DESIGN THINKER PODCAST

Ep#55: From Process to Experience - The role of recruitment in the age of AI

In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter are joined by Tim Bush, a recruitment professional who's rethinking what hiring looks like in the age of AI. This conversation explores the critical shift from process-focused recruitment to experience-centered hiring, and why AI might be the key to making recruitment more human—not less. In this episode, you will: * Understand why recruitment became more about process than people * Discover how AI can free recruiters to focus on deeply human work * Explore practical ways to shift from process optimization to experience design Meet Our Guest Tim Bush Tim is known for his enthusiasm, curiosity, and unique perspective on life. Starting his professional career in football, and with his growth mindset, he is all about the action of being connected with others. It was only a matter of time before Talent Acquisition (TA) came calling! He finds himself in a TA leadership position whereby he gets to challenge and disrupt, be a futurist and loves seeing people succeed. He is deeply passionate about what the future of TA will look and feel like ensure that his energy goes into AI, automation, data driven decisions and most importantly, people development. He’s always willing to connect with others so reach out to him on LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-bush/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-bush/] Show Notes From Process to Experience Recruitment has become obsessed with stage gates, approval chains, and time-to-fill metrics. But when you emphasize the process, you don't get the experience. Tim explains why this shift happened and what it costs us. AI as the Great Liberator Imagine if AI could handle all the administrative work—writing job ads, screening applications, drafting contracts, sending updates. What would recruiters do with that time? Connection, understanding context, and showing care. Co-Designing Each Recruitment Why do we use one-size-fits-all recruitment processes? Tim advocates for co-designing each recruitment approach during the job brief conversation with the hiring manager. Make it fit the context. Make it human. The Return of the Phone Call In a world of emails and automation, picking up the phone has become a radical act. Tim's mentor taught him one lesson: "Pick up the phone." It's still the best advice in recruitment. Aroha in Action The Māori concept of aroha (love, care, compassion) belongs in recruitment. You can decline someone with aroha—timely, personally, and with genuine feedback. It doesn't cost money. It costs attention. Process Thinking vs. Experience Thinking Organizations have applied factory thinking to recruitment: standardize, optimize, eliminate variation. But humans aren't products on an assembly line. Every person is unique, and their uniqueness changes daily. Our systems need to honor that. Practices You Can Apply Measure what matters Track your notification rate. How many declined candidates actually hear back from you? Aim for 100%. Let candidates choose their communication channel Add one simple question to your application: "How would you like us to communicate with you—text, email, or phone call?" Then honor it. Use AI to amplify humanity Let AI handle the administrative burden so you can spend time on what only humans can do: connection, conversation, care, and understanding context. Co-design the recruitment approach During the job brief, work with the hiring manager to design a recruitment process that fits this specific role, context, and candidate pool. Not cookie-cutter. Bespoke. Pick up the phone When in doubt, make the call. Real human connection happens through conversation, not automation.

Ep#54: Amplifying Human Potential by Collaborating with AI

What if AI isn't here to replace us, but to help amplify our potential?  In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter are joined by Dave Howden, CEO of SupaHuman, to explore how AI challenges us to reclaim our distinctly human capabilities and elevate our human potential. The conversation moves beyond the AI hype to examine what happens when technology handles the tedious work and frees us to do what humans inherently do better.  In this episode, you will:  • Discover what humans are actually designed to do versus what we've been trained to do • Understand why AI creates a "craft premium" for genuine human expertise  • Learn practical ways to get started with using AI  Meet Our Guest Dave Howden Dave Howden is a seasoned technology leader and creative engineer from Auckland, New Zealand. Withover two decades of experience in the emerging tech sector, Dave is the CEO and Co-founder of SupaHumanAI, where he helps organizations unlock the opportunities of artificial intelligence. He has held pivotal rolesat companies like BT, Orange UK, Umbrellar and Pax8. Dave believes in doing cool stuff with great people,keeping things fun and authentic along the way. You can connect with Dave on LinkedIn 👉🏽 https://www.linkedin.com/in/davehowden/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davehowden/] Show Notes What We're Actually Designed For Relationship building, reading rooms, creative problem solving, strategic thinking, and applying nuanced judgment. These capabilities become more valuable, not less, when AI handles the routine work. The Craft Premium Effect Just as handmade shoes command premium prices in a mass-production world, human expertise applied to the right problems becomes exponentially more valuable in an AI-enhanced workplace. The Leadership Moment Organizations face a critical choice: use AI for shortsighted cost-cutting or invest in unlocking human potential for long-term growth. The decision shapes talent attraction and competitive advantage. From Ground-Up Innovation AI democratizes change. Every employee can experiment, identify inefficiencies, and propose solutions. This represents the first time in history technology change can happen from the bottom up at scale. The Generational Reality Different demographics approach AI adoption differently based on their workplace entry point. Understanding these differences is crucial for successful implementation without leaving anyone behind. Revenue Leakage vs. Real Problems Many organizations rush toward AI solutions for problems that could be solved with basic process improvements. The key is distinguishing between genuine AI opportunities and fundamental business issues. Practices You Can Apply Start with the $20 investment Give your team access to consumer-grade AI tools and let them experiment safely within controlled environments. Ask the fundamental question What work are you doing that humans weren't designed for? Start there for AI implementation. Focus on enablement, not replacement Look for ways AI can handle routine tasks so you can focus on strategic and creative work. Memorable Quotes * "We weren't designed to sit behind a computer screen for hours. We were designed to build relationships and grow the population and look after each other." -- Dave Howden * "AI plus your intellectual property equals magic." -- Dave Howden * "This is probably the first time in history where we could actually drive technology change from the ground up at scale." -- Dr Dani * "AI can help us be human again." -- Designer Peter * "Free smart minds from tedious work." -- Dave Howden

