DD0025 - Why Great Design Might Mean Being Temporarily Unpopular
In this episode of Design Different, Jake dives deep into why truly effective design sometimes requires making decisions that aren't immediately popular. He explores why the most valuable insights are often the hardest to deliver, especially to founders who are emotionally invested in their products. Using real-world experiences and practical strategies, Jake reveals how embracing discomfort and navigating challenging conversations can transform user experience, boost business outcomes, and build lasting trust. This episode is for anyone committed to creating impactful, meaningful work—even when it means being temporarily unpopular.Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/half-my-clients-hate-me/Send Jake a text messageSupport the show
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7:38
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7:38
DD0024 - Creative Rut Reset: Two Paths to Reignite Your Work
Hitting that quiet plateau where the work keeps rolling but the spark feels dim? In this episode, Jake dissects why mid-career designers and founders drift into creative inertia, and why the usual prescription of “work harder” only deepens the rut. He offers two practical escape routes: a mindset reset that helps you reclaim clarity, value, and purpose, and a systems upgrade that strips away repetitive drag so your best ideas rise to the surface. Packed with relatable stories and a daily three-step sequencing hack, this episode arms you with clear next moves to get momentum back on your side.Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/creative-rut-designer-options/Send Jake a text messageSupport the show
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8:48
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8:48
DD0023 - Design After AI: How to Stay Irreplaceable by 2030
AI is rapidly swallowing up the repetitive parts of design work—wireframes, layout tweaks, content variants. So where does that leave you as a designer?In this solo episode, Jake breaks down what design after AI really looks like, why pixel-pushing is no longer enough, and how to shift toward high-value roles like orchestration, systems thinking, and ethical design. He unpacks the emerging roles already commanding six-figure salaries, the mindset shifts that matter most, and how to build a personal roadmap that keeps you ahead of the curve.Packed with practical examples, reflections from the frontlines, and a clear action plan you can start using today.If you want to stay relevant, respected, and paid well as a designer, this is the episode for you.Listen now and start steering your career—before someone else does.Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/design-after-ai-designer-role-2030/Send Jake a text messageSupport the show
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8:36
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8:36
DD0022 - Design at a Crossroads: Thriving in the 2025 AI Revolution
Design is at a pivotal crossroads in 2025. AI is dramatically reshaping our tools, redefining our roles, and transforming our industry. In this deeply reflective and extensive episode, I'll explore in detail how designers can not only survive, but genuinely thrive, in the era of AI. We'll discuss preserving the essence of craft, cultivating critical judgement, and uncovering why the future belongs to designers who thoughtfully bridge technology, strategy, ethics, and human-centred design.Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/articles/design-craft-ai-future/Send Jake a text messageSupport the show
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8:45
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8:45
DD0021 - Why Great Design Leadership Starts with Systems, Not Just Taste
In this episode, I explore a big shift in how I think about design leadership. It's not just about having great taste or a strong creative vision. Those things matter, but they don't scale. What does? Building systems. Systems that help your team make great decisions, move with clarity, and carry your standards forward without you having to be involved in every detail. This is about the mindset shift that helps good design leaders become great.Read more: https://www.jakeburdess.com/articles/design-leadership-systems-thinking/Send Jake a text messageSupport the show
For independent thinkers in design and business.Design Different is a podcast for experienced designers ready to build something of their own, and for founders who understand that design isn’t just decoration: it’s how your business works.With decades of global experience across agencies, corporates, and independent studios, Jake Burdess breaks down what makes creative work not just look good, but actually work.Expect thoughtful takes on systems, strategy, and the realities of modern design - all without the hype. Whether you’re building your own practice or your own company, this show will help you think more clearly and design more deliberately.Clarity. Systems. Design that works.
New Zealand