286: Should you take deadlines seriously?

286: Should you take deadlines seriously?

Author: Charli Prangley, Femke Van Schoonhoven March 11, 2024 Duration: 31:40

Charli and Femke give an elaborate reply to one of the listener's requests: whether deadlines should be taken seriously. The hosts share real stories of how they approached deadlines in different projects, how unrealistic deadlines should be handled, what to do in situations when a deadline cannot be met, how to discuss deadlines and set reasonable expectations, and how one's perspective on them changes depending on their role in the project.

 

Show Timestamps:

01:13 Intro

02:34 Charli’s workshop and life updates

04:21 Femke’s life update

07:01 Question submission from a listener about deadlines

07:14 Femke and Charli share how they approach deadlines in different situations

11:52 What is the importance of deadlines?

17:02 Charli elaborates on why she does not like fake (buffer) deadlines

19:00 Situation when the deadline is absolutely non-negotiable

26:08 Femke and Charli discuss milestone approach to projects rather than working towards one big hand off

29:08 Conclusion

 

Show links:

Charli's live workshop in New Zealand

Femke’s course “Product strategy for designers”

Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm


Hosted by designers Charli Prangley and Femke Van Schoonhoven, Design Life feels like eavesdropping on a candid conversation between two friends who genuinely understand the hustle. This podcast digs into the reality of a creative career, moving beyond portfolio tips to discuss the actual challenges of making a living from your ideas. Each episode stems from their own experiences as serial side-project addicts, covering everything from navigating client negotiations and pricing your work to pushing through creative blocks and finding time for personal work. You’ll hear them dissect the intersection of design, business, and technology with a relatable, grounded perspective. The discussion they foster is particularly valuable for young creatives seeking honest advice and a sense of community, all delivered through the lens of two practitioners in the field. Tune in for a blend of practical strategy and personal reflection that focuses on building a sustainable and fulfilling design practice.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Design Life
Podcast Episodes
264: Design education and conferences, on a budget [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:55
Getting buy in to help build design team culture can be difficult - this week we answer a listener question about how to create opportunities which promote design education for your team and foster a great design culture…
263: How we communicate async at work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:38
Today on Design Life we answer a listener question about all the asynchronous communication methods we use at work.
262: What makes a good design manager [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:42
This week on the podcast we're answering a very wholesome listener question, what makes a good manager and how can an IC help support a new manager to do their best?
261: What it's like to work in six week cycles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:46
Do you use six week cycles where you work? Today we're gonna talk about this way of breaking up work throughout the year which we recently discovered we both use in our companies.
260: Taking a sabbatical [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:18
In this episode we chat about Charli’s recent sabbatical, the preparations involved beforehand and what elements from the month have become part of a new daily routine.
259: Shipping a new design system! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:40
Femke recently shipped a new design system and today on Design Life we are discussing the highs and lows of taking on such a project!
257: Collaboration between senior and junior designers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:40
This week on Design Life we chat specifically about collaborating with designers of a different level. Maybe you’re a junior designer collaborating with a senior designer for the first time or vice versa, we discuss whic…
256: Conducting design audits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:47
How can you make the most of a design audit? Keep consistency in mind, improve popular assets and implement recommendations.
255: The pay gap between product and marketing designers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:55
Today we are chatting about a topic very near and dear to our hearts, the pay gap between marketing/brand designers and product designers. What is causing the gap and how can we work towards closing it?