The Aligned Podcast Show
The Aligned Podcast Show, formerly DesignOps Aligned, is the essential listen for everyone who shapes digital products. From UX and UI creators to product managers, engineers, researchers, and delivery leads, we decode the playbooks, mindsets, and metrics that turn bold ideas into market-ready experiences. Expect candid conversations with trailblazing leaders and hands on practitioners, reusable frameworks that transform creativity into repeatable results, and a front row seat to the trends ranging from AI powered tools to outcome driven road mapping. If you build, ship, or champion digital products, hit Subscribe and turn every episode into an edge that levels up your craft and drives real business impact.
Episodes
Modus Operandi – Episode 6 - Whisper Gallery – Noelle Lansford
Summary
In this episode of the Modus Operandi podcast, hosts Naresh Shan and Noelle Lansford delve into the complexities of collaboration between designers and developers, highlighting the challenges of communication, onboarding, and the impact of daily design changes on development processes. They discuss the importance of understanding MVP in product management, the nee...
"Should Everybody Do Research?" - Act 02 - Scene 38 - Kate Towsey
Summary
In this episode of the DesignOps Aligned podcast, Naresh Shan speaks with Kate Towsey, a prominent figure in the field of research operations. They discuss the evolution and current state of research ops, the importance of democratizing research, and the role of researchers in product development. Kate emphasises the need for strong research leadershi...
Modus Operandi - Episode 3 - Alchemy of Influence - Featuring Miranda Slayter
In this conversation, Naresh Shan and Miranda Slayter delve into the evolving role of UX designers, emphasising the importance of education, strategic thinking, and collaboration within organisations. They discuss the challenges designers face in being recognised for their value, the impact of design systems on creativity, and the necessity o...
“Research is a slow process, but valuable” – Act 02 – Scene 37 – Theo Johnson
Summary
In this episode, Naresh Shan speaks with Theo Johnson, a senior UX researcher at Microsoft. They discuss the challenges and intricacies of UX research within large corporate organisations, the importance of storytelling in presenting research findings, and the evolving role of AI in the research process. Theo shares insights on how researchers can b...
“The Hype of AI: Understanding Its Real Impact” – Act 02 – Scene 36 – Brandon C. White
Summary
In this conversation, Brandon and Naresh explore the evolving landscape of AI, discussing its impact on business, critical thinking, and parenting. They delve into the hype surrounding AI technologies, the necessity for businesses to develop coherent strategies, and the potential dangers of over-reliance on AI tools. The discussion also exp...
“Making Accessibility a Priority” – Act 02 – Scene 35 – Maigen Thomas
Summary
In this episode of the DesignOps Aligned podcast Maigen Thomas discusses the critical importance of accessibility in design. They explore the transition from development to design, the challenges designers face in implementing accessibility, and the role of product managers in advocating for inclusive design. Maigen shares her insights on the need for desig...
“The Future of Prototyping: UXPin vs. Figma” – Act 02 – Scene 34 – Jack Behar
In this conversation, Naresh Shan and Jack Behar discuss the capabilities and advantages of UXPin, a design and prototyping platform that aims to bridge the gap between design and development. They compare UXPin with Figma, highlighting UXPin's code-first approach and centralised collaboration features. The discussion also covers the importance of des...
“The New Landscape of Design” – Act 02 – Scene 33 – Thomas Wilson
In this episode, Naresh Shan and Thomas discuss the evolving landscape of UX design, emphasising the shift from traditional UI roles to strategic positions within organisations. They explore the impact of AI on design, the importance of understanding business fundamentals, and the need for designers to build trust and influence within their teams. The conversatio...
“Unlocking the Value of Conferences” – Act 02 – Scene 32 – Damian Martone
Leadership Ateliers
Training for upcoming design leaders with multiple workshops and masterclasses in Lisbon (April 23-24), Barcelona (May 5-6) and Berlin (May 21-22). Get €100 off using the code DESIGNOPSALIGNED
Website: https://www.leadershipateliers.com
Hatch Conference
3-Day festival for senior designers and above. Featuring speakers and facilitators from...
