Ran Talks Design

The podcast for UX designers who want to build a great product, grow in their career, and lead with impact without any direct reports.

Ran Talks Design is a business podcast hosted by Ran Liu, with 14 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Ran Liu hosts Ran Talks Design, a business show with 14 episodes published.

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  Episode #7

  UX Researcher of 25 Years Teaches How to Use AI Without Losing Trust

  Nov 10, 202543 minS2

  <p>AI can summarize—but can it understand?In this episode, I sit down with Kyle Soucy, a UX researcher with 25 years of experience and one of the most respected voices in the research community.We talk about how to use AI in your research workflow without losing trust, rigor, or your job to a chatbot.You’ll learn:- How to spot AI hallucinations in your data- What makes synthetic users risky (and where they might be useful)- How to prompt AI tools for personas and journey maps- The right way to cross-check AI insights against real human data...

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  Episode #8

  How Designers Earn a Seat at the Table: Influence, Credibility, and Career Growth with Ryan Scott

  Sep 8, 202548 minS2

  <p>Many designers struggle to earn credibility in business conversations. In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Scott (Airbnb, DoorDash, MBA @ Berkeley) to unpack why PMs often get promoted faster than designers—and what to do about it. We cover the 3 patterns that quietly erode design influence, how to speak the language of business, and how to use empathy not just for users, but also for stakeholders. If you’ve ever wondered how to finally get your “seat at the table,” this conversation is for you.</p>

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  Episode #7

  How UX Designers Can Use AI as a Creative Superpower — with Shane Fontane (ex-Grammarly)

  Jul 21, 202533 minS2

  <p>Can ChatGPT become your design partner?💕 support the channel: buymeacoffee.com/rantalksdesignIn this episode, designer Shane Fontane (formerly at Grammarly, Optimizely) reveals how he’s using AI tools like GPT, Midjourney, Claude, and Remini to co-create, synthesize research, generate ideas, and even critique design layouts.We dive into: • How Shane built a custom GPT to scale design critique • The AI stack powering his personal portfolio • Using GPT to turn research docs into product ideas • How hallucinations can be surprising sources of creative inspiration • Why working with AI makes him more strategic, not lessWhether you’re a mid-level designer or staff IC, this ep...

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  Episode #6

  From Atlassian Designer to $22M Tech Founder CEO – How Patrick Did It

  Jul 1, 202543 minS2

  <p>🎯 Want to be a design founder — but don’t know where to start?In this episode, I talk to Patrick Thompson, ex-Atlassian design leader turned multi-time founder, about exactly how he went from designer → $22M-funded startup founder — without writing a single line of code.Whether you’re a senior designer, growth PM, or aspiring founder, we break down:✅ How to de-risk your startup idea before finding a technical cofounder💡 The truth about founder-led sales, fundraising, and team building as a designer🧠 Patrick’s step-by-step blueprint from Iteratively to Clarify🧩 How your design superpowers can become startup leverage🔗 Connect with RanLinkedin: https://www.link...

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  Episode #5

  The Real Reason You’re Not Getting Promoted (And What to Do About It)

  Jun 16, 202541 minS2

  <p>How do you actually get promoted from Senior to Staff Product Designer? What skills, mindset, and strategies matter most at the Staff level?</p><p>In this episode, I talk with Catt Small, a Staff Product Designer, developer, and game maker who’s worked at companies like Asana, Etsy, SoundCloud, and Nasdaq, about how to move up the design career ladder and build influence as a senior IC.</p><p><br /></p><p>We cover:</p>What hiring managers look for in Staff Designer interviewsThe difference between Senior and Staff DesignersHow to demonstrate staff-level impact without being a managerThe re...

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