Humans First: Design-Driven Strategy

Visual Logic
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Humans First: Design-Driven Strategy

Humans First is a product strategy and UX design podcast for tech and software leaders who want to build better digital products. We explore how human-centered design shapes business strategy, improves user experience, and drives innovation. Topics include the cost of UX, moving beyond visual design, cross-industry challenges, and building design-forward teams and design cultures. Whether you're scaling products or shifting culture, we give you practical insights from the front lines of product design. Learn more about Humans First and Visual Logic at visuallogic.com/podcast.

  1. How Much Does UX Cost? A Real-World Guide to Strategic UX Investment

    23H AGO

    How Much Does UX Cost? A Real-World Guide to Strategic UX Investment

    Everyone wants better UX. But when it’s time to invest, the questions start: “Why does it cost so much?” “Can’t we just hire one designer?” “Isn’t this just a UI refresh?” In this episode of Humans First, we pull back the curtain on what good design really costs—and why most teams underestimate it. From $25K quick wins to $6M embedded partnerships, we break down the five biggest factors that drive the cost of UX design—and the hidden costs of getting it wrong. You’ll hear real stories, real numbers, and hard-won lessons from working with companies who’ve tried it both ways. If you’re budgeting for UX, building a product, or just wondering where design fits into your strategy—this episode will help you see the full picture. 🎧 Listen now on Humans First and subscribe for more insights into design, strategy, and leadership. — To learn more about Visual Logic’s Humans First approach, ⁠visit visuallogic.com. Since 1988, Visual Logic has been a trusted User Experience partner for leading companies–helping guide product strategy, and designing stand out user interfaces & customer experiences. Our process helps simplify complex products and leads to elegant, easy-to-use solutions that your customers & end-users will love. Getting to simple is hard. We’ll help you build & launch with confidence. For more Humans First, visit: ⁠www.visuallogic.com/podcast⁠ — Keywords: UX cost, UX pricing, human-centered design, product strategy, design ROI, embedded design teams, UX investment, design leadership, hiring designers, UX team structure, enterprise UX, design maturity

    35 min
  2. From Surface to Strategy: Why UX Belongs at the Leadership Table

    JUN 17

    From Surface to Strategy: Why UX Belongs at the Leadership Table

    Thinking your product needs a “redesign?” Don’t miss the deeper layers of UX design. In this episode, we break down Jesse James Garrett's "Elements of UX" and explain why focusing only on surface-level design can lead to strategic failure. Discover why neglecting the deeper layers—skeleton (wireframes, interactions), structure (information architecture, content strategy), scope (features, functionality), and strategy (user needs, business goals, technology)—can negatively impact your product's success. Learn how design thinking at a strategic level can uncover root problems, build user trust, and drive market share, far beyond superficial aesthetics. Hosts Andrew Sladky, Andy Van Fleet, and Nick Bray share stories from decades of UX work, discuss how human-centered design should influence business strategy, and offer practical ways to assess your own team's UX maturity. 🎧 Listen now on Humans First and subscribe for more insights into design, strategy, and leadership. — To learn more about Visual Logic’s Humans First approach, ⁠visit visuallogic.com. Since 1988, Visual Logic has been a trusted User Experience partner for leading companies–helping guide product strategy, and designing stand out user interfaces & customer experiences. Our process helps simplify complex products and leads to elegant, easy-to-use solutions that your customers & end-users will love. Getting to simple is hard. We’ll help you build & launch with confidence. For more Humans First, visit: ⁠www.visuallogic.com/podcast⁠ — Keywords: UX design, user experience strategy, Jesse James Garrett, product design, human-centered design, design thinking, design maturity, product strategy, design leadership, visual design, UX layers, design team building

