex Challenges with AI and UX — Ryan Brink, S6 Ep. 6

    In this episode, we are joined by Ryan Brink, Senior Product Designer at Michigan Software Labs. With a background that spans business, sports, and marketing, Ryan’s journey into UX is anything but traditional. His experience coaching soccer shaped his collaborative, people-first design mindset, while his early work in marketing and analytics honed his ability to combine creativity with data. Today, Ryan designs enterprise platforms, compliance tools, and AI-powered workflows—all with a focus on clarity, collaboration, and user-centered thinking. Discussion Points ~ How did your journey into UX design begin? 2:15  ~Since sports are data-heavy, do you see a connection between that and digital design dashboards? 6:36 ~ Do you think people from non-design backgrounds challenge or enrich your perspective in UX? 8:40 ~ Rapid Fire Round 10:16 ~ What unique challenges do you face when designing for enterprise software and compliance-heavy products? 15:25 ~ How are you leveraging AI in your design process, and what opportunities or risks does it bring? 20:31 ~ What inspired your book, Phony Confessions of a Designer, and how does humor play a role in your approach to design? 24:54 ~ What advice do you have for young designers starting their careers today? 26:57 Show notes  ~ UX is all about creating alignment; it’s not about who has the best idea, but about what’s best for the end user. ~ Coaching soccer taught me leadership and teamwork—skills I bring into every design project. ~ Metrics bridge the gap between creativity and strategy; they tell us what’s working and where we need to improve. ~ AI can’t replace the UX process. If you put in garbage, garbage will come out. ~ Creativity was the missing piece in my career. Once I found design, tinkering with problems stopped feeling like work. ~ Enterprise UX isn’t just about usability; it’s about navigating red tape, earning stakeholder buy-in, and still keeping the user at the center. ~ Humor helps us stay honest about our flaws as designers; sometimes laughing at our “confessions” makes us better at what we do. Ryan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-brink/ Ryan’s Website: https://brinkryan.com/

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  3. The Human Side of UX in an AI World – with Paige Maguire, S6, Ep. 5

    ٣ سبتمبر

    The Human Side of UX in an AI World – with Paige Maguire, S6, Ep. 5

    In this episode, we are joined by Paige Maguire, Director of UX & Research at Fueled. With a background in philosophy and law, Paige’s journey into UX has been shaped by her deep curiosity about human behavior and communication. Over the years, she has blended strategic thinking with user empathy to design digital products that are both intuitive and impactful. Her leadership brings clarity to complexity, helping teams create smarter, human-centered solutions. Discussion Points ~ How did your journey evolve from studying philosophy and law to becoming a UX leader? 1:34 ~ How do you apply advocacy and negotiation skills from your legal background to UX practice? 3:19 ~ Rapid fire round 8:35 ~ How is your team navigating the rise of AI in tools and user experience design? 12:10 ~ How do you keep your team creatively inspired while experimenting with new tools and technologies? 19:50 ~ What advice do you have for young designers who are just beginning their careers in this field? 21:24 Show Notes ~ We do a little bit of advocacy every day, balancing technical feasibility, stakeholder needs, and usability while fighting for our users. ~ Data can tell us what happened in the past, but we must always leave space for the irrationality of human behavior. ~ Start slow, but start now. That’s our mantra at Fueled when integrating AI into design processes. ~ We put our foot down - at Fueled, we do not use synthetic users for research. Nothing replaces talking to real people. ~ Design is more than putting pixels together; it's about leaving space for the creative act, the magic that brings ideas to life. ~ Don’t be afraid of AI replacing you. Let it assist your creative act, not inhibit it. Paige’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paigemaguire/

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  4. How UX Shapes Interactive Storytelling with Cathy Davenport Lee, S6, Ep. 4

