What is Wrong with UX
135 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 82 ratingsKate and Laura drink and fight about what is wrong with user experience design.
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Episodes
Motivation
March 05, 2019 17:00 - 27 minutes - 22 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura talk about how to get and stay motivated in a design environment. In an ironic and completely foreseeable twist, I honestly can't be bothered to come up with something clever to say about any of this. Drink pairing: eh. Whatever's closest.
The World Where We Live
February 19, 2019 17:00 - 34 minutes - 27.3 MBIn this episode, Laura and Kate take on the world - specifically, a framework for making decisions that takes into account the fact that humans are bad at long vs short term decision making. You can really tell that Laura failed Philosophy a few times in this one. Drink Pairing: White Russian
Should You Write a Book?
January 29, 2019 17:00 - 30 minutes - 24.6 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura ask the important question: Should you make the same stupid mistake that Laura has made repeatedly? No. The answer is no. Also, what is wrong with you? Have we taught you nothing? Drink Pairing: Absinthe
Unicorn Hunting
January 15, 2019 17:00 - 27 minutes - 22.1 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura complain about UX job descriptions and give people some suggestions about how to deal with them. TL;DR; There's nothing you can do about it so just ignore them. Drink Pairing: Anything sparkling
Protect Your Users from Each Other
January 01, 2019 20:32 - 30 minutes - 24.5 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura talk about how and why to protect your users from each other while they slowly lose what little faith they still had in humanity. Happy New Year. Drink pairing: Bottomless Mimosas. Or topless. Whatever. You do you.
Storyboarding
December 18, 2018 17:00 - 26 minutes - 21.3 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura talk endlessly about visual things. Again. This time it's storyboards. Also, Laura apparently has something against Cleveland? And also the rest of humanity? Who even knows? Drink pairing: Mulled wine
Whiteboard Challenges
November 19, 2018 17:00 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura talk about how to be better at whiteboard challenges if you can't avoid them entirely, which you can't, so just deal. Drink pairing: Wild Turkey
Build for Now
November 06, 2018 17:00 - 28 minutes - 19.3 MBOnce again, Kate and Laura try to pretend that being extremely lazy makes them good at their jobs. Whatever those jobs are. This episode is mostly just maritime puns and Laura whining about not having a yacht yet. Drink pairing: Veuve Clicquot
Detours from the Happy Path
October 23, 2018 16:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura get all metaphorical about basic task definition and flows. Also, they introduce a drinking game where you have to chug every time they say "task flow," so you're going to have to sign a release saying the podcast is not responsible for your inevitable alcohol poisoning. Drink Pairing: Preferably something that won't kill you when you drink a gallon of it
An Amateur Could Do It
October 09, 2018 16:00 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura barely conceal their terror that they could be replaced by people with no skills or abilities whatsoever at any time. For once, they're not wrong. Drink Pairing: Mudslide (in honor of our newest patreon!) You want a drink pairing of your own? Patreon us! https://patreon.com/WhatIsWrongWithUX
Should We Be Nice to Tech?
September 25, 2018 15:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura, with a somewhat shocking lack of self awareness and irony, argue about whether they should be nicer to technology. Everybody they have ever met rolls their collective eyes and think, "so close..." Support the show on Patreon! Drink Pairing: Spiked Punch
Task Flows
September 14, 2018 18:20 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura attempt YET AGAIN to describe a visual thing with words. So. Many. Words. They explain what a task flow is, why you should do it, roughly how to do it, and why you're a terrible person for not doing it. Drink pairing: Lava Flow
Nuance
August 28, 2018 13:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura whine for 30 minutes about how people should make things simpler and less nuanced. Occasionally they veer dangerously close to debating the nature of truth, but pull back from it because Laura failed Philosophy at least twice. Drink Pairing: Something with subtle hints of currant, cherry, and asphalt
Choosing the Right Deliverables
August 14, 2018 13:00 - 31 minutes - 21.4 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura talk about not wasting time making the wrong stuff. You'll be completely unsurprised that what sorts of deliverables you should make for your team depends entirely on who you're making stuff for and what you want out of it. Drink Pairing: Grappa
A UX Garden of Versus
July 29, 2018 04:10 - 30 minutes - 20.6 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura talk about fights instead of fighting. Specifically, they bring up some of their least favorite examples of people comparing totally different methodologies against each other. Personas vs JTBD! Agile vs Waterfall! Come on, people. No need to argue. Everything can suck equally. Drink Pairing: Appletinis
Data is Why We Can't Have Nice Things
April 17, 2018 16:00 - 26 minutes - 18.4 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura UXplain GDPR (probably incorrectly) and talk about some good approaches to treating your users' data a little more respectfully. Drink Pairing: Vodka Martini (I'd say "shaken, not stirred" but that bruises the booze, so knock it off with that nonsense)
Why Change Sucks
April 03, 2018 16:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MBIn this episode, Laura and Kate revisit the concept of Change Aversion and talk about why change is hard for users and what you can do to make it easier. Drink Pairing: California Zinfandel
Usability Testing Context
