In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick discuss the real answer to the question that’s been haunting LinkedIn threads, Reddit posts, and bootcamp Slack groups:

Is it still worth becoming a UX or product designer in 2025 and beyond?

They look back on their own (non-)traditional paths into product design, the current state of the industry, and how AI is changing design roles differently than what most people say on social media.

They also share what separates the top 10% of designers from the rest, how you can make it to be within that top 10%, and why most bootcamp portfolios are outdated from the start.

This episode's super useful for new designers, career-switchers, and anyone wondering if it’s still worth it to invest time, money, and energy into a formal design education when it feels like AI is going to replace it all.

🔸 An important skill no design school teaches: rejection tolerance
🔸 Why “just stand out” is both great advice and terrible advice
🔸 AI isn’t replacing designers (but lazy designers might self-replace)
🔸 How to evaluate design programs without falling for hype
🔸 Portfolio strategy: what actually gets you hired
🔸 Why some hiring managers say “there are hundreds of applicants, but no one good”
🔸 Fundamentals vs. tools: what matters in 2025
🔸 Personal branding, mentorship, and zooming out

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In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick go into the chaotic world of branding. They discuss why it matters more than ever, when it’s completely overhyped, and how to make the most of it as a product designer looking to build a career.

Well-known branding moments include the Jaguar rebrand and Apple’s liquid glass 'feature'. Nick and Tyler talk about how branding decisions influence users and why some branding changes work wonders while others just cause social media uproar.

They also have quite something to say about personal branding for product designers: what it is, how to find your voice, and why soft skills don’t show up in your Figma file.

🔸 Why branding is your biggest moat—or just overpriced vibes
🔸 What the Jaguar rebrand got wrong
🔸 How Apple’s “failures” still drive loyalty
🔸 The emotional psychology behind iconic brands
🔸 Personal branding tips for designers
🔸 The underrated power of testimonials
🔸 Social proof, client trust, and repeat work
🔸 How to niche down (without boxing yourself in)

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In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick discuss the role of animation and motion in modern product design workflows and why it’s not just about looking slick.

From micro-interactions to loading states, they find out where animation improves UX and where it becomes a distraction. They also get into motion for video editing, designing for product marketing, and why most designers need to reconsider the amount of motion they use in their work.

Along the way, they touch on mentorship, design tools, and what junior designers should focus on when learning motion design in today’s world of product design.

🔸 Why subtle motion design is more effective
🔸 The psychology behind informative loading states
🔸 When animation delights users—and when it distracts
🔸 The value of documentation for preserving ideas
🔸 Tools for animation: Figma, Lottie, After Effects, and more
🔸 How animation can elevate product marketing
🔸 Mentorship, design education, and learning by doing
🔸 “Done is better than perfect” when shipping MVPs

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