Design Gist

Elsy and Enny explore African AI with a focus on language. They talk through how design history, accessibility, and inclusivity connect to today’s AI tools and the cultural blind spots they can inherit. Moving from a playful gist about Lagos culture and games into a serious conversation about language representation, stereotypes in image generation, and the need for African-built tools that truly...

In this episode What does design contribute to a business beyond making a product look good? In this episode of Design Gist, we sit down with Nuel Adeleke , a seasoned Product designer based in Lagos known digitally as nuelverse. We unpack the relationship between design, product, and business and why designers must think beyond the interface they're creating. We explore how good design can influe...

In this episode, Nuel Adeleke shares insights on how design influences business success, from fintech to transportation apps even packaging design, emphasizing the importance of user-centric design and strategic thinking. Key topics Design's role in business success Case studies from fintech and transportation apps User experience and trust in app design Design as a strategic business tool Les...

In this episode, Enny and Elsy talk about what it’s like to conduct user research for a Nigerian exam prep platform, Quizant. They share insights from interviews with students preparing for JAMB and discuss how things like internet access, data costs, and cultural differences can shape the way people use a product. They also explore what user-centred design looks like in a Nigerian context and som...

AI is changing the creative industry, but what happens when it starts recreating the work of designers? In this episode, we explore where the line should be drawn when using AI, how designers can navigate this rapidly changing landscape, and what all of this means for the future of creativity and the society. We also discussed the ethics surrounding its use, and the tension between objective stand...

“Don’t feed my work to AI.” That was the response from Nigerian motion designer Irapada Abraham after an AI creator recreated his work and posted it online. But where exactly is the line between inspiration and imitation? Does credit make a difference? Should you ask permission before using someone's work as an AI reference? And if a human can study and recreate another designer's work, wh...

In this episode we explore the other side of design, the parts that don't get talked about nearly enough. We discuss overlooked areas like wayfinding, technical illustration, agricultural branding, pharmaceutical packaging and service design. We ask why design in Nigeria and across Africa is so often reduced to logos, branding and digital interfaces, when design can also shape systems, process...

In this episode, we talk about analysis paralysis. We also got into the discourse around Nomba (formerly Kudi) going viral for allegedly vibe-coding their website redesign. Product 👍: Tailwind colors, Google Gemini summarising long email threads Product 👎: iOS Photos App collections Concepts discussed: Analysis paralysis in e-commerce (Amazon, Temu, Shein) Stakeholder pressure as a driver of ove...

We had big plans to break down analysis paralysis from the Laws of UX deck, but Enny's mic had other ideas. What you're getting instead: our intro (which slaps), and a social media listening session where we gist about Google Stitch's new features, Anthropic's survey about what people actually want from AI, and a spicy take about discovery on the internet being dead (due to hyperpe...

We're looking at AI-assisted design today. We talked about how the 'designer' title has evolved and how to design with AI without losing your creative voice. Plus, we're breaking down the brand designer vs. product designer debate that blew up on Naija design Twitter few weeks ago. We're also giving you a free design system template to start designing with AI today. 👍 Product...

In what is actually the 31st episode of the Design Gist podcast, we yap about the user experience and customer experience of flying, particularly with Air Peace, a Nigerian airline. We discuss the various phases of air travel, from pre-booking to post-flight, highlighting the importance of design in each of those stages. And the conversation opens up the frustrations and challenges faced by travel...

Quick heads up: we had some audio gremlins in this one (ironic for our first episode of the year, we know!). The content's solid though, so stick with us. Better sound coming in the next ep!

This episode explores the Law of Uniform Connectedness, a UX principle where elements that share a visual treatment (such as the same background color, border, or container) are perceived as related, even when separated by distance.

In This Episode Part of our ongoing series testing whether AI can actually handle UX jobs. Why Writesonic and Copy.ai didn't make the cut What makes Frontitude stand out for UX writing The real limitations we found even in the best tools Our honest take on the future of UX writing as a specialty We're back with our AI tools testing series! After hitting some technical snags with the first...

In this episode, we unpack our experience at Talk UX 2025. We spotlighted the talks and workshop sessions that impacted us, plus our favourite little things from both days. This links to a Notion page with some references from this episode.

Enny and Elsy demystify Agile methodologies, covering Scrum, sprint planning, user stories, and product owner roles. They share real experiences implementing Agile in different contexts, including challenges with hierarchy, remote work, and interpersonal dynamics. Practical insights for anyone working in or curious about product teams. Chapters (00:00) Intro and Icebreakers(02:43) Understanding Ag...

In this episode of the Design Gist Podcast, we discuss Hick's Law, a fundamental principle in UX design that states the time it takes to make a decision increases with the number and complexity of choices. We explore its relevance in today's content/app-saturated world, share personal updates, discuss product reviews, and reflect on the challenges designers face in creating user-friendly experienc...

The conversation explores the theme of convenience in design, discussing its evolution and impact on culture, particularly in the context of streaming services and social media. We reflect on how the pursuit of convenience can lead to decision fatigue, shallow content, and a loss of creativity, while also considering the broader implications of AI. We also discuss the need for a balance between co...

In this episode of the Design Gist podcast, we explore the Card Sorting as a design principle. We discuss its importance in understanding how users group information, the different types of card sorting (open and closed). We also engage in practical exercises exploring a music app and a budgeting app. Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Card Sorting (13:12) Understanding Card Sorting as a Design Prin...

Takeaways Mobile technology has transformed user experience in Africa. Mobile-first design is essential for businesses in Africa. Service design is crucial for improving government interactions with citizens. Nigerian government services need to adapt to mobile technology. Social media platforms are the primary e-commerce channels today. E-commerce platforms must build user trust through reliable...

In this episode, we talked about Jakob's Law, a principle in UX design that emphasizes the importance of familiarity in user interfaces. We discuss how reducing cognitive load through predictable design can enhance UX. The conversation explores the balance between innovation and familiarity, why usability testing matters, and the role of competitor analysis in understanding conventions. Chapters (...

In this episode, we’re counting down 10 products and experiences where aesthetics matched usability. From the crisp simplicity of the Google homepage to WeTransfer's seamless user flow and carefully curated ads, we nerd out over the times the appeal of a thing meets its ease of use. We also chat about planning to see Rema at the O2, our weekend plans, and a few spicy segues. Enjoy! (00:00) Catchin...

This week, we’re asking the big one - Should design be pretty or just work well? We kick things off with some personal updates, content creation struggles, and a hiking trip to the Seven Sisters that took an unexpected UX turn - inclusive tourism. Then we go into the aesthetics vs. usability debate. We also talk the weird ways social media affects our taste, how accessibility demands a visual comp...

In this episode, we warm up with some personal updates — preferred communication styles and the harsh realities of living arrangements (mould). And then we discuss today's issues: AI’s impact on creativity, literature, UX design, and the broader digital world. We also talk about the perceived extinction and evolution of UX into PX (product experience), and debate whether gatekeeping might actu...

In this episode, we discuss usability testing in the context of African countries. We also break down the differences between user testing, usability testing, and QA testing—because no, they’re not the same thing. Another thing we explored was the rise of African UX freelancers Upwork offering usability testing services. We also talked about how cultural factors should be taken into consideration...