Podcast
Honest UX Talks
Honest weekly conversations about UX design career, challenges, portfolios, mental health, and all things UX. Ioana and Anfisa together have 20 years of experience in the UX field and trying to share their main lessons to help anyone transitioning to design overcome the fears.
Our weekly conversations are supported by Wix Studio, the web platform built for agencies and enterprises, and an amazing supporter of the design space.
https://www.wix.com/studio
To request the next topic DM us on IG:
🗂 instagram.com/honest_ux_talks
👩💻 instagram.com/anfisign
👩🏻💻 instagram.com/uxgoodies
- Design chart
- #180
- Episodes
- 181
- Releases
- Weekly
- Typical length
- 41 min
- On air since
- 2021
- Latest episode
- 17 hours ago
Episodes
181 episodes, newest first
-
20 min
#182 Design Wellbeing Index
Season 1, Episode 182
Show notes
Ioana explores how designers in tech are experiencing their work, and the industry itself, right now. She noticed that what designers share publicly often differs from what they told her in private, so she set out to study their real experiences. That led her to create the Design Wellbeing Index, a tool for understanding what is actually happening in the industry. If you’re a designer, take a few minutes to complete the survey and help paint an honest picture of our industry.
Check out these links:
Order Ioana's book on Amazon, shipping worldwide.
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI interaction map: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
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43 min
#181 We're Back for a New Season! Work + Life Updates, and What's Next
Season 1, Episode 181
Show notes
Anfi and Ioana are back with new episodes! In this one, they share life updates, reflect on the current state of the design industry, and preview what’s coming in the new season.
Take Ioana's Design Wellbeing Survey
Check out these links:
Order Ioana's book on Amazon, shipping worldwide.
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI interaction map: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
-
1 hr 10 min
#180 The state of job hunting in 2026
Season 1, Episode 180
Show notes
Anfi and community members from Into UX Jobs share their real job‑search journeys — how many applications they submitted, how many interview stages they went through before landing their role, how long the process took, what their take‑home challenges looked like, the questions the design managers asked, the hardest moments they faced, what current job hunters need to know, practical interview tips, and the unfair advantages that helped them stand out.
Timestamps:
02:40 - Members share general information about the companies they applied to and the positions they applied to.
08:00 - Describe your job search in three words.
09:30 - What was the reality you experienced? Statistically, how many companies did you apply to during your last job hunt?
15:45 - How many interview stages did you go through at the company where you landed the job? If you remember, how long did the process take?
18:17 - How many stages did you go through at the company where you received an offer?
26:21 - When did you feel like you were actually getting an offer?
32:20 - Questions you were asked by your design manager.
46:28 - Moments when it felt particularly hard — the most challenging part of your process.
54:38 - If you're currently job hunting, what do you need to hear right now?
59:36 - What was your unfair advantage?
Check out these links:
Order Ioana's book on Amazon, shipping worldwide.
Ioana's co-working space
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's Domestika course Create a Learning Strategy
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
-
1 hr 10 min
#179 Building career capital with intention w/Dan Cariño
Season 1, Episode 179
Show notes
nfi and Dan discuss the insights he gained from his experiences at H&M, Klarna, and Meta. They delve into his time working abroad in Hong Kong and how user interface design differs in that part of the world. The conversation also covers Dan's journey at Klarna, his path into Meta, and the key factors that contributed to his success during the Meta interview process. Additionally, they explore how his work at an AI startup influenced his career as artificial intelligence became more widespread.
This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.
This episode's guest:
Check out these links:
Order Ioana's book on Amazon, shipping worldwide.
Ioana's co-working space
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's Domestika course Create a Learning Strategy
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
-
33 min
#178 What we got wrong about AI replacing design?
Season 1, Episode 178
Show notes
Anfi and Ioana discuss how AI has changed the approach to design systems. They explore the idea that AI was expected to replace UI systems, but in reality, design systems are becoming more important. Why were people so confident that AI would replace them? And why won’t that happen?
They also talk about what makes a design system AI-ready and whether AI operators will become a future role—should teams start specifically assigning people to manage AI within design systems?
This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.
Check out these links:
Order Ioana's book on Amazon, shipping worldwide.
Ioana's co-working space
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's Domestika course Create a Learning Strategy
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
-
46 min
#177 What even is a design engineer? w/ Mehmet Baytaş, Senior Design Engineer @ Attio
Season 1, Episode 177
Show notes
Ioana and Baytaş discuss what being a design engineer entails. They explore whether vibe coding can be a pathway into design engineering and whether learning to code is necessary right now. Additionally, they delve into the daily responsibilities of a design engineer and the essential first steps for those interested in starting this career.
