In this special "Quick One", Barry comes to us live from Bangalore, India to tell our listeners about his time as both speaker and attendee at DesignUp 2026. This year, DesignUp celebrates its 10th anniversary, and it certainly did not disappoint. Barry and Phil discuss how the extent to which the sessions convey how irrevocably the role of Design, and of Designers, has changed in industries as diverse as healthcare, social justice, and technology. They discuss how the conference's setting further reinforces how much Bangalore itself has changed, and how that influences the talent pool. Barry also shares the key themes from his talk, "Crafting your Design Career Like a Novelist", all about how to treat a Design Career the way an author crafts a story, complete with chapters, plot twists, and a continuously evolving narrative centered around value. Enjoy!

Drinks: Kingfisher Lager, Hardywood Craft Brewery Pils

Links: https://26.designup.io/

In this episode, Barry and Phil are joined by Kate Bannister, a seasoned creative recruiter and the owner of Hive Talent Advisors, for a chat and a drink about the strange, new world of recruitment and career advice for today's senior creative leaders. We discuss how creative leadership candidacy has dramatically changed over the last 5 years, including how the attributes once valued by hiring managers are either less important or no longer even applicable today, and what impact that has on identity and career management. We also discuss how to properly use LinkedIn, not as a digital resume, but as a content and thought leadership platform. We conclude with a live audit of each of our LinkedIn profiles - a valuable service that Kate's company provides that lays bare all of Barry and Phil's shortcomings. If you are a senior creative leader looking for inspiration and motivation in your current career search, this one is for you. Enjoy!

Drinks: Devil's Purse Brewing Co. South Dennis-Style Summer Ale, Hi-Wire Brewing Hi-Pitch India Pale Ale, Alani Nu Energy Drink

Links: https://www.hivetalentadvisors.com/

In this episode, Barry and Phil are joined by their old friend and former colleague, John McHale, a seasoned creative leader and Chief Creative Officer now leading startups as they forge new creative frontiers in the age of AI. Barry, Phil, and John enjoy several trips in the wayback machine as they recognize both the similarities and differences between now and when they worked together in the 2010's. They also discuss how creative leaders need to build, lead, and mentor teams now that the "floor" is higher today than it has ever been. It is a lively, fun, and timely conversation that is sure to speak to both senior leaders wondering what's next, and junior designers trying to figure out "what now?" Enjoy!

Drinks: Medusa Brewing Company Duchovni Pilsner, Founders Brewing Company Easy Drinking Beer Blonde Ale, Three Taverns Brewery Ukiyo Rice Lager

Links: https://www.mchaleportfolio.com/

In this quick one, Phil returns from San Francisco to join Barry and discuss all the latest and greatest features announced at Config 2026, Figma's annual product conference. We discuss how Figma is enabling global teams to better collaborate and enhance their work with AI, and how they are incorporating more and more of the entire design workflow in their canvas with releases like Motion, Figma Weave, and Code Layers. We also discuss how these features impact token usage and licensing costs for teams, and for clients, who have invested heavily in the platform. We wrap by discussing how Figma is investing in the community, specifically the international community, how they need to continue meeting teams where they are. Enjoy!

Drinks: Devil's Purse Brewing Co. Sichuan Wit, Zero Gravity Craft Brewery Green State Lager

Links: www.figma.com

In this "quick one", Barry and Phil crack some beers and explore the impact of AI on design leadership, change management, and the future of work. They discuss recent developments in AI tools like Figma agent and Gemini, the cultural and emotional implications of AI adoption that come with this change, and practical strategies for integrating AI into creative and organizational processes, including the importance of focusing on value and experimentation in AI adoption. It is a timely and much-needed conversation for design leaders, and creatives in general, in the throes of AI transformation. Enjoy!

Drinks: Sprindrift Blood Orange Tangerine Sparkling Water, Tree House Brewing Company Waffleberry Double IPA

Links: www.figma.com

In this episode, Barry and Phil are joined by Dave Peak, serial entrepreneur and the founder of AI startup EasyBee.AI, which focuses on building customizable agents for mid-market firms. Dave takes us through his storied career leading innovation strategies for companies large and small, including pharma, financial services, and consulting. With a track record of successful exits, Dave shares his thoughts on being a successful entrepreneur in the AI age, including whether or not to secure financing, how much, and where to draw the line. We also discuss how to bring top talent on board, even with a bootstrap budget, and how to keep them engaged for the long term. We even get into the all-important topic of corporate swag, and how to turn a badly designed thermos into a collector's item. This is a broad discussion that covers a lot of pertinent topics. Enjoy!

Drinks: Stellwagen Beer Company Cooler Beer American Light Lager, Tree House Brewing Company Very Green Double IPA, Sierra Nevada, Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing New England-style IPA

Links: https://www.easybee.ai/

In this episode, Barry and Phil regroup from their time in Austin, Texas to share their thoughts on the week they spent attending SXSW 2026. Their takeaway from the festival was overall a feeling of hope and inspiration as they usher in what they see as a "Golden Age of Artificial Intelligence". Gone are the feelings of fear and trepidation, replaced with the hope of using these tools as a way to showcase differentiation, taste, and storytelling. They discuss how NOT knowing where things will go is a good thing, creating a particularly vibrant space where creative thinkers and tinkerers can thrive: observing seemingly disparate things that others can't, and connecting them together to create opportunities that others won't. It was a great week with a ton of amazing conversations, and we can't wait to do it again next year. Enjoy!

Drinks: Coffee, Water

Links: www.sxsw.com

In this episode, Barry and Phil come to you LIVE from Austin, Texas and the SXSW 2026 Festival of Innovation. Recording live from Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden, Barry and Phil have conversations with esteemed guests, friends and colleagues recapping the days events, including thoughts on their panel "Lies My Creative Director Told Me: Myths of the Agency World". This episode features Val Vacante, Fura Johannesdottir, Ruthie Edwards, and Valeria Carlson, and though the conversations stretched far past what was recorded, this episodes certainly captures the energy, tone, and vibes of this year's SXSW.

Drinks: Multiple!

Links: www.sxsw.com