In this episode, we're joined by Zachary Newton, the talented UX Director of CreateApe. With a background blending design leadership and tech prowess, he's a driving force behind creative endeavors in Brand, Product, UI/UX, Video, and Marketing. Zachary's passion lies in crafting experiences that harmonize business objectives and user satisfaction, going beyond pixels to shape digital innovation. 

Discussion points - 

• What path did you follow to become the designer and creative professional you are today? 1:26
• Do your past experiences significantly influence your current role and approach? 3:37
• Do you believe that achieving a high level of discipline is crucial when self-learning to establish a career compared to pursuing formal education? 6:36
• Rapid fire round 7:49
• How do no-code and low-code platforms impact the user experience when compared to custom-built solutions, and what are your thoughts on their significance in UX design?11:13
• How do you and your team stay up-to-date with evolving technologies and trends to ensure you remain competitive in delivering products and services? 16:43
• Tell us about the podcasts you host. 23:48
• What advice would you give to individuals who are just starting their careers and aspire to reach the level of expertise you have achieved? 27:05

Show notes - 

• I started with development and later shifted to design to work on products I found enjoyable. It allowed me to influence their appearance, functionality, and perception, primarily focusing on design, with some development involvement. 
• I often advise people, even during user or stakeholder interviews, to ask 'why' multiple times. You might have heard of this technique, but it's essential to approach a question from various angles to uncover the true answer.
• Everything I've done up to today, including video editing, design, and development, has been self-taught. I haven't received a traditional education in these fields.
• You've always got to have that hunger and drive to educate yourself, to understand what you don't know and learn from it.
• I'm personally a fan of low-code and no-code solutions. I believe they are excellent for rapid development, iteration, and testing. However, there may come a point where a custom solution is necessary. Two of my favorite low-code and no-code platforms are Webflow and FlutterFlow, which allow you to build websites and applications.
• I believe that as creatives or agencies, we need to embrace AI tools rather than fear them and figure out how to incorporate them. In the future, it will be about orchestrating the synergy between these tools and technologies.
• In the Soapbox Business Show podcast, my co-host Mario and I interview various business professionals, mainly those who own or run their businesses. We firmly believe that regardless of their industry, these conversations offer valuable insights and information.
• There have been instances where I've found that what is taught in classrooms is outdated or no longer relevant. To stay ahead, it's essential to stay hungry, continue learning independently, and be hands-on. These factors combined will contribute to your success.

Links - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyrnewton/ Company website: https://www.createape.com/ Portfolio/ website: https://zacharynewton.me/ Podcasts: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/story-archives https://soapbox.house/ 

In this episode, we are joined by Jonelle Chandler - Partner and Chief Creative Officer at Qualified Digital.  A dynamic design leader dedicated to empowering diverse design thinkers and bridging the gender and ethnic gap in tech. She actively mentors through programs like Built By Girls, ADPList, Women in Wireless, Blacks Who Design, and the Invision Design Leadership Forum, excelling in crafting innovative digital experiences by harmonizing business objectives, technology, data, and creativity.

Discussion points - 

• What influenced your career choice, and how did you become the professional you are today? 1:50
• Can you outline the connections and distinctions between your shift from architecture to UX design, along with the transferable insights between these domains? 2:51
• What key distinction do you see between designing for Enterprise UX and designing for the typical user experience of consumer products? 6:15
• Please share your insights regarding the return on investment (ROI) of Enterprise UX. 8:23
• Rapid fire round 9:30
• How do you ensure diversity and inclusion within your design team to promote diverse design thinkers and innovative digital experiences? 16:32
• Could you share your experience with ADPList and the mentoring you've provided in general? What common themes do you often address in these contexts? 28:54
• For internal mentorship and nurturing talent towards management roles, how do you ensure continuous growth and opportunities within your team? 31:24
• How can interested individuals best reach out to you or your company regarding the positions you're currently hiring for? 35:15

