You keep hearing that UX and product designers should build. Yet, most designers don’t.

Why is that? Are designers right? Is it just a case of social media nonsense?

To find out, we looked at what happens when someone actually does it.

Not a side project they’ll finish later (but never do) or another concept that never makes it out of Figma.

It is a real product and it is live. All in one weekend. And for Tyler, the designer who built it, it changes everything.

In this episode of the Design Table Podcast, we discuss just that; what actually happens when a designer stops talking about building and forces the constraint to ship something real.

We get into the tools, the process, and what surprised us once the product was live and usable.

But more importantly; what this changes about how you think about your career (and what stays the same).

Because once you realize it’s possible to go from idea to something real that fast, you stop looking at job applications, portfolios, and “waiting your turn” the same way.

This episode is about what happens when the builder mindset stops being theory and becomes real.

In this episode you’ll learn:
🔸 Why most designers stay stuck in the idea phase
🔸 What actually happens when you try to ship in a weekend
🔸 The tools that make building possible without a dev team
🔸 What surprised us after launching something real
🔸 Why this changes how you think about portfolios and jobs
🔸 What it means to stop waiting and start building

⏱ Chapters
00:00 From layoffs to building
05:00 Why talking about building isn’t enough
10:00 The weekend challenge
15:00 Tools used to build the product
20:00 What actually worked and what didn’t
26:00 What changed after shipping
32:00 Why this changes your career strategy

Subscribe to The Design Table Podcast
https://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe

More about Tyler and Nick
Tyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white
Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

You lose your job. No warning. Or maybe you felt it coming. Either way… now you’re sitting there thinking:

“What the hell do I do next? How do I find a new product design role?!”

In this episode of the Design Table Podcast, we discuss what actually happens after getting laid off as a product designer and how to succeed at the job search that follows.

We talk about the emotional side of layoffs, what goes through your head in those first few days, and how quickly reality sets in when you realize you need to find your next role.

We also get into real strategies that worked for us (we found out the hard way), including how job searching has changed, why job boards aren’t as effective anymore, and how to approach applications in a much more intentional way.

This episode is about getting back on your feet and moving forward with a plan. It is a must-listen for any designer who's been part of layoffs or is preparing for their next role.

In this episode you’ll learn:
🔸 What goes through your mind after getting laid off
🔸 Why job boards don’t work like they used to
🔸 How the design job market has changed
🔸 The difference between volume and quality applications
🔸 Why tailoring your resume actually matters
🔸 How to manage rejection without burning out

⏱ Chapters
00:00 Getting laid off as a designer
03:00 The emotional aftermath
07:00 Job search strategies then vs now
12:00 Why job boards are less effective
18:00 Volume vs quality applications
24:00 Building a real application strategy

Subscribe to The Design Table Podcast
https://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe

More about Tyler and Nick
Tyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white
Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

You join a new company. First of all; congratulations!

You arrive on day one and what do you see? There are engineers, product managers, marketers, and a sales team. But there is no design team. Turns out you are the only product designer. Yikes!

In this episode of the Design Table Podcast, we discuss what it’s actually like to be the first or only designer at a company, how product designers can survive those early months without burning out, and how you can start to build real design influence.

We talk about the reality of introducing design into organizations that have never had it before, why trying to fix everything at once usually goes wrong, and how to gradually build trust across engineering, product, and leadership.

This episode is about learning how to create impact when you’re alone. It is a must-see for founding designers, startup designers, and anyone stepping into their first solo design role.

In this episode you’ll learn:
🔸 What to focus on during your first 30–90 days as the only designer
🔸 Why improving the process is more important than perfect design
🔸 How to build allies across engineering and product teams
🔸 Why presenting aesthetics alone often fails
🔸 How internal usability tests can build credibility quickly
🔸 How to grow design influence inside non-design organizations

⏱ Chapters
00:00 The reality of being the only designer
03:00 Tyler’s founding designer experience
07:00 Why you shouldn’t try to fix everything at once
11:00 The “meet in the middle” process strategy
15:00 Why design language must change for stakeholders
20:00 Meeting everyone across the company
24:00 Using usability tests to build influence
29:00 The politics of internal visibility
33:00 When to take work outside your role
38:00 When it’s time to grow the design team

Subscribe to The Design Table Podcast
https://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe

More about Tyler and Nick
Tyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white
Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld