Design Life

123: The design handoff and validation process

21 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Handing over your design to a developer or a team of engineers for it to be built is an important part of the design process. In this episode we talk ...

122: Being a woman in tech

14 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Despite all the advances the world has made with gender equality over the years, there is still a severe lack of women in tech. In this episode we dis...

121: Trying new design tools

07 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

For many designers, deciding what new design or prototyping tool to choose can be overwhelming, with new tools launching every month! How can you choo...

120: Our biggest flaws as designers

30 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we share our current struggles, both personal and professional and what we are doing to overcome them. We also look at the struggles ...

119: Setting career goals

23 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

I think also goals are good checkpoints, like the time before you reach the goal is obviously a really important time but I think afterwards is equall...

118: Too many passions, not enough time

16 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Ever have that feeling where you have too many passions and not enough time to do it all? This week we address this question from a listener who’s b...

117: Articulating design decisions

02 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Recently, Femke attended a workshop about articulating design decisions and in this episode she shares a few nuggets of wisdom she learned there with ...

116: An alternative approach to networking

12 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Networking is a vital part of your design career, but at conferences or meetups it can be hard to drive a meaningful conversation. In this episode we ...

115: Friendly competition

06 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Competition can be healthy or harmful, depending on how far you take it! In this episode we discuss an email from a listener about toxic competition, ...

114: Creators Guilt

26 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Do you ever feel guilty when you’re not spending time creating? It turns out, many creatives do. In this episode we discuss this guilt and why it’...

113: When to upgrade your technology

13 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week we get nerdy and talk about tech; more specifically, upgrading technology. When should you upgrade? Do you always need to have the latest de...

112: Redesigning your website

05 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As designers it sometimes feels like we are perpetually redesigning our own websites! In this episode we discuss our approach to tackling our redesign...

111: Starting an official business

30 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As creatives, sometimes dealing with things like finances and paperwork don’t come naturally to us, but they’re important to figure out. In this e...

110: Making a career shift

23 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Both Design Life hosts have made the decision to shift their career in the past and change design disciplines: Femke from marketing to product design,...

109: Getting started with making videos

15 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

More and more designers and other creatives are starting to make video content these days, and there’s still plenty of room for you! In this episode...

108: Setting a monthly focus

08 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we discuss an approach to getting things done that might help you get more out of 2018 and finally complete some projects you’ve bee...

107: Advice for networking

18 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Networking isn’t just for corporate people in business suits, it’s a handy skill to master as a designer! In this episode we discuss our experienc...

106: Boredom

11 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re talking about boredom. It’s something that strikes us all every now and then and we shouldn’t be ashamed about that. In this epi...

105: Portfolio pieces vs just needing the money

04 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

All designers go through a stage where they create work they aren’t proud of. What should you do when you’re trying to build your portfolio up, bu...

104: The future of our design careers

27 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Where do you want to be in your career in five years time? How about ten years time, or thirty? In this episode we discuss the future of our careers a...

103: Product launches and failures

20 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Launching something you’ve been working hard on to the world wide internet can be intimidating. In this episode we share what we’ve learned from l...

102: The value of mastermind groups

13 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The Design Life community has now launched! Join before Nov 20th and get discount pricing for life + a bonus free sticker pack. JOIN HERE. What could ...

101: Starting a new design job

06 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Sign up for the community! Launching Nov 13th. Starting a new design job can be scary. Not only are there new colleagues to get to know, but new desig...

100: Staying consistent with a side project over time

30 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve reached one hundred episodes of the show! So what better topic to talk about than sticking with a side project consistently over a long period...

099: What to do when you’re lacking motivation

23 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Slumps in motivation happen. No matter how passionate you are, no matter how good you are at time management; sometimes you just don’t feel motivate...

098: Sunsetting a side project

16 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We talk a lot on this show about starting side projects and working on bringing your ideas to life, but what happens when the passion dies and you fin...

097: How to start making money from side projects - with Nathan Barry

03 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time to start making money from your side projects. Designer/entrepreneur Nathan Barry joins us for this episode to share advice for selling pr...

096: Tech & gadgets for designers

25 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Hardware is an essential part of the design process, but how much you invest in that is up to you. In this episode we talk about the technology and ga...

095: Interviewing for design jobs

18 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The interview stage can be both the most exciting and the scariest part of the design job hunting process. In this episode we share our advice for nai...

094: Speaking at conferences

11 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

If speaking at a conference is on your career goals list, this episode is for you. In it we discuss the public speaking opportunities we’ve had, and...

093: Taking Risks

04 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

As humans we are designed to be afraid of taking risks, but a certain amount of risk is necessary to achieve success. In this very special episode Eri...

092: Advice for applying to design jobs

28 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Lets say you’ve already done the job hunt – you’ve narrowed it down to a select few companies you want to apply at. Now it’s time to prepare y...

091: Getting your work noticed

22 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Doing great work is just one part of building a reputation and an audience; you also need to get your work noticed. In this episode we give advice for...

