Designing for Humans in the Loop

In this episode, we speak with Gordon Candelin, a design innovator, developer and partner at Artefex, about redefining what it means to be a designer in 2025. Gordon challenges designers to bridge the gap between front-end design and the technical systems that power digital experiences, expanding beyond aesthetics into systems thinking.

We explore:

🔧 Why designers must understand the technical foundations "under the hood" to remain relevant

🔄 Frame, Vibe, Validate loop: a practical process for rapid ideation and building with AI tools

🎨 How generative AI democratises design and makes product creation accessible to creative thinkers

🧠 Mental models as both enablers and blockers in design work

⚖️ The importance of ethical guardrails and stepping back to reflect on AI-generated solutions

This episode is about creative thinking as a true competitive advantage in the AI era. Gordon offers a vision where designers who embrace experimentation, continuous learning, and cross-disciplinary thinking will shape the future of digital products—not replace design, but elevate it.

Justin and Tron sit down with Ben Hoogenboom—founder of AI for Enterprise—to explore what’s really happening inside boardrooms as AI shifts from buzzword to business imperative.

From fear of missing out to navigating transformation at scale, this episode dives into the tensions, questions, and opportunities facing today’s executive teams—and the essential role design plays in making AI work for humans, not just systems.

We talk about:

• What executives are actually asking about AI behind closed doors
• The five “flavors” of AI uncertainty across enterprise environments
• How AI agents are reshaping workflows and unlocking human potential
• The mindset shift from “human replacement” to “human amplification”
• Why designers need a seat at the AI strategy table

Whether you're a designer, strategist, or simply trying to make sense of AI in your work, this episode offers a grounded, insightful look at the future of intelligent systems—and the humans designing with them.

In this episode, we speak with Kristin de la Fuente, a design specialist with over twenty years of experience, about navigating the complex world of AI indesign. Kristin shares her journey of reskilling and experimenting with generative AI, from her early digital design days to her current work exploring bias in large language models.

We explore:

• The evolution of design in the AI era
• Strategies for integrating AI into design workflows
• Uncovering and addressing bias in large language models
• The importance of ethical AI and inclusive design practices How designers can effectively experiment with and leverage AI tools

In this episode, we embrace our curiosity, continuous learning, and critical thinking in the rapidly changing landscape of AI and design. Kristin offers practical insights into how designers can thoughtfully integrate AI while maintaining human creativity and ethical awareness.

In this episode, we speak with Alyona Medelyan, CEO of Thematic, about how AI — specifically natural language processing (NLP) — is helping organizations turn unstructured customer feedback into meaningful insights. Aliona shares her journey from computational linguistics to founding a platform that empowers teams to understand not just what customers are saying, but why.

We explore:

• The evolution of NLP and large language models

• How AI can analyze real customer feedback at scale

• The importance of democratizing access to insights

• Why understanding the “why” matters more than just the metrics

At its heart, this episode is about designing AI systems that truly listen to people, supporting more human-aware decisions across research, product, and customer experience.

In this special reflection episode, co-hosts Justin and Taryn take a pause to look back on the first three episodes of Designing for Humans in the Loop. From experimenting with AI tools to rediscovering the irreplaceable value of critical thinking, creativity, and empathy, this candid conversation explores how AI is reshaping our work as designers and what it means to design in a time of rapid technological change.

We talk about:

• What we’ve learned so far from guests like Chris and Barry

• How AI is empowering (not replacing) designers

• The privilege of designing in the age of intelligent tools

• Personal reflections on podcasting, growth, and staying curious

• Where we want to take the podcast next in 2025

Whether you're an AI enthusiast, a fellow designer, or just podcast-curious, join us for a reflective, honest, and optimistic look at the intersection of humans, design, and machines.