Mind the Whitespace

Empathy Over Ego in Design | Helena Postigo

Helena Postigo is a senior designer at Koto, and previously worked at Pentagram alongside workflow.design’s founding designer Jonathan Quaade. She’s worked on projects for major clients like Microsoft, and brings a rare mix of creative sharpness and humility to the design process, especially when navigating feedback and getting work to the finish line. In this episode, Helena reflects on what it really means to create design that not only gets approved, but actually works. From managing internal feedback in big teams to presenting raw ideas without ego, she shares a thoughtful, collaborative mindset shaped by years of hands-on experience. Listen to her conversation with Jonathan Quaade as they explore: 1. Why your ego is your biggest barrier to great client collaboration. 2. How to present raw creative ideas in ways clients can actually understand. 3. How to navigate client politics and identify the real decision-maker in the room. 4. What it means to keep a project “alive” even after sign-off. 5. Why junior designers are often the ones who unlock the most unexpected ideas. 6. How to reframe frustrating feedback into a creative challenge. 7. And why empathy + curiosity might just be the ultimate creative toolkit. This is the second episode of Mind the Whitespace, a podcast series from workflow.design, where we explore what really goes into creating great design. Not just moments of genius or big case studies—but the messy, human process that actually makes great work possible.

Getting great design feedback from client needs mind reading | David Broner

David Broner is the Creative Director and founder of OB Studio (and previously DVTK), where he's spent years mastering something many designers struggle with: the psychology of client feedback. An expert in digital design who works across 3D, motion, and interfaces, David has learned that great design happens through great collaboration. He's worked with clients like GOAT, Nike, and Apple, navigating everything from wireframe feedback to complex multi-media projects. Watch his conversation with Jonathan Quaade, founding designer at workflow.design and ex-Pentagram, as they discuss: * Why every client speaks a different language and how to adapt your feedback process accordingly. * How to read between the lines when clients can't articulate what they really want. * How to keep your team motivated when client feedback gets brutal. * Why empathy might be your most important design skill. * Which tools actually streamline collaboration (and which just add complexity). * How to maintain creative vision while incorporating endless revisions. * Why true success isn't approval—it's genuinely happy clients who feel heard. This is the first episode of Mind the Whitespace, a podcast series from workflow.design, where we explore what goes into creating great designs. It’s not the sudden moments of creative genius or case studies, but the real, human moments that make all the difference in making a project a great creative success.