    ٢٨ أغسطس

    How UX Shapes Interactive Storytelling with Cathy Davenport Lee, S6, Ep. 4

    In this episode, we are joined by Cathy Davenport Lee, Principal Creative Director of Product Design & Marketing at Eluvio. With over 15 years of experience blending product design, brand storytelling, and emerging tech, Cathy has led award-winning projects across industries. Formerly VP of Interaction Design at HBO, she has shaped iconic campaigns for series such as Game of Thrones and Westworld, while continually pushing the boundaries of digital experiences. Discussion Points ~ Can you take us through your journey from studying digital design to leading creative roles at HBO and Eluvio, and what it was like working on household names like Game of Thrones and Westworld? 1:33 ~ Can you tell us about your current role at Eluvio and the direction you’re headed in your career? 12:00 ~ Rapid fire round 13:00 ~ How do you feel about the creative industry's emphasis on awards and recognition? 16:23 ~ How are you using AI in your day-to-day work right now? 35:09 ~ Can you tell us about your podcast? 35:44 ~ What advice would you give to aspiring designers who want to follow in your footsteps? 37:10 Show notes ~ Back then, nobody knew what a digital designer was. We were inventing the role while still trying to explain what the internet could even do. ~ I spent years dreaming of working at HBO. When the call finally came, it felt surreal, like a moment I had manifested years before. ~ Awards are great, but they depend a lot on access. If your company can't afford to submit, your work might never get seen. ~ AI isn’t just something happening to creatives. If we want to influence where it's going, we have to engage with it now, not later. ~ Tools and technologies are shifting so fast that by the time you plan a project, the platform you started with may already be outdated. ~ Sometimes the most powerful thing a creative can do is pause, to protect their imagination, recharge, and create from a place of clarity. Links: Cathy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathydavenportlee/ Cathy’s Podcast: https://podcast.thecreativeleadworkshop.com/

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  5. The Secret to Leading Passionate Creative Teams - Hernan Ibanez, S6, Ep. 3

    ٢٠ أغسطس

    The Secret to Leading Passionate Creative Teams - Hernan Ibanez, S6, Ep. 3

    In this episode, we are joined by Hernan Ibanez, Head of Art at Ogilvy New York. With over two decades of experience in advertising and design, Hernan has led creative work for prominent brands such as PlayStation, Oreo, and Toyota. His global journey and passion for storytelling continue to shape impactful campaigns and inspire creative teams worldwide. Discussion Points - ~ Tell us about your journey — how did you go from Rosario, Argentina, to leading creative work in New York? 1:32 ~ How did moving across cultures and cities from Argentina to LA, Miami, and then New York shape you professionally? 3:24 ~ Rapid fire round 12:45 ~ With AI-generated artwork becoming part of creative workflows, how do you see it reshaping the design process? 14:55 ~ In the age of AI and evolving creative workflows, how do you see the role of design leadership adapting? 20:34 ~ At Ogilvy, what key qualities are prioritized when bringing new talent on board? 23:27 Show notes - ~ You’re the only person that needs to coexist with yourself for your entire life, so don’t try to become someone else. ~ I can help people grow, but I can’t teach them passion. That has to come from within. ~ New York allows you to be part of different cultures while still being yourself—that’s what I love about it. ~ We’re still trying to insert AI into our old workflow, but the real shift will come when AI helps shape the workflow itself. ~ The most important part of creative leadership is making sure everyone feels like they own the work—it’s everybody’s puppy. ~ Some of the most rewarding moments aren’t about awards, they’re about seeing your work in the places that once inspired you.   Hernan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hernanibanez/

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  6. Mastering Advanced UX Strategy with Larry Marine, S6, Ep. 2

    ١٣ أغسطس

    Mastering Advanced UX Strategy with Larry Marine, S6, Ep. 2

    In this episode, we are joined by Larry Marine, a pioneer in UX research with over three decades of experience and more than 250 successful projects. He's elevated product leadership for companies like ProFlowers and FedEx Print Services and is the author of Disruptive Research. He currently serves as the Director of Research and Design at LSA Digital. Discussion Points: ~ How was the journey for you, starting back in the 90s—how do you see the changes in UX from then to now? 1:57 ~ How different is the workload you're managing now, and what are the key differences compared to the early years of UX? 4:44 ~ Does your life experience—military discipline, moving across the country—reflect in the way you approach design? 8:00   ~ How can applying AI to large-scale research repositories help identify and bridge user knowledge gaps more effectively than traditional personas? 13:57 ~ What is advanced UX, and how does it differ from traditional UX methods? 16:39 ~ What advice do you have for senior UX professionals who are at a crossroads—either learning AI or moving into management? 26:38 Show notes:  ~ Excellent design tries to address that knowledge gap by embedding what you know about the product into the design. ~ Personas are far too vague. They don't describe anything that will affect your design. ~ I didn’t like the whole management track. I’m an individual contributor, and I do hands-on work because that’s where I add the most value. ~ Observations are far better than interviews. People often say one thing and do another. ~ If 100 people are doing the same thing 100 different ways, it means nobody knows how to do it right. Let’s design to guide them to the best practice. Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrymarine/ https://lsadigital.com