Ep#53: Thinglessness, E-Bikes, and the Future of UX

What happens when the tools we’ve mastered become obsolete overnight?  In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Pete are joined by one of the OGs of UX, Nick Cawthon, the founder of Gauge, to help organizations with evidence-based strategy and product decisions. In this conversation, we explore “thinglessness” — the idea that design is less about the artifact and more about the human experience it creates. From AI’s impact on design velocity to the need for cross-functional collaboration, we dig into how designers can stay relevant and impactful in a world where technology moves at jet-pack speed. * Understand why letting go of attachment to specific tools makes you more adaptable in a rapidly changing landscape. * Learn how to balance AI-enabled speed with the strategic thinking needed to head in the right direction. * Discover practical ways to preserve and strengthen core human-centered design capabilities that AI can’t replace. Meet Our Guest Nick Cawthon Nick helps design teams stay ahead of the curve with their AI transformation. He has been curating self-assessments for UX & Design Teams at retrain.gauge.io [http://retrain.gauge.io], helping analyze industry trends and removing barriers to adoption. Nick founded Gauge in 2001 in the San Francisco Bay Area to help organizations with evidence-based strategy and product decisions. Clients have grown to include Electronic Arts, Genentech, Airbnb, Adobe and many others. Nick is a professor in Data Literacy and Visualization in the Design Strategy MBA program at his alma mater, California College of the Arts.  Learn more about Nick's work https://retrain.gauge.io/ Show Notes Thinglessness: Beyond the Artifact Design isn’t about the deliverable — it’s about the entire experience. When tools change, the value comes from understanding people, solving the right problems, and creating impact. The E-Bike Analogy AI gives designers “jet-pack” speed, but speed without direction just gets you to the wrong place faster. The real advantage is using extra time to think deeper, not just produce more. Collapsing Silos The boundaries between design, product, and engineering are dissolving. The most effective teams work in shared code bases, make decisions together, and learn each other’s craft. Skills Worth Keeping As AI automates tasks, certain human capabilities — empathy, problem framing, collaboration — become more valuable, not less. Losing them puts long-term adaptability at risk. History Repeats Itself From typists evolving into administrative assistants to designers moving beyond Figma, tech shifts always require upskilling and a broader set of capabilities. Human Connection as a Differentiator In a world where AI is everywhere, genuine human connection will be the true competitive advantage — for both products and organisations. Practices You Can Apply * Fall out of love with tools – Treat technology like a fling, not a lifelong commitment. * Sharpen the front end – Spend more time on research, problem definition, and anticipating unintended consequences. * Work across boundaries – Pair designers with engineers and product teams to build shared knowledge. * Audit your core skills – Identify which human capabilities you want to retain and strengthen in an AI-heavy workflow. * Upskill with intention – Look to history for clues on how roles adapt when tech changes the game. Memorable Quotes * “Tools come and go. Capabilities are what keep you relevant.” — Nick Cawthon * “Velocity without direction is just faster failure.” — Nick Cawthon * “We need to stop falling in love with technology and start having flings with it.” — Dr Dani * “If any

Ep#52: Performance Without the Buzzwords – Doing What Matters, Better.

