Is a design system a product?

Have you ever wondered how product managers turn chaos into a symphony? Our latest episode, featuring the perspicacious Simon Berry who shines a light on the crucial role these maestros play in harmonizing user needs with project realities. From the stormy beginnings of a product's life to its standing ovation in the market, we chat about everything that makes or breaks its success. We promise you'll come away with a renewed appreciation for the delicate balance of art and science in product management.Dive into the heart of the tech world with us as we unravel the subtle yet impactful differences between product management and project management. Hear firsthand accounts of the tightrope walk balancing business pressures and customer ecstasy. Then, eavesdrop on the secret language of UX professionals and developers as we share strategies for better collaboration that could spell the difference between a digital masterpiece and a one-hit-wonder. Simon’s extensive experience in the startup and FMCG landscapes brings a richness of insights that you simply can't miss.To cap things off, we get real about the agile development process, sprint estimations, and our collective drive to 'fail fast' and learn faster. We also detour through the world of personal finance apps, contrasting their quirky features and understanding what makes users tick—or kick. And for a little extra spice, we share our gripes with apps like Spotify when they hit a sour note. It's an episode that fuses tech talk with real-world wisdom, all underscored by the hum of user experience. Join us for a session that's as informative as engaging—with a side of laughter.Support the showAll this and more are answered in this episode of Faster Horses, a podcast about UX, UXR, UI design, products and technology (sometimes!) 🐎 80% comedy, 20% UX, 0% filler 👕 Get stickers and tees at https://www.paulwilshaw.com/shop/The show is hosted by:Paul Wilshawhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwilshaw/ andMark Sutcliffehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sutcliffemark/If you want to suggest an idea, or join us on the show, send us a message 👆.

In this episode of "Faster Horses," the hosts, Paul and Mark, delve into the world of AI and UX. They discuss how AI has become increasingly prevalent in various industries and platforms, with a particular focus on social media. Paul shares their experience in creating their own AI tool, GhostPosts.ai, with the aims to assist users in generating better social media posts and written content.The hosts emphasise the importance of making AI accessible and ethical, with the goal of enhancing the quality of content on platforms like social media. They envision AI as a tool that can replace mundane or  bland content with more valuable content. The hosts also discuss concerns about the potential homogenisation of online content due to AI, as well as the fear that AI might replace jobs.In summary, the episode explores the impact of AI on user experience, highlighting the role of AI in content creation and the need for ethical and accessible AI tools. It also touches on the potential challenges and benefits associated with the widespread adoption of AI in various industries.Support the showAll this and more are answered in this episode of Faster Horses, a podcast about UX, UXR, UI design, products and technology (sometimes!) 🐎 80% comedy, 20% UX, 0% filler 👕 Get stickers and tees at https://www.paulwilshaw.com/shop/The show is hosted by:Paul Wilshawhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwilshaw/ andMark Sutcliffehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sutcliffemark/If you want to suggest an idea, or join us on the show, send us a message 👆.

