Explore every episode of the podcast Design Party

It's tough out there. Whether you're fresh out of school, switching industries, or just trying to stand out in a sea of AI-generated applications, the job hunt in 2026 will be brutal.

In this episode, Antonija sits down with ⁠⁠Sohvi Silius⁠⁠, User Insights Lead and fellow colleague, to share honest, no-fluff advice on CVs, interviews, LinkedIn, and everything in between.

What we cover:

• Why the one-page CV rule is outdated
• How to describe your experience without sounding like a robot
• The "biggest weakness" question (and what to actually say)
• Why your summer job matters less than your 10 years of competitive sports
• How to network without feeling sleazy
• LinkedIn: trash bin or secret weapon?
• How recruiters spot AI-written applications instantly
• Standing out when everyone uses the same tools
• Why your grandpa had it easier (and what to do about it)
• Being yourself in a professional setting (yes, jokes are allowed)

Key takeaway: It's all storytelling. Every experience, hobby, failure, and weird side project can become a case study if you frame it right.

Mentioned in this episode:

• "Show Your Work" by Austin Kleon

It's tough out there. Whether you're fresh out of school, switching industries, or just trying to stand out in a sea of AI-generated applications, the job hunt in 2026 will be brutal.

In this episode, Antonija sits down with ⁠Sohvi Silius⁠, User Insights Lead and fellow colleague, to share honest, no-fluff advice on CVs, interviews, LinkedIn, and everything in between.

What we cover:

• Why the one-page CV rule is outdated
• How to describe your experience without sounding like a robot
• The "biggest weakness" question (and what to actually say)
• Why your summer job matters less than your 10 years of competitive sports
• How to network without feeling sleazy
• LinkedIn: trash bin or secret weapon?
• How recruiters spot AI-written applications instantly
• Standing out when everyone uses the same tools
• Why your grandpa had it easier (and what to do about it)
• Being yourself in a professional setting (yes, jokes are allowed)

Key takeaway: It's all storytelling. Every experience, hobby, failure, and weird side project can become a case study if you frame it right.

Mentioned in this episode:

• "Show Your Work" by Austin Kleon

Antonija and Vitali dive into the chaotic state of the design industry while running on fumes. From mass layoffs at Microsoft, Amazon, and Salesforce to the rapid changes AI is bringing to every profession, they discuss what it takes to stay competitive when the rules change weekly.

Topics: The new job market reality and why being skilled isn't enough anymore, Canva makes Affinity free and what this means for Adobe's future, AI tools changing the game and how to stay relevant, Figma's frustrating updates and why that hotkey change was pure chaos, building apps solo with Cursor, whipping up Figma plugins in five minutes with AI, career insurance through networking and luck.

Tools mentioned: Cursor for AI-powered coding, Affinity Suite now free forever, Flora AI visual workflow tool, Genie AI pushing interaction boundaries, Figma Plugins with View and React starters.

In this episode, Antonija and Vitali dive deep into the weird, wild, and wonderful future of design, AI, and everything in between.

Topics we cover:

• 🤖 Sam Altman’s vision of UI disappearing into the background

• 🖖 Star Trek as the blueprint for voice-based interfaces

• 🧠 ChatGPT psychosis and people forming relationships with bots

• 🎤 Dictation tools: Aqua vs. MacWhisper (and why $8 = too much)

• 💀 Trust issues with AI agents booking vacations or spending your money

• 🛡️ Security horror stories from AI-generated apps

• 🧾 Why no one trusts AI with taxes and Verokorti

• 💔 The death of interfaces and rise of parasocial AI relationships

• 🔌 Figma’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) and why it's a game-changer

• 👩‍💻 Designers, please learn some code or you’re toast

• 🧃 Microplastics, content fatigue, and looking 40 at 26

• 🍿 Apple still uses Sketch (??) and why Figma only cares about 2% of users

• 💸 Indie app dev pain + begging for mercy in App Store reviews

Also: existential dread, universal basic income, and whether AI will ever stop hallucinating.

🔗 Links & Mentions

• MacWhisper

• One Sec App

• Figma MCP docs

• Character.ai

  
  

📩 Got thoughts, tears, or predictions?
Hit us up in the comments or DM us, we might read your message on the next episode.

Episode 72: Vitali and Antonija dive into Figma Config 2025, why Figma Sites aren’t production-ready, first impressions of Figma Buzz and Make, and how AI is reshaping design workflows. They compare prototyping tools, explore AI content trends and job impacts, and debate “human-first” creativity. Plus, Android’s Material 3 for Gen Z, iPhone 17 wishlists, headphone showdowns, and personal updates, including the Finnish language exam, React Native fixes, Vandal growth, and hopes for sunnier days ahead.

Antonija and Vitali catch up after a weird week in tech, starting with Figma’s unexpected “villain arc” and all the drama around Dev Mode. They dive into how it’s pissing off both designers and developers—and what it says about Figma’s direction lately. Then things get a little existential as they chat about the future of capitalism, burnout, and the weird pressure to constantly innovate. It’s one of those episodes where we laugh a lot, rant a bit, and accidentally unpack our late-stage tech anxieties.

What We Talked About

• AI is eating our jobs? Or is it just making everything more annoying?

• Ethics in design: Can you really be a “good” designer while working for a business that just wants $$$?

• The “no experience” job market paradox: Should you just apply and let them say no? (Yes, duh.)

• Antonija’s app launch fail: Spent months coding, launched it, login was broken. 😭

• Cursor & AI coding tools: Are they making us smarter or dumber?

• Big Tech’s mask-off moment: DEI efforts gone, profit-chasing in full force.

• Design system geekery: Boolean vs. dropdown properties – the war rages on.

• Why Bootstrap’s 10px grid makes us irrationally angry.

• The power of being nice: A LinkedIn chat from two years ago came full circle. 🥹

In this episode, we’re getting into why UX tends to go downhill as companies get bigger, how AI is shaking up design and coding, and what’s going on with Arc now that The Browser Company is switching gears. We chat about Figma’s growing pains, the AI tools that are making work faster (and maybe more fun), and why designers need to think beyond just pixels. Plus, we’re sharing some must-try apps that are seriously changing the game.

Topics Discussed:

• ​Why big companies struggle with UX and innovation
• ​ AI-powered design and coding tools: Cursor, V0, Bolt.new, Replit
• ​ The browser wars: What’s next for Arc?
• ​ The role of Figma, Blender, and Auto Layout struggles
• ​ Why startups often fail and how AI might change that
• ​ The best tools for video and photo editing on iPhone

Must-Try Apps:

🔹 Cursor – AI-powered coding assistant that speeds up development

🔹 V0 by Vercel – AI code generator for building React components

🔹 Bolt.new – AI-powered UI generator, similar to V0

🔹 Replit – Cloud-based IDE for AI-assisted development

🔹 MacWhisper – Local AI transcription for Mac

🔹 Fireflies.ai – AI meeting transcription and note-taking

🔹 Kino – High-quality iPhone video recording with Apple Log support

🔹 Halide – Advanced iPhone photography app for pro-level shots

🔹 BlueSky – The Twitter alternative with an open API

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

Join Antonija and Vitali on Design Party as they dive into enhancing designer value by understanding developer needs, improving workflows, and fostering collaboration. They discuss the importance of holistic evaluation, the pitfalls of handoff, and the human aspect of teamwork. Discover insights on design tools, the future of prototyping, and why learning basic coding can transform your design career. Tune in for practical tips and engaging discussions!

In this episode, we dive into the unexpected controversy surrounding .io domains as the UK's handover of Indian Ocean territories to Mauritius raises questions about their future by 2030. We then explore Figma's new UI3 update, discussing its mixed reception among designers, the surprisingly useful AI features (currently free but becoming paid in 2025), and ongoing usability challenges with the new interface. The conversation wraps up with a candid wishlist for design innovation, including ideas for customizable workspaces, quick action menus, and better integration for non-designer roles.

