All Things Design

Why AI Literacy Matters Now — Business Risk, Talent, and the Future of Design

This week, I sat down with Riley Coleman — design leader, ethical AI strategist, and founder of AI Flywheel — to explore what it really means to build AI literacy inside design teams and organizations.
We unpacked the real risks of waiting, what “trustworthy AI” actually looks like, and how design leaders can guide their teams responsibly through this transformation. This one’s packed with actionable takeaways for designers, product leaders, and execs navigating AI today.
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Key Themes:— Why design leaders must build AI literacy now— The business risks of staying still— Three layers of designing with AI: literacy, integration, and trust— How to evaluate AI tools without compromising privacy— The emotional impact of AI on team identity and leadership— Communicating the value of design in an AI-first world
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Resources:— Visit AI Flywheel: https://ai-flywheel.com— Connect with Riley Coleman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rileycodes/— Connect with Joe Woodham on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joewoodham/
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Timestamps:(00:00) — Why not training for AI is putting your team at risk(05:05) — Australia’s shift to mandatory AI regulation(10:03) — Why fact-checking AI is a human responsibility(15:01) — ChatGPT can’t replace real skill—here’s why(20:03) — Is AI giving you time back or creating noise?(25:00) — How to choose the right AI tools for your team(30:01) — Why corporate blockers are hurting your AI readiness(35:02) — Interface design and the illusion of intelligence(40:04) — Most AI prompts don’t work—here’s the fix(45:04) — Designers must lead responsibly with AI(50:04) — Final thoughts: Trust, ethics, and moving forward
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#AILiteracy #DesignLeadership #FutureOfWork #ResponsibleAI #AllThingsDesign_Torii #JoeWoodham #RileyColeman

The Future of Design Teams (Unlock Your Team's Potential)

This week, I sat down with Brad Alphonso, Senior Manager of Service Design at Bupa, to talk about what design leadership really looks like today.
We went deep on the shift from generalist to specialist, how to communicate design’s value in business terms, and the role leaders play in creating space for real innovation.
Brad brings a brilliant perspective on strategic design, and this one’s packed with takeaways you can apply straight away.
 
Key Themes:
Specialist vs generalist design skillsets
Design as a business problem-solving tool
Communicating design’s value to stakeholders
Creating space for strategic conversations
Building high-impact service design teams
Resources:
For more about Torii Consulting: https://toriiconsulting.com.au/
Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joewoodham/
Connect with Brad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-alphonso-637914126/
Timestamps:
(0:00) - Introduction
(1:00) - Communicating Design Impact to Stakeholders
(5:41) - Understanding Stakeholder Needs
(11:20) - Aligning Design with Business Objectives
(24:01) - Proving the Value of Design
(32:13) - Redefining Design: From Aesthetic to Problem Solving
40:17) - Transitioning from Designer to Design Leader
(45:49) - Rebranding Design Leadership

The Simple Way to Scale Your Design Team (and Fast!)

Join me in this insightful episode featuring Abi Iyer, a leading expert in design leadership and UX team management. We explore practical strategies for scaling UX design teams, building ownership-driven cultures, and hiring critical thinkers over mere problem solvers. Abi provides invaluable insights on why successful scaling isn't about headcount but about cultivating the right mindset.
Key Themes- Why scaling people doesn’t work- Building ownership-driven teams- Problem solvers vs critical thinkers- Hiring for mindset, not just skills- Evolving team chemistry for success
Resources
- For more information about Torii: https://toriiconsulting.com.au/- Follow Joe Woodham on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joewoodham/- Follow Abi Iyer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iyer/
(0:00) - Introduction(1:09) - From Design to Strategy: The Evolution of a Designer(7:18) - The Importance of Communication in Design(9:00) - Building a Design Team: Challenges and Growth(10:57) - Scaling Design: Strategies for Success(17:31) - Finding the Right Talent: Interviewing for Success(29:46) - Building a Cohesive Team Culture(38:42) - Scaling Operations in a Rapidly Growing Company(18:45) - Practical ways to evolve team culture(43:33) - Strategic Planning for Future Growth
#DesignLeadership #UXDesign #ProductDesign #TeamManagement #ScalingUX #DesignTeamCulture #UXHiring #DesignStrategy #UXManagement #CriticalThinking

