Podcast
UX Banter
Hosted by Galaxy UX Studio · EN
UX Banter is a candid, conversational podcast where UX leader and author Dushyant Kanungo explores the real stories behind design, product thinking, and digital innovation. Each episode features unfiltered banter with designers, product leaders, and technologists from around the world, unpacking how they navigate careers, ship complex products, and build ethical, evidence-based experiences for real users.
14episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How Design Thinking Drives Community and Innovation - Luis Berumen, S7, Ep. 9
3w ago00:40:50Tap to summarizeIn this episode we are joined by Luis Berumen, Executive Director of Calgary UX. He brings deep experience working across enterprise platforms, government initiatives, and grassroots communities. He is passionate about shaping meaningful product direction, championing inclusive and accessible design, and mentoring the next generation of designers while actively contributing to the global design community. Discussion Points - Share your story, what experiences shaped you into who you are today? 2:00 How did your professional journey evolve from your early roles to where you are today? 6:26 How has growing up across different cultures and languages shaped the way you approach design? 15:02 You’ve built a strong UX community in Calgary through meetups, conferences, and mentorship. What drives you to invest in this, and what does mentorship mean to you when it comes to giving back? 25:13 What advice would you give to someone from a country under construction who wants to build an international design career? 35:51 Show notes - If you always feel like you're fighting your environment, the means of the environment is wrong, not you. If what you love dies with you, then you never really loved it enough. You have to share it. You need to know that you can do it. As soon as you are in the room with creative people and you participate, you will be at the level. It doesn't matter where you're coming from. If you're going to migrate, you're going to experience rejection and loneliness. But that shouldn't define you. It's just one way to build resilience and keep going. Humour in UX is not just about being funny. If it's functional for the goal, like recovering from an error, then it's welcome. Otherwise it just humiliates the user when they're already down. People have three different feelings at the same time, influenced by so many things that are not just your application. You need to dig deeper into how people feel and keep understanding the human heart. Luis’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisberumen/
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From Research to AI: The Changing Role of UX Designers - AJ Bubb, S7, Ep. 8
4w ago01:12:18Tap to summarizeIn this special crossover episode, we’re joined by AJ Bubb, host of the podcast Facing Disruptions, for an unscripted, high-energy conversation that flips the format. Instead of a traditional interview, this episode brings two hosts together for an authentic exchange on UX, product thinking, and the evolving role of designers. From hybrid roles and AI disruption to building high-performing teams and breaking silos, this episode dives into what it really takes to stay relevant in today’s fast-changing landscape. Discussion Points Tell us about your Journey. (AJ to Dushyant) 2:24 How do you design with empathy when you’re not at the edge, close to the user? (AJ to Dushyant) 6:42 How do you build teams that handle pressure and solve the right problems, not just deliver solutions? (Dushyant to AJ) 20:08 What does the future of high-performing teams look like? (Dushyant to AJ) 26:35 As new tech reshapes the rules, has it actually made your work better, especially on products like your podcast app? (Dushyant to AJ) 40:11 AI went from doing the work to supporting thinking. What changed, and what does that mean for the future? (Dushyant to AJ) 44:30 With AI speeding up product builds, are clients now expecting working products instead of just wireframes? (AJ to Dushyant) 59:50 Show Notes ~ You can't just give one screen and say, can you please beautify it? You are not going to get the output. - Dushyant Kanungo ~ You're hiring to solve the problem, not for the solution. You need people who can think about the problem. - AJ Bubb ~ You need to give them that levy, the time to breathe, think, and do their best. — Dushyant Kanungo ~ We now get more time to think about the strategy part of UX than we ever had before. - Dushyant Kanungo ~ If you're an engineer and you think you're being paid to code — you don't know what your job is. - AJ Bubb ~ A dream without a plan is just wishful thinking. You are not going to win the lottery without buying the ticket. - Dushyant Kanungo AJ’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajbubb/ His Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@FacingDisruption #DesignLeadership #UXDesign #AIandUX #ProductThinking #Podcast
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The Design Trinity: Culture, Curiosity and Craft - Bryan Dávila, S7, Ep. 7