We throw around words like productivity, engagement, and performance all the time. But do we actually know what they mean or how to create the conditions for them to thrive? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter are joined by Craig Steel, Founder and Chief Executive of Vantaset. This conversation explores what real performance looks like in modern organizations and the shift that leaders need to make to achieve the results that matter.  In this episode, you will: • Understand key factors that keep organizations stagnant  • Learn the difference between productivity and performance  • Discover practical insights on how to create the conditions for performance  Meet Our Guest Craig Steel  Craig Steel is the founder and Chief Executive of Vantaset – the world’s first people-focused high-performance operating system for business. Craig is considered by many to be one of the world’s foremost performance transformation experts and Australasia’s leading authority on workplace performance. He has worked full-time in the performance industry for over 30 years, acted as the head performance advisor to many of the country’s top athletes and helped over 50 Chief Executives transform the performance of their organisation. Today, Craig and his team are helping CE’s globally build more competitive future-ready organisations.  You can connect with Craig on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigsteel/ Show Notes Performance ≠ Productivity Organizations often reward busyness instead of outcomes. Craig explains why real performance is about effectiveness, not activity. Clarity Over Control Lack of clarity—not lack of effort—is what drives underperformance. When people don’t know the “why,” they default to just doing the job. From Systemic Sludge to Strategic Relevance Employees want to contribute. But rigid systems turn meaningful work into meaningless tasks. Leaders must rewire the system, not blame the people. Courageous Leadership The best leaders don’t need to be right—they’re willing to be wrong, and they create space for others to think, contribute, and grow. The AI Distraction AI isn’t a get-out-of-investing-in-people-free card. When tech becomes an excuse to cut rather than elevate, organizations lose their greatest asset: human potential. The Factory Model is Broken Despite 21st-century challenges, most companies still operate like 19th-century factories. It’s time to redesign work for knowledge, not compliance. Practices You Can Apply Ask: What could we become? A powerful question to reframe conversations and unlock new possibilities. Reconnect people to purpose Every employee should know how their work contributes to something bigger. Audit for clarity Do your teams know what success looks like? Start there before adding new KPIs. Redesign for thinking, not tasking Stop building systems that assume people are just there to “do a job.” Let them solve problems. Look at behavior as feedback Before you assume someone’s disengaged, ask what the system is rewarding—or punishing. Memorable Quotes • “We didn’t hire you to do a job. We hired you to make a difference.” — Craig Steel • “Performance is not about output. It’s about contribution and impact.” — Dr Dani • “If the All Blacks ran their team like most businesses run their staff, they’d never win a match.” — Craig Steel • “Culture isn’t warm and fuzzy. It’s the system that either unlocks or limits human potential.” — Peter Allan • “What could we become?” — Craig Steel

Ep#51: The Age of Experience - Rethinking How We Think

We live in a world that’s changing faster than the frameworks we've relied on can keep up with. So, is it time to rethink how we think? In this episode, Dr Dani and Designer Peter are joined by John Philpin to explore why the age of reason is over and why we need to embrace the age of experience.  In this episode, you will * Understand why rigid thinking is no match for today’s complexity and what we need instead. * Learn how business models built on certainty are being outpaced by change, AI, and rising human expectations. * Discover how design thinking, critical thinking, and cross-disciplinary collaboration can help us rethink how we think. Meet Our Guest John Philpin  John has spent two decades inside and around the C-suite, twice as CEO, with a handful of CXO roles, and now as a trusted advisor to boards and executive teams. His through-line? People First. Always. He works at the intersection of technology and business, helping organisations cut through the noise, get clear on what matters, and drive the outcomes that follow. He’s worked across the UK, USA, and New Zealand, from scrappy startups to global giants, with deep expertise in tech, media, sustainability, and organisational design. John is known for his clarity, candor, and ability to translate complexity into action. He partners with ambitious leaders ready to grow, lead, and connect, because in business, real expansion starts where engagement meets execution - because growth doesn’t come from managing what you have, it comes from engaging with who you haven’t reached. Yet. John invites you to   * Come be my friend on LinkedIN [https://linkedin.com/in/johnphilpin] * Subscribe to my Substack [https://substack.philpin.com/] Show Notes Key Themes: * Reason vs. Experience: John argues we’re moving out of the “Age of Reason,” where everything is boxed, mapped, and standardized, and into the “Age of Experience,” where context, nuance, and emergence matter more. * Structured Visual Thinking: Drawing from his time with Group Partners, John explains how visual frameworks help teams see the whole picture—but only if they remain flexible and dynamic. * Why AI Adds Pressure, Not Relief: While AI can improve productivity, John warns of the risk of misusing it to justify job cuts instead of amplifying human capability. * Organizational Misfits: Dani highlights how most organizational structures are still built like 18th-century factories, even as problems grow more complex. * From Silos to Systems: True progress requires abandoning single-discipline thinking and embracing diverse perspectives—from sales to science, marketing to engineering. Practices You Can Apply: * Listen beyond your lane—explore ideas outside your field. * Revisit your childhood obsessions—they may hold forgotten clues to how you think. * Start conversations across departments and disciplines—especially where no one’s currently talking. Mentioned in the episode: * Smallcreep’s Day by Peter Currell Brown [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2455342.Smallcreep_s_Day] * Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore * Zone to Win by Geoffrey Moore [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61329.Crossing_the_Chasm] * Martini Shot podcast by Rob Long [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/martini-shot/id1550168037] * Substack writing by John Philpin [https://substack.com/@johnphilpin]