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  7. The UX Power Behind FinTech Innovation – with Derek Boman, S6, Ep. 1

    ٦ أغسطس

    The UX Power Behind FinTech Innovation – with Derek Boman, S6, Ep. 1

    In this episode, we are joined by Derek Boman, Director of Product Design, Liminal. With a strong background in brand design, digital experiences, and UX leadership, Derek is building transformative tools at the intersection of AI, design, and finance. He’s passionate about mentoring future designers and solving complex problems through creativity and empathy. Discussion Points ~ Can you tell us about your career journey—from growing up in a tech-savvy environment to leading at Socrates AI? 1:28 ~ What is your leadership style and how do you empower your teams in today’s fast-evolving tech space? 3:50 ~ Are you navigating the rapid changes in AI technology, and how often do you need to adapt your tools? 7:30 ~ What inspired the creation of Socrates AI, especially coming from a UX background into FinTech? 9:25 ~ Rapid Fire 15:02 ~ How do you ensure the use of AI in your product is meaningful and not just trendy? 17:52 ~ As a mentor and educator, what advice do you give to young designers and job seekers in tech? 24:24 Show notes  ~ Good leadership means removing roadblocks, not controlling outcomes. Give your team space, context, and trust—then get out of their way. ~ AI should solve real user pain, not just be sprinkled in for novelty. Ask: What becomes possible now that wasn’t before? ~ Design can drive adoption and understanding in even the driest industries—finance included. That’s where real impact lives. ~ If you're a junior designer, this is your moment. Learn AI now—because everyone is learning it together, and you can lead the charge. ~ Don’t aim to replace humans with AI. Use it to free them from the grind so they can focus on strategic, high-value work. ~ Hiring isn’t about who’s perfect today—it’s about who’s growing fastest. Coachability and curiosity beat static skills every time. Derek's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bomanderek/

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  8. Behind the Scenes of Game UX with Ruwan Fernando, S5, Ep. 8

    ٤ مارس

    Behind the Scenes of Game UX with Ruwan Fernando, S5, Ep. 8

    In this episode, we are joined by Ruwan Fernando, a seasoned UX leader with expertise in AAA games, SaaS, and gamification. With experience across five countries, he brings a unique perspective on design, storytelling, and user engagement. Tune in as we explore his journey, industry insights, and the evolving role of UX in gaming. Discussion points: ~ How did your journey into UX and game design begin? 1:45 ~ How did your expectations of the gaming industry change over time? 7:20 ~ Do you need to be a gamer to succeed in the industry? 12:50 ~ Rapid fire round 17:55 ~ What are you looking forward to at GDC, and how can people connect with you? 22:59 ~ Which of your work/accomplishments are you most proud of? 23:23 ~ What’s your top advice for aspiring game designers and UX professionals? 29:33 Show notes: ~ UX is a job of communication. Design just happens along the way. UX is all about communicating your vision as someone making a product to the expectations of a user who's expecting to use it. It's shortening the distance between the two. ~ Technology is experienced through the interface. If you don't build the interface, then you've built a technology that will never be experienced. ~ The longer we leave people out of the discussion, the more the product itself fails to connect with its audience. ~ We use things like pressure, time, scarcity, and tension to ramp up or down the emotional connection to a story. If a game isn’t emotionally engaging, it’s not an engaging story. ~ If you only ever observe other people's solutions, what you're observing is a list of compromises that you have never seen. So you take that solution and all the compromises with it without understanding what they were. Then you build something based on compromises on which you further compromise. ~ The minute you say ‘I prefer it this way,’ you take what is a wide-angle perspective and narrow it to one. But we need to appeal to millions of people, not just ourselves. ~ Instead of going wide, I recommend you narrow focus, become incredible at it, and then graduate to the next. Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruwan-f/  https://adplist.org/mentors/ruwan-fernando

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