Check Your Ego at the Door

Bounce

In this episode of Bounce, hosts Mollie Cox and Claire Flowers interview Laura Baker, a global design leader. The conversation covers Laura's career journey from industrial design to leading design teams and agencies. The discussion provides insights into Laura's personal experiences, challenges faced in leadership roles, and her views on collaboration between different roles and the future of the design field.

Key topics discussed include:

- Laura's transition from industrial design to UX and service design roles

- Her experience being unexpectedly thrust into a leadership position and navigating imposter syndrome

- Her perspective on what design leadership means, focusing on building trust with her team

- The relationship and dynamics between product management and design roles

- Advice for designers looking to move into leadership positions

- The potential impact of AI on the design industry and whether it could replace human designers

- How the design landscape may evolve in the coming years

Show notes

Here is a summary of the transcript divided into chapters with timestamps:

(01:01) - Guest Introduction

- Hosts Mollie Cox and Claire Flowers introduce the podcast and guest Laura Baker, a global design leader.

(01:44) - Laura's Career Journey

- Laura discusses her transition from industrial design to UX and service design roles.

- She shares how she unexpectedly ended up in a leadership position.

(04:11) - Navigating Imposter Syndrome

- Laura talks about dealing with imposter syndrome when thrust into leadership.

- She discusses her approach to overcoming self-doubt and breaking down challenges.

(10:10) - Design Leadership

- Laura explains what design leadership means to her, emphasizing building trust with her team.

- She shares how she navigates situations where her young age may cause others to question her authority.

(17:00) - Check Your Ego at the Door

- The discussion explores the relationship between product management and design roles.

- Laura provides her perspective on finding the right balance and shared understanding.

(29:29) - Advice for Transitioning to Leadership

- Laura offers advice for designers looking to move into leadership positions.

- She stresses the importance of doing it for the right reasons and being prepared for a significant mindset shift.

(35:07) - The Impact of AI on Design

- The conversation covers the potential impact of AI on the design industry.

- Laura shares her views on whether AI could feasibly replace human designers.

(43:43) - The Future of Design

- Laura discusses how the design landscape may evolve in the coming years.

- She explores the possibility of more strategic roles for designers as AI handles tactical execution.