This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.
Mentioned in this episode:
Design Engineering 101 article on Design Discipline
Check out these links:
Order Ioana's book on Amazon, shipping worldwide.
Ioana's co-working space
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's Domestika course Create a Learning Strategy
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
-
36 min
#176 Design is not dead, but has changed
Season 1, Episode 176
Show notes
Ioana and Anfi discuss how the design process has evolved in the age of AI: should we rely on educated guesses or actual research? How can we reach insights faster? What's the best design process today? How to get to insights quickly without sacrificing quality? And can LLMs fully replace human research?
This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.
Check out these links:
Order Ioana's book on Amazon, shipping worldwide.
Ioana's co-working space
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's Domestika course Create a Learning Strategy
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
-
42 min
#175 The "dream job" has changed. What are designers aspiring to in 2026?
Season 1, Episode 175
Show notes
Anfi and Ioana discuss their past dream careers from a few years ago, explore whether big tech companies still shine on a CV, and share what kinds of companies designers aspire to work at today. They also delve into whether an entrepreneurial path is more attractive now, how to build clarity in your career goals, and share their visions of an ideal career.
This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.
Check out these links:
Order Ioana's book on Amazon, shipping worldwide.
Ioana's co-working space
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter
Ioana's Domestika course Create a Learning Strategy
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
-
22 min
#174 What makes a portfolio feel senior in 2026?
Season 1, Episode 174
Show notes
Ioana talks about the key skills to showcase in a UX design portfolio in 2026 that hiring managers value, highlights timeless design principles alongside new rules shaped by recent AI-driven shifts, explores the dramatically transformed hiring landscape, and examines which design skills are and aren't replaceable by AI.
This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.
Check out these links:
Order Ioana's book on Amazon, shipping worldwide.
Ioana's co-working space
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter
Ioana's Domestika course Create a Learning Strategy
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
-
36 min
#173 How to build taste in the age of AI?
Season 1, Episode 173
Show notes
Anfi and Ioana discuss what it means to develop taste and how, in the age of AI, cultivating refined taste—whether in aesthetics, craft, or judgment—becomes a crucial differentiator in design.
This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.
Mentioned in this episode:
Aesthetics of AI article
aesthetics in the ai-era : visual + web design trends for 2026 from Ioana's newsletter
https://www.cosmos.so/ Alternative to Pinterest
Check out these links:
Order Ioana's book on Amazon, shipping worldwide.
Ioana's co-working space
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter
Ioana's Domestika course Create a Learning Strategy
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
-
51 min
#172 You don’t need a bootcamp to become a designer anymore
Season 1, Episode 172
Show notes
Ioana and Anfi discuss how to start design career in 2026, why bootcamps are going out of the market and how to utilize AI in the job search process.
This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.
Check out these links:
Preorder Ioana's upcoming book here. The first 100 copies will be hand-signed.
Ioana's co-working space
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter
Ioana's Domestika course Create a Learning Strategy
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
-
24 min
#171 Inside Lovable & Intercom: what top design talent looks like in 2026
Season 1, Episode 171
Show notes
Ioana shares recent field insights on vibe coding, design culture, and AI-driven strategies she learnt from Lovable and Intercom designers. She talks about the value of rapid experimentation, user-centric design, and the future of top design talent in 2026.
This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.
Check out these links:
Preorder Ioana's upcoming book here. The first 100 copies will be hand-signed.
Ioana's co-working space
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter
Ioana's Domestika course Create a Learning Strategy
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
-
39 min
#170 Lessons learned from 4y at a scale up
Show notes
Anfi shares insights on her journey working in a fast-paced scale-up, transforming weaknesses into strengths, strategic product pitching, effective communication at scale, leading impactful workshops, what defines a great manager, the difference between delivery and vision, and strategies to elevate UX culture from low to high maturity.
This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.
Check out these links:
Sign up for Anfi's Design → Impact translation WS workshop on February 18
Preorder Ioana's upcoming book here. The first 100 copies will be hand-signed.
Ioana's co-working space
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter
Ioana's Domestika course Create a Learning Strategy
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
-
44 min
#169 How to speak the business language
Season 1, Episode 169
Show notes
Anfi and Ioana discuss how to get buy-in and communicate effectively with stakeholders. They explore how to present designs convincingly, articulate decisions clearly, and address what to do if data on the impact of design choices isn’t available.
This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.
