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