“Balancing Creativity and Business in Design” - Act 02 - Scene 31 – Alexander Christian
In this conversation, Naresh Shan interviews Alex, a seasoned UX leader, about his journey in the design industry, the evolution of design practices, and the challenges faced by junior designers today. Alex shares insights on the balance between creativity and process, the role of design systems, and the importance of translating design into busi...
“Career Strategy Lab: A New Approach to UX Education” - Act 01 - Scene 30 – Sarah Doody
In this conversation, Naresh Shan and Sarah Doody discuss the evolution of UX design, the challenges faced by job seekers in the current market, and the importance of effective communication and portfolio presentation. Sarah shares insights from her experience running the Career Strategy Lab, emphasizing the need for tailored job applications and...
“Navigating the Job Market: Insights from Experts” - Act 01 - Scene 29 – Nina & Javier
In this episode, Javier Bargas and Nina Weber to discuss the current state of the job market, particularly in the UX design field. They explore the challenges job seekers face, including ghosting in applications, the importance of tailoring resumes, and the impact of AI on job security. The conversation also delves into the significance of bui...
“Why Design Language Matters” - Act 01 - Scene 28 – Ben Callahan
In this episode of the DesignOps Aligned podcast, Naresh Shan interviews Ben Callahan, a prominent figure in the design systems space. They discuss the evolution of responsive design, the importance of accessibility, and the shift towards adaptive design. Ben shares insights on the role of design systems in fostering creativity while maintaining structure, the challeng...
“Designing the Future: The Truth About UX” - Act 01 - Scene 27 – Felix Lee
In this engaging conversation, Naresh Shan and Felix Lee explore the intricacies of mentorship in the design industry, the impact of social media on perceptions of UX/UI, and the evolving role of AI in design. They discuss the essential qualities of a good mentor, the importance of truth-seeking in design, and the challenges designers face in a competitive j...
“Overcoming Fear in Career Changes Mastering Storytelling in UX Design” - Act 01 - Scene 26 – Ricardo Brito
In this engaging conversation, Naresh Shan and Ricardo Brito explore the complexities of career transitions, the importance of storytelling in personal reinvention, and the impact of trauma on professional dynamics. Ricardo shares his journey from product design to coaching, emphasizing the need for self-awareness and confide...
"From Curiosity to Clarity: Nikki’s Growth in User Research” - Act 01 - Scene 25 – Nikki Anderson
In this engaging conversation, Nikki shares her journey as a user researcher, emphasizing the field's evolution over the past five years. She discusses the importance of demonstrating user research ROI, KPIs' necessity, and the shift from big reveals to continuous feedback. Nikki also highlights the balance between proac...
“Measuring the impact of Content Design” - Act 01 - Scene 24 – Jeremy Dodd
In this episode of the Design Ops Align podcast, Jeremy Dodd, a content writer at Atlassian, discusses the critical role of content design in the UX process. Topics include measuring the ROI of content writing, integrating content writers early in the design process, and methodologies for testing and validating content. Jeremy also shares insights on the art...
" Navigating the Future of UX Testing” - Act 01 - Scene 23 – Alejandro Rivas-Micoud
Summary
In this episode of DesignOps Aligned, host Naresh Shan welcomes Alejandro Rivas-Micoud, CEO of Userlytics, for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of UX research, AI, and accessibility testing. Alejandro shares his insights on how Userlytics, a global leader in remote user experience and usability testing, is navigating industry shif...
" Craft will only take you so far in this industry” - Act 01 - Scene 22 – Jeremy Miller
In this podcast episode, Jeremy Miller, a well-known UX industry figure, discusses common UX design themes. He discusses the importance of soft skills, communication, and technical skills. He also explores how UX design has evolved from a function of engineering to a separate partnership. Jeremy emphasizes the need for UX designers to speak...
"The Value of Design System Knowledge” - Act 01 - Scene 21 – Davy Fung
In this episode, Davy Fung explores the evolution of design systems, the importance of collaboration between designers and developers, and the biggest challenges teams face when implementing them. He breaks down how to effectively communicate the value of design systems to stakeholders, choose the right tech stack, and prevent the accumulation of UI debt. T...
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