Bottom Line Design

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Jan 2025

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Introducing Bottom Line Design, a series where NUMI's co-founders, Harrison Telyan and Agree Ahmed, discuss the intersection of design and business. We break down how business leaders use design to build valuable products and scalable businesses and how you can too. Follow up everywhere else: https://linktr.ee/bottom.line.design

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37 recent

January 21, 2025Episode 3743 min

Staying close to your customers with research

In today's episode of "Bottom Line Design," we are joined by Yana Welinder, co-founder and CEO of Kraftful, a dynamic tool designed to transform how product teams handle user feedback. Yana shares insights into Kraftful's journey from a simple idea to an essential tool serving over 50,000 product teams. She dives into: - The evolution of Kraftful from its early days, detailing its pivot towards utilizing AI to enhance product development. - How Kraftful simplifies the integration of various feedback forms— from support tickets to app reviews—into actionable data, replacing the tedious spreadsheets that many product managers and designers used previously. - The unexpected surge in designer users, reflecting on the intuitive design and user experience that attracts a broad audience within product teams. - Future directions for Kraftful, emphasizing the balance between AI-driven synthesis of user feedback and the critical human element of product management. Join us to discover how Kraftful is redefining the approach to product feedback and development, making the process more efficient and responsive to actual user needs. Bottom Line Design everywhere else - https://linktr.ee/bottom.line.design Want to be surrounded by the best designers to learn and grow your company? Check out http://backlog.design/

October 28, 2024Episode 361 hr 22 min

How to become a AAA designer

In this episode of "The Design of Everyday People", host Chris from UX Playbook welcomes Harrison Telyan, a RISD graduate, investor, and YC alum. Harrison shares his journey from becoming the founding product designer at Imgur, where he scaled the platform to 330 million monthly active users, to co-founding NUMI, a company aimed at revolutionizing how startups manage their design departments. They discuss: • The pivotal experiences that shaped Harrison’s design career, including his time at Imgur and his various roles in Silicon Valley startups. • NUMI’s unique approach to design, focusing on the happiness and success of designers to create a “beautiful circle” of satisfied clients. • The personal challenges Harrison faced, including managing large-scale layoffs and the death of his father, which ultimately led to the creation of NUMI. • Harrison’s passion for mentorship and creating opportunities for designers, and how NUMI supports startups by connecting them with top-tier talent. Tune in to hear Harrison's insights on leadership, design mentorship, and building a startup from the ground up. Bottom Line Design everywhere else - https://linktr.ee/bottom.line.design Want to be surrounded by the best designers to learn and grow your company? Check out http://backlog.design/

September 30, 2024Episode 3551 min

Is your product accessible? It's the law

Join us on Bottomline Design as we sit down with Cat Noone, CEO of Stark, to explore the transformative power of accessibility in design. Cat delves into the journey of Stark, which simplifies accessibility compliance for design teams, ensuring that modern software meets essential user experience standards. Highlights of our conversation include: - The evolution of Stark from a basic tool during the sketch era to a comprehensive platform that flags accessibility issues and provides instant remediation solutions. - Insights into the initial challenges of raising accessibility awareness within companies and how Stark has influenced the industry to prioritize inclusive design. - A deep dive into the implications of accessibility on business operations, including legal compliance, customer retention, and market reach. - Cat's perspective on the future of design, where accessibility is not just a compliance requirement but a fundamental aspect of product development. - Discussion on the balance between maintaining brand identity and adhering to accessibility standards, illustrating that great design can be both beautiful and universally accessible. Tune in to learn how Stark is leading the charge in integrating accessibility seamlessly into the product development lifecycle, shaping a more inclusive digital world. Bottom Line Design everywhere else - https://linktr.ee/bottom.line.design Want to be surrounded by the best designers to learn and grow your company? Check out http://backlog.design/

September 2, 2024Episode 3440 min

Designer? Do not miss out on this advice

We sit down with Zain Ali, former founding designer at Instacart, to explore his unique journey from building early-stage startups to leading design efforts at some of the most impactful companies. In this candid conversation, Zain delves into: The role of a founding designer: Why being the first designer at a startup is about more than just creating visuals; it's about shaping the company's reality and culture. Empathy and user experience: How a simple conversation with his mother about her difficulty using an app led Zain to rethink design for Instacart, emphasizing the importance of deeply understanding the user's perspective. Dying on the hill: Zain shares stories of advocating for design principles at Instacart, even when it meant challenging the status quo, and how this relentless pursuit of truth helped transform the company's brand and user experience. Navigating the unknown: Zain reflects on the challenges of working in uncharted territory, whether it's pivoting during a pandemic or pushing for innovation in a traditionally rigid industry. Join us for this insightful discussion on how design can drive change, inspire innovation, and create products that resonate with users on a profound level. Bottom Line Design everywhere else - https://linktr.ee/bottom.line.design Want to be surrounded by the best designers to learn and grow your company? Check out http://backlog.design/

August 19, 2024Episode 3338 min

Fireside with founding product designers

We sit down with Harrison Telyan and Agree Ahmed, co-founders of NUMI, along with a panel of seasoned designers including Darian, Kyle, and Ridd. Together, they explore: • The nuanced relationship between founders and founding designers, emphasizing the importance of challenging assumptions and understanding user needs at a deeper level. • The evolving role of design in startups, particularly in the context of emerging AI tools, and how these advancements can both streamline creative processes and redefine strategic contributions. • How designers can think more like founders by understanding business metrics and how founders can adopt a design-thinking approach to create more meaningful user experiences. • The importance of designing not just products, but holistic experiences that align with the company's values and brand promise. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to bridge the gap between design and business strategy and for founders seeking to unlock the full potential of their design teams. Bottom Line Design everywhere else - https://linktr.ee/bottom.line.design Want to be surrounded by the best designers to learn and grow your company? Check out http://backlog.design/