In this episode of Design Party, Antonija and Vitali dive into the hot topic of AI in design. They discuss Figma's new AI features and the excitement around its Slides tool, expressing concerns about AI potentially stifling creativity by reusing existing designs. The hosts also touch on Canva's significant price hike due to new AI features and worry about the future of Affinity's products after its acquisition.

In this episode of Design Party, Antonija and Helena dive into the intricacies of Figma's Dev Mode pricing, explore Zeppelin as a valuable alternative, and share their experiences with design critiques. They also touch on moving libraries in Figma and the launch of Superlist. A blend of technical insights and personal anecdotes, this episode is a must-listen for designers and tech enthusiasts alike. Links mentioned Zeplin, an alternative to DevMode: https://zeplin.io/ Superlist, a new task management app: https://www.superlist.com/

In today's episode of Design Party, we dive into the nuances of Figma's Dev mode and explore the benefits of organizing a Figma file efficiently. We discuss the recent changes Figma has made, pushing code inspection behind a paywall, and how this impacts the handoff between designers and developers. Additionally, we share our experiences with Lunacy, praising its potential as a robust design tool. For those interested, we've linked to resources and tools mentioned in the episode: Lunacy, and our favorite weather app, Carrot. Don't forget to check out our newsletter, Design Party Digest, for curated insights and tips in the design world.

In this episode of Design Party Podcast, our hosts Antonija, Vitali, and Helena delve into several pressing topics in the tech and design industry. They discuss the recent wave of tech layoffs impacting companies like Google and Figma, exploring potential reasons behind this trend. The conversation shifts to Figma's new policy of charging for DevMode, sparking a debate on its impact on developers and the industry's reaction. Alongside, the hosts explore innovative tools including Notion Calendar, Amie's public launch, and the Posts iOS app, highlighting their unique features and how they're shaping workflows and collaboration.

In this episode Helena and Antonija are commenting the dramatic Adobe and Figma divorce. As this is the last episode of the year we are taking some time to chit-chat about 2023.

Join hosts Antonija and Vitali in this episode of Design Party as we delve into the dynamics of the design world. We explore the challenges in the tech industry with a focus on Nokia's strategic missteps, share valuable tips for navigating the complex job market, and discuss the impact of Figma's latest developments on modern design practices.

In this episode of Design Party Podcast, hosts Helena and Antonija dive into the murky waters of dark UX patterns, with a particular focus on Adobe's complex subscription cancellation process. If you're contemplating canceling your Adobe subscription, you'll want to listen closely; the company's user experience design could leave you with unexpected fees. But it's not all cautionary tales; we also shine a light on companies that prioritize user-friendly experiences. For those seeking alternatives to Adobe, we recommend exploring Serif's Affinity suite, Photomator, Pixelmator, and Procreate, which not only offer exceptional user experiences but also come with fair, one-time payment options. NEW: introducing Design Party Digest, a newsletter for designers and internet nerds. Subscribe at ⁠newsletter.designpartypodcast.com⁠

In this episode, hosts Antonija and Helena dive into the complexities of job hunting, discussing the importance of self-awareness and asking the right questions to find an optimal job fit. They explore the notion that the "perfect" job may not exist but emphasize the value of knowing what you want in a workplace. The conversation then shifts to Figma's new enterprise-level features, examining how these updates cater primarily to large companies and may inadvertently gatekeep freelancers and smaller teams from certain career opportunities. Finally, they spotlight the upcoming "Be More" festival by ADP List, an event that promises to cover a range of relevant topics for designers. Whether you're on the job hunt, interested in design tools, or looking to stay updated with industry events, this episode has something for you.

"Be More" festival by ADP List

https://bemore.adplist.org/

• 🎤 Antonija podcasts through her fifth day with Covid.
• 🎧 The team delves into the unexpected drama of Linus Tech Tips.
• 📚 Discussion on the journey of a designer's education, from online courses to mentorships.
• 🤝 Vitali talks about the nuances of interactive psychological safety in workshops.
• 💡 Helena ponders the allure of hard skills for young designers.
• 🚴‍♀️ Helena's potential fusion of downhill mountain biking with design insights.

