Design Actually: Honest Conversations for New UX Designers
Design Actually: Honest Conversations for New UX Designers
Podcast Description
Design Actually is a podcast about what it’s actually like to be a UX designer. Hosted by a designer-in-progress navigating a career switch, this show features honest, low-pressure conversations with everyday designers. Not the polished highlight reels, but the real stuff: imposter syndrome, awkward feedback, weird interviews, and the small wins that keep us going.
It’s about design — but also about finding your way, building confidence, and growing through uncertainty.
If you're quietly ambitious and still figuring it out, this podcast is for you. Let's figure it out together.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers various themes related to UX design and personal growth, such as imposter syndrome, navigating awkward feedback, and celebrating small victories in a designer's career. For example, episodes delve into specific topics like transitioning from psychology to UX, understanding design fundamentals without a formal degree, and balancing data-driven decisions with instinctual taste in design.
Design Actually is a podcast about what it’s actually like to be a UX designer. Hosted by a designer-in-progress navigating a career switch, this show features honest, low-pressure conversations with everyday designers. Not the polished highlight reels, but the real stuff: imposter syndrome, awkward feedback, weird interviews, and the small wins that keep us going.
It’s about design — but also about finding your way, building confidence, and growing through uncertainty.
If you’re quietly ambitious and still figuring it out, this podcast is for you. Let’s figure it out together.
Design Actually is a podcast about what it’s really like to be a designer—especially when you’re just starting out. I’m Stella, transitioning into product design, and this is my way of learning out loud through honest conversations with everyday designers—not the highlight reels, but the messy middle.
In this episode, I talk with KD about job hunting, comparison, and learning for the sake of curiosity—not pressure. We get into what keeps him inspired, how he thinks about talent, and why feeling behind doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. If you’ve ever felt stuck or unsure where you’re headed, this one’s for you.
–
00:00 Highlights
01:13 Intro – for anyone who's ever felt behind or stuck
02:34 How KD approaches job hunting
05:52 Domain fit matters more than you think
07:37 What makes a role exciting
09:09 Fellow job hunters: be true to yourself
10:23 How to keep learning without guilt or burning out
19:01 On comparison, pressure, and talent: It may take you longer, but you will get there
26:10 What kind of designer are you?
28:42 KD's creative toolkit
31:05 Outro
–
🔗 Resources & Mentions from This Episode
- Cursor – AI-powered code editor: https://www.cursor.com
- Cosmos – Visual inspiration board: https://cosmos.so
- Substack – A platform for newsletters and longform writing: https://substack.com
- Book: Grid Systems in Graphic Design by Josef Müller-Brockmann
- Book: Speculative Everything by Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby
- Akira Kobayashi – Font designer
- Agatha Yu – Designer exploring game engines and interaction: https://www.agathayu.com
- Jason Yuan – Designer, founder of New Computer (Dot), formerly Apple: https://jasonyuan.design/
–
If this episode resonated with you — or if you have feedback, topic ideas, or want to be a guest — I’d love to hear from you!
Feel free to reach out:
📩 Email: [email protected]
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stellayy/
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.