322: Our approach to side projects in 2026

322: Our approach to side projects in 2026

Author: Charli Prangley, Femke Van Schoonhoven November 10, 2025 Duration: 37:09

Charli and Femke discuss their evolving perspectives on side projects, preferred platforms and content formats, and how these have changed throughout their careers, while also sharing their current goals—Charli opening up about her book writing journey and Femke explaining how her approach to her course is continuously evolving.

Timestamps: 

01:26 - Episode start

03:11 - How are you currently thinking about side projects? How do you describe what you do on the side when meeting new people?

05:23 - Perspectives on different platforms and content formats

08:38 - Charli’s main side project at the moment: writing a book

09:42 - Updates on Charli’s YouTube channel

16:00 - How Charli incorporates Claude into her creative process

17:00 - Strategies behind choosing and developing content formats

25:25 - Femke shares her vision for her business

 

Links: 

Femke's community

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
294: Behind the scenes of a company rebrand [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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293: Why you need to understand the impact of your work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Femke and Charli dive deep into the topic of the business impact of design decisions. We discuss whether impact is expected in the product design world and if it is an integral part of the design process. We also cover h…
292: Config 2024 Figma release reactions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In today’s episode, we are gonna discuss and break down the recent announcements from Figma Config 2024 conference that took place on June 26-27 in San Francisco, California. We are going to talk about Figma's UI3 redesi…
291: When a side project totally fails [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:14
Femke and Charli delve into the difficulties of managing a side project that isn't going well. Charli shares her personal experience of trying to organize a live workshop in New Zealand and not managing to attract enough…
290: Landing a new design job in 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Femke and Charli share their insights on how to approach the application process in the 2024 design job market. The hosts share strategies on how to optimize your application, stand out from the crowd, and increase your…
289: How to know when it's time to move on from a job [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:15
Charli reflects on her 7-year journey at her current workplace, emphasizing the importance of difficult conversations in clarifying issues such as salary and job satisfaction. Femke talks about the struggles she experien…
288: Making the most of team retreats and offsites [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:08
Charli and Femke talk about their experience of having retreats with their teams, how retreats should be structured, what is their purpose and how to make the best out of in-person time with your teammates.As remote work…
287: Why your personal brand matters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:52
Femke and Charli delve into the concept of personal branding. They discuss whether personal branding requires strategic planning and the level of intentionality one should have regarding their personal brand. Femke and C…
286: Should you take deadlines seriously? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 unrealisti…
285: The truth about burnout (and recovery) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:44
Charli shares her personal experience of how she got burned out from her side projects. She talks about the subtle signs and symptoms that indicate burnout and how to confront them. Charli decided to drop her side projec…