Will AI Replace Designers? Not If They Learn This…

AI is moving fast... but that doesn’t mean designers are done. In today's episode, I sit down with Sharbani Dhar, to unpack what designers must do to stay relevant. We explore human-centred AI, the skills that still matter, and why great design goes way beyond UI.
If you’re a designer wondering how to future-proof your career, this one’s for you.
Key Themes:
Will AI replace designers?
The future of design leadership
Human-centred AI in practice
Accessibility as a strategy
What’s beyond the UI iceberg
Resources:
For more about Torii Consulting: https://toriiconsulting.com.au/
Follow Joe Woodham on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joewoodham/
Connect with Sharbani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharbanidhar/
Timestamps:(0:00) - Introduction(1:03) - Will AI Take Over the Design Industry?(6:29) - How Designers & Leaders Can Stay Ahead of AI(9:26) - The Hidden Risks of Relying on AI Tools(18:12) - How to De-Risk the Use of AI(20:17) - Building a Team That’s AI-Literate(23:19) - What a Responsible AI Framework Looks Like(26:50) - How to Upskill Your Design Team in AI(29:57) - AI Will Not Replace You… If You Do This(33:53) - The Fastest Way to Level Up Your Design Career(37:50) - The Secret to Smarter Design Teams
Produced by Reidentify.co

How To Avoid Burnout (As A Designer)

In this episode, I chat with product design leader Lisa Jacquiot about a topic that hits close to home, burnout. Lisa shares her personal story of hitting the wall and how a toxic environment nearly ended her career in design. 
We unpack how burnout shows up in creative teams, why designing for stakeholders (not users) is a red flag, and how leaders can spot the early warning signs before it’s too late. 
This episode is real, raw, and full of takeaways for any design leader!
Key Themes Discussed:- Burnout in high-pressure design teams- Losing meaning in stakeholder-driven work- Early signs of mental fatigue in creatives- Protecting creativity in fast-paced cultures- Leadership’s role in preventing burnout
Resources:- For more information about Torii: https://toriiconsulting.com.au/- Follow Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joewoodham- Follow Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisajacquiot/
Timestamps(0:00) - Introduction(1:20) - Lisa's burnout story: The hidden cost of design work(3:30) - Spotting the triggers for burnout(5:30) - Designing for stakeholders vs designing for users(8:38) - How burnout impacts creativity and decision-making(11:05) - How burnout affects those around you(13:04) - The answer to burnout (practical solutions!)(18:11) - Signals that your team are close to burning out(20:08) - How to create a Burnout-proof work environment(23:03) - Improving the general mental health of your team(27:12) - All leaders need to do this!
Produced by Reidentify: https://reidentify.co/

From Solo Designer to Team Player (The Real Shift)

In today’s episode, I chat with Simone Attansio about the real shift designers face, moving from doing it all solo to thriving in a team environment. We dig into the pressure startups place on designers to wear every hat, why that’s unsustainable, and how true impact comes from collaboration. 
If you’re scaling your design career or building a team, this one’s packed with insight!
Key Themes: • Startup culture and solo designer pressure • The hidden risks of “doing it all” • Moving from execution to collaboration • Why real design leadership needs a team • The evolution of UX in fast-growth companies
Resources:For more information about Torii Consulting: https://toriiconsulting.com.au/Follow Joe Woodham on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joewoodham/
Timestamps:(0:00) - Introduction(2:30) - Simone’s journey into UX and startups(6:10) - The pressure of solo design in startups(10:05) - Why one designer can’t do it all(15:00) - Shifting from solo to team player(18:20) - How collaboration unlocks better design(23:00) - Scaling UX teams sustainably(27:15) - Aligning UX with business goals(31:00) - Future trends for design leadership(36:15) - Final advice for designers and leaders(38:30) - Where to connect with Simone
This podcast is produced by Reidentify: https://reidentify.co

How to Align Design with Business Goals (The Right Way)