    32 min
  3. Overcoming Fear in Consulting: Lessons from Getting Naked

    MAY 19

    Overcoming Fear in Consulting: Lessons from Getting Naked

    Why is radical transparency the secret weapon of the best consultants? In this episode of Humans First, Andy Van Fleet, Kurt Vander Wiel, and Kayla Byington discuss Getting Naked by Patrick Lencioni—a book that has shaped how Visual Logic approaches client relationships. They break down the three fears that hold people back—losing business, being embarrassed, and feeling inferior—and share real-world examples of overcoming these fears to build trust and drive meaningful progress. If you’ve ever struggled with difficult conversations or worried about looking inexperienced, this episode is packed with insights on how authenticity can transform your work. 🎧 Listen now on Humans First and subscribe for more insights into design, strategy, and leadership. — To learn more about Visual Logic’s Humans First approach, ⁠visit visuallogic.com. Since 1988, Visual Logic has been a trusted User Experience partner for leading companies–helping guide product strategy, and designing stand out user interfaces & customer experiences. Our process helps simplify complex products and leads to elegant, easy-to-use solutions that your customers & end-users will love. Getting to simple is hard. We’ll help you build & launch with confidence. For more Humans First, visit: ⁠www.visuallogic.com/podcast⁠ — Keywords: consulting, leadership, radical transparency, business relationships, Patrick Lencioni, Getting Naked, trust-building, professional growth, UX design, workplace authenticity

    24 min
  4. Domain Deep Dive: Designing for Defense & UX Challenges in Military Tech

    MAY 5

    Domain Deep Dive: Designing for Defense & UX Challenges in Military Tech

    Why is UX in the military and defense industry lagging behind commercial tech? Designers in this space face massive hurdles—from bureaucratic layers and security constraints to an engineering-first culture that prioritizes capability over usability. In this episode of Humans First, Nick Bray, Jason Thompson, and Ben Rendall break down the design maturity scale in defense, the challenges of getting user feedback, and why UX is becoming a competitive advantage for the DoD. They also discuss how the industry can attract top design talent and what commercial UX teams can learn from these challenges. 🎧 Listen now on Humans First and subscribe for more insights into design, strategy, and leadership. — To learn more about Visual Logic’s Humans First approach, ⁠visit visuallogic.com⁠. Since 1988, Visual Logic has been a trusted User Experience partner for leading companies–helping guide product strategy, and designing stand out user interfaces & customer experiences. Our process helps simplify complex products and leads to elegant, easy-to-use solutions that your customers & end-users will love. Getting to simple is hard. We’ll help you build & launch with confidence. For more Humans First, visit: ⁠www.visuallogic.com/podcast⁠ — Keywords: UX in defense, military ux, military software, design maturity, defense tech, user research challenges, DoD innovation, human-centered design, usability in government, UX strategy, UX leadership, design thinking, defense industry For more Humans First, visit: www.visuallogic.com/podcast

    27 min
  5. The Creative Tug-of-War: Generators & Synthesizers

    APR 21

    The Creative Tug-of-War: Generators & Synthesizers

    Does your team struggle to balance big ideas with practical execution? Do brainstorming sessions feel endless, or do rigid processes stifle innovation? In this episode of Humans First, Visual Logic’s Andrew Sladky, Kayla Byington, and Nick Bray explore how understanding the roles of generators and synthesizers can transform the way teams collaborate and make decisions. Drawing from Kim Goodwin’s Designing for the Digital Age, they break down how generators push boundaries while synthesizers bring order—and why teams need both to succeed. Discover how embracing these roles can lead to better collaboration, more effective decision-making, and stronger product development. Learn how to identify these traits in yourself and your team, and optimize the way you work. 🎧 Listen now on Humans First and subscribe for more insights into design, strategy, and leadership. — To learn more about Visual Logic’s Humans First approach, ⁠visit vlgux.com⁠. Since 1988, Visual Logic has been a trusted User Experience partner for leading companies–helping guide product strategy, and designing stand out user interfaces & customer experiences. Our process helps simplify complex products and leads to elegant, easy-to-use solutions that your customers & end-users will love. Getting to simple is hard. We’ll help you build & launch with confidence. For more Humans First, visit: ⁠www.visuallogicux.com/podcast⁠ — Keywords: UX design, product development, team collaboration, leadership, innovation, design thinking, agile methodology, business strategy, decision-making.

