DesignWhine recently interviewed Jason, the host of the User Defenders podcast, a UX podcast with a superhero theme. Jason was asked about the superpowers that he believes UX designers possess, and he highlighted two essential qualities: empathy and discontentment.
Empathy, according to Jason, is fundamental for UX designers. He stressed the importance of understanding and caring for the users they are designing for, even though they may have never met them in person. UX designers have an inherent desire to make things better for their users by removing any friction that prevents them from achieving their goals, needs, and desires.
Discontentment, on the other hand, can be a superpower if it drives designers to do and be better. As designers, they always see opportunities for improvement, even in the things they have designed. Jason shared his experience with his portfolio, which he initially thought was awesome but soon realized could be improved after a month of launching it.
When it comes to selecting guests for the User Defenders podcast, Jason has a strict vetting process. He spends a lot of time, effort, and money producing each episode, ensuring that the content is of high quality.
The User Defenders podcast features superhero avatars of each guest, and the graphics were created by two talented artists: Cesar Lemus and Eli Jorgensen.
Jason believes that being a great UX designer requires one to be a great human, and he hopes that every listener of the show feels inspired and empowered to make a difference through their work.
