UI Breakfast: UI/UX Design and Product Strategy

How are the most successful enterprise products designed? Is the process any different from consumer applications? Our guest today is Rakesh Patwari, director of product design at Salesforce and a design educator. You'll learn how the enterprise ecosystem works, how to approach complex products with the right mindset, and how to pursue a career in this field. Download the MP3 audio file: right-cli...

Why do some online communities thrive, and the others fizzle out? What is the secret sauce? Our guest today is the awesome Courtland Allen, the founder of Indie Hackers. You'll learn how to start a community from scratch, choose the right format, handle the mechanics, make it safe, and much more. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and fol...

How do you design a product that truly changes people's lives? Our guest today is Amy Bucher — a UX specialist focusing on behavior-change design, and the author of Engaged. You'll learn about the core principles of behavior-change design, how to help users achieve their goals, how accountability works, and how to craft an engaging and motivating product experience. Podcast feed: subscribe to http...

Today we talk about the "hidden" infrastructure around software products — release announcements, app store assets, help documentation, and much more. Our guest is Max Seelemann, executive director at Ulysses (an award-winning writing app for Mac and iOS). He shares how their product has evolved over the years, how they meticulously approach each release, how to handle localizations, and how to nu...

Today we're taking a look at another industry where design can make a difference — products for older adults. Our guest is Dr. Judy Dressner, specializing in occupational therapy and gerontology. You'll learn what challenges the senior citizens face when interacting with the world, and how software can help. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast...

Why are some dashboards so meaningless? How can you make information helpful? Today our guest is Brian O'Neil, founder & principal of Designing for Analytics. You'll learn how to approach data visualization thoughtfully, how to help users make their decisions, why you shouldn't go after fancy diagrams, and why "removing everything" isn't always your best strategy. Podcast feed: subscribe to https:...

What do we need to know about digital security as website owners and SaaS founders? Our guest today is Michael Buckbee, the founder of Expedited Security. We talk about different aspects of security online: top risks, TLS/SSL, encryption, VPNs, bug bounties, and much more. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow us on iTunes , Stitc...

What are the implications of building software that interacts with your customer's customers? Our guest today is Adii Pienaar, previosly the founder of WooCommerce and Conversio. We talk about his five-year journey with Conversio, product lessons learned, how to do freemium right, how to stay ethical, and much more. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite...

Today we're talking about the sensitive industry of email outreach. Our guest is Mike Taber, the founder of Bluetick (as well as co-founder of MicroConf and Startups For the Rest of Us). You'll learn about the challenges of the email industry, differences between cold and warm outreach, what makes a perfect email, and how to make sure that your software is used as intended. Podcast feed: subscribe...

No matter how great your software is, poor copy can still ruin the entire user experience. How do we choose the right words then? Our guest today is Yael Ben-David, a UX writer and thought leader. We talk how UX writing process works in real life, how to develop (and capture) voice and tone for your product, and how to improve your microcopy using simple proven methods. Podcast feed: subscribe to...

Can developers build beautiful software on their own, without relying on a designer? One team decided to teach this knowledge, and scored massive success. Meet the brains behind Refactoring UI, Adam Wathan and Steve Schoger. You'll learn the story of their project, their favorite design tips, and how much work goes into every bit of content they publish. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.si...

Getting your first SaaS customers is inevitably a grind; but it helps to be methodical about your process. Our guest today is the incredible Asia Matos, founder of DemandMaven. You'll learn what a typical funnel looks like for a SaaS business, how to recruit your early users, and what strategies can help you scale later. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favo...

How can custom illustration make your product truly shine? Our guest today is Krystal Lauk, the founder of an illustration-led design agency. You'll learn why illustration is an integral part of the entire user experience, what brands set a good example, and how to approach the creative process. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and foll...

Testimonials and case studies hold enormous marketing potential (without coming off as salesy). Our guest today is Joel Klettke, the founder of Case Study Buddy. You'll learn what makes a powerful case study, how to produce one yourself, and how to use them in your sales & marketing process. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4MvgQ73R in your favorite podcast app, and follow u...

Growing a SaaS company is such a slow process. How do you know if you're on the right track? Our guest today is Derrick Reimer, a founder of several SaaS companies and a fellow podcaster. You'll learn the story of his previous SaaS product, multiple ways to validate your product idea, and what are the signals that a product-market fit is happening (or not). Download the MP3 audio file: right-click...

The tech world is complex enough to puzzle adults, not to mention children. How shall we teach them about computers? Our guest today is Miriam Tocino, the author of Zerus & Ona book series. We discuss the challenges of parenthood, how Miriam has used intuitive writing to create an engaging book experience, and how to bring up our kids with the right technical mindset. Podcast feed: subscribe to ht...

Great copy can turn your SaaS marketing website into a money-making machine. But how do you get it right? Our guest today is Josh Garofalo, a SaaS copywriter and consultant at Sway Copy. You'll learn why customer research is the most important step in the copywriting process, how exactly to approach the key pages of your website, and what mistakes to avoid. Podcast feed: subscribe to http://simple...

As a founder, you always know why your product is awesome. But how do you explain it to your customers? Our guest today is the amazing April Dunford — a positioning expert and author of Obviously Awesome. You'll learn why positioning is so critical, how April polished her positioning method over the years, and how to find the "secret sauce" for your own product. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://...

In this special episode, three Userlist co-founders — Claire Suellentrop, Benedikt Deicke, and Jane herself — get together to answer a few questions from the audience. They share the strategy behind their recent Product Hunt launch (which scored #1 Product of the Day), their founding story, product management techniques, and so much more. Podcast feed: subscribe to https://feeds.simplecast.com/4Mv...

Today we're looking into the mobile app ecosystem, which differs dramatically from the cosy world of SaaS. Our guest to day is Sean Casto, the founder of PreApps — a marketing agency that has helped thousands of apps reach millions of downloads. You'll learn about the key ingredients of success in the mobile industry, and different ways to market and monetize your app. Podcast feed: subscribe to h...

Integrations are a fantastic way of growing your product while providing value to your customers. However, you need to approach them carefully and strategically. Our guest today is Rob Walling, co-founder of MicroConf, TinySeed, and Drip. You'll learn how to use integrations as a customer acquisition channel, and what goes into a successful integration — from making the initial decision to creatin...

Healthcare industry involves enormous resources, but has always been "playing catchup" when it comes to software. Our guest today is Chris Kiess, a user experience designer and author. You'll learn about his unique story within the industry, different areas of healthcare UX, typical use cases, professional challenges, and how to pave your own path in healthcare design. Podcast feed: subs...

Isn't game theory all about points, levels, and badges? Definitely not. These are all just visible mechanics, the superficial icing on the cake. Our guest today is the amazing Amy Jo Kim — a startup coach, game designer, best-selling author, and the founder of Game Thinking. You'll learn how to use her method with early superfans, and fundamentally shape the entire customer journey: discovery, onb...

"Build it, and they will come" could not be a bigger lie: an effective launch is crucial to your product success. Our guest today is Keith Perhac, founder of SegMetrics. You'll learn how to turn a few random emails into a cohesive launch experience, "prime the pump" for your product, and measure the outcome — so that you can optimize and iterate. Podcast feed: subscribe to http...

Environmental impact of the software industry is unbelievable. Luckily, there are people and companies who want to make a practical difference against global warming (as well as educate others). Our guest today is James Christie, an experience designer and founder of SustainableUX. You'll learn how to make sustainable choices about the way you work, what service providers you choose, how you desig...