It seems that people are very often confusing a Design System with a component library. The differences are nuanced, drawing the line between those two will be hard, and there’s no right or wrong — but maybe this story might help us understand those differences a little bit better, and maybe it will help us understand the effort it takes to build and maintain a Design System.It is more than just a UI Library. The whole purpose of a Design System is to define the design principles, style guide, patterns, content tone, and the rules and specifications of the “reusable” components. These rules are very specific to the product and can differ from company to company.When does a UI library turn into a design system?For a design system to thrive and survive, it needs a sufficient level of management:Who’s making the decisions? Modern design systems have a product manager who’s driving decisions, assertively aligning with partners, and serving as the go-to person.Who’s doing the work? Sustaining a design system can involve a significant amount of design, development, writing, and other work done by people committed (at least partially, > 4hr/week) to the endeavour.Who’s paying for it? It’s near impossible for a system to survive long-term without a sponsor deliberately providing a budget in the form of properly allocated time.What are each of you working on right now, and where do you record and prioritise things you might work on later? Yup, time for task management, which many high-performing teams increasingly formalise into a backlog over sprints using tools like Trello and Jira.What can your customers (products using the system) expect over the next 6–12 months? Don’t discount the power of an effective, concisely communicated system roadmap. It generates awareness, discussion, faith that you’ve got your act together, and trust that what you do provides for what they need. A Design System isn’t a Project. It’s a Product, Serving Products. Discuss! All this and more are answered in this episode of Faster Horses.🐎 80% comedy, 20% UX, 0% filler👕 Get stickers and tees at https://www.paulwilshaw.com/shop/💎 Support the show and sign up for early and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5wF48uFWHs5a7gpr3eNwrC🎙 Apple:🎥 Watch: https://youtu.be/GYjaKrOt1VEPEACE!Produced by:Paul WilshawNick TomlinsonMark SutcliffeAnthony JonesChris SutcliffeTitle musiSupport the showAll this and more are answered in this episode of Faster Horses, a podcast about UX, UXR, UI design, products and technology (sometimes!) 🐎 80% comedy, 20% UX, 0% filler 👕 Get stickers and tees at https://www.paulwilshaw.com/shop/The show is hosted by:Paul Wilshawhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwilshaw/ andMark Sutcliffehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sutcliffemark/If you want to suggest an idea, or join us on the show, send us a message 👆.

Design systems have become a key part of user experience, design and development, but what should it consist of?  We have a good old poke around, question atomic design, figure out audiences and how to effectively communicate what the core concept of design systems are, why we use them and is Brad Frost right.Should print and digital guidelines fit into a single system?We chuck in the patterns and chuck out the chintz, with topical tangents, wrapped in the UX of a squidgy scotch egg.All this and more are answered in this episode of Faster Horses.🐎 80% comedy, 20% UX, 0% filler👕 Get stickers and tees at https://www.paulwilshaw.com/shop/ 💎 Support the show and sign up for early and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5wF48uFWHs5a7gpr3eNwrC🎙 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/faster-horses-a-podcast-about-ui-design-user/id1496787723🎥 Watch: https://youtu.be/GYjaKrOt1VEPEACE!Produced by:Paul WilshawNick TomlinsonMark SutcliffeAnthony JonesChris SutcliffeTitle music: James MeddSound effects: https://www.zapsplat.com Support the showAll this and more are answered in this episode of Faster Horses, a podcast about UX, UXR, UI design, products and technology (sometimes!) 🐎 80% comedy, 20% UX, 0% filler 👕 Get stickers and tees at https://www.paulwilshaw.com/shop/The show is hosted by:Paul Wilshawhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwilshaw/ andMark Sutcliffehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sutcliffemark/If you want to suggest an idea, or join us on the show, send us a message 👆.

So what’s the difference between design language and tone of voice? Where are the boundaries between the tone of voice and design language, and who leads the strategy of these? Are they interchangeable?In literature, the Tone of Voice refers to the author’s feelings towards the subject, as expressed through the writing itself. Writing for the web is obviously different from writing prose (or at least it should be since web users read very little.) Still, every scrap of writing on a page (from body copy to button labels and other UX copywriting) contributes to the tone of voice we’re using to speak to our users (https://www.nngroup.com/articles/tone-of-voice-dimensions/).Visual communication is exceptionally complicated. It’s diverse, boundless, and relentless. To induce a sense of clarity and coherence to it, we need to establish a series of constraints that will help us communicate with our end-users. This is where Design Language comes into play (https://www.uxpin.com/studio/blog/design-language/)Why are these important, and how can navigate those tricky workplace politics?All this and more are answered in this episode of Faster Horses.🐎 80% comedy, 20% UX, 0% filler👕 Get stickers and tees at https://www.paulwilshaw.com/shop/ 💎 Support the show and sign up for early and exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5wF48uFWHs5a7gpr3eNwrC🎙 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/faster-horses-a-podcast-about-ui-design-user/id1496787723🎥 Watch: https://youtu.be/GYjaKrOt1VEPEACE!Produced by:Paul WilshawNick TomlinsonMark SutcliffeAnthony JonesChris SutcliffeTitle music: James MeddSound effects: https://www.zapsplat.com Support the showAll this and more are answered in this episode of Faster Horses, a podcast about UX, UXR, UI design, products and technology (sometimes!) 🐎 80% comedy, 20% UX, 0% filler 👕 Get stickers and tees at https://www.paulwilshaw.com/shop/The show is hosted by:Paul Wilshawhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwilshaw/ andMark Sutcliffehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sutcliffemark/If you want to suggest an idea, or join us on the show, send us a message 👆.

