The Roundup: AI creative workflow, vibe coding, ethics, agents, and more

The Roundup: AI creative workflow, vibe coding, ethics, agents, and more

Author: The Curiosity Department, sponsored by Wix Studio May 21, 2025 Duration: 45:49
Find bonus content and more on our Substack: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/the-roundup-ai-creative-workflow Rarely do we get the chance to pause and reflect on the conversations we’ve been having—and to spot the red threads that run through them. But that’s exactly what we’re doing today. We’re trying out a new format—we’re calling it The Roundup. Think of it as a prototype. We’d love your feedback. In this episode, we’re revisiting past conversations through the lens of AI. It’s a fun new way to explore themes that have come up across episodes, highlight insights from our guests, and help you synthesize ideas you can apply in your own work. *** This ad-supported episode is available to everyone. If you’d like to hear it ad-free, upgrade to our premium subscription, where you’ll get an additional 2 ad-free episodes per month (4 total). Premium subscribers also get access to the documentary Design Disruptors and our growing library of books, as well as our monthly AMAs with former guests, ad-free episodes, discounts and early access to workshops, and our monthly newsletter The Brief that compiles salient insights, quotes, readings, and creative processes uncovered in the show. Upgrade to paid *** What you'll learn in this episode: Changing Roles & Workflows Scott Belsky (Adobe’ Chief Strategy Officer) discusses "boundaryless workflows" where AI collapses the steps between ideation and execution The concept of "collapsed talent stacks" where individuals can now perform multiple functions that previously required separate specialists Evolution of Design Jobs Jenny Blackburn (design team lead for Google Gemini) shares how her team is "inventing the next version of UX jobs" as boundaries blur between roles New UX jobs are emerging around defining great AI responses from a user perspective AI as Creative Partner Marcus Bell (music producer for artists like Snoop Dogg) explains how AI has transformed music production, enabling him to do what once required five people Bell predicts AI will enable "hyper-personalization" of music based on individual needs and preferences ...and more!

Eli Woolery and Aarron Walter host Design Better, a podcast from The Curiosity Department, sponsored by Wix Studio, that lives in the rich space where design, business, and technology meet. Their conversations move beyond simple tips to explore the entire creative process with guests from a wide spectrum of disciplines. Each episode feels like a deep, practical discussion aimed at refining your skills, sparking new ideas, and mastering the nuanced art of working with others. You’ll hear from leaders and practitioners who share not just what they do, but how they think, tackling the real challenges and breakthroughs that define modern creative work. This isn't just for seasoned professionals; if you have any interest in how things are made and why they work, this podcast offers valuable perspective. It’s that consistent depth that earned praise from outlets like Vanity Fair, which noted the show's sharp and substantive focus. Tuning in provides a regular dose of inspiration and actionable insight, whether you're looking to elevate your craft or simply understand the forces shaping the products and experiences around us.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Design Better
Podcast Episodes
Mattias Hollwich: AI & Architecture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:12
If, like us, you’ve been tinkering with the plethora of AI tools that have emerged recently, chances are it’s changing your workflow and creative process. AI is a great thought partner for writing, illustration, and even…
Skye Waterson: Creative work and ADHD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:55
We’ve talked with people across many creative disciplines on Design Better, and there’s a red thread that keeps popping up—many are neurodivergent in some way. A diagnosis of ADHD in childhood can seem like a disadvantag…
Enrique Allen: Design and entrepreneurship at Designer Fund [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:53
Until Designer Fund was founded by Enrique Allen and Ben Blumenrose, venture capital investments rarely considered design strategy when investing. Companies like Stripe, Notion, Gusto, and Omada Health—all in Designer Fu…
Design Better Trailer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:18
Design Better co-hosts Eli Woolery and Aarron Walter explore the intersection of design, technology, and the creative process through conversations with inspiring guests across diverse creative fields, to help you hone y…
Brendan Boyle: Toy design, play, and the creative process [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:39
Eli first met Brendan Boyle when Brendan was his instructor in the undergraduate Product Design program at Stanford, where Brendan has taught for many years. Brendan is also a toy inventor, and one of the assignments in…
Rewind: Vicki Tan: Learning from new voices [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:38
This week, we’re rewinding to one of our favorite episodes from our 6th season, with Vicki Tan. Vicki is a designer and author, who is now a staff product designer at Pinterest. When we spoke with her, Vicki was an assoc…
Connor Moore: Sound design for Tesla, Uber, Peloton and more [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:06
Sound is the unsung hero of interaction design. The iconic chorus you hear as you boot up your Mac, the double knock of an arriving Slack message, and the ascending notes Airpods make as they connect to a device all prov…
Matt Abrahams: Think Faster, Talk Smarter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:02
Becoming a better communicator is one of the best ways to level up your career. Being able to think on your feet and communicate ideas effectively is critical, no matter what role you have right now, or where you’d like…