Join Antonija, Vitali, and Helena in this episode as they discuss the latest trends and developments in the design industry. They share their insights on Figma's new features and the potential of its new developer mode, fresh from Figma Config 2023. The hosts also delve into the recent acquisition of Diagram by Figma and its implications for the future of design. They discuss the current state of Figma's animation features and express the need for more advanced tools for enterprise-level projects. Towards the end, they share their vision of organizing a design event with workshops to foster learning and collaboration in the design community. Tune in for an engaging and insightful discussion.

Antonija and Ali discuss the pros and cons of different mentorship platforms, including the importance of finding the right fit for individual learning styles and the potential problem of mentees ghosting their mentors. Antonija and Ali also touch on the stresses and responsibilities of being a designer, including the anxieties that come with the job.

Check Ali online!

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliangco/⁠ 

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/aliang.co/⁠ 

Posts: ⁠https://posts.cv/aliangco⁠

In this episode of Design Party, the hosts dive into a thought-provoking Twitter discussion about design collaboration and the role of tools like Figma. Antonija, Helena, and Vitali share their perspectives on the topic, highlighting the importance of healthy work environments, effective processes, and open communication. They discuss the impact of micromanagement, the need for better commenting practices, and the challenges faced by designers in today's fast-paced and evolving industry. Join the conversation as they explore how collaboration can be optimized and offer insights on managing burnout in the design field.

In this riveting episode, our hosts dive into the fascinating and sometimes controversial world of AI. They explore the cutting-edge tool Supernormal, a game-changer that transcribes and summarizes video calls, revolutionizing user research. The conversation takes a thrilling turn as they delve into the darker side of AI, highlighting the potential threats of convincing deepfakes and an over-reliance on technology. But it's not all doom and gloom; they end on a high note, buzzing with anticipation about the rumored release of Apple's AR glasses. Tune in for an exhilarating journey into the future of AI!

Subscribe to Victor's newsletter Presentable: https://presentable.substack.com/

Find Victor online at https://read.cv/victorkernes

In this episode, Antonija delves into designers' work anxieties by gathering insightful responses from the Posts app. Join Antonija and Vitali as they unpack these candid answers, offering thoughtful commentary on the struggles and pressures designers face in the workplace.

Antonija welcomed a guest this time, Dima, who suggested to chat about simplicity and complexity in context of product design. It's not so simple! Defining what is simple and what is complex requires a lot of context and us two are trying to figure out what this actually means!

Check the links mentioned in the episode

- Bret Victor talk about the novel interface to understand complex idea https://vimeo.com/23839605
- https://dimaveremchuk.com
- @vrmchk@mastodon.design

Antonija and Helena met once again to continue from where they have left of a couple of weeks ago. The chat start with sharing good and bad customer support stories, then it derails into brainstorming if reading human emotions would be a viable source of data for design... And AI again drag itself into our minds!

Links from the episode
https://octopus.do
https://toffeeshare.com

In this episode, Antonija, Helena, and Vitali are chatting about the recent Twitter fiasco involving the firing of Halli, the famous designer from Iceland. As always lately, OpenAI squirmed into our thoughts once again.

In this episode, hosts Antonija Pek and Helena Bukovac discuss the value of customer support in informing and inspiring better user-centered design decisions. They also share their own horror stories where customer support saved the day. Tune in to learn how customer support can provide valuable feedback on user experience, identify pain points, and help designers stay up-to-date on user trends and changing needs. You'll also hear how customer support can collaborate with designers to develop training materials, troubleshoot issues, and track user feedback and sentiment. Join us for an insightful conversation on the importance of customer support in creating a positive brand image and increasing customer loyalty and retention.