In today's episode, Scott Howard and I dive into one of the trickiest parts of design leadership, how to measure the impact of your work...Whether you’re a junior designer or a senior working on strategic initiatives, this chat unpacks how to think commercially, define success metrics, and track real ROI, especially when you’re working as an enabler, not an owner. So many good takeaways in here!💡 Key Themes- Commercial thinking for junior designers- Strategic design in B2B vs B2C- Enabling metrics vs business metrics- How to track internal adoption- Proving ROI without owning the product🔗 Resources- For more on Torii Consulting: https://toriiconsulting.com.au/- Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joewoodham/- Follow Scott Howard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotthowarddesign/This podcast is produced by Reidentify.co⏱️ Timestamps(0:00) – Introduction(1:20) – Tying design back to business objectives as a designer(5:45) – What “design maturity” really means in orgs(8:30) – The role of a design team when you’re not customer-facing(12:15) – B2B vs B2C: Why metrics get messier in enterprise(15:10) – Enabling design vs owning product design(18:45) – Internal adoption metrics and what they mean(22:50) – Advice for junior designers on thinking strategically(25:30) – Defining success before you even start a project(27:00) – Measuring outcomes when you’re not directly customer-facing(29:40) – Final takeaways and where to connect with Scott#DesignLeadership #UXStrategy #BusinessDesign #ProductDesign #DesignThinking #UXMetrics #DigitalTransformation #ScottHoward #AllThingsDesign

50% Failure? Car Group’s Bold Design Strategy

What if aiming for failure was the secret to breakthrough innovation?In this episode of All Things Design, Joe Woodham sits down with Shane Burford, Head of Design at Car Group (parent company of carsales.com.au), to unpack how Shane's team builds risk into their design process to unlock global-scale growth.Shane shares the four-step framework his team uses to validate ideas, why they shoot for a 50% fail rate, and how they turn risky ventures into scalable solutions across markets like Australia, Brazil, and South Korea. 🌏We dive into: ✅ How to align design with C-Suite decision-making✅ Building internal trust and alignment with stakeholders✅ Crafting pitches that win executive buy-in✅ Real-world lessons from launching a payments product in under 7 months✅ Why designers must learn to "speak business" to get their ideas across🔔 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode.👉 Connect with Shane Burford: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaneburford/#DesignLeadership #ProductDesign #BusinessDesign #AllThingsDesign #CarGroup #Innovation #StartupMindset

Design Leadership: Aligning Teams with Business Goals

In this episode of All Things Design, host Joe Woodham sits down with Andy Warboys, VP of Design at Learnosity, to unpack the real journey of turning design teams into strategic business assets.From starting as a solo designer to leading a globally distributed team, Andy shares how to build alignment between design and business goals, navigate leadership transitions, foster psychological safety, and harness the power of AI in product development. Plus, you'll hear practical insights on creating a culture of continuous learning and why understanding your team's personalities makes all the difference.If you're a design leader, an aspiring one, or just curious about how design drives real business outcomes — this episode is packed with actionable takeaways.In this conversation, you'll learn:How to speak the language of business as a designerBuilding trust and psychological safety in design teamsStrategies for aligning design with company-wide goalsHow Learnosity is using AI for content creation and gradingCreating a culture of learning and growth in your teamLessons from growing a remote, global design teamAnd yes, the story behind Andy’s last name “Warboys”!Connect with Andy Warboys:🔗https://www.linkedin.com/in/andycrozier/If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow All Things Design for more conversations with top design leaders driving digital transformation.

Design ROI: Bridging User Focus with Business Impact

In this episode, Joe sits down with strategic service designer Glenn Veugen to explore the deeper purpose of design in business—and why it’s so much more than pushing pixels. From his early days experimenting with 3D modeling to helping businesses understand the return on design investment, Glenn shares how designers can (and should) speak the language of business.Expect insights on:Aligning user needs with business goalsWhy design leaders must embrace financial metricsDe-risking projects through service designThe power of asking the right questionsBuilding trust with stakeholders by taking them on the journeyWhether you’re a junior designer, a product leader, or just curious about how design shapes better businesses, this convo is packed with practical wisdom and a few laughs too.💡 “Would you pay yourself to do this for your own business?” — a question every designer should ask.