March 20, 2018 16:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura discuss how usability testing strategies may change depending on...wait for it...that's right, the context of the company and type of product. Drink every time they say, "It depends." No, seriously, don't do that. You'll die. Drink pairing: Lemon Drops
Figuring Out the Possible
February 13, 2018 17:01 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura argue about how understanding what you can do may affect what you want to do, which is exactly backwards from what they usually drone on about. Drink pairing: Cheap Chablis
Designing Beyond the Screen
January 23, 2018 17:10 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBaudio Block Double-click here to upload or link to a .mp3. Learn more In this episode, Kate and Laura complain about screen-based designers again. They also talk about designing for multi-modal interfaces in a failed attempt to sound modern and like they haven't been doing this since the Paleolithic Era. Drink Pairing: Old Fashioned
2018 Resolutions
January 09, 2018 17:14 - 31 minutes - 21.3 MBHappy New Year! In this episode, Kate and Laura talk about what they're probably not going to do differently in 2018, because honestly, who are we kidding? Drink pairing: Bottomless mimosas
B2B vs B2C
December 19, 2017 17:01 - 26 minutes - 18 MBIn this episode, Laura and Kate do not sing at you. YOU'RE WELCOME. Instead, they continue the discussion about different types of work environments, this time looking at how it's different when you're working on a B2B product vs a B2C product. Drink Pairing: Mulled Cider with Brandy
The 12 Days of UX | BONUS HOLIDAY EPISODE
December 15, 2017 17:00 - 10 minutes - 7.09 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura decide to sing for some reason. 'Tis the season for assaulting your eardrums, apparently. Anyway, I would like to just preemptively apologize for this, and I promise we'll try not to get this drunk in the future. (We will fail at this, but it's the thought that counts, probably.) Look, at least it's short. Drink pairing: Whatever it is, you're gonna need a shitload of it. Did I mention we sing? Sorry, "sing".
When You Are Not Working on the Product
November 28, 2017 16:58 - 24 minutes - 16.5 MBIn this episode, Laura and Kate talk about how your job as a product manager or designer can vary based on how close you are to the company's business model. There's a framework, because of course there is. Drink Pairing: It's nog season, baby!
Starting Your Own Thing
November 14, 2017 16:52 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura give sketchy advice about starting your own freelancing or consulting business. Reminder: you should probably not take legal advice from drunk people on the internet. Drink Pairing: Whiskey Sour
Just Work
October 24, 2017 15:58 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura argue about a very specific kind of complexity. They talk about how some features can be complicated problems while others are "just work," and then argue about why anybody might care about this distinction. Laura quotes someone she hates but who she reluctantly admits might be on to something, which really doesn't narrow it down much. Drink Pairing: Pisco Sours
Old Research Stories
October 10, 2017 16:01 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBIn this week's episode, Kate and Laura reminisce about old research stories and how much better things were before. Ok, mostly they talk about what's still true of the things they learned in old research and what's changed. Drink Pairing: Old Fashioned
Statistics are Bullshit
September 19, 2017 16:01 - 18 minutes - 12.6 MBIn this week's episode, Kate and Laura reveal that everything they've been saying has been a lie and they really think that statistics are lies. Ok, honestly, this is just them banging on about how not everything is for everybody again. Drink Pairing: It's pumpkin spice season, so enjoy bourbon and disdain for people who drink things that taste like pumpkin spice.
Expertise
September 05, 2017 16:01 - 28 minutes - 19.8 MBKate's back! In this week's episode, Kate and Laura talk about what it means to truly be an expert in something, and how hard it can be to believe you are one. Laura admits to occasionally having doubts about something, which shocks everybody. Drink Pairing: Irish Affogato (This is an Irish Coffee poured over ice cream. It's a drink I invented because I am a genius.)
Working with Non-Designers
August 22, 2017 16:01 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MBOn this week's episode, Kate escapes from her cage, so Christina Wodtke valiantly takes her place to talk about how designers can talk to people who aren't designers. That's right. Two designers talking to each other about how they might hypothetically talk to other people. Drink Pairing: Gin!
Complexity
August 01, 2017 16:00 - 29 minutes - 19.9 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura overthink everything, as usual, and discuss how to take a feature that seems simple and be a total buzzkill by showing how complicated it really is. Drink Pairing: Mint Juleps (because they're muddled)
The New UX Bestiary
July 18, 2017 15:30 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBKate and Laura, having run out of actual topics, decide that designers need a new animal, now that unicorns have been stolen by big, private, profitless companies. This may be proof that Kate and Laura will argue about literally anything. Strap in. Drink Pairing: Wild Turkey
Tips for Working with Teams
July 03, 2017 15:59 - 29 minutes - 20.5 MBKate and Laura begrudgingly tolerate each other for just long enough to tell you how to work better with other people. Also, there's some stuff about how people and teams change each other, but it's not like there's any agreement. Drink Pairing: A 12 pack of something
A Few of Our Favorite Tools
June 13, 2017 16:00 - 31 minutes - 21.4 MBAfter a few podcasts talking about things they don't like, Kate and Laura decide to be slightly more positive and discuss a few tools that make their work lives easier. Besides booze. Drink Pairing: Tequila Sunrise
What Makes a Tool Bad?