In this episode we talk to Scot Whitney, Podcast Host – The All4Inclusion Pod, an advocate for inclusion and wheelchair user looking to help others see society's boundaries. Find him on Linkedin, https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottjwhitney/ Scott founded All4inclusion with their amazing philosophy: “We believe everyone is born equal and every person should be able to access the same education, job opportunities and be able to socialise in the same ways.” Find out more and support them here: https://www.all4inclusion.orgWe talk about inclusion and accessibility, how we can all be more inclusive and how small changes can make a big impact.🐎 80% comedy, 20% UX, 0% filler👕 Get stickers and tees at https://www.paulwilshaw.com/shop/ 💎 Support the show and sign up for exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/FasterHorses🎙 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5wF48uFWHs5a7gpr3eNwrC🎙 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/faster-horses-a-podcast-about-ui-design-user/id1496787723🎥 Watch: https://youtu.be/GYjaKrOt1VEPEACE!Produced by:Paul WilshawNick TomlinsonMark SutcliffeJames MeddAnthony JonesChris SutcliffeTitle music: James MeddSound effects: https://www.zapsplat.com Support the showAll this and more are answered in this episode of Faster Horses, a podcast about UX, UXR, UI design, products and technology (sometimes!) 🐎 80% comedy, 20% UX, 0% filler 👕 Get stickers and tees at https://www.paulwilshaw.com/shop/The show is hosted by:Paul Wilshawhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwilshaw/ andMark Sutcliffehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sutcliffemark/If you want to suggest an idea, or join us on the show, send us a message 👆.

Stock photography – the perfect solution for small business owners, bloggers, and marketers who need to create high-quality visual content without breaking the bank? With over 6 million photos and more added every day, you’ve got choice, but is it always the ideal solution?Do you find yourself spending hours looking for the right photo?Do you still have to heavily adapt the photo or illustration?Do you love or loathe stock photography?Do you even care?Can one stock photo ruin your brand identity?We talk about all these things and more.Plus UX Tombola and finding a Spanish omelette under the English dishes section.Saddle up, it’s time for more Faster Horses.All these questions, and even ones you didn't want to know, ANSWERED!Plus the off-topic tangents you love.– – – – – – –💎 Sign up for exclusive content: https://jubb.ly/ba4a52👚 Offical products: https://www.paulwilshaw.com/shop🎙 Apple: https://jubb.ly/c75cca🎙 Spotify: https://jubb.ly/3d0d0a 🎥 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4bV3uVwN3UqQeh8B9N8-xg– – – – – – –#Podcast #Design #Photography #Brand #Marketing #SocialMedia #TopTips #UX #UIPEACE!Produced by:Paul WilshawNick TomlinsonMark SutcliffeJames MeddAnthony JonesChris SutcliffeTitle music: James MeddSound effects from https://www.zapsplat.comSupport the showAll this and more are answered in this episode of Faster Horses, a podcast about UX, UXR, UI design, products and technology (sometimes!) 🐎 80% comedy, 20% UX, 0% filler 👕 Get stickers and tees at https://www.paulwilshaw.com/shop/The show is hosted by:Paul Wilshawhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwilshaw/ andMark Sutcliffehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sutcliffemark/If you want to suggest an idea, or join us on the show, send us a message 👆.