Apr 2400:53:14Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we’re joined by Bryan Dávila, Design Director at Hook Studios and a creative leader known for shaping award-winning digital experiences for global brands. With experience spanning top agencies and iconic organizations, including being one of the key designers at Apple, he brings a thoughtful perspective on design direction, branding, and creative leadership. He’s also deeply involved in industry juries and creative forums, where he continues to influence and mentor the design community. Discussion Point - Take us through your journey from Ecuador to Silicon Valley and how you got to where you are today. 3:16 You started in print and physical design before moving to digital. How has that shaped the way you approach design compared to those who started natively in digital? 10:46 As a design leader, how do you guide your team through the constantly shifting landscape of AI and new tools? 14:15 Rapid fire round 16:14 Tell us about the Google Language Inclusion and Language Explorer projects and what drove you to work on them. 34:32 You have worked both in-house at Apple and at an agency working with Google. What is the key difference between those two worlds? 42:09 What advice would you give to someone who wants to get a job at a company like Apple? 49:23 Show notes - Discipline counts double than talent. Talent might get you noticed early, but discipline is what compounds over time. Good design doesn't happen solo. Leading a design team is mostly about creating the right environment for smart and thoughtful work to come to life and thrive. The work I'm most proud of isn't just the work that wins awards. It's the work that actually helps someone understand, feel and act with less friction. Design used to be seen as decoration. Now it's infrastructure. It shapes how people learn, communicate and make decisions and that's a huge shift in responsibility. The medium has changed but the perception hasn't. Good design still starts with people, not platforms. It's not necessarily something that looks good, but something that truly impacts the world. That is what makes the work meaningful. Bryan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davilabryan/ Explore the Google Language Inclusion initiative: https://sites.research.google/languages/
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The Art of Leading Creative Teams with Purpose - Kevin Forister, S7, Ep 6
Apr 1500:43:11Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we are joined by Kevin Forister, Creative Director at Flywheel and a seasoned creative leader with deep experience across ideation, concept development, and team leadership. His work has earned multiple national awards and global recognition. Beyond client work, Kevin is passionate about mentoring creatives and shares practical insights through his book Breaking Into Art Direction and his YouTube channel, Open Door Creative. Discussion Points ~ How did your journey start, and what led you to become a Creative Director? 1:35 ~ What does the role of a Creative Director actually entail, and how do you manage a team of creatives? 5:16 ~ How do you balance working within brand guidelines while still pushing creative boundaries? 9:03 ~ How is AI changing the creative industry, and what is your take on the fear and imposter syndrome around it? 22:51 ~ Tell us about your YouTube channel, Open Door Creative, and what drove you to create it? 34:44 ~ Tell us about your book, Breaking Into Art Direction, and what can readers expect from it? 37:16 Show notes ~ Design doesn’t exist only on screens or inside tools. It’s shaped by how much you pay attention to the world, the conversations you listen to, and the ideas you allow yourself to explore outside of your immediate work. ~ A lot of what I know didn’t come from formal training. It came from listening, observing, and staying curious about things that didn’t seem directly related to design at the time. ~ Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating space for better questions, better conversations, and letting people grow into their own strengths. ~ You never really stop learning in this field. We’re all still figuring things out, making assumptions, testing ideas, and adjusting as the world keeps changing. ~ Curiosity is one of the most underrated skills in design. The more curious you stay, the more perspectives you collect — and that always shows up in your work. ~ What excites me most is seeing people take what they’ve heard, make their own assumptions, and form their own point of view. That’s where real creative confidence begins. Kevin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinforister/ His YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@OpenDoorCreative
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What Keeps Designers Relevant as Technology Evolves - Justin Dauer, S7, Ep. 5
Apr 800:35:03Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we are joined by Justin, a designer, author, and speaker who focuses deeply on the human side of design. Justin has spent years exploring how culture, values, and craft shape the way designers build products and teams, helping creatives think beyond tools and trends to create more meaningful work. He’s also the author of Creative Culture and In Fulfillment: The Designer’s Journey, where he shares reflections on growth, humility, and lifelong learning in design. Discussion Points - What was your journey from deciding to become a designer to building your own studio? 2:11 Has your perspective on agency work evolved over time, or is it what you originally envisioned? 5:28 How do you balance your day job with personal creative pursuits without feeling like you’re missing out on other opportunities? 14:53 How has your workflow evolved from traditional tools to today’s AI-driven design processes? 24:18 When choosing new projects, do you prefer working with specific types of clients or project sizes? 27:53 What advice would you give your younger self, and do you think it still holds true today? 30:06 Show notes - Designers need to think beyond tools and trends if they want to create work that truly matters. People are engaging with our experiences in real, imperfect environments, and that responsibility should guide how we design. Design is a profession, but for many of us, it’s also a passion and a calling. Early success can be dangerous if you’re not prepared for it. Ego can quietly hurt the work. Leveraging humility while still respecting your expertise is one of the most important lessons in a design career. Never stop learning. Never stop being a student of your craft—this advice will always be relevant. Justin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pseudoroom/ Company’s Website: https://anomalibydesign.com His books, In Fulfillment: The Designer's Journey (https://in-fulfillment.com) and Creative Culture (https://the-culturebook.com)