Check out these links:
Sign up for Anfi's Design → Impact translation WS workshop on February 18
Preorder Ioana's upcoming book here. The first 100 copies will be hand-signed.
Ioana's co-working space
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter
Ioana's Domestika course Create a Learning Strategy
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
-
48 min
#168 Will we still have design jobs in the future?
Season 1, Episode 168
Show notes
Anfi and Ioana explore the future of design jobs, questioning whether design roles will remain the same as the tech industry transforms. They discuss how design roles are evolving right now, especially as AI begins to generate UI and we communicate through prompts. In this new landscape, what exactly are we designing? Can we still call ourselves UX designers, or will our roles shift into something new? Anfi and Ioana discuss why designers need to improve our technological skills to stay relevant in this changing field.
This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.
Mentioned in this episode:
"Dogma, tribe and truth" from the Making Sense with Sam Harris podcast
"The Adolescence of Technology. Confronting and Overcoming the Risks of Powerful AI" - article by Dario Amodei
Check out these links:
Preorder Ioana's upcoming book here. The first 100 copies will be hand-signed.
Ioana's co-working space
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter
Ioana's Domestika course Create a Learning Strategy
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
-
43 min
#167 How to stay sane in the age of AI
Season 1, Episode 167
Show notes
Anfi and Ioana explore the mental health challenges of recent years, sharing strategies to preserve self-identity, manage anxiety, and set healthy boundaries in the context of an increasingly AI-driven world.
This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.
Check out these links:
Preorder Ioana's upcoming book here. The first 100 copies will be hand-signed.
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter
Ioana's Domestika course Create a Learning Strategy
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
-
1 hr 6 min
#166 How to get hired in 2026
Season 1, Episode 166
Show notes
Anfi and Ioana discuss their strategies for preparing for the upcoming hiring season, covering key topics such as portfolio, the interview process, practical take-home challenges and whiteboard exercises.
This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.
In this episode:
08:33 How to make your portfolio stand out?
21:43 Do I need to show that I am AI first designer?
26:33 Do designers need to specialize or be generalists?
34:48 How to approach Interviewing process?
54:41 How to prepare for white board and take home challenges?
Mentioned in this episode:
Sign up for Anfi's Design → Impact translation WS workshop on February 18
'The playbook to hiring designers in 2026' by Tom Scott
Portfolios for inspiration:
https://adasilv2.framer.website/
Check out these links:
Preorder Ioana's upcoming book here. The first 100 copies will be hand-signed.
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter
Ioana's Domestika course Create a Learning Strategy
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
-
41 min
#165 Skills and traits UX designers need in 2026
Season 1, Episode 165
Show notes
Ioana and Anfi discuss how values are shifting in the design world amidst rapid change. They explore the traits that designers should cultivate, current market observations, and whether traditional skills remain relevant. They delve into whether designers need to learn coding, the role of vibe coding, and if we're heading towards becoming design engineers or builders.
This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.
Mentioned in this episode:
Preorder Ioana's upcoming book here. The first 100 copies will be hand-signed.
Get your Design Course Bundle, featuring 6 courses, guides, and templates crafted by experienced design practitioners
2026 predictions for AI x tech x design newsletter
If you have multiple interests, do not waste the next 2-3 yearsarticle
Check out these links:
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter
Ioana's Domestika course Create a Learning Strategy
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
-
49 min
#164 Year-End Reflections
Season 1, Episode 164
Show notes
Anfi and Ioana reflect on the past year, sharing how their careers have evolved and how AI has impacted their journeys. Looking ahead to 2026, they discuss their goals and upcoming creative projects.
This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.
Check out these links:
Preorder Ioana's upcoming book here. The first 100 copies will be hand-signed.
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter
Ioana's Domestika course Create a Learning Strategy
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
-
15 min
#163 Surviving Design - Why I Wrote a Book
Season 1, Episode 163
Show notes
Ioana offers a glimpse into her upcoming book release.
This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio.
Preorder your copy here. The first 100 copies will be hand-signed.
Check out these links:
Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com
Ioana's WhatsApp group
Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter
Join Anfi’s Job Search community. The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey.
Ioana's Domestika course Create a Learning Strategy
Enroll in Ioana's AI course "**AI-Powered UX Design: How to Elevate Your UX Career"** on Interaction Design Foundation with a 25% discount.
Into UX design online course by Anfisa
❓Next topic ideas:
Submit your questions or feedback anonymously here
Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned for the next episodes.
👩🏻💻 Ioana’s instagram
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