Dear Designer: 001

In the first Dear Designer episode, I answer three anonymous questions from the Design Mob community about finding work-life balance after graduation, how to balance ambition without burning out, and what AI means for internships and the future of junior designers. Along the way, I share some honest reflections on my own burnout, how my advice has changed as my career and life have evolved, and why I believe the industry needs to rethink how we develop the next generation of designers.👉🏻👉🏻👉🏻 Submit your anonymous questions hereKey takeaways:The right work-life balance depends heavily on the type of company you choose, established companies and startups often demand different levels of energy.Early in your career, saying "yes" to opportunities can accelerate learning, but over time it's important to recognize your limits and become intentional with your commitments.Rather than forcing productivity, pay attention to where your energy naturally wants to go and invest there.AI may replace much of the routine work interns traditionally did, but internships should be viewed as investments in developing future talent, not just inexpensive labor.Skills like judgment, critique, research, collaboration, and navigating ambiguity are becoming even more valuable in an AI-driven world.Apprenticeship-style learning may become an increasingly compelling alternative to traditional education for aspiring designers. Keep the conversations going. Join The Mob: https://discord.gg/tZgNgkZKbT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Design Mob Podcast, Jordyn sits down with designer Sam Pert, founder of Tilden Design, to talk about what really happens when freelancing goes from side hustle to full-time career.After being laid off while pregnant, Sam turned an uncertain moment into an opportunity, building a thriving design studio, growing through referrals, and eventually creating enough stability for her husband to leave his job and stay home with their daughter.We get into the realities of freelancing that don't make it onto Instagram: finding clients, setting boundaries, niching down (or not), building a personal brand, pricing your work, and why taking great care of your clients is still one of the best marketing strategies out there.Whether you're dreaming about freelancing someday or you're already running your own studio, this conversation is packed with practical advice and an honest look at betting on yourself.We cover:Going from agency life to freelancingBuilding a financial runway before taking the leapFinding clients through relationships instead of cold outreachPersonal branding vs. studio brandingHow to niche without boxing yourself inWhy freelancing isn't always less stable than full-time employmentCreating a business that fits the life you actually wantIf you've ever wondered whether you could make freelancing work, this episode is for you.Connect with Sam on LinkedIn and follow along on Instagram Keep the conversations going. Join The Mob: https://discord.gg/tZgNgkZKbT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with Aaron Draplin, legendary graphic designer, founder of Draplin Design Co., and one of the most unfiltered voices in the creative industry.We get into everything from building a career on your own terms to why chasing “design fame” is a losing game. Draplin shares his journey from small-town Michigan to running a wildly successful independent studio, and why he’s never cared about being the “best”, only about making a living doing work he actually enjoys.We talk about:Designing your life (not just your work)The reality of making money as a creativeWhy side projects and “getting weird” matter more than you thinkThe overlap between graphic design, UX, and everything in betweenHis unfiltered take on AI, tools, and the future of designThis conversation is equal parts hilarious, honest, and grounding, a reminder that you don’t need to follow the traditional path to build something meaningful.If you’ve ever felt pressure to fit into the “right” version of a designer, this episode will shake that off and give you permission to do it your way.Keep the conversations going. Join The Mob: https://discord.gg/tZgNgkZKbT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with Angela Brown, founder and executive director of Craft Lake City and publisher of SLUG Magazine, to explore what it really means to build and sustain a creative community in a place like Utah.Angela shares her journey growing up in Salt Lake City in the 90s, a time when creative culture felt limited and hard to access. Instead of leaving for a bigger city, she made a pivotal decision: stay, and help build the kind of creative ecosystem she was craving. That mindset ultimately shaped her work with SLUG Magazine and Craft Lake City, both of which have become pillars of Utah’s creative scene. We talk about:How “underground” culture has evolved in the age of the internetWhy creativity isn’t just about art, it’s about elevating people and stories that might otherwise go unnoticedThe power of grassroots communities and volunteer-driven ecosystemsUtah’s unique tension between conservative culture and creative rebellion, and how that tension fuels innovationWhat makes Salt Lake’s creative community so distinct (hint: it’s equal parts stubborn, generous, and deeply committed)Angela also reflects on her early identity as an outsider, experimenting with self-expression through punk aesthetics and DIY culture, and how that rebellious energy carried into her career as a community builder.At its core, this episode is about choosing to build the world you want to live in, and realizing you don’t have to leave your city to do it.Get tickets to this year's Letter West conference with code DESIGNMOB for 15% off.Keep the conversations going. Join The Mob: https://discord.gg/tZgNgkZKbT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we sit down with Alex Danilowicz, CEO and co-founder of Magic Patterns, to unpack what it really takes to build an AI product designers actually want to use. Alex shares the long, winding road behind Magic Patterns, from a year of pivots in design tooling and a scrapped text-message analytics startup, to finding product-market fit in the emerging world of AI-powered “vibe designing.”We talk about why engineers with a strong design eye have a unique edge in the AI era, how Magic Patterns stands apart by working directly with existing design systems and component libraries, and why knowing a little bit of code (even just the language) makes designers dramatically more powerful when working with AI tools. Alex also breaks down the realities of Y Combinator, fundraising without hype, and why customer usage-not compliments-is the only real definition of product love.The conversation goes deep into startup discipline: when to pivot, when to launch, why being “early” can feel lonely, and how competition can actually be