Design Review

A bi-weekly podcast about products and design from a unique perspective! Your hosts are Chris Liu and Jonathan Shariat.

Each episode, we discuss important design principles and connect it to our own experience working in the field. We hope it will be interesting, informative, and entertaining!

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106 episodes
Updated Jun 15, 2022

Episodes106

Newest first

Episode 105 - The End
This week, Chris and Jon give their final episode of the Design Review and talk about the important high points from all the years of conversations. A huge "thank you" to all our fans who have stuck with us over the years. While we won't be making any new episodes, producing this show has meant a lot to us and we hope you will continue to listen to the archives. Feel free to reach out to us on Twitter and find a mentor on Officehoursproject.com! Well... I guess that's it. Bye! Khodahafes and 再見!
Jun 15, 2022 · 41 min
Episode 104.5 - Diversifying Your Research
This week, Jon is AFK again and Chris answers a listener question about research, and why it's far more effective to diversify the different types of research activities you do as a design org. It's kind of a mini-episode so we're calling it 104.5. Listen in and enjoy!
Jun 8, 2022 · 28 min
Episode 104 - Moving Up to Bigger Companies
This week, Jon is out sick and Chris throws together a bit of an impromptu show to talk about what it's like when you decide to move from a small company to a big company. There's a lot of different assumptions people have about big company life and Chris shares his experience to hopefully give some perspective to those who are thinking about making a change. Listen in to another interesting episode!
May 24, 2022 · 41 min
Episode 103 - Making Effective Design Decisions
This week, Chris and Jon answer a listener letter asking for advice on how to make effective design decisions. Design problems and the subsequent decisions exist on different levels of scale and scope, and this week, the boys discuss all the things you need to know how to make better decisions! Thanks Lukas for your mail!
May 10, 2022 · 1 hr 5 min
Episode 102 - The Art (and Design) of Working Remotely
This week, Jon and Chris talk about the ins and outs of working remotely. We've all had to deal with this in some form and we give you the tips and helpful info that can turn your bedroom table into a remote working powerhouse! Listen in for another insightful episode! (Hadouken!!)
Apr 12, 2022 · 58 min
Episode 101 - The Danger of Self-Serving Design
This week, Chris and Jon talk about self-serving design and the products that put customers last. It's not a DIY project... Self-serving design and self-serving products put the main focus on the needs of the business before the needs of the customer. Listen in and learn why this is a risky road to travel down, and discover what you can do about it!
Mar 29, 2022 · 1 hr 13 min
Episode 100 - Reflections on the Design Review
This week, it's episode 100 and Chris and Jon reminisce about the previous 99 shows. Join us for a light-hearted look back over the many years of the Design Review. Here's to another 100 episodes!
Mar 8, 2022 · 37 min
Episode 99 - Emotion and Design
This week, Chris and Jon discuss the impact of emotion on product design. This idea that people act rationally isn't exactly true and we talk about the different ways in which emotion impacts our choices. Remember, logic decides, but emotion acts. Listen in for another unique episode!
Feb 23, 2022 · 40 min
Episode 98 - Good Ethics is Good Business!
This week, Jon and Chris talk about ethics and design. It's so important to do ethical things in product design and we discuss how to use ethics to play both defense AND offense! Don't miss another great episode!
Feb 8, 2022 · 45 min
Episode 97 - Anti-Patterns and UX Design
This week, Chris and Jon talk about anti-patterns and the impact these kinds of things can have on products. We get into what they are, how they work, and give you some tips on what you can do to minimize their impact, or even eliminate them entirely from your product. Stick around and listen to another great show!
Jan 25, 2022 · 1 hr 11 min
Episode 96 - How Designers Get Hired
This week, as we roll into 2022, Jon and Chris discuss the hiring process for designers, but from the perspective of the other side. We talk about what it's like for the company interviewing you so that you have a better understanding of the process to help you sharpen your interview skills! Companies typically start hiring at the beginning of the year so listen in for a very useful episode!
Jan 11, 2022 · 1 hr 17 min
Episode 95 - Cognitive Psychology for Designers Part 10!
