Show Notes
“Chris and I dig into the shifting shape of design roles — and what it means for inclusive leadership.”
Summary In this insightful episode, we delve into the evolving landscape of design roles and the increasing specialisation within the industry. Join Chris Compston and me as we explore the dynamics of inclusivity in design leadership, reflecting on personal experiences and the subtle power shifts in remote meetings. Discover how these changes are shaping the future of design and the importance of taking action to foster a more inclusive environment. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that challenges the status quo and inspires reflection on our roles within the design community.
Guest Chris Compston Substack – https://chriscompston.substack.com/ Website – https://chriscompston.com/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriscompston/
Host Danny Hearn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyhearn/ Website – www.dannyhearn.me Podcast – www.deeplyhumandesign.com
Chapters 00:00 The Journey of Chris Compston 05:07 The Evolution of UX Design 12:00 The State of Product Design Today 20:00 AI's Impact on Design and Product Management 25:49 Navigating Change in the Design Landscape 27:14 The Value of Human Contribution in a Capitalist Society 28:57 Defining Personal and Organizational Values 30:25 The Importance of Inclusivity in Innovation 32:21 The Shift in Hiring Practices and Candidate Experience 36:23 Rethinking Interview Processes for Inclusivity 43:33 Understanding Product Operations 48:00 Building Confidence as a Consultant 52:00 Creating Psychological Safety in Teams
More from the deeply human design podcast
“You cannot innovate if you don't have diverse thinking.” Summary In this episode, we explore the winding creative journey of Meg Porter, a designer turned product leader and founder, who shares how her artistic roots evolved into a passion for solving complex human problems. She candidly opens up about navigating corporate environments as a neurodivergent woman, facing systemic biases, and the exhaustion of trying to fit traditional workplace molds. Meg discusses her work with The Female Product Lead community, advocating for truly inclusive leadership and psychological safety across tech. She also details the creation of Unfold, her new app designed to help neurodivergent individuals manage executive dysfunction through nervous system and emotional regulation. Throughout the conversation, Meg highlights the immense value of radical self-knowledge over conventional career frameworks. Guest Meg Porter LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/in/megporter Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/_meg_porter/ TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@_meg_porter_ Unfold Website – https://getunfold.app Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/_unfoldapp_/ TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@_unfoldapp_ Female Product Lead Website – https://femaleproductlead.com Events – https://luma.com/femaleproductlead Host Danny Hearn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/dannyhearn/ Website – https://www.dannyhearn.me Podcast – https://www.deeplyhumandesign.com Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:38 Meg's Origins in Physical Graphic Design 04:43 Navigating Subjectivity and Finding Structure in Design 08:23 Expressing Personal Empathy Through Art Projects 10:17 Transitioning into Corporate Tech and Healthcare Design 14:12 Clashing Values and Systemic Politics in Enterprise Roles 18:35 Fostering Psychological Safety and Diverse Perspectives 22:57 Empowering Underrepresented Voices with Female Product Lead 26:27 Experiencing the Glass Ceiling and Micro-Behaviors 32:25 Finding Core Purpose and Showing Up Authentically 37:14 Building Unfold for Neurodivergent Emotional Regulation 43:58 Developing the MVP and Co-Founding with Family 46:23 Tackling Executive Dysfunction and Rejection Sensitivity 51:21 Prioritising Self-Knowledge Over Skill Sets in Leadership
"People massively overestimate the amount of change that's going to happen in two years, and they underestimate the amount in five to 10 years."
"The pressure to move faster in the tech industry creates an environment where presence and mental well-being are often sacrificed for speed.”
Reclaiming the Heart in Design “There’s so much heart in some of these things that you’re putting in heart in that space and I find it very hard to detach some of those.”
“Sometimes the best thing you can do is just be the kindest person in the room.”