Why Designing for AI is Like “Pottery” - Mastering a Stochastic Medium | Timothy Achumba, Microsoft

Why Designing for AI is Like “Pottery” - Mastering a Stochastic Medium | Timothy Achumba, Microsoft

In this episode, I speak with Timothy Achumba, Design Director at Microsoft, about AI-first product design, leadership, and the future of design. We discuss his journey from Wunderlist to Meta to Microsoft, how his team explores AI through rapid prototyping, and why the role of design is shifting toward judgment, taste, and experimentation. We also cover mechanical keyboards, mentoring, and what designers need to focus on to stay relevant in an AI-driven world. Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:06 Timothy Achumba intro 01:15 Config London and speaking on stage 03:26 How Timothy got into mechanical keyboards 04:44 Keyboards as a surface for expression 06:17 Designing custom keycaps 09:01 Timothy’s role at Microsoft Design Lab 09:57 Prototyping first and using the scientific method 11:24 How AI changes knowledge work 12:53 Why chat interfaces are powerful but limited 16:21 The Wunderlist story 20:18 What happened after Microsoft acquired Wunderlist 23:07 Microsoft vs Meta 25:10 The role of design at Microsoft vs Meta 26:47 The intensity of working at Microsoft 28:08 Quick fire round 29:49 How incubation teams influence larger organisations 34:27 Being a director and staying hands-on 36:58 Mentoring designers and career growth 38:56 Should designers learn to code? 39:53 Why design is becoming more like pottery 43:11 How designers can build AI work for their portfolio 45:38 If everyone can prototype, what is the value of design? 49:29 Why craft matters even more now 52:03 What stops senior designers becoming principal or director 55:54 Managing time, meetings, and focus 57:30 Why traditional design processes can hold teams back 01:00:34 Why the scientific method matters in design 01:01:47 Why designers still matter in the AI era 01:04:41 Final thoughts

How AI + XR Will Change Product Design Forever — with Oleg Frolov (LIV)

How will AI and XR transform the future of product design? In this episode, I chat with Oleg Frolov — design engineer at LIV — about spatial computing, hand-tracking, mixed reality, and why the next era of interaction design goes far beyond screens, cursors and controllers. We explore Oleg’s project Boxel XR, the future of controller-free input, Quest vs Vision Pro constraints, AI as a learning companion, and why hybrid design engineers will shape the next decade of product craft. We also talk social VR, spatial presence, R&D mindset, prototyping workflows, and what an “XR-native generation” might look like. If you’re a designer wondering whether to invest in XR, Unity, spatial computing or AI skills — this episode offers a grounded, honest and optimistic view of what’s coming next. • How AI accelerates coding + prototyping (without replacing designers) • Why XR interaction design is the real frontier • The future of hand-tracking + body-based interfaces • What LIV does to capture VR + MR experiences • Why design engineers will redefine product quality • Why now is the best moment to enter spatial design 00:00 — Introduction 01:31 — Boxel XR + voxel editing for VR 04:04 — Future of hand-based interaction 08:18 — Voice vs hands vs speed 11:41 — Finding ideas + R&D mindset 15:00 — What is a design engineer? 17:08 — Tools: Figma, Blender, Unity, Xcode 19:00 — Learning to code with AI support 22:06 — AI as “modern Aristotle” 23:16 — What LIV actually does 26:00 — Gorilla Tag + game friction 29:06 — Why social VR feels real 31:01 — XR-native generations 36:04 — Oleg’s end-to-end process 39:20 — Quest vs Vision Pro 45:12 — Will AI replace designers? 50:03 — Future of design engineering 52:03 — Beyond UI vs UX 54:01 — Device-agnostic interaction 55:38 — XR + smart home convergence 59:57 — Muji pens + idea value 1:04:12 — Creative + philosophical influences 1:06:01 — Storytelling + communication 1:12:07 — AI slop + trust in craft 1:17:35 — Closing thoughts If you enjoy the episode, follow the show and share it with a designer — it really helps the podcast grow.

