The UX Growth

Michael McWatters joins Nick Mann to explore what makes designers valuable beyond the tools, from curiosity and strategic thinking to personal projects, portfolio constraints, leadership, and the human decisions behind AI-assisted work.Connect with Michael:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmcwatters/Writing: https://michaelmcwatters.com/Photography: https://glass.photo/michael-mcwattersSeason 6, Episode 4. Recorded August 28, 2026; role reflects the time of recording.

In this episode, Nick Groeneveld joins Nick Mann to talk about navigating conflicting UX career advice, building a sustainable approach to sharing your work, preparing for interviews, and knowing when to slow down. They also discuss coaching and Nick’s gradual move into freelancing.Connect with Nick and explore his work:The Design Table Podcast: https://designtablepodcast.com/The Designer’s Toolbox: https://thedesignerstoolbox.com/Nick’s LinkedIn: https://nl.linkedin.com/in/nick-groeneveld/nl

Frederick Andersen, founder of EDL, joins Nick Mann to explore design engineering, the gap between design and development, working with code, AI, and the continuing importance of UX research.

Yana Tarasevich from Alconost joins Nick Mann to unpack localization beyond translation: global UX, pseudo-localization, translator collaboration, and AI quality. Season 6, Episode 1.

Nick Mann opens Season 6 with lessons on waiting for confidence, showing design judgment in UX portfolios, and moving forward before feeling ready.

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How can you have a conversation if you don't know the words?That is the question my guest, Sarah Johnson, asked me on the latest episode of the UX Growth Podcast.I think many of us have been there. We are asked to design a layout, but we don't have the copy yet. So we focus on the visuals. We focus on the branding. We paste in Lorem Ipsum and hope for the best.But Sarah, the author of Content First Design, challenges that process.She believes that a digital experience is fundamentally a conversation with the user. If you don't know what you are trying to say, you can't design the structure to support it.We dig deep into:Why you should treat content as a design constraint, not an afterthought.What to do when stakeholders ask you to design without content.How to build trust through consistency.Her "ass in chair" advice for anyone trying to finally write their own book.This was a perfect way to wrap up Season 5. It is a reminder that the words we use are just as important as the designs we make.How to Support SarahConnect with Erin on LinkedInWebsite: https://contentfirstdesign.comBook: https://www.amazon.com/Content-First-Design-Sarah-Johnson-ebook/dp/B0F11CMGJR—You can contact the host, Nick Mann via Email and LinkedIn.Check out my links, such as Patreon, the UX Growth Challenge Newsletter, and the UX Growth Book Series, to help improve your UX knowledge.Thank you for listening, and let's keep growing.

What if the thing you were told you’d never be good at became your UX superpower?That’s the story Erin Essex shares in the newest UX Growth Podcast episode, and it’s one of my favorites so far.3 reasons to listen 1️⃣ How dyslexia helped Erin become a sharper problem solver 2️⃣ Her simple system for managing overwhelm and staying focused 3️⃣ Honest advice for introverted designers who want to show up online without faking itIt’s real, practical, and inspiring.Give it a listen and tell me what stood out most to you.How to Support Erin EssexConnect with Šimon on LinkedInWebsite: erinessex.com—You can contact the host, Nick Mann via Email and LinkedIn.Check out my links, such as Patreon, the UX Growth Challenge Newsletter, and the UX Growth Book Series, to help improve your UX knowledge.Thank you for listening, and let's keep growing.

A lot of UX designers are closer to leadership than they realize.Šimon Jůn, author of Design Beyond Limits with Figma, we talked about what UX designers can learn from his journey from agency designer to C level.Here are a few takeaways that stood out:Designers are already doing half the job of leadership.A design system only matters if it solves a real problem.Your workflow is a product, so improve it.If you work in UX and feel like you are stuck at the Figma screen, this conversation is worth your time.How to Support Šimon JůnConnect with Šimon on LinkedInDesign Beyond Limits with Figma on Amazon—You can contact the host, Nick Mann via Email and LinkedIn.Check out my links, such as Patreon, the UX Growth Challenge Newsletter, and the UX Growth Book Series, to help improve your UX knowledge.Thank you for listening, and let's keep growing.

I talk with Megan Legawiec, who brings her background in teaching into UX writing. Making accessibility not just a goal, but an ethical responsibility.We dive into:• What trauma-informed content really means• Why accessibility often gets deprioritized• How to make your writing more inclusive without overhauling everythingIt’s a powerful conversation on empathy, ethics, and design that truly serves people.How to Support MeganConnect with Megan on LinkedIn—You can contact the host, Nick Mann via Email and LinkedIn.Check out my links, such as Patreon, the UX Growth Challenge Newsletter, and the UX Growth Book Series, to help improve your UX knowledge.Thank you for listening, and let's keep growing.