325: Goals and creative aspirations for 2026

325: Goals and creative aspirations for 2026

Author: Charli Prangley, Femke Van Schoonhoven February 2, 2026 Duration: 30:40

Femke and Charli outline their goals for 2026 and the strategies they plan to implement to achieve them. Femke shares an update about her upcoming baby and how she plans to balance it with her business, while Charli discusses her approach to the book writing process.

Timestamps: 

01:11 Episode introduction
01:59 Life updates
04:05 Goal setting for 2026: Does Femke set combined business and parenting goals? How does she plan to approach balancing them?
13:32 Femke and Charli’s plans for their business and projects this year
21:57 How can AI help manage your workload and make tasks more efficient and achievable?
23:23 Does Charli feel she has achieved work-life balance?
24:52 Working with a remote team: how do different time zones impact Charli? Managing slack updates and staying in the loop

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
314: Coaching ICs as a design manager [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:04
Thank you to our sponsor, Framer. Ready to build a site that looks hand-coded—without hiring a developer? Start free today at framer.link/femkeFemke and Charli explore their coaching experiences, the importance of active…
313: Building relationships with PM's & Product Marketers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:26
Thank you to our sponsor, Framer. Ready to build a site that looks hand-coded—without hiring a developer? Start free today at framer.link/femkeFemke and Charli delve into the relationship between a designer and a product…
312: Design vision work and how to have a strategic impact [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:59
Thank you to our sponsor, Workflow. As a listener, you can experience the Workflow too with an exclusive 30-day trial (instead of the usual 14) — so you can see the magic for yourself. Head to workflow.design/designlife…
311: Hot takes on Config 2025 and new Figma features [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:56
Thank you to our sponsor, Workflow. As a listener, you can experience the Workflow too with an exclusive 30-day trial (instead of the usual 14) — so you can see the magic for yourself. Head to workflow.design/designlife…
310: Going back to work after an extended break [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:55
This episode is sponsored by Mobbin, which is the largest design reference library for mobile and web, offering practical inspiration from real apps that address diverse design challenges. Don’t forget to mention Design…
309: Become a design manager or stay an IC? How to make the choice. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:53
This episode is sponsored by Mobbin, which is the largest design reference library for mobile and web, offering practical inspiration from real apps that address diverse design challenges. Don’t forget to mention Design…
308: Making the jump from mid to senior [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:18
This episode is sponsored by Mobbin, which is the largest design reference library for mobile and web, offering practical inspiration from real apps that address diverse design challenges. Don’t forget to mention Design…
307: Will AI take your design job? (Hot takes from later adopters) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:20
This episode is sponsored by Mobbin, which is the largest design reference library for mobile and web, offering practical inspiration from real apps that address diverse design challenges. Don’t forget to mention Design…
306: Building a team for your side projects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:11
This episode is sponsored by Mobbin, which is the largest design reference library for mobile and web, offering practical inspiration from real apps that address diverse design challenges. Don’t forget to mention Design…
305: If we started our side projects all over again... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:08
This episode is sponsored by Mobbin, which is the largest design reference library for mobile and web, offering practical inspiration from real apps that address diverse design challenges. Don’t forget to mention Design…