The Truth About AI + Design (with Miro’s Head of Design for AI – Matt Jones)

What does it actually look like to weave AI into products people already love—without slapping on “sparkle buttons”? In this episode of Blueprint of a Designer, I sit down with Matt Jones — a design leader at Miro working on AI (previously Google, Lunar Energy, and BERG) — to unpack designing with intelligence as a material, not a gimmick. Chapters 0:00 Cold open — AI, flows & vibe coding 1:27 Intro & guest greeting 1:40 Light-painting photo & the garage 2:16 Why light painting? Perception & trails 3:02 Visualizing radio fields (RFID/Oyster) 4:54 Light-painting the invisible field 5:50 Team fun: centaur model of AI 6:51 What Matt calls himself (interaction design) 10:27 From architecture school to the early web 12:15 What most misunderstand about AI in design 13:47 On-device “mini intelligences” 15:14 Designing with mature, cheap tech 19:33 Material thinking: subjectivity + objectivity 32:36 Clarifying Matt’s role at Miro (AI group) 33:02 Weaving AI into Miro (multiplayer, multimodal) 39:29 The “explain it over the phone” test 41:24 Screens live in our heads: designing for cognition 44:57 The thought-bubble storyboard trick 50:29 Vibe coding / vibe designing 52:36 Future-proofing designers (sort of) 57:02 Curiosity over rounded rectangles 1:00:45 Pushing systems beyond the mean 1:12:17 Google: Creative Lab → Research 1:14:09 Why Lunar Energy; Project Sunroof; home solar 1:16:42 Zero→One at a climate startup (hardware + software) 1:17:58 Dogfooding at Miro; slides + boards 1:18:49 Tools shape us; whiteboards & flow 1:21:05 Pace at Miro: EPD trios & hackathons 1:23:50 What’s in the garage (3D printers, etc.) 1:25:24 Remote hardware prototyping from the workshop 1:28:16 Data-center murals & wrap-up We dig into: * On-device “mini intelligences” vs giant LLMs — why small, energy-light models may reshape everyday tools more than headline models. * Weaving AI into workflows — keeping AI multiplayer, visual, and native to the fabric of Miro. * Designing for cognition — the “thought-bubble” storyboard trick and explaining an interface over the phone. * Vibe coding / vibe designing — prompting as creative direction, and pushing systems beyond the mean. * Future-proofing (kind of) — curiosity, user research, and team intuition outlasting tool churn. * From BERG → Google → Lunar Energy → Miro — hardware/energy/research lessons (light-painting RFID fields, rapid hardware prototyping, and more). Guest Matt Jones — Design leader at Miro (AI group). Previously Google (Creative Lab & Research), Lunar Energy, and BERG. Why watch/listen If you’re a designer wondering where to place your bets in an AI-heavy decade, this is a candid, practical field guide: ship faster, stay curious, and design for the mental model, not just the mockup. ► Subscribe for more episodes: / @theblueprintofadesigner Follow us on: 📸 Instagram: @theblueprintofadesigner 🎵 TikTok: @theblueprintofadesigner 🙏 Huge thanks to Matt for bringing such clarity and candor! 🔗 Connect with Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmatthewjones/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmatthewjones/] #BlueprintOfADesigner #AIDesign #ProductDesign #UXDesign #InteractionDesign #GenerativeAI #OnDeviceAI #MultimodalAI #PromptEngineering #DesignLeadership #FutureOfDesign #Prototyping #Miro #LunarEnergy #BERG

How to Be an Irreplaceable Designer in the Age of AI – Oriol Valldeperas (Wise)