090: Job hunting

14 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we’re kicking off the start of a new mini-series about finding a new job. To start with we’re talking about the job hunt process a...

089: Personal vs professional

07 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Do you feel like you need to be careful what you post online? Can you be yourself on social media? In this episode we discuss the divide between our p...

088: Shiny Object Syndrome

01 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Us creative types can often be distracted by shiny new ideas, especially when we’re at a tough point in a project. The temptation of working on some...

087: Project Scoping

24 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Project scoping is one of the scariest and hardest parts of the design process when you’re new to it. It takes time and practice to get right, and i...

086: Balancing professional growth with getting paid

17 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Professional development and growing your skills is important in any design job, but when you’re freelancing it can be hard to fit in as any time yo...

085: Keeping up with new tools and frameworks

10 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The Design Life community beta is open! Join now. These days it seems like there is always a new tool or framework to try. It’s easy to feel the pre...

084: Self-doubt and feeling unsuccessful

03 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Feeling down about yourself, and like you’re super uninteresting and unsuccessful isn’t fun. In fact, it downright sucks. But it’s something we ...

083: What to do when you’re overwhelmed

26 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

As ambitious people, we often find ourselves in situations where we’ve committed to too many things and have to deal with the overwhelm that comes a...

082: When your ideas are bigger than your skillset

19 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We have ideas all the time, and sometimes those ideas are so big that we don’t have the skillset to actually follow through on them. So what should ...

E81: Bullet journalling for task management

12 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Bullet journalling has become an incredibly popular way to manage projects and tasks. In this episode we discuss how we use the system and why we deci...

080: Our plans for the Design Life community

05 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Design Life will soon be launching a community! In this episode we share in depth our plans for the community and tell you everything you need to know...

079: The value of design

29 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Design is often misconstrued as being about surface level visuals, when actually a lot of work goes in behind the scenes before you reach a beautiful ...

078: Using video to build and connect with an audience

22 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In the future, making videos will be just as common as writing blog posts. In this episode we talk about the benefits of creating online video (hint: ...

077: The future of the design industry

15 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Design software is becoming more and more accessible, with some tools offering automatic layouts and quick logos. As designers should we worry about t...

076: The pros and cons of procrastiworking

08 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Procrastiworking is work you do instead of another task; think of it as productive procrastination! But it is still just that: procrastination. In thi...

075: Feeling guilty for taking a break

01 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Do you sometimes feel guilty for taking a break? Maybe you tinker on things throughout your break to ease the guilt, or perhaps you feel the guilt aft...

074: Working from home

24 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Working from home is becoming more and more common as more creatives take on a freelance life, and more companies embrace the remote way of working. I...

073: What to do when you run out of passion

17 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Us designers can be emotional people. We love our jobs and we feel passionately about our creative projects. But what happens when that passion wanes?...

072: Teaching yourself a new skill

10 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Learning a new skill can be hard, especially when you’re teaching yourself. But it’s also a vital part of growing as a designer throughout your ca...

071: Feeling confident as a designer

03 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Struggling with confidence is a big problem creatives face. We’ve all had days where we feel like we can’t keep going on our creative journey; tha...

070: How to package up client deliverables

27 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Sending a client the deliverables is the last step of a project, so it’s one that can have a lasting impression. In this episode we discuss our proc...

069 - Stepping out of your comfort zone

20 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Stepping out of your comfort zone is something you have to do every now and then to learn and develop. In this episode we talk about what that means f...

068: Speeding up your workflow

13 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

When you’ve got a tight deadline to meet (or when you’ve just got a lot to do) little tricks to speed up your workflow can make all the difference...

067: We need more crappy work

06 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The design world has gotten a little too perfect. All we see are beautiful finished products. The ideas thrown out along the way never get shared. But...

066: Morals in design

27 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

How do your personal morals fit in with your design work? As designers, and as humans, we have a responsibility to think about the user and put forwar...

065: Life after design school

20 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we reflect on what it’s been like to leave design school and start designing full time. We cover the many differences in the design ...

064: Consistency in content creation

13 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to creating content online, consistency is the key to building a reputation and an audience. In this episode we discuss how we stay cons...

063: Advice for remote working

06 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Remote working is becoming more and more common, and more and more desirable these days. In this episode we discuss our remote jobs and share advice f...

062: Taking control of your design career

30 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to your design career, you need to think about what you want out of it and where you want to end up in the future so that you can make s...

061: Constraints breed creativity

24 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Constraints breed creativity. If they’re not too restrictive, they give you a starting point and a box to think outside of. In this episode we discu...

060: Focus time

16 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Lack of focus is our biggest enemy when it comes to productivity. In this episode we talk about focus time and how we can create it for ourselves. We ...

059: Advice for creating a great portfolio

09 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to getting jobs in creative industries, your portfolio is more important than your resumé. Your portfolio should show your best work, a...

058: Setting goals for 2017

03 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The start of a new year is the perfect time for you to think about what you want to get out of the year ahead, and set some goals. In this episode we ...

057: Surrounding yourself with good people

19 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The people you surround yourself with can have a huge impact on your life. That impact can be positive and uplifting, or it could be negative and crus...

