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

Nov 29, 2016 · 28 min
Episode 46 - Designing for Formunction
This week, Chris and Jon have a discussion about form vs. function and created a new word: "Formunction"!!! But is it better to emphasize form or function? Can you achieve both? Listen and find out!
Oct 18, 2016 · 26 min
Episode 45 - The Dangers of Empathy
This week, Chris and Jon discuss the danger of using empathy in your design process. This show is based on an interview published in the Harvard Business Review where researchers conducted studies on how being empathetic can actually cause problems that you may not be able to see! Stay tuned!
Oct 4, 2016 · 46 min
Episode 44 - Polite vs. Impolite Software
This week, Chris & Jon discuss the differences between polite and impolite software, and how it affects the user experience! Believe it or not, politeness matters, so stick around and listen!
Sep 8, 2016 · 37 min
Episode 43 - UI Vs. No UI
This week on the Design Review: we discuss the principle of No UI and whether or not the best interface really is no interface.
Aug 17, 2016 · 53 min
Episode 42 - Pokemon Go!
The guys have returned to the studio! This week, we discuss everyone's favorite app, Pokemon Go!
Jul 12, 2016 · 40 min
Episode 41 - Designing A/B Tests
We're a little late with this show, but Chris and Jon are back in the studio to discuss A/B testing! We break down what it is, why it's important, and even go over some of the common myths about it. So stay tuned to another great episode!
Jun 21, 2016 · 38 min
Episode 40 - The Myth of the Power User
This week Chris and Jon talk about the "Power User"! Chris thinks is all BS, and wrote a post about it. But we discuss more about this topic on the show! Stay tuned!
Jun 1, 2016 · 46 min
Episode 39 - Designing a product launch and more!
This week Chris and Jon answer some listener questions on taking a product to market and then later, how to deal with monetization. Stay tuned!
May 3, 2016 · 44 min
Episode 38 - Unloading Cognitive Load
This week, Chris and Jon talk about the difficulty of dealing with cognitive load. Burdening users with many options or complex navigation systems can increase the amount of cognitive load. Reducing this burden can make your product easier to use! Keep listening for more tips on dealing with this tricky problem!
Apr 14, 2016 · 1 hr 29 min
Episode 37 - Landing your first design job!
This week on the Design Review, Chris and Jon discuss what it takes to land your first job as a professional designer, and answer some of the most common questions on what to do. Later in the show, we have a short discussion on equal pay!
Mar 22, 2016 · 45 min
Episode 36 - Free your mind from design blocks!
This week, Chris and Jon discuss the ways in which designers can get blocked in their creative process, and what can be done about it. Later in the show, we introduce a brand new segment that we hope you'll enjoy. So stick around for another great episode!
Mar 1, 2016 · 51 min
Episode 35 - Designers, stop being so hypercritical!
The guys are back with another episode. This week Chris and Jon discuss the hypercriticism in the design community. It's a difficult topic, since everyone has an opinion, but if we improve how we talk about design, maybe others will too! Stick around for another great episode!
Feb 16, 2016 · 40 min
Episode 34 - Why do designers become jaded?
This week on the Design Review, Chris and Jon discuss some of the negative aspects of being a designer and talk about how designers can become jaded in their careers. Later they discuss how to stop it from happening based on their own experiences. Lastly, they bring back their stories of "Good UX of the Week"!
Feb 2, 2016 · 41 min
Episode 33 - Diversity in Tech with Melanie Araujo
At long last, the guys are back in the studio! This week Chris and Jon have a conversation with Melanie Araujo, a designer and founder of frontandcenter.co, an organization dedicated to solving the problem of diversity in tech, through design. Stay tuned for another excellent episode!
Jan 12, 2016 · 35 min
Episode 32 - The power of saying "No"!
Chris and Jon are back in the recording studio for 2016! This week, they talk about how to prioritize your work and the power of saying "no"!
Nov 24, 2015 · 43 min
Episode 31 - Defining a design strategy that works!
This week, Chris and Jon are back with another topic from the listeners! This time, we're talking about how to define a design strategy at the beginning of a project. Later in the show, we discuss measuring your designs by using metrics and data. Lastly, we close out the show with our stories of "Good UX of the Week". Stay tuned to another great show!
Nov 10, 2015 · 36 min
Episode 30 - Designing with Personas!
This week, both Jon and Chris are back in the studio to discuss personas. We go over what they are, how you use them, along with some tips on how to get started. We close it out with a discussion of why people don't use them more often, along with our "Good UX of the Week" stories.
Oct 27, 2015 · 1 hr 2 min
Episode 29 - Usability Testing and User Experience
This week, while Jon is busy editing his new book, Chris spends some time talking (ranting) about usability testing, and addressing some of the common myths about it.
Oct 15, 2015 · 23 min
Episode 28 - Designing with Empathy
This week, Jonathan spends some time alone and talks about empathy in design. It's an important topic that is good for the whole company, not just designers. Stay tuned!
Sep 22, 2015 · 43 min
Episode 27 - UX Design Mentorship with Michael Darius
This week, we were LIVE on Blab with Michael Darius, formerly a designer at Apple, to discuss UX design mentorship! This is the audio version of everything that we discussed. Thanks to the team at Blab and Michael for a great evening of discussion.

Design Review

Episode 46 - Designing for Formunction

Episode 45 - The Dangers of Empathy

Episode 44 - Polite vs. Impolite Software

Episode 43 - UI Vs. No UI

Episode 42 - Pokemon Go!

Episode 41 - Designing A/B Tests

Episode 40 - The Myth of the Power User

Episode 39 - Designing a product launch and more!

Episode 38 - Unloading Cognitive Load

Episode 37 - Landing your first design job!

Episode 36 - Free your mind from design blocks!

Episode 35 - Designers, stop being so hypercritical!

Episode 34 - Why do designers become jaded?

Episode 33 - Diversity in Tech with Melanie Araujo

Episode 32 - The power of saying "No"!

Episode 31 - Defining a design strategy that works!

Episode 30 - Designing with Personas!

Episode 29 - Usability Testing and User Experience

Episode 28 - Designing with Empathy

Episode 27 - UX Design Mentorship with Michael Darius