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Designing for Trust: UX in Healthcare & Insurance - Feras Abdul Khayum , S7, Ep. 4
Mar 3100:35:40Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we’re joined by Feras Abdul Khayum, UX & Product Design Lead at Data D Solutions, who shares his journey from early startup work to leading UX in mission-critical U.S. healthcare insurance systems. The conversation dives deep into designing for trust, responsibility, and speed, especially when decisions can directly impact human lives. Discussion Points: What’s your origin story—from your early life and education to becoming a design leader today? 2:09 You’re currently working in the insurance sector. Do you think this niche is receiving the attention and recognition it truly deserves? 7:22 Is this a double-edged challenge, serving end users while also enabling enterprise users to confidently make data-driven decisions? 10:43 Rapid fire round 13:00 What does it take to design AI solutions for healthcare in emergency situations, and what is your approach to it? 17:03 What advice would you give to your younger self or to the youth who want to follow in your footsteps? Anything they should watch out for? 29:01 Show notes: In healthcare UX, you’re not designing for delight or engagement metrics — you’re designing for responsibility. Every decision has a real human impact, and that changes how seriously you approach the work. When systems influence life-critical decisions, trust isn’t built through visuals alone. It comes from clarity, transparency, and helping users understand why a decision was made. AI should never replace human accountability in healthcare. Its real value is in supporting faster, more informed decisions while keeping humans firmly in control. Speed in healthcare UX isn’t about moving fast for efficiency’s sake. It’s about reducing friction at moments where delays can affect outcomes and, sometimes, lives. Deep domain understanding is non-negotiable in complex systems. Without it, even the most beautiful interface can fail the people who depend on it. Ethical design becomes unavoidable when your work impacts real people. In healthcare, you don’t get the luxury of treating ethics as a secondary consideration. Feras’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/feras-ak-dezine-theuxguy/
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Balancing Creativity and Structure in Design Systems - Michael Miller, S7, Ep. 3
Mar 2400:37:10Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we’re joined by Michael Miller, Associate Creative Director at Level Studios, who brings over a decade of experience designing and scaling digital products across enterprise platforms. Michael leads multidisciplinary teams focused on UI strategy, design systems, and cross-functional collaboration. With a background spanning experiential design, marketing, and product design, he shares a grounded perspective on building systems that balance structure, creativity, and real business impact. Discussion Points ~How did your journey into creative leadership begin? (1:39) ~Do your past experiences in marketing and creative projects influence the work you do today? (4:28) ~Why is understanding the business and domain critical for enterprise-level UX and product design? (6:26) ~Rapid fire round (9:35) ~Do UX designers often take on business analyst responsibilities, from understanding requirements to envisioning how solutions will be executed? (20:14) ~How is AI changing your role today, and where do you see it taking the future of design? (27:42) ~What advice would you give your younger self 10–15 years ago? (34:13) Show Notes ~Design isn’t just about visuals—it’s about understanding people and what makes them engage. ~The real through line in my work has always been human connection, whether it’s the user or the client. ~Strong systems thinking and organization naturally translate into great product design. ~You don’t need to be the subject matter expert, but you need to understand how the business works. ~Good design comes from working closely with experts and understanding what actually works in the real world. ~Design systems aren’t about control; they’re about creating structures that allow things to grow. ~UX isn’t just about solving the problem given; it’s about understanding what the real problem is. Michael’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/creationmod/
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Designing Future-Ready Web Experiences - Kevin Watkins, S7, Ep. 2
