Podcast Summary: The Angry Designer – “How Fake Work Destroys Graphic Design Productivity and Time Management”

Date: December 2, 2025
Hosts: Massimo & Sean

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the persistent struggle graphic designers face with productivity and time management. Rather than focusing on trendy hacks and planner systems, the hosts unapologetically unpack the truth behind wasted hours and unproductive busyness. Their main focus: the devastating effect of "fake work"—tasks that feel productive but don’t truly move your projects or career forward. Listeners are challenged to examine their own habits, address self-inflicted chaos, and build more disciplined, healthy work routines.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Discipline vs. Design Stereotypes

• Discipline in Other Cultures vs. Design Culture (02:05–03:41)

  • The hosts open with a tongue-in-cheek tribute to Japanese time management, comparing it to the chaotic, often undisciplined environment typical in design agencies.
  • Quote:
    “One thing that this [Japanese] culture has done well is, you know, like, they're disciplined...where, unfortunately, graphic designers often aren't known for their discipline.” (A, 03:15)

• The Myth of the Overworked Designer (03:50–04:38)

  • Many agencies glorify working late, burning out, and feeling overwhelmed.
  • Quote:
    “Our industry is always about, you know, burning the midnight oil, working late. And it's like a badge of honor or something. And I've always hated that.” (A, 03:51)

The Real Time Killers: Fake Work and Micro-Distractions

• Fake Work Defined (10:30–11:28)

  • Fake work includes time-wasting activities—like endlessly reorganizing files or tweaking tiny details—that provide a false sense of productivity.
  • Quote:
    “The most common distractions...is just this. This whole fake work that we're constantly creating for ourselves.” (A, 10:30)

• Why Designers Lean Into Fake Work (11:28–12:23)

  • Often rooted in discomfort or procrastination, designers pick less demanding tasks over meaningful progress.
  • Quote:
    “You don't want to actually do what you're supposed to do. Right. So you're kind of making up all this fake work.” (A, 11:22)

• The “Dopamine Hit” of Tick-Box Tasks (12:10–12:23)

  • These minor accomplishments provide temporary satisfaction but don’t advance key projects.

Busyness Is Not Productivity

• Busy but Not Productive (08:29–09:04)

  • Many designers feel slammed all day but finish without crossing off anything substantial.
  • Quote:
    “How many people are busy all day long, but they don't get shit done?” (A, 08:43)

• Track Your Real Time Use (10:01–10:17)

  • The hosts suggest logging your activities for a few days; most would see where time is truly lost.

Distractions and How to Reclaim Focus

• Digital Distractions (13:47–14:30)

  • Open tabs, constant email checking, Slack, and messenger pings ruin creative flow.
  • Quote:
    “You can't actually get to that creative flow state if you keep yourself busy with emails every 10 minutes... in order to truly be creative, you need long stretches of uninterrupted time.” (A, 13:26 & 13:42)

• Setting Communication Boundaries (14:29–15:15; 20:16–22:13)

  • The hosts are adamant about not letting clients and colleagues constantly interrupt just because they have access (e.g., via Slack or email).
  • Quote:
    “We'll never get any work done if customers can feel like they can interrupt us anytime they want to.” (A, 14:30)
  • Practical tip: Use headphones as a signal not to disturb; communicate with managers about needing focused blocks.

• Handling Interruptions (18:16–20:16)

  • Protecting your “focus time” isn’t rude—it’s necessary for professional output.

The Power of Time Blocking & Creative Flow

• Solid Work Blocks (16:30–17:33)

  • Massimo’s No-BS advice: Set at least two focus periods each day (90 minutes AM, 2 hours PM), and strictly enforce them.
  • Quote:
    “Honestly, give yourself in the morning a 90-minute stretch of just solid work...in the afternoon, have maybe a two-hour stretch in the afternoon of uninterrupted creative flow.” (A, 17:03)

• Overcoming FOMO (17:33–18:16)

  • Fear of missing urgent emails or emergencies is overblown—the work can wait.

Respecting Personal Rhythms & Rest

• Tapping into Circadian Rhythms (22:33–25:10)

  • Know your natural peak creative window; use it for your most demanding tasks.
  • Quote:
    “If you can tap into those hours, it is free super design power.” (A, 24:36)

• Process Discipline: Don’t Let Busywork Consume You (25:35–26:45)

  • If admin tasks like invoicing take too long, your systems need fixing—not more of your time.
  • Quote:
    “If it takes you a day to invoice...your process sucks. Because when that time comes, okay, everything should be there. An invoice should only take you a few minutes.” (A, 25:51)

• Learn to Say No (27:29–29:33)

  • Setting boundaries with managers and clients is crucial; otherwise, burnout is inevitable.
  • Quote:
    “Burnout doesn't happen by working 20 hours a day on stuff you love...It happens by working...on things you don't love, all day long.” (A, 28:16)

Rest Is a Creative Tool

• Rest and The Incubation Process (29:57–33:53)
  • True creativity requires downtime, away from screens and tools, to let ideas percolate.
  • Quote:
    “Resting is as much a creative tool as using my Creative Suite.” (A, 29:58)
  • Incubation leads to those “shower thoughts” and sudden bursts of inspiration.
  • Build non-negotiable downtime into your routine, like unplugged lunch breaks.

Memorable Quotes

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |---|---|---| | 03:51 | A (Massimo) | “Our industry is always about, you know, burning the midnight oil, working late. And it's like a badge of honor or something. And I’ve always hated that.” | | 08:43 | A | “How many people are busy all day long, but they don't get shit done?” | | 10:30 | A | “The most common distractions...is just this. This whole fake work that we're constantly creating for ourselves.” | | 13:26 | A | “You can't actually get to that creative flow state if you keep yourself busy with emails every 10 minutes...” | | 14:30 | A | “We’ll never get any work done if customers can feel like they can interrupt us anytime they want to.” | | 17:03 | A | “Give yourself in the morning a 90 minute stretch of just solid work...you’d be shocked how much work you could get done by cutting out the distractions.” | | 24:36 | A | “If you can tap into those hours, it is free super design power.” | | 25:51 | A | “If it takes you a day to invoice...your process sucks.” | | 29:58 | A | “Resting is as much a creative tool as using my Creative Suite.” | | 28:16 | A | “Burnout doesn't happen by working 20 hours a day on stuff you love...It happens by working...on things you don't love, all day long.” |

Suggested Action Steps for Listeners

• Audit your daily activities to spot and eliminate fake work.
• Schedule at least two uninterrupted creative work blocks per day.
• Align your heaviest creative tasks with your natural energy peaks.
• Build non-negotiable downtime into each day to let ideas incubate.
• Establish and communicate clear boundaries with clients and colleagues around your focus hours.
• Streamline admin processes: set up systems to handle busywork efficiently.
• Don’t feel guilty for saying “no” to requests that compromise your effectiveness.

Closing Thought

“Build in downtime in your schedule...Because, you know, ultimately everything happens so quick. But we only have so much time during the day to get this done. We can't control time. But you can manage what you give time to all day long.” (A, 34:56)

Stay creative. Stay angry.