May 30, 2017 16:00 - 27 minutes - 19.1 MBKate and Laura discuss whether some commonly misunderstood tools and frameworks (Surveys? Agile?) are bad or just really misunderstood a lot of the time. Drink Pairing: Shot of Jager
Stop Designing (and building) Everything!
May 09, 2017 16:01 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura go off on several tangents about why everything does not have to be designed and built from scratch by your organization. Seriously, you're not making artisanal, locally sourced pickles here, folks. Unless you are. In which case, carry on. Drink Pairing: Small batch, home brewed cider made from cruelty free, free range, heirloom apples, obviously
Collaborative Design
April 25, 2017 16:05 - 28 minutes - 19.3 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura fight about what it means to design things collaboratively and the ways in which everybody seems to screw it up. Hint: collaborative design does not mean everybody makes every single decision together! This is not a democracy, people. Drink Pairing: Sidecar
4 Possibly Useful Skills for Designers
April 04, 2017 15:18 - 29 minutes - 23.5 MBKate and Laura really don't like to be told what to do. That's why they get annoyed when people declare "Designers should really be able to..." In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of designers learning things like coding, story telling, and metrics, and then we leave it up to you, the listener, to make your own damn decisions. Drink Pairing: Who are we to tell you what to drink? Make up your own mind!
10 Bad Words
March 21, 2017 15:02 - 26 minutes - 21.3 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura argue about terrible things they hear people say when building products. Apparently, there are words more triggering than "chatbot." Drink Pairing: Dirty Martini
Why You Should Care about the Business Model
March 07, 2017 17:00 - 30 minutes - 20.8 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura give five reasons why everybody, even designers and researchers, need to understand how their products and companies make money. Drink Pairing: Margaritas
Blind Spots
February 21, 2017 16:05 - 29 minutes - 46.8 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura talk about the kinds of things people miss when building products, why that's bad, and how to avoid it. Drink Pairing: Anything but Moonshine (which can cause blindness)
Hot Takes
February 07, 2017 14:30 - 28 minutes - 26 MBThe hottest of takes on the most trivial of topics. Kate and Laura argue about the future of AR, chatbots, the on demand economy, and whether pattern libraries will finally put designers out of business (fingers crossed!). Drink Pairing: Trader Joe's Brand Bourbon (BECAUSE APPARENTLY KATE DRANK ALL THE BLADE AND BOW)
Building Your Brand
January 24, 2017 14:00 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura talk about building a personal brand as a designer, and why in the name of all that is holy anybody in their right mind would want to do that. They have some vague advice about speaking at conferences, writing about design, and (don't do it) podcasting. Drink Pairing: Blade and Bow Bourbon (Thanks, Bob and Celeste!)
Hypothesis Tracker
January 10, 2017 15:14 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura discuss a tool and process for tracking the things you believe and getting better at predicting. The tool, predictably, is from Build Better Products. Which you should have bought by now, but if you haven't, there's still time! Build Better Products: A Modern Approach to Building Successful User-Centered Products $39.00 By Laura Klein Drink Pairing: Bloody Marys
Rapid Fire, Part Deux
December 27, 2016 15:00 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura try and fail to tackle some typical UX questions in 2 minutes or less. Laura gives the most useful advice you will ever get about starting a new job. It's a short one, because frankly, it's the holidays, and this podcast crap is cutting into our drinking time. Drink Pairing: Veuve Clicquot, Vintage Rosé Brut 2004
Advocating for the User
December 13, 2016 18:10 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura talk about picking the right users and advocating for them. Also, they explain why this is not entirely the designer's job. Drink Pairing: Mulled Wine Music: The Future Soon by Jonathan Coulton
Making the User Map
November 29, 2016 14:00 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura plug their new book, Build Better Products, by discussing how the User Map was created. Surprise! It involves design thinking and sketching. Drink Pairing: Irish Coffee (this is a long one. you'll need the caffeine.) Music: The Future Soon by Jonathan Coulton User Map Template: Get the Book! Build Better Products: A Modern Approach to Building Successful User-Centered Products $35.73 By Laura Klein
Where Should You Work
November 08, 2016 21:06 - 31 minutes - 29 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura discuss the pros and cons of doing UX work in agencies, big companies, and startups. This is a good one if you're trying to figure out where to go next. Drink Pairing: Sidecar Music: The Future Soon by Jonathan Coulton
Should You Build a Chatbot?
October 25, 2016 19:46 - 22 minutes - 20.3 MBKate and Laura discuss the difference between "building a chatbot" and "building a product that solves a need for a human." Also, we talk about how to decide which platform is right for something that you're building. Drink Pairing: Sidecar Music: The Future Soon by Jonathan Coulton
Sketching
October 10, 2016 15:45 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MBIn this episode, Kate and Laura talk about why sketching is useful and how to get better at it without being an artist. Drink Pairing: G&T & keep 'em coming Music: The Future Soon by Jonathan Coulton Want more advice from people who know what they're talking about? Check out the User Research for Everyone conference from Rosenfeld Media on October 11, 2016! Use KLEIN for $50 off the ticket price.