Discover the journey that we've been on – transitioning from being team members to a leadership position.What have been the pain points, and how have we overcome that?What traits do leaders exhibit?Our top tips on becoming a leader and how to improve your leadership in a creative field (also general).Find out what we choose as our leadership tactics and what's essential when leading a team.How can you build rapport and trust with a team?What's leading by example mean?How to be an effective communicator?What is emotional intelligence and how to apply this in team management?All this, plus UX Tombola – what will it be – how will Mark Steeler sell this one?All these questions, and even ones you didn't want to know, ANSWERED!Plus the off-topic tangents you love.💎 Sign up for exclusive content: https://jubb.ly/ba4a52🎥 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4bV3uVwN3UqQeh8B9N8-xg#Podcast #Design #Leadership #Creative  Leadership #Management #TopTips #UX #UIPEACE!Produced by:Paul WilshawNick TomlinsonMark SutcliffeJames MeddAnthony JonesChris SutcliffeTitle music: James MeddSound effects from https://www.zapsplat.comSupport the showAll this and more are answered in this episode of Faster Horses, a podcast about UX, UXR, UI design, products and technology (sometimes!) 🐎 80% comedy, 20% UX, 0% filler 👕 Get stickers and tees at https://www.paulwilshaw.com/shop/The show is hosted by:Paul Wilshawhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwilshaw/ andMark Sutcliffehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sutcliffemark/If you want to suggest an idea, or join us on the show, send us a message 👆.

What are the biggest fails of gaming experiences? In this episode, we explore those dreaded button-mashing mishaps.What makes games sticky? Why is everyone playing Elden Ring?We look at the mechanics of in-app purchases, being immersed in complex menus.  We all know the essential part of a video game is gameplay. But what about the UX? In this podcast, we talk about video game user experience is better by improving your UI and UX design.The frustrations of mashing that button accidentally makes you throw health instead of shooting.What about the all-important menu experiences, accessibility and how to re-engage users when they take a break from your game.All this, plus UX Tombola – what will it be – how will Mark Steeler sell this one?All these questions, and even ones you didn't want to know, ANSWERED!Plus the off-topic tangents you love.💎 Sign up for exclusive content: https://jubb.ly/ba4a52🎥 Watch: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4bV3uVwN3UqQeh8B9N8-xg#Podcast #Design #Games #UX #UI #FailsPEACE!Produced by:Paul WilshawNick TomlinsonMark SutcliffeJames MeddAnthony JonesChris (put the dishes away) SutcliffeTitle music: James MeddSound effects from https://www.zapsplat.comSupport the showAll this and more are answered in this episode of Faster Horses, a podcast about UX, UXR, UI design, products and technology (sometimes!) 🐎 80% comedy, 20% UX, 0% filler 👕 Get stickers and tees at https://www.paulwilshaw.com/shop/The show is hosted by:Paul Wilshawhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwilshaw/ andMark Sutcliffehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sutcliffemark/If you want to suggest an idea, or join us on the show, send us a message 👆.

In this short, Paul Wilshaw takes on the subject of colours, their use and accessibility.The way you can think about this in every single colour in your design system should have a definition. What does it do? Exactly the same as a button or an icon or some other piece of design colours should do exactly that same thing. And why do we do this? Because colours are used, and with accessibility and colours, they shouldn't be used on their own to define things, but colours do have the impact – the same things as tone of voice or repeatable and functional things that help users to navigate your app, your website, your service, or whatever you're doing.Colours shouldn't just be abstract, they need a purpose and need to have their own use and place.Check out the full article:https://www.paulwilshaw.co.uk/research-articles/what-are-semantic-coloursSupport the showAll this and more are answered in this episode of Faster Horses, a podcast about UX, UXR, UI design, products and technology (sometimes!) 🐎 80% comedy, 20% UX, 0% filler 👕 Get stickers and tees at https://www.paulwilshaw.com/shop/The show is hosted by:Paul Wilshawhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/paulwilshaw/ andMark Sutcliffehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sutcliffemark/If you want to suggest an idea, or join us on the show, send us a message 👆.