Nodes of Design#105: Design Executives 101 by Gordon Ching

Gloria Osardu, Ph.D., is an industry-agnostic senior business executive with over 16 years of extensive experience driving business strategy with insights. She has successfully led UX/customer insights and analytics teams, providing the right research, data, insights, and opportunities to leaders. Gloria ensures that business decisions and product prioritizations are made with accurate information and customer insights. Throughout her career, Gloria has built, led, and scaled research and insights teams consisting of researchers, analysts, operations managers, and UX/CX insights experts. She has driven strategy at renowned global companies including Fortune 100 organizations, public sector entities, as well as startups. Currently serving as the head of global product experience research at Gusto, Gloria is responsible for setting and executing a compelling vision and strategy for customer and user insights. Her teams deliver insights and customer empathy programs which derisks and drive the design and build of best-in-class Payroll and HR solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. Before this role, Gloria also held leadership positions in global research teams across various industries such as SaaS, Education, Finance/Fintech, and Public Sector. Gloria firmly believes that durable business and customer insights derived from thorough research are crucial in today's era of big data decision-making processes and AI-driven innovation. This approach helps de-risk business decisions as well as expand perspectives around the user experience. Gloria is passionate about promoting fair, ethical, and accessible practices in the field of research and advocates for building technology innovation for ALL. Outside work, Gloria spends time exploring the world, building the next generation of researchers + creatives, and spending time with her family. In this insightful interview, Gloria O-B Osardu, Ph.D. shares her journey into the field of UX research and design. She discusses how she got started and provides valuable advice for those aspiring to leadership roles. Osardu defines strong UX research leadership, highlighting key principles like fostering collaboration, managing diverse perspectives, and building high-performing teams. She delves into her decision-making process for major research initiatives and strategies for upholding diversity and inclusion. Osardu also touches on balancing business objectives with user needs, and where she sees UX research heading with the rise of AI. Finally, she shares a glimpse into her daily life as a leader, how she continues learning and growing, and recommends books and people that inspire her in this space. Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Aditi Sharma is an award-winning design executive passionate about inclusive, ethical, sustainable, and human-centered innovation. She is the recipient of the prestigious 'Dr. Sarojini Naidu Award' from the Govt. of India, '40 under 40' award from Business Elite, 'Woman Who Builds' award by Globant, and was named an inspirational woman in STEM by the Authority Magazine. As a lecturer at Pratt, Aditi curated one of the top ten UX programs offered in the United States. Aditi is a published design practitioner, is regularly invited to share her thought leadership across print, keynotes, and podcasts, such as for CampaignLive, Business Insider, AI & Data Analytics Network, Interaction Design Association, Brave UX, Authority Magazine, Inclusive Design Association, Customer Experience Network, Finance Magnates, South by Southwest (SXSW), and Product-Led Alliance (PLA) to name a few. As the Head of Design & Research at Amazon, Aditi manages a global team that leads the customer experience for 30+ Fintech products to help track revenue, usage, costs, and forecasts for AWS. Previously, as the Head of Payments Design/ Executive Director of Digital Experience Design at J.P. Morgan & Chase, Aditi set up a global design practice to build intelligent enterprise Fintech platforms. Prior to that, at Accenture Interactive, she strategized and executed customer-centric design engagements for clients such as Walmart, DuPont, and Cargill. She continues to explore the dynamism of creativity to deliver customer outcomes at the intersection of human excellence, business profitability, and technical innovation.  Today, we're diving into Scaling Design teams with Aditi Sharma. Aditi will share her journey into design, tips for scaling design teams, and her vision for the future of design. Stay tuned for insights on aligning teams, hiring strategies, and managing feedback loops. We'll also explore how Aditi approaches challenges and stays inspired in her daily routine. Get ready for an insightful conversation with Aditi Sharma on the Nodes of Design podcast! Books Recommendations       Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari Find Your Why by Simon Sinek Think Again, Adam Grant Creative Confidence, David and Tom Kelley Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj. Keywords: Design teams, design hiring, scaling design teams, design thinking, Amazon Design, Design systems, Design leadership

