Episode Description
In this episode, Chris Abad sits down with Dean Broadley, a design leader who transformed a banking design team of 150+ people and founded Designing Humans. Dean shares his unconventional journey from teenage comic book designer to design leadership, revealing why self-awareness is the missing ingredient in most design teams. Learn why Dean believes mistakes are your greatest assets, how to identify when designers are stuck, and practical techniques to foster growth through reframing and embracing discomfort.
About Dean Broadley
Dean Broadley is the founder of Designing Humans, a consultancy focused on helping companies build effective design teams. With experience leading large design organizations across multiple countries, Dean specializes in helping designers break through career plateaus by focusing on self-awareness and relationship-building rather than rigid processes. His philosophy centers on the idea that "you're not designing experiences or products, you're designing humans."
Key Topics & Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
01:33 Early Influences and First Design Job
03:03 University Challenges and Digital Shift
06:24 Breaking Boundaries and Finding Opportunities
14:29 Founding Designing Humans
16:50 Implementing New Processes and Structures
20:01 The Importance of Self-Awareness in Relationships
20:10 Building Products People Love
20:30 Team Dynamics and Self-Knowledge
20:53 Honest Conversations with Customers
23:25 Tools for Improving Self-Awareness
25:16 Helping Others Overcome Challenges
29:36 Embracing Mistakes as Learning Opportunities
33:37 Evolving Leadership Styles
40:33 Advice for Early Career Designers
42:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Key Quotes
"You cannot be in any effective relationship without knowing yourself really, really well." - Dean Broadley "We ask permission to participate in the lives of our customers. They're not thinking about us. And that's okay." - Dean Broadley "Nine times out of ten, when a system's not working, it has nothing to do with what you drew on a slide." - Dean Broadley "Just get stuck in. There's no time for perfection. There's only time for effectiveness." - Dean Broadley "I am long-term lazy. I will work very hard so I don't have to work again." - Dean Broadley "If it wasn't for my mistakes, I wouldn't know half the things I know." - Dean Broadley
Resources Mentioned
Johari Window - A self-awareness tool Dean uses for personal and team development
Formula D Interactive - The company where Dean got his first professional design job
Connect with Dean Broadley
LinkedIn: Dean Broadley
Twitter/X: @BroadleySpoken
Connect with Chris Abad
LinkedIn: Chris Abad
Twitter/X: @chrisabad
Website: pixelatedpath.com
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