This week, while Jon is out sick, Chris talks about the psychology of numerology, and how superstitious beliefs involving numbers can impact product design. Perhaps this topic is better suited as a Halloween episode, but we're here now in December and we don't have a time machine. Enjoy!
Dec 21, 2021 · 42 min
Episode 94 - Leading Without Permission
This week, Jon and Chris talk about leadership and how designers can lead and take initiative in the workplace. As designers, we often get into a "service mentality", only focusing on doing what people request. In actuality, design plays a key role in product development, and the expertise that designers have is far more valuable than just providing a service. Listen in for another inspiring episode!
Dec 7, 2021 · 53 min
Episode 93 - The UX of Metaverses
This week Chris and Jon talk about virtual social interactions in the metaverse. From online games to more recent social worlds, metaverse products have been around for a while, and Chris shares his insights from working at 2 different metaverse companies. If you want to get the fundamental principles of metaverse UX, listen to this week's episode!
Nov 23, 2021 · 1 hr
Episode 92 - Have 1-on-1 Meetings to Help You Thrive!
This week Jon and Chris discuss how to improve your 1-on-1 sessions with your manager. Everyone has had a 1:1 with their manager at some point and there are some things you should know in order to make them more effective, and help fuel your growth. We discuss this stuff and more on this week's episode!
Nov 9, 2021 · 50 min
Episode 91 - Cognitive Psychology for Designers Part 9
This week Chris and Jon continue the series on cognitive psychology, focusing on a dark pattern known as "misdirection". Misdirections take your attention from important things to get you to do things you might not want to do. Later in the show, we give you some helpful advice on how to combat misdirections, and why we need to keep pushing for ethical standards and practices. Listen in for another interesting episode!
Oct 26, 2021 · 42 min
Episode 90 - How to Be Heard as a Designer
This week Jon and Chris talk about best practices for helping yourself be heard by your colleagues. If you've ever struggled with getting a point across, or had difficulty convincing people of your wonderful ideas, we delve into the dynamic relationships between product managers, designers, and engineers, and give you some helpful hints on what you can do to help yourself be heard. Don't miss this great episode!
Oct 13, 2021 · 1 hr 11 min
Episode 89 - The Ideal Client (or Employer)
This week Chris and Jon piece together the attributes that make their ideal client. After various episodes talking about challenging situations for designers, we take a moment and uncover what positive traits would make for really welcome situations at work. Listen in for an interesting episode about work dynamics!
Sep 28, 2021 · 48 min
Episode 88 - Cognitive Psychology for Designers - Part 8
This week, while Jon continues his incredibly important paternity leave, Chris continues discussing cognitive psychology by going in depth on the "Roach Motel" dark pattern, and explores how usability testing is the right tool for the job. Later, Chris even gives tips on ways to use usability tests as part of the process, and shares insights on how it provides benefits beyond just the immediate needs of the design team. Listen in for another investigation into dark patterns.
Sep 14, 2021 · 51 min
Episode 87 - Cognitive Psychology for Designers - Part 7
This week, Jon is still AFK and Chris continues discussions around dark patterns and how they work. We also give you some tips and ideas on how to handle the situation if this stuff comes up at work. Listen in for a another interesting episode!
Aug 31, 2021 · 49 min

Design Review

Episode 105 - The End

Episode 104.5 - Diversifying Your Research

Episode 104 - Moving Up to Bigger Companies

Episode 103 - Making Effective Design Decisions

Episode 102 - The Art (and Design) of Working Remotely

Episode 101 - The Danger of Self-Serving Design

Episode 100 - Reflections on the Design Review

Episode 99 - Emotion and Design

Episode 98 - Good Ethics is Good Business!

Episode 97 - Anti-Patterns and UX Design

Episode 96 - How Designers Get Hired

Episode 95 - Cognitive Psychology for Designers Part 10!

Episode 94 - Leading Without Permission

Episode 93 - The UX of Metaverses

Episode 92 - Have 1-on-1 Meetings to Help You Thrive!

Episode 91 - Cognitive Psychology for Designers Part 9

Episode 90 - How to Be Heard as a Designer

Episode 89 - The Ideal Client (or Employer)

Episode 88 - Cognitive Psychology for Designers - Part 8

Episode 87 - Cognitive Psychology for Designers - Part 7