a signal that you’re onto something. Alex shares candid lessons on working with a co-founder who’s also your best friend, staying focused in distraction-heavy tech hubs, and resisting fear-mongering narratives about AI replacing designers.If you’re a designer, PM, or founder navigating AI, design systems, or early-stage startups, this episode is a grounded, optimistic look at building real products, listening to users, and using AI as a multiplier-not a replacement-for human taste, judgment, and creativity.You can connect with Alex on LinkedIn. Shoot him a DM if you listened to this message. Talk soon!Keep the conversations going. Join The Mob: https://discord.gg/tZgNgkZKbT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us this week to talk with the amazing Joyce Croft on her career. She's worked at Amazon, Google, and NASA's JPL as a Product Designer and is now designing at Gallup-a premiere analytics and advisory firm.Joyce has spoken at Config in 2024 and is heading to Abu Dhabi next month to speak at the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence. She has done incredible things in her career and finds that the reason she's been able to do such amazing things is because she always says "yes!" when an opportunity arrises.They talk about Joyce’s winding path into product design, how she bridges creative intuition + analytical rigor, how she earns trust with “spreadsheet people,” what it really takes to find your voice in rooms full of execs, and how she thinks about AI in the day-to-day.You can connect with her on LinkedIn.Join us next week during Utah Tech Week. Our events are linked below!February 3rd - Vibe-a-thonFebruary 4th - Sell > Design > BuildFebruary 5th - Feed the MachineJoin the Design Mob discord community here.Keep the conversations going. Join The Mob: https://discord.gg/tZgNgkZKbT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Follow along with Kes on Instagram @thebraaandhttps://www.instagram.com/thebraaand/In this episode, Jordyn sits down with her close friend Kesia Nielsen, founder of Braaand, for an honest conversation about self-belief, identity, femininity in business, and what it really takes to build a creative agency.Kes shares her journey from deep self-criticism to cultivated confidence, how she learned to trust herself in male-dominated spaces, and why staying rooted in identity is more powerful than adapting to the room. They dive into spirituality, burnout, confidence, and the unglamorous realities of entrepreneurship, from wearing every hat to redefining success on your own terms.If you’re a designer, founder, or creative navigating growth, alignment, and self-trust, this episode is for you.Keep the conversations going. Join The Mob: https://discord.gg/tZgNgkZKbT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jordyn opens up the anonymous advice inbox and goes deep on the questions designers are scared to ask out loud. The messy ones. The uncomfortable ones. The ones we’re all thinking about.We talk about:Why networking feels transactional (and how to make it not suck)How AI is changing team dynamics and what designers can do to stay valuableUX strategy, stakeholder buy-in, and tying design to actual business outcomesThe portfolio obsession, graphic design majors, and the gatekeeping debateWhether design has to be your whole personality to “make it”Why talented designers still aren’t getting hired (and the hard truths behind it)What new grads actually need to do to get their foot in the doorIt’s honest. It’s opinionated. It’s a little grumpy in places. And it’s grounded in real experience, not LinkedIn platitudes.If you’re feeling stuck, discouraged, overwhelmed by AI, or just tired of pretending the design industry isn’t weird right now, this one’s for you.We’re all learning.You’re not alone.Submit your anonymous questions for next month here: https://forms.gle/yvY8CRX6cDMZqYQd6Keep the conversations going. Join The Mob: https://discord.gg/tZgNgkZKbT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most of us sprint through our careers without ever stopping to actually look at where we’re going. We jump from project to project, take whatever comes our way, and hope it somehow adds up to growth. But the truth? Creative careers don’t grow by accident, they grow by intention.In this episode, we walk through a five-step process I recommend every designer do at the start of a new year. Think of it as your annual creative inventory, part self-reflection, part strategy, part “get your sh*t together.”We break down:1. Your Role Reality Check: what’s actually on your plate right now (the honest version).2. Your Top Career Priorities: pulled straight from our Career Priorities framework so you can see whether your current job aligns with what matters most.3. A Full UX Skills Assessment: using the Skills Matrix to understand where you’re strong, where you're stretched, and where you need support.4. A 4–6 Week Energy Map: the simplest, spiciest diagnostic tool for figuring out what drains and fuels your work.5. Finding the Overlap: the magic zone where your skills, energy, and priorities align… and how to build a monthly → quarterly → yearly plan around it.This episode is for anyone feeling stagnant, misaligned, overwhelmed, or just curious about how to design a better year for themselves. No corporate jargon. No vague “follow your passion” nonsense. Just real talk, practical tools, and a reminder that your career is something you get to design on purpose.Let’s get intentional. Let’s get honest. And if you want the worksheets, join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/tZgNgkZKbTNext week I'll be answering any questions you might have regarding design. Drop them here: https://forms.gle/ApmzJErvJsdczjRUAKeep the conversations going. Join The Mob: https://discord.gg/tZgNgkZKbT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re getting real about something a lot of designers are feeling but not always saying out loud: the industry is chaotic right now, and it’s way too easy to slip into complaining instead of creating.In this episode, we unpack why frustration has become the default vibe for so many designers, how negativity loops quietly drain momentum, and why venting feels helpful even when it isn’t. We dig into comparison culture, the myth of “the perfect job,” and the trap of blaming companies or the market for everything that feels hard.Most importantly, we talk about what is in our control: our craft, our curiosity, our willingness to explore and grow.This is a call to take design seriously and take ourselves seriously as makers. Not in a rigid way, but in a creative, playful, let’s-get-better-together way.If you’ve been feeling stuck, frustrated, or creatively stale, this one’s for you.Listen in, stay curious, and stay weird.Keep the conversations going. Join The Mob: https://discord.gg/tZgNgkZKbT Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.