In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick talk about how the lines between designers and product managers are getting more and more blurry.

AI tools speed up our way of working and startups grow using smaller teams than ever. Does that mean we are heading toward a new unicorn role for a designer-product-manager-hybrid?

From working with founders instead of PMs, to shielding teams from company politics, to the rise of fractional roles and hybrid titles, we explore how the designer and PM responsibilities are evolving and whether we’re just overcomplicating the whole thing.

🔸 Why strategy and design are merging
🔸 The slow disappearance of traditional PMs
🔸 What “fractional” actually means (and why it’s not just a buzzword)
🔸 Whether small teams still need dedicated PMs
🔸 The mental toll of context switching
🔸 When meetings are useful — and when they’re just expensive
🔸 The future of the product designer title (or lack thereof)

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In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler White and Nick Groeneveld discuss the fast-evolving world of design tools, AI integration for your tools, and why your current workflow might (or might not) already be outdated.

From tool fatigue to the Figma vs. Framer debate, they explore how designers are adapting (or not) to new tech, what makes or breaks productivity today, and whether a single tool could truly bridge the gap between design and development.

They also discuss the shifting responsibilities of designers and product managers, and why understanding code might soon be part of your job description.

Whether you're curious about the next big thing, feeling overwhelmed by the AI tool race, or wondering if Figma is still the go-to, this conversation is packed with insights that will shape the way you think about design in 2025 and beyond.

🔸 Why AI tool overload is killing designer productivity
🔸 The hidden cost of switching tools
🔸 Can Framer replace Figma for marketing sites?
🔸 What “designing in code” actually looks like today
🔸 How integrated tools could merge design and dev roles
🔸 Why Figma’s future depends on its website builder
🔸 How product management and design are merging
🔸 The tradeoff between speed, craft, and business impact
🔸 What every designer should know about using AI effectively
🔸 A future with multiple tools sharing market dominance

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In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler White and Nick Groeneveld discuss the (design) updates Apple showcased at WWDC, including the much-hyped Liquid Glass, and what it means for product designers, users, and the future of UI.

They discuss why both the product design community and Apple focuses too much on Liquid Glas, what to focus on instead, and the more interesting subtle announcements.

The focus is less on Liquid Glass and more about UX because UI, UX, and product design isn’t just about visual polish. It’s marketing, emotion, accessibility, and trust. This is especially important when working on the devices we use a lot during the day.

At the same time, the episode highlights the growing importance of emotional design, the return of personality in UI, and the tension between trends and usability.

Inside this episode:

🔸 Why the design community is split on Liquid Glass
🔸 How Apple’s marketing may have overplayed the announcement
🔸 The return of 3D design and why people are tired of flat design
🔸 Why accessibility and readability always beat shiny aesthetics
🔸 How emotional design is becoming a bigger part of UX
🔸 Spotlight and Search improvements that actually boost productivity
🔸 How user expectations are shifting thanks to Apple’s design leadership
🔸 The risk of letting aesthetics overshadow real usability gains
🔸 How to position design updates for better user acceptance
🔸 Why design is key in marketing, branding, and product adoption

🎧 Listen now and stay sharp as design continues to evolve.

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