
Design Different
For independent thinkers in design and business.
Design Different is a podcast for experienced designers ready to build something of their own, and for founders who understand that design isn’t just decoration: it’s how your business works.
With decades of global experience across agencies, corporates, and independent studios, Jake Burdess breaks down what makes creative work not just look good, but actually work.
Expect thoughtful takes on systems, strategy, and the realities of modern design - all without the hype. Whether you’re building your own practice or your own company, this show will help you think more clearly and design more deliberately.
Clarity. Systems. Design that works.
Podcasting since 2025 • 25 episodes
Design Different
Latest Episodes
DD0025 - Why Great Design Might Mean Being Temporarily Unpopular
In this episode of Design Different, Jake dives deep into why truly effective design sometimes requires making decisions that aren't immediately popular. He explores why the most valuable insights are often the hardest to deliver, espe...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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7:38

DD0024 - Creative Rut Reset: Two Paths to Reignite Your Work
Hitting that quiet plateau where the work keeps rolling but the spark feels dim? In this episode, Jake dissects why mid-career designers and founders drift into creative inertia, and why the usual prescription of “work harder” only deepens the ...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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8:48

DD0023 - Design After AI: How to Stay Irreplaceable by 2030
AI is rapidly swallowing up the repetitive parts of design work—wireframes, layout tweaks, content variants. So where does that leave you as a designer?In this solo episode, Jake breaks down what design after AI really looks lik...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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8:36

DD0022 - Design at a Crossroads: Thriving in the 2025 AI Revolution
Design is at a pivotal crossroads in 2025. AI is dramatically reshaping our tools, redefining our roles, and transforming our industry. In this deeply reflective and extensive episode, I'll explore in detail how designers can not only survive, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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8:45

DD0021 - Why Great Design Leadership Starts with Systems, Not Just Taste
In this episode, I explore a big shift in how I think about design leadership. It's not just about having great taste or a strong creative vision. Those things matter, but they don't scale. What does? Building systems. Systems that help your te...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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7:08