In this episode, we're joined by Antonija and Vitali to discuss their views on ChatGPT and generative AI, and the impact it will have on design. One of our guests believes that AI will help us become better designers, while the other thinks that the future of AI could lead to even less demand for designers. Listen in to find out who holds which view, and what it could mean for the future of the design industry.

Links mentioned in the episode

• ChatGPT https://chat.openai.com/chat
• Dall-E https://labs.openai.com/
• Bing AI https://www.bing.com/new
• WriteSonic https://writesonic.com/
• Jasper https://www.jasper.ai/
• Contentinator https://contentinator.com/
• FigGPT https://www.figma.com/community/plugin/1207913933994957698/FigGPT
• Diagram - Magician and Genius https://diagram.com/

In this episode we dive into the world of design tokens and explore the relationship between designers and developers. Join us as we delve into the world of UI/UX and product design and explore the future of collaboration. 

- https://design-tokens.github.io/community-group/format/ 

- https://www.fraktio.fi/blogi/mikä-erottaa-design-systemin-ja-komponenttikirjaston (in Finnish still) 

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03Hp-bHLftM

Antonija, Helena and Vitali share their experiences in using music apps and comment their usability, features and everything in between.

Finally, we have the magical trio - Helena, Vitali and Antonija gathered for one last episode of 2022. Check Vitali’s design course https://fraktio.teachable.com/p/get-started-with-facilitation

Vitali shares his experiences from an agency life!

Antonija and Vitali share their experiences around error handling and some good practices.

Helena and Antonija visit their list of apps with paid subscriptions and come to a shocking realization. Do we live in the era of subscription hell? Is there a better way forward?

Antonija's favorite apps
Grammarly
Flow
Keystroke Pro
Cursor Pro
Spark

Here are resources for further reading.

https://www.nngroup.com/articles/design-operations-101/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylDed18OVdY

https://www.figma.com/community/plugin/843461159747178978/Figma-Tokens

Check out Vitali's presentation https://youtu.be/cwLepGcOANs

In this episode, Antonija and Vitali chat about prototyping — why do we need it? What tools are out there? And share our own experiences.

In this episode, Vitali and I went to the public library Oodi in Helsinki and recorded our episode there. We took a walk down a memory lane and reflected on our beginnings in design, where we are now, and where our future is, or at least wishful thinking about where we see ourselves in the next few years.

Antonija and Vitali are recording for the first time ever in the same room!  We are talking about the future of Figma, going into detail about what we like, dislike, and would like to see happen in the next years with our favorite tool for designing. Send us a message if you're listening on Spotify! Leave us a rating if possible — it helps reach more designers.

Antonija and Vitali share tips and insights on design processes.

Tools mentioned:
https://spline.design/
https://rotato.app/
https://jitter.video/
https://rive.app/
https://motionplugin.com/

In this episode, Vitali and Antonija go through responses Vitali got from designers on a meetup. The question was, "what are your biggest frustrations in your role as a designer". We think responses are pretty relatable, and we decided to take a few and share our thoughts.

Hi, your host Antonija here. I met Riley through Good News and we had a little discussion about the new breed of designes. Who are they? What do we mean? Well, hit play and find out.

Helena and Antonija are discussing ways to show your work while having all of those NDAs hovering around you

Antonija and Vitali are chatting about getting rejected from job applications. We are sharing tips on how to apply, how to handle rejects, and sharing some salty personal stories.

Antonija, Helena and Vitali are discussing about services and apps they don't like because of a bad UX

Vitali and Antonija are watching Apple event and sharing their thoughts.

Antonija invited a guest co-host Stefan to talk about startups and being the only designer.

Contact for design help
@heystefan_
@antonijapek

In this episode, Antonija and Vitali talk about handling stress and avoiding burnout. We all know recovery is important, but what are the signs we should look out for and how can we manage being overworked? how does the parasympathetic nervous system help us feel balanced? We reflect on our experiences and offer techniques to help tackle these important challenges.

Helena and Antonija share tips on how not to embarrass yourself when you are naming your product that will ship globally. We share a little anecdote from rebranding our podcast and examples of big brands.