With over two decades of experience in arts, design, culture, education, and nonprofit sectors, Ruki Neuhold-Ravikumar brings a unique perspective and passion for reimagining the future of creative learning and practice. A proven administrator, award-winning designer and educator, and globally respected thought leader, Ruki has served as the President & CEO of the Kansas City Art Institute, Acting Director of Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum in New York, and the Acting Under Secretary of Education at the Smithsonian Institution (at-large) in Washington, D.C. Originally from Chennai, India, she received her MFA in graphic design from Iowa State University and BFA in the history of fine art and drawing and painting from Stella Maris College in India. She also has executive education certificates in business from Yale University and Harvard University and a certificate in museum studies from Northwestern University. Ruki has served in multiple leadership roles for the American Institute of Graphic Arts, and in 2015, she was named an AIGA Fellow by the Oklahoma Chapter for her advocacy and leadership as a design educator. She is featured in films, podcasts, and interviews. She has won numerous awards and recognitions, including the 2021 Design Achievement Award from the Iowa State College of Design, and was the commencement speaker at Iowa State University's Fall 2023 Ceremony. In this episode, we'll delve into how Ruki's background in design has shaped her approach to leadership, problem-solving, and societal development. We'll also discuss the importance of teaching design as a life skill, the role of design in addressing complex social issues, and how design thinking can prepare future generations for the challenges and opportunities ahead. Additionally, Ruki will share her insights on the evolution of design thinking with AI and how design can contribute to sustainability and environmental consciousness. We concluded the show with Ruki's recommendations for her three favorite books and the people who inspire her the most in the design space. Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj. Keywords: Design as a life skill, Design Thinking, Design for Sustainability, Design for AI, Creativity, Industry Insights, Design Challenges

In this episode of the Nodes of Design Podcast, we were honored to have Karen Korellis Reuther, a design luminary with over 20 plus years of experience Karen Korellis Reuther is an experienced creative executive, and a Design Critic in architecture at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. From 2021-2022 she was aSenior Fellow at Harvard’s Advanced Leadership Initiative (ALI). Before ALI she was Vice President of Creative Direction + Future at Reebok and Global Creative Director at NIKE for twelve years where she developed major product, merchandising, and brandstrategies solidifying NIKE at the top of its industry. Karen is a practicing activist committed to “Inclusion by Design: Ending Gender Bias in Product Design”. Karen received her Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from Purdue University and herMasters in Business Management from Lesley University. In this episode Karen shared her journey into design, emphasizing curiosity, continuous learning, and resilience as key for beginners. Karen delved into her design process, revealing a behind-the-scenes look at creating new collections, where balancing innovation with practicality is crucial. She highlighted the necessity of balancing form and function, especially when designing products that are both aesthetically pleasing and performance-oriented. Facing challenges head-on, Karen recounted overcoming obstacles through collaboration and a solution-focused approach keeping customer at the center Discussing the impact of fast fashion, Karen voiced concerns over sustainability and envisioned a future where emerging technologies and AI play pivotal roles in creating personalized, sustainable fashion. We concluded the podcast with Karen recommending three books for design enthusiasts and naming her biggest inspirations in the design space. Her insights provide a treasure trove of inspiration and guidance for anyone looking to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of design. Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj. Keywords: Footwear Design, Apparel Design, Design Innovation, Fashion and Function, Future of Fashion, Industry Insights, Design Challenges

Connor Moore is a seasoned design leader focused on the audio UX and audio branding space. For the last 15 years, Connor has been able to work with some of the most forward-thinking brands creating innovative sound solutions that drive functionality and build brand affinity. These clients span a range of industries and include the likes of Google, Lucid Motors, Ford, Peloton, Uber, Airbnb, and State Farm to name a few. Connor founded CMoore Sound at a time when brands first began considering sound and music as a core part of their identity systems. During this time, he was primarily focused on creating branded audio user experiences for products, apps, and digital experiences with a focus on emerging technology. Connor is currently Executive Creative Director at Listen, an audio branding company based in New York working with a range of brands across industries. In his current role, he leads the creative team producing audio UX, sound logos, experiential audio, and branded music that spans a brand's entire ecosystem.  Ever wondered why some apps feel intuitive while others leave you lost in a maze of beeps? The secret lies in audio user experience (UX), and this episode, we're unlocking its mysteries with expert Connor Moore. Join us as Connor takes us on a journey from his early sound experiments to crafting immersive sonic worlds for mobile apps, voice assistants, and even virtual reality. You'll discover: Why audio UX matters: It's not just about fancy sounds; it's about shaping how we interact with technology, building trust, and creating seamless, enjoyable experiences. The design secrets behind the mic: Learn how Connor tackles crucial considerations like clarity, accessibility, and adapting to different platforms. Future trends and challenges: Explore the rise of AI-powered sound and the ethical considerations shaping the evolution of audio UX. A day in the life of an audio UX master: Get a glimpse into Connor's world, complete with fascinating anecdotes and insights. Book recommendations and inspirations: Discover Connor's favorite resources and the people who fuel his passion for sonic design. Get ready to have your ears opened (and maybe even your mind blown) as we delve into the fascinating world of audio UX with Connor Moore. It's time to listen up and experience technology in a whole new way! Keywords: audio UX, user experience, sound design, accessibility, future of technology, mobile apps, voice assistants, VR, podcasts