    23 min
  6. Your Roadmap Is Lying to You—Why Features Won’t Fix Your Product

    APR 7

    Your Roadmap Is Lying to You—Why Features Won’t Fix Your Product

    Why do so many companies feel stuck in an endless cycle of feature requests and customer demands? Often it’s because they’re trapped in a pattern of reacting to their customers instead of leading their customers. In this episode, we break down the three phases companies go through—engineering-led, customer-led, and design-led—and why making the leap to a design-led organization is the key to innovation. We explore the hidden forces that keep companies from feeling a “glory days” mindset, the difference between simply listening to customers vs. truly leading them, and how to build a product vision that inspires your team while shaping the future of your industry. 🎧 Listen now on Humans First and subscribe for more insights into design, strategy, and leadership. — To learn more about Visual Logic’s Humans First approach, ⁠visit vlgux.com⁠. Since 1988, Visual Logic has been a trusted User Experience partner for leading companies–helping guide product strategy, and designing stand out user interfaces & customer experiences. Our process helps simplify complex products and leads to elegant, easy-to-use solutions that your customers & end-users will love. Getting to simple is hard. We’ll help you build & launch with confidence. For more Humans First, visit: ⁠www.visuallogicux.com/podcast⁠ — Keywords: design-led organization, product strategy, customer-driven innovation, design maturity, user experience, engineering vs. design, feature creep, product leadership, innovation mindset, digital transformation For more Humans First, visit: www.visuallogicux.com/podcast

    33 min
  7. The Three Models That Shape Every Product (And How to Use Them)

    MAR 24

    The Three Models That Shape Every Product (And How to Use Them)

    Why do some of the best products—built by amazing teams—still struggle? Even when they are building exactly what the customer asks for? The answer lies in understanding three key models that shape product success: The engineering model (how it actually works)The user model (how people think it works), andThe design model (how we want them to think it works). In this episode of Humans First, hosts Andrew Sladky, Kurt Vander Wiel, and Nick Bray unpack why misaligned models lead to bad user experience (UX), why customer feedback isn’t always enough, and how great design bridges the gap. We explore real-world examples, from toasters to banking software to missile defense systems, showing how companies can build more intuitive and effective products. — To learn more about Visual Logic’s Humans First approach, ⁠visit vlgux.com⁠. Since 1988, Visual Logic has been a trusted User Experience partner for leading companies–helping guide product strategy, and designing stand out user interfaces & customer experiences. Our process helps simplify complex products and leads to elegant, easy-to-use solutions that your customers & end-users will love. Getting to simple is hard. We’ll help you build & launch with confidence. For more Humans First, visit: ⁠www.visuallogicux.com/podcast⁠ — Keywords: product design, UX, user experience, customer insights, product strategy, design thinking, user research, digital transformation, innovation, engineering, design maturity

    32 min
  8. Domain Deep Dive: UX is the Secret Weapon in Financial Services

    MAR 11

    Domain Deep Dive: UX is the Secret Weapon in Financial Services

    Are banks and fintechs fighting for your financial data? A new data regulation is changing the way consumers control their money—and it’s creating a high-stakes environment between banks, fintechs, and regulators. In this episode of Humans First, we talk with Lee Wetherington, Senior Director of Corporate Strategy at Jack Henry, about what this means for financial institutions, UX design, and the future of banking. How will fintechs need to evolve? Can banks modernize fast enough? And why does user experience play a bigger role in financial services than ever before? Listen now on Humans First and subscribe for more insights into design, strategy, and leadership. — To learn more about Visual Logic’s Humans First approach, ⁠visit vlgux.com⁠. Since 1988, Visual Logic has been a trusted User Experience partner for leading companies–helping guide product strategy, and designing stand out user interfaces & customer experiences. Our process helps simplify complex products and leads to elegant, easy-to-use solutions that your customers & end-users will love. Getting to simple is hard. We’ll help you build & launch with confidence. For more Humans First, visit: ⁠www.visuallogicux.com/podcast⁠ — Keywords: open banking, fintech, financial UX, data wars, banking innovation, user experience, financial services, design thinking, customer experience, bank technology

    50 min
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About

Humans First is a product strategy and UX design podcast for tech and software leaders who want to build better digital products. We explore how human-centered design shapes business strategy, improves user experience, and drives innovation. Topics include the cost of UX, moving beyond visual design, cross-industry challenges, and building design-forward teams and design cultures. Whether you're scaling products or shifting culture, we give you practical insights from the front lines of product design. Learn more about Humans First and Visual Logic at visuallogic.com/podcast.

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