Show notes - 

• Employed at an architecture firm, I discovered it wasn't my passion, gaining insights into the business. I found myself drawn to graphic design, and that's what initiated my career journey.
• What's truly advantageous in UX is its digital nature; you can create a wireframe or design concept, observing and editing it in real time—an experience not easily replicated in architecture.
• When designing for B2C or consumer contexts, it's about 95-100% focused on the user. In contrast, with enterprise design, you're navigating a balance and juggling various requirements while striving to create a robust product.
• Many of our clients primarily measure their return on investment through product sales and the leads they generate, including lead qualification. Additionally, we're observing a shift towards more people-centric communication and experiences in our approach. At times, it's challenging to directly quantify these aspects with a traditional return on investment framework.
• What I've found to be effective is having a project manager and representatives from different areas like tech, design, UX, and data analytics. We involve everyone right from the start, and although the project manager leads, each of us voices our team's perspective on what we believe should be done.
• You need to regroup; having a single person dictating won't work. Firstly, nobody would want to collaborate with that team or individual. Secondly, the outcome would be a product tailored solely for that person, lacking input from others.
• I think mentorship plays a vital role; I've gained valuable insights from my team, and we've learned collectively. It contributes to our professional growth, work-life balance, and personal development beyond the workplace.

Links- 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonellechandler  

Company website: https://qualifiedigital.com/ 

Personal website: https://www.jonellechandler.com/

In this episode, we are joined by Hans Forsman, an award-winning Creative Director known for his "can do" attitude and strategic brand expertise. With a remarkable track record, he's transformed goals into unforgettable results, crafting brand stories and cutting-edge campaigns. From Reebok to HBO Now, Hans has left his creative mark across diverse industries. 

Discussion points - 

• How is the creative industry in LA, the epicenter of international creativity with Hollywood and major game studios, faring amid co-branding, collaborations, and bustling activity? 2:06
• When discussing your experience in LA, could you share your journey? Did you start your career there, and how did you transition into becoming the creative professional you are today? 3:38
• In the realm of UX and CX, including customer experience, how crucial is effective storytelling? 15:57
• Rapid fire round 22:15
• Could you talk about your experiences with AR during the early days of the technology? 35:03
• What is the future trajectory of AI and machine learning in the context of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), also known as ACD, and how do you envision its impact on our current direction? 44:46
• On the education side, can you talk to us about the courses you teach? 50:58
• What advice would you offer to aspiring designers looking to follow your path? What key do's and don'ts would you suggest? 55:54

Show notes - 

• I look at my past and how I've reached my current position. It has always been about seizing the moment, recognizing opportunities, and confidently stepping forward without fear.
• As a creative director, I enjoy involving my teams in that story, fostering their passion and excitement for the product.
• If you fast forward now, in terms of the use of AI, consider how that experience can evolve to create a much more immersive interaction. It brings order to the chaos and helps people delve deeper into interactive experiences.
• The best and the easiest way that has always worked with storytelling is to get into the mindset and put yourself in the shoes of the people who would be in the story.
• We executed some projects, such as the Barbie Dream Closet where people could see themselves wearing Barbie clothes. One significant project was during New York Fashion Week, where we utilized our product, the webcam social shopper.
• The more time I spent on various studies and working on UI/UX to understand how people interact with it, I quickly realized that I don't believe it will fully evolve until mixed reality becomes feasible. Mixed reality is where there are no inhibitions, like wearing glasses that seamlessly blend our realities.
• I use AI daily as an integral part of my work routine. It provides advice, writing tips, ideation, and data analysis support, enabling me to enhance my productivity and creativity. What's truly wonderful is that it demands our input, making it a collaborative tool for unleashing innovation.
• Understanding UI/UX as a crucial part of our future interactions, and how we engage with it, will impact society and shape our world. As everything evolves, from user experience to customer experience, comprehensive understanding implies greater societal progress.

Links -

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hansforsman/ 

Portfolio/ website: https://hansforsman.com/