Jakob Nielsen, Ph.D., is a usability pioneer with 41 years of experience in UX and the Founder of UX Tigers. He founded the discount usability movement for fast and cheap iterative design, including the heuristic evaluation and the 10 usability heuristics. He formulated the eponymous Jakob’s Law of the Internet User Experience. Named “the king of usability” by Internet Magazine, “the guru of Web page usability” by The New York Times, and “the next best thing to a true time machine” by USA Today. Previously, Dr. Nielsen was a Sun Microsystems Distinguished Engineer and a Member of Research Staff at Bell Communications Research, the branch of Bell Labs owned by the Regional Bell Operating Companies. He is the author of 8 books, including the best-selling Designing Web Usability: The Practice of Simplicity (published in 22 languages), Usability Engineering (26,439 citations in Google Scholar), and the pioneering Hypertext and Hypermedia (published two years before the Web launched). Dr. Nielsen holds 79 United States patents, mainly on making the Internet easier to use. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Human–Computer Interaction Practice from ACM SIGCHI. Buckle up, designers! In this episode, we crack open the UX vault: From humble beginnings to shaping the digital world, dive into Nielsen's inspiring journey. Heed the master's voice! Get actionable tips to launch your UX career. Prepare for the future! Discover how usability evolves with AI and tech's rapid shift. Demystify heuristic evaluation, Nielsen's groundbreaking method that still rocks the design world. Shatter usability testing myths and learn how to integrate it for optimal outcomes. Conquer mobile design across diverse platforms and devices. Master the art of balancing beauty and function – a design that delights and works! Plus, a peek into Nielsen's day, and the heroes who inspire him. Ready to unlock the secrets of user-centered design? Hit play and join the Nodes of Design revolution! subscribe to Jakob Nielsen, newsletter: https://jakobnielsenphd.substack.com/ Follow him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakobnielsenphd/  And check his website: www.uxtigers.com Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

