In this conversation, Jason Mesut shares his journey from industrial design to coaching, emphasizing the importance of personal growth and the dynamics of coaching. He discusses the challenges of finding the right coach, the common scenarios he encounters in coaching sessions, and the development of his Shaping Design series, which aims to help individuals understand their unique skills and growth paths in the design field. In this conversation, Jason Mesut discusses the unexpected applications of design frameworks, the debate surrounding designer skill sets, and the challenges leaders face in navigating the evolving landscape of design. He emphasizes the importance of allowing designers to explore their creativity without the constraints of traditional roles, while also addressing the issue of role dilution and the need for organizations to support individual designers in their career growth. In this conversation, Jason Mesut discusses the importance of embracing constraints in design to foster creativity, the evolving landscape for new designers, and the significance of building relationships and empathy in the design process. He shares insights on how curiosity and active listening can enhance design practices and emphasizes the need for designers to navigate their roles in a rapidly changing industry. Jason also talks about his future projects, including a podcast focused on creativity and resilience in a capitalist world.

Episode Links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmesut/

https://medium.com/@jasonmesut

https://medium.com/shapingdesign

https://medium.com/@jasonmesut/the-exhaustion-of-designer-skillset-expansion-and-dilution-65fe61f2ada2

Chapters:

00:00 Episode Intro

00:32 Introduction to Jason Mesut's Journey

06:21 Transitioning to Coaching and Personal Growth

11:17 The Dynamics of Coaching and Accessibility

18:24 Finding the Right Coach

24:10 Common Coaching Scenarios and Insights

25:12 Exploring the Shaping Design Series

31:15 Exploring Unexpected Uses of Design Frameworks

36:34 The Debate on Designer Skill Sets

41:48 Navigating Leadership Challenges in Design

47:04 The Individual Designer's Journey and Role Dilution

01:00:37 Embracing Constraints for Creativity

01:08:51 Navigating the Future of Design

01:18:33 Building Relationships and Empathy in Design

01:21:19 Jason's Future Endeavors and Insights

Keywords

coaching, design, career development, personal growth, leadership, UX design, mentoring, shaping design, designer skills, team dynamics, design leadership, role dilution, creativity, nurturing designers, empathy, career growth, humanity-centered design, constraints in design, future of design, designer skills