August 5, 2024Episode 3243 min

Ethics of hiring and taking a chance with Maigen Thomas

Join us for an insightful conversation with Maigen Thomas, the founder of Level 11 Technology, a unique agency that serves as a training ground for early career digital technologists. In this episode, Maigen shares her incredible journey from being a flight attendant to becoming a tech industry mentor. Highlights include: • Career Transition: Maigen's fascinating transition from being a flight attendant to entering the tech industry after being kicked out of Canada, discovering her passion for technology through a boot camp. • Building Level 11 Technology: The motivation behind creating a "teaching hospital" for designers, where recent tech boot camp graduates can gain their first year of experience while being paid. • Challenges in the Tech Industry: Addressing the difficulties new tech graduates face in finding jobs, despite their qualifications, and the importance of apprenticeship models in providing real-world experience. • Focus on Diversity and Inclusion: Maigen's commitment to hiring from marginalized communities, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+, and neurodivergent individuals, to bring diverse voices into the tech industry. • Holistic Professional Development: The importance of performance coaching, business etiquette, and comprehensive onboarding in preparing new designers for successful careers. Tune in to hear Maigen's inspiring story and learn how Level 11 Technology is making a significant impact on the tech industry by nurturing the next generation of digital technologists. Bottom Line Design everywhere else - https://linktr.ee/bottom.line.design Want to be surrounded by the best designers to learn and grow your company? Check out http://backlog.design/

July 15, 2024Episode 3154 min

Productizing your inner design founder with Chris Nguyen.

Join us as we sit down with Chris Nguyen, a self-taught designer and entrepreneur, to delve into his unique journey from working in tech in Vietnam to founding UX Playbook, a platform aimed at helping designers elevate their careers. In this insightful conversation, Chris shares: • His unconventional path from a business degree to a tech career in Vietnam • The lessons learned from multiple startups, including a Web3 venture centered around Chinese astrology • The importance of aligning personal values and lifestyle with business goals • Insights on content creation and organic growth of UX Playbook • His approach to helping other designers and entrepreneurs grow their businesses through content and coaching Discover how Chris balances his passion for design, entrepreneurship, and travel, and get inspired by his philosophy on building sustainable, meaningful businesses. Bottom Line Design everywhere else - https://linktr.ee/bottom.line.design

June 3, 2024Episode 3053 min

Integrating AI into your design workflow with Kim Alban

Kim Alban, a seasoned product designer with a rich background in mixed media and a keen interest in emerging technologies, joins us for an insightful conversation. In this episode, we cover: Kim's transition from freelancing in photography and graphic design to discovering her passion for UX after a brief stint in software engineering. The evolving landscape of AI in design and how designers can stay current with rapidly changing technologies. The importance of strategic thinking for designers, emphasizing business understanding and competitive analysis to stand out. The emerging trend of designers moving towards independent work, driven by niche interests and new technological shifts. Advice for founders on assessing designers' capabilities and ensuring they are well-versed in the latest technological advancements. The balance between usability and utility in design, and how new tools can streamline workflows and enhance productivity. Join us to explore the dynamic interplay between design, technology, and strategic thinking in today's ever-changing landscape. Bottom Line Design everywhere else - https://lnkd.in/eqvbq4WU

February 27, 2024Episode 2956 min

The Future of AI Design with Charlie Guo

In this episode of Artificial Ignorance, we engage in an enriching dialogue with Harrison Telyan, co-founder of NUMI, a distinctive design subscription service catering to startups. We delve into various facets including: - NUMI's transition from a simple idea to a design powerhouse, supporting startups and large enterprises by embedding seasoned designers into their teams.- Harrison's unique journey from the first designer at Imgur, instrumental in scaling the platform, to creating NUMI, driven by a decade of design experience.- The transformative impact of AI on design, debunking the myth of AI replacing designers, and highlighting its role in enhancing efficiency and creativity.- A look at the evolving landscape of startups, with a keen eye on the significant influx of AI companies and the shift away from crypto.- Insights into how NUMI uses AI internally to streamline operations and support its community of designers, alongside exploring open-source projects and the potential of AI in automating design processes.- Harrison's perspective on the future of AI in managing companies and the indispensable role of human creativity and effort in the realm of design Join us as Harrison shares his profound expertise and vision for the intersection of design, technology, and entrepreneurship, offering valuable lessons and foresights for the future. Bottom Line Design everywhere else - https://linktr.ee/bottom.line.design

February 12, 2024Episode 2841 min

Nicolae Cretu and Harrison Telyan on Finding PMF

In this engaging episode, we're joined by Harrison Telyan, co-founder of NUMI, a design-as-a-service startup revolutionizing the way startups approach design. Throughout our conversation, Harrison shares: - The origin story of NUMI, detailing the journey from pivoting through various business models to finding their niche in offering world-class design services to startups.- Insights into the chaotic design process at startups and how NUMI aims to streamline it, bringing order without sacrificing creativity.- The significance of design thinking and user research for early-stage startups, emphasizing the importance of understanding the user to drive product development.- Harrison's perspective on the future of design in the age of AI, discussing how human creativity and AI tools can coexist to enhance productivity and innovation in design.- The challenges and rewards of building a startup that prioritizes the happiness and creativity of designers, aiming to create a positive impact on the startup ecosystem. Join us as Harrison delves into the importance of design for startups, the role of AI in the future of design, and the journey of building a startup that's changing the game for design services. Bottom Line Design everywhere else - https://linktr.ee/bottom.line.design