As a well-known agency founder and design leader, Andy helps companies like Virgin Holidays, John Lewis and Penguin Random House with issues of customer experience, product strategy, and digital transformation. Andy's role at Clearleft was to set strategy and vision, promote the value of design, and help their clients realise their digital potential. Andy was very active in the company's day-to-day running, managing the leadership team, setting company culture, and looking after the happiness and well-being of 30+ staff. Andy is a designer at heart, having spent over 20 years in the field. He loves using his design, technology, and human behaviour knowledge to influence product strategy. As such, Andy is in his element when working alongside board members and their management teams. In his early career, Andy helped pioneer the field of Web Standards through his work, his blog (one of the highest trafficked in the UK at the time), and the publication of his best-selling book, CSS Mastery. Later, Andy helped popularise the field of UX design, setting up the UK's first dedicated UX agency, along with its first and arguably best UX conference. When he's not running the company or managing our creative output, Andy can be found sharing his wealth of knowledge at conferences around the world like SXSW, An Event Apart and The Next Web. He also curates the UX London and Leading Design conferences. In 2011, Andy co-founded the Brighton Digital Festival, a citywide celebration of digital culture attracting 40,000 visitors and over 190 events. He currently runs an online community of over 1,500 Heads, Directors and VPs of Design, and is a founding member of Adobe's Design Circle. These are just some of the reasons his company has won Netmag Agency of the Year several times, and he's appeared on both the Wired 100 and BIMA 100 lists. Never happier than when he's diving some remote tropical atoll, Andy is a qualified PADI dive instructor and retired shark wrangler. With a degree in Aeronautical engineering, Andy is currently learning to fly. In this episode, Andy discusses the essential qualities and skills a successful design leader should possess. He also shares his insights on building and managing a design team, fostering collaboration and creativity, advocating for an organisation's design, and the importance of empathy in design leadership. Andy also provides tips on how to navigate through various challenges while growing on the ladder as a designer leader and how to approach feedback and critique to help your team grow and improve their design skills. Finally, Andy shared his vision for the future of design leadership and the most important skills or qualities for design leaders in the coming years. Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Albert Shum is a design leader who recently retired from Microsoft as a Corporate Vice President of Design. With over 25 years of global consumer brand and design development expertise, Albert has led strategic initiatives across multidisciplinary teams at Nike and Microsoft, scaling design thinking and launching products that influence millions. He led the recent efforts to reimagine Microsoft’s web experiences, including search, browser and services across a suite of products that reached over a billion customers at work, home, and school. He had previously led Windows, Windows Mobile, Xbox, HoloLens and device experiences. He has spoken on the responsibility of design to audiences at different forums like AdobeMAX, Innovation Forum in London, 99U Conference, Fast Company Innovation Festival, MIT IDM Master’s program, School of Visual Arts. Currently, he is a Class Advisor at the Institute of Design in Chicago. Albert’s work in design leadership has helped shape conversations on diversity and inclusion throughout the industry. Albert has served as a mentor, partner, and leader in programs like the Adobe Design Circle and its Scholarship Fund, the Design for Inclusivity Industry Summit, the LEAP apprenticeship program at Microsoft, and in student design challenges in partnership with IxDA, AIGA, and Emily Carr University of Art & Design. He holds a Master’s in Product Design from Stanford and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo. In this episode, we delve deep into the heart of responsible design by exploring the critical role of ethical design. Join us as we navigate the complex moral landscape of artificial intelligence, unpacking the challenges designers face and the ethical frameworks that can help steer the creation of AI towards positive and equitable outcomes. Discover how ethical considerations are not just an afterthought but a fundamental aspect of responsible design that has the power to shape technology for the greater good. Albert's Newsletter Design Loft on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7002302185275359233 Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Gordon Ching is the Founder & CEO of the Design Executive Council (DXC), the premier membership network dedicated to advancing strategic design leadership to the highest levels of business and society. DXC has carved a niche in raising design leaders' strategic competence and profile to ascend and succeed in strategic roles, including Vice Presidents of Design, Chief Design Officers, and Board Members. Launched in 2022, DXC provides design executives with a true peer-to-peer network and access to distinct programs, events, and research that advances their leadership performance, market value, and the business value of design. DXC membership counts global public corporations and venture-backed enterprises, including senior design executives from industry giants like Adobe, Capital One, Cisco, JPMorgan Chase, SAP, SEPHORA, Target, Warner Music Group, and more. Before his vision materialized with DXC, Gordon honed his expertise across design leadership, operations, and marketing at global brands and startups, including Apple, Affirm, Synchrony, Fast, and AIESEC International. His academic journey took him to Savannah College of Art and Design, where he secured a Master's in Design Management. There, his groundbreaking thesis on Chief Design Officers and Design Executive Effectiveness set the tone for his future endeavours and now serves as the basis of DXC. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Geography from Simon Fraser University. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Gordon now brings his passion, expertise, and vision to San Francisco, driving DXC's commitment to magnifying the impact of design leadership on a global scale. In this episode, we dive into the role of the design executive, contrasting it with other design positions and highlighting its strategic importance. We explore the significance of mindfulness in leadership, its impact on decision-making, and team dynamics. In the episode, we further address embracing failures as learning opportunities, fostering a culture of innovation, and the crucial elements of resilience and adaptability in the design leadership realm. Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.

Kirti Trivedi is a Design Thinker, Designer, Educator and Researcher. After a Master of Design from the Royal College of Art, London, he joined IDC, IIT Bombay in 1975 and was a Professor there till 2013. He founded India's first Master of Design program in 1981 at IIT Bombay. He was a UNESCO fellow in Japan under the guidance of Prof. Kohei Sugiura, who introduced him to the intellectual depth of Asian Design. Besides teaching and research, he is active as a design consultant in the areas of Communication Design, Book Design, Industrial Design and Exhibition & Museum Design. He is currently mentoring the setting up of India's first School of Digital Arts and is engaged in research in developing Universal Interfaces and New Learning Environments. In this episode, we journey through the evolution of industrial design, examining its shifts and the impact of emerging technologies. We discuss the role of sustainability, the importance of cultural inclusivity, and the ethical considerations in the Industrial design landscape. We also discussed AI's place in Industrial design and its future trajectory. Dive in as we Demystify the complexities of industrial design. Thank you for listening to this episode of Nodes of Design. We hope you enjoy the Nodes of Design Podcast on your favourite podcast platforms- Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and many more. If this episode helped you understand and learn something new, please share and join the knowledge-sharing community #Spreadknowledge. This podcast aims to make design education accessible to all. Nodes of Design is a non-profit and self-sponsored initiative by Tejj.