Digitally Diverse

Hugo Welke: Design Lead - Canva

Hugo Welke, a lead designer at Canva, shares his journey from Brazil to Ireland and eventually Australia, where he's been with Canva for five years. He discusses his transition from product design to design operations, emphasising the importance of creating a positive employee experience. Hugo highlights Canva's commitment to inclusivity, both in the workplace and in their product design. He reflects on the challenges of maintaining simplicity in design as products scale and the importance of effective communication in design teams. Hugo also shares insights on career development, advising against rushing through career stages and emphasising the value of patience and reflection. He discusses his personal motivations, including organisation and adding value to others' work. Hugo concludes by recommending design-related podcasts and offering advice to his younger self about managing anxiety in one's career.

Gareth Rydon: Co-Founder at Friyay.ai

In this episode of Digitally Diverse, we sit down with Gareth Rydon, co-founder of Friyay, Australia's first generative AI studio. Gareth shares his unique career journey, transitioning from accounting to human-centered design and eventually to the cutting-edge world of AI. He discusses the challenges and rewards of starting a value-driven AI company, emphasising the importance of augmenting human capabilities rather than replacing them. Gareth offers insights into maintaining work-life balance as an entrepreneur, the significance of continuous learning, and the power of asking good questions in the age of AI. He also shares valuable career advice, stressing the importance of aligning work with personal values and the benefits of diverse experiences. This conversation is packed with wisdom for anyone navigating the tech industry or considering a career change, highlighting the crucial role of designers in shaping the future of AI and technology.

Rebecca Preston: Senior Product Designer at Zipline

This episode of the Digitally Diverse podcast features a conversation with Rebecca Preston, a Senior Product Designer at Zipline. Rebecca discusses her career journey, the importance of user research and design collaboration, and the challenges and rewards of working in a remote-first environment. She also offers valuable advice for aspiring designers and emphasizes the power of networking, self-improvement, and the willingness to pivot and adapt in the ever-changing tech industry.

From Motorcycles to Digital Interfaces: The Evolving Journey of a UX Designer with Jithesh Ramesh

Join us as we chat with Jitesh Ramesh, Lead UX Designer at Rate My Agent. Jitesh shares his journey from mechanical engineering to industrial design and eventually to digital product design. He discusses the complexities and challenges of bridging the gap between tangible and digital products, reflecting on his experiences working on projects ranging from motorcycle design to construction and fintech software. Jitesh emphasizes the importance of being adaptable, stepping away from the details, and recognizing that design is a shared goal. He also shares valuable career advice, including the significance of collaboration, the potential for job hunting within the design field, and the importance of putting one's ego last in order to prioritize the craft and make meaningful contributions.

Wal Gedeon: Product Design Lead at VMWare Tanzu Labs

Wal Gedeon joins us for this episode of Digitally Diverse. Wal shares his career journey from teaching himself design skills to becoming a delivery lead at VMware Tanzu Labs. He started with a background in product design and worked at companies like Woolies X and Goodlife Health Clubs. Wal then expanded into UI and UX design by taking courses at General Assembly. He also completed some product management training to become more well-rounded. Now at Tanzu Labs, Wal manages projects and coaches enterprise clients on building software. He discusses how Tanzu Labs helps solve modernization issues for companies undergoing digital transformation across various industries. Throughout his career, Wal has honed his skills in design, product development, and delivery leadership.