In this conversation, Jessica Frech Knowles and Matthew discuss the challenges and frustrations of working in the design industry. They touch on the importance of trust and education in building successful relationships with stakeholders. They also explore the lack of support and guidance for professionals in leadership positions and the need for more intentional career paths.

Takeaways
Treating stakeholders as users can help improve collaboration and understanding.
Leadership plays a crucial role in protecting design and guiding decision-making.
Investing in design is essential for companies to create impactful and successful products.
The design profession is evolving, and designers need to adapt to new challenges and responsibilities.
Collaboration and communication between different roles in a company are key to successful product development. Building trust and educating oneself are crucial in establishing successful relationships with stakeholders.
Professionals in leadership positions often lack support and guidance, leading to challenges in their roles.
Balancing screen time and finding creative outlets can help alleviate stress in the design industry.
Being intentional about career paths and valuing oneself beyond stakeholders' opinions is important for personal growth and fulfillment.
Confidence is valuable, but it should be earned and not blind to one's challenges.

Sound Bites
"Treating stakeholders like a user instead of a stakeholder"
"Design's job is to stand in front of the door that the business is trying to run through and say, no, no, you can't do that"
"If you let design at the table, it's going to help protect you from becoming one of those instances of putting too many big bets in the wrong places"
"I do expect people to educate themselves briefly."
"The system requires them to hit the ground running, not that anybody ever hits the ground running."
"There is no such thing as a design emergency."

Chapters
00:00 Not-so-cold Open
00:31 Introducing Jessica
04:15 Now vs Then Perspective
06:26 How to Not Die on Hills
09:18 Treating Stakeholders like Users
16:01 The Role of Leadership in Design
20:32 Investing in Design and Company Culture
25:37 Design's Impact on Decision-Making
27:49 Building Trust and Educating Stakeholders
32:25 Red Flag Finding
36:02 7 +/- 2 Questions
36:29 What is one thing you would change about your profession?
39:17 What is one thing that you wish more people cared about?
40:00 What accomplishment are you most proud of that you weren't paid to do?
41:06 No salsa, mild salsa, or spicy salsa?
43:18 What is your favorite place on Earth?
44:09 What do you wish you'd done differently?
46:53 What would you do for a living if you left what you're doing right now?
48:55 What do you hope to not be carrying anymore?
54:36 outro


keywords
design, product development, careers, challenges, stakeholders, leadership, collaboration, design industry, trust, education, stakeholders, leadership, intentional career paths, screen time, creative outlets, confidence, arrogance, stress, future