In this episode of The Blueprint of a Designer, I sit down with Oriol Valldeperas, a product designer at ‪ @Wise  [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCm4E1b5TjstT8UUIk7mb-MA] to unpack what it really takes to thrive as a senior designer in today’s product teams - especially in fast-moving, trust-critical spaces like fintech.We dig into the invisible parts of the job: how senior designers can find and fight for scope, demonstrate value without relying on polish, and build real influence - even when you’re not “the loudest in the room.” Oriol opens up about the pressure of adding value, the art of crafting one-pagers and visions that actually drive change, and why leading by example (not just frameworks) matters more than ever.We also talk AI - what it threatens, what it enables, and how to stay irreplaceable. Oriol shares an honest perspective on navigating imposter syndrome, the need for healthy competitiveness, and the emotional side of making high-stakes decisions that ripple across millions of users.Whether you're stepping into a senior role, shaping platform strategy, or wondering how to future-proof your design career, this conversation is packed with honest insights.📌 Chapters00:00 Intro – Who is Oriol Valldeperas?17:30 Finding Scope as a Senior Designer20:30 Fighting for Scope – Why It Matters23:51 Do Internal Tools Need Good Design?27:46 The Pressure to Add Value38:00 How to Build Influence Without Authority40:51 Driving Change with Your Superpower42:50 Leading by Being Brilliant – Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods & More48:19 Is AI a Threat to Designers?51:00 Staying Irreplaceable in the Age of AI53:50 Be Competitive - But Stay Kind1:00:05 The Hardest Part About Being a Designer1:07:05 Final Thoughts + Career Growth at Wise► Subscribe for more episodes: / @theblueprintofadesignerFollow us on: 📸 Instagram: @theblueprintofadesigner🎵 TikTok: @theblueprintofadesigner🙏 Huge thanks to Oriol for his openness and depth!📲 Follow Oriol: https://www.instagram.com/ovall/🔗 LinkedIn: /oriolvalldeperas#ProductDesign #Wise #Fintech #DesignLeadership #Scope #DesignInfluence #AI #UX #TheBlueprintOfADesigner

Has Big Tech Killed Design Creativity? Not at Stripe – The Reality of Product Design

In this episode, I sit down with Natasha Wu, a product designer at Stripe, to talk about her journey, the challenges of designing for payments, and what it’s really like to work at a company renowned for its design culture. We dive into the unexpected realities of Stripe’s documentation-heavy approach, the struggles with imposter syndrome, and the future of AI in design—including what’s hype and what’s actually useful. Natasha also shares insights on how designers at Stripe influence high-stakes business decisions, build trust in financial products, and navigate the balance between craft and pragmatism. (00:00) Intro – Who is Natasha Wu?02:01 What Stripe Designers Actually Work On (05:49) Stripe’s Culture of Documentation & How It Shapes Design (12:57) The Role of Designers at Stripe – More Than Just "Making Things Pretty" (17:48) Designing for Trust – UX Challenges in Fintech (24:26) How AI is (and isn’t) Changing Product Design (30:58) Why Imposter Syndrome is So Common in Design (42:05) IC vs. Management – Why Natasha Moved Back to IC (50:41) What Makes Stripe’s Design Team Special (57:05) The Hardest Design Problems in Fintech1:08:10 Natasha’s Advice for Designers 👉 If you're interested in fintech, B2B design, or the intersection of design and business strategy, this conversation is for you.Don’t miss it – watch or listen now! 🎥 Youtube [https://youtu.be/U9J5CO-zNGE] 🍏 Apple: https://shorturl.at/s8TTi ► Subscribe on Spotify for more episodes: https://open.spotify.com/show/4bUmQl8pJdDD85QLujojqy?si=780edf5428ee468f [https://open.spotify.com/show/4bUmQl8pJdDD85QLujojqy?si=780edf5428ee468f] Follow us on: Instagram: @theblueprintofadesigner [https://www.instagram.com/theblueprintofadesigner/] TikTok: @theblueprintofadesigner [https://www.tiktok.com/@theblueprintofadesigner] 🙏 A huge thank you to Natasha for sharing her story and expertise! 📲 Follow Natasha for more insights: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashawu/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/natashawu/] Instagram: natashaswu [https://www.instagram.com/natashaswu/] 💡 Subscribe for more deep dives into product design, strategy, and careers in tech. #ProductDesign #Stripe #Fintech #AI #UX #ImposterSyndrome #TechCareers