056: Saying no to good things

12 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes you have to say no to really good opportunities, whether that be because you’re too busy to take them on, or because you want to make sure...

055: Design contracts & why you should have one

05 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A contract is an essential part of being a freelancer. Even if you’re just starting out, it’s valuable to put one in to your process as soon as po...

054: Advice for content marketing

28 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Content marketing doesn’t have to be a thing only big businesses do to seem like they know their customers; it’s something we as creatives can do ...

053: Should you market yourself as an individual or a studio?

21 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

When you market yourself for freelance work, there are two main ways to brand yourself: as an individual or as a studio. In this episode we discuss th...

052: Hearing your struggles (Birthday episode)

14 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

For Design Life’s one year anniversary episode we invited our listeners to send in an audio recording telling us about something they’re strugglin...

051: How to get clients to pay up

07 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We often hear stories of designers waiting months for payment. It’s hard asking for money, so how do you get clients to pay up? In this episode we t...

050: The value of conferences

02 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Going to conferences is something most professionals end up doing at some point in their career. But when should you start going to some? How do you k...

049: The hustle mindset

24 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Hustle is a buzz-word we see a lot these days. In this episode we discuss what it means to us, and the effect it has on our mental state and our work....

048: Repositioning your online presence

17 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Repositioning your niche or your content isn’t necessarily about what you’re doing, but how you’re doing it. You may find yourself going down a ...

047: How to price your design work

10 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The topic of pricing is often taboo in the design world, but we think it helps everyone to talk more openly about it. In this episode we discuss how w...

046: Dealing with harsh critique

03 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Harsh critique is something we all encounter, and when you’ve not yet built up a thick skin it can be very hard to deal with. In this episode we giv...

045: Advice for finding a job in the design industry

26 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Getting a job in the design industry is all about building up experience and making connections. In this episode we talk about how we’ve landed the ...

044: What to do at the end of a client project

19 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

With freelance projects, last impressions can have just as much meaning as a first impression; you need to make your wrap-up process count! In this ep...

043: How to decide what to work on

12 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Time and energy are precious resources, and in order not to waste them we must be picky with what opportunities we take on, and what ideas we act on. ...

042: The truth about freelance marketplaces

05 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Freelancing websites that offer the opportunity to bid for projects or compete to have your logo design chosen by a company are damaging to the way de...

041: Making the most of design school

29 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Getting a degree is not a requirement for making it in the design industry, and that means that it is up to us to make the most of our time at design ...

040: Fear of Failure

22 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A fear of failure can hold us back from going after opportunities, starting new projects, and aiming high. In this episode we talk about how failure i...

039: Agency vs freelance vs in-house design

16 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

There are three main types of design job: agency/studio (where you work as part of a team who does work for clients), freelance (where you work for yo...

038: Jack of all trades - Specialist or generalist?

08 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In the tech industry especially, there is a lot of pressure on designers to excel at everything involved in the design and development process and be ...

037: Bringing new clients onboard

01 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Bringing a new client onboard is the start of a new working relationship, and it’s important to get it started on the right foot. Having an onboardi...

036: Blurring the line between life and work

25 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Do you work to live, or live to work? Often the latter is seen as a negative thing, but we beg to differ. In this episode we talk about our attitude t...

035: Defining a niche for your work

18 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Defining a niche means targeting a specific audience with your work and content. In this episode we discuss the benefits of this focussed approach and...

034: Which Design Tools should I use?

11 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Design tools are all the things we use to bring our ideas to life. In this episode we discuss the software we design in, the resources we use, the ana...

033: The importance of role models

04 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

No one is born knowing how to lead a successful life. That’s something we learn along the way from role models. In this episode we discuss the value...

032: Living in the Present

27 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Things get philosophical in this episode as we talk about the importance of living in the ‘now’. It’s so easy to look at successful people and f...

031: Fighting procrastination

20 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Procrastination is the enemy of productivity. The most important thing to do when you’re procrastinating is to take note of the reasons why you’re...

030: Getting useful feedback on your work

13 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Feedback is essential to your work whether it comes from fellow designers, your audience, your clients, or your own gut! In this episode we talk about...

029: Should you follow design trends?

06 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Design trends are visual elements or design systems that sweep over the web and start appearing on many different websites.  As with most things, the...

028: Our Design Process

30 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

The process you follow for design projects will vary depending on the type of work and the client, but in this episode we discuss the basic process we...

027: What if nobody notices?

23 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Things get deep this week as we discuss a fear that many creatives have: what if nobody notices my work? When you work hard on something, and especial...

026: Participating in Design Communities

16 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Being a part of the design community is an important part of being a designer. When designers come together to share ideas and discuss their work it b...

025: Should designers learn to code?

09 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Creating a website involves two main skills: design and development. In this episode we tackle the hot debate of designers and code; Should web design...

024: Learning new skills for your side project

02 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Learning new skills is something that goes hand-in-hand with side projects. Often we have ideas for things that involve either expanding on the skills...