There's a wide gap between how designers see themselves and how everyone else sees them... and that gap has consequences. In this episode, a seasoned design executive shares what it really means to be a good corporate citizen, why design isn't the center of the universe, and how to show up differently. |
What if the biggest thing holding your career back isn't your design skills? What if it's the way you think about your role inside the organization?
You think your team values design the way you do?
I've got some bad news for you... They probably don't.
That gap between what you think is quietly wrecking your career.
But first, check out this week's sponsor:
SPONSOR
Build professional case studies in hours, not days. AI-powered case study builder with guided templates for UX case studies and presentations. Get 50% off with BEYONDUX at checkout!
|
|
This week, I sit down with Andy Vitale, a design exec who's led teams inside places like Truist, 3M, and Rocket, where designers were one-hundredth of one percent of the company. Everyone else? Scientists, engineers, marketers, business folks.
That kind of environment teaches you something fast: design isn't the center of the corporate universe. It's a contributor to success.
Here's what Andy unpacked:
➡️ Why staying quiet in the meeting but venting afterward is killing your reputation
➡️ The difference between being seen as a speed bump and being seen as an accelerant ➡️ What your PM actually feels when they work with a designer who "doesn't get it"
➡️ Why leadership is accountable for everything, even the stuff going great
➡️ The async feedback habit that makes your manager's job easier and your work better
We tend to extend endless empathy to our users. Andy makes the case that we should extend some of that to the people we sit next to every day.
This week, Andy and I dig into what it actually means to be a good corporate citizen, and why understanding that gap might be one of the most important soft skills you ever build.
Don't miss it!
SPONSOR
How often does your team stare at a blank Figma canvas, unsure where to start?
Mobbin gives your team instant access to over 600,000 beautifully designed UI screens and user flows from apps you love, with new content added every week. And with their new AI-powered search, finding exactly what you need takes seconds — whether you're searching by app category, UI pattern, or just a specific feature.
Ready to level up your design process? Visit mobbin.com/beyondux to get 20% off Mobbin Pro today and never run out of inspiration again.
|
|
You iterated, pivoted, circle-backed, and made it out of Q4 (barely).
You’ve earned a Merit-ish Badge!
Choose from four sets:
• Soft Skills, Sharp Tongue
• Cult of Figma Initiation
• Pixel Pusher Survivor Kit
• Field Notes & Frayed Nerves
|
|
|
|
|
|
They don't teach this stuff in school
Learn the things they left off the syllabus.
|
Also available at these fine retailers
|