Mar 1600:27:17Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we are joined by Kevin Watkins, Founder and Creative Director at Farewell. With over 250 websites launched, Kevin brings deep expertise in building fast, accessible, and future-ready digital experiences. We dive into his journey from WordPress to Webflow, embracing chaos in the creator world, and what it takes to design scalable, inclusive websites today. Discussion Points - What led you to start Farewell and your journey into web design? 2:23 What kind of clients or brands do you typically work with, and what excites you most about these projects? 5:05 What challenges did you face while building and scaling your studio? 6:09 Do designers naturally become good managers as teams grow? 8:21 Rapid fire round 9:41 How do you see AI influencing design and creativity? 16:25 What advice would you give to aspiring creative founders? 24:38 Show notes - Embrace the chaos instead of running away from it. That has been our motto, and it reflects in everything we do. Original ideas will always win. AI is just reusing what's out there, pulling from a database of original ideas, so keep creating. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Be flexible with the things you're doing and be ready to change direction. Fail forward is one of our core values here at the agency. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; they are part of the journey. If you're jumping into the creative space right now, buckle up because it's fun, it's chaotic, it's rewarding, you'll laugh, and you'll cry. But there's no better field to be a part of. Being a tool agnostic is key right now. If another tool comes around that serves our clients better, we will switch to that without hesitation. Kevin’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstanleywatkins/ Company’s Website: https://www.heyfarewell.com/
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Human Centered UX in the Age of AI with Taylor Gurian, S7, Ep. 1
Mar 1000:38:33Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we sit down with Taylor Gurian, Director of User Experience at Nebo, to explore her journey across marketing, customer insights, and UX leadership. Taylor shares practical guidance on building a career in UX, why non-traditional backgrounds are an advantage, and how real-world experience shapes strong designers. Discussion points - Walk us through your journey from architecture to marketing to UX and how each chapter shaped where you are today. 1:56 How do you use your marketing background in your day-to-day UX work? 10:19 Rapid fire round 13:43 Do you think defining product requirements should be part of a UX designer’s role, or should a business analyst handle that before the design process begins? 17:57 How is AI changing the way UX designers work, and what is your approach to using it responsibly? 21:16 How is your team at Nebo currently adopting AI tools, and what has the experience been like so far? 23:23 What advice would you give to someone trying to break into UX today when entry level jobs are harder to find than ever? 32:33 Show notes - Use your past experience as a superpower. Whether you were a nurse, a marketer or anything else, you can always find your differentiator in what you did before. AI should do boring work for creative people, not creative things for boring people. Let it handle the grunt work, so you have more time and space for the creative stuff. Think of AI as your eager intern. It wants to move fast, it has a few ideas for you, but you always need to adjust and modify its work because you are the expert, not it. If you're trying to respond to human problems, try to stay away from AI. We, as humans helping other humans, must stay human no matter where efficiency takes us. The traditional UX path doesn't really exist, and it doesn't need to. What makes you unique is your differentiator, and that is what stands out when everything else looks the same. Get experience doing work with real people. Even if it never goes live, the interaction with a real human is what builds your portfolio and your instincts at the same time. Taylor’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorgurian/ Company’s website: https://www.neboagency.com/
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Exploring UX, AI, and Mentorship with Ranjithkumar Rajarethinam, S6, Ep. 8
Oct 900:34:52Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we are joined by Ranjithkumar Rajarethinam, Director of Design & Strategy at Esperia Studio. With over 20 years of experience, Ranjit has worked across industries from banking to manufacturing, blending empathy, process, and AI-driven tools to shape user experiences. He is also the founder of Learner at Large, a platform that mentors UX designers at every stage of their careers. Discussion Points ~ How did your design journey begin, and what were the turning points that shaped your career? ~ How do you see AI impacting design careers today, especially for junior designers entering the field? ~ Rapid fire round ~ Can you walk us through your stakeholder management framework and why stakeholder buy-in is critical in enterprise UX? ~ How do you adapt your design approach across diverse industries like banking, manufacturing, and energy? ~ What’s one key piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting out? Show Notes ~ Everything I learned so far has come full circle with AI—today I can scale my skills in ways I couldn’t before. ~ When you build a portfolio, make sure it carries your stamp—don’t try to be another designer in the market. ~ Resources are the same for juniors and seniors now; the difference lies in vision and the willingness to iterate. ~ In enterprise UX, you’re not just designing screens—you’re designing alliances. ~Time is money. To succeed, you must understand the customer’s business context, not just their users. ~ The three skills that will define careers in the next decade are creative problem-solving, analytical thinking, and lifelong learning. Ranjith’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/learneratlarge/
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