Sometimes I forget to pause.To really stop and see the transformation—not just in the client, but in myself.Last week, I had one of those moments. During a single coaching call, three clients made powerful shifts.Nothing flashy. No viral posts. No jo...

You showed your best work.You told your story.You nailed the interview.But still no offer.Why?Here’s what most candidates miss:Hiring isn’t just about design skills.It’s about fit.As a hiring manager, I always look at 3 types of fit:1. Job fitCan you...

A designer recently asked me:“Joseph… why am I still getting take-home challengeseven after doing a portfolio presentation?”I get it.It feels like free work.It feels like more hoops.But here’s the truth:A portfolio shows your past.A take-home shows h...

Two nights ago, I sat across the dinner table from four designers I had never met before.What started as casual chat over rice and noodles…quickly turned into something a little deeper.Someone asked:“What would you do after design?”We went around the...

Last night, I had dinner with 4 strangers.4 designers I’d never met before.We laughed.We talked about the hard stuff.We asked weird questions like:“If you stopped doing design… what would you do for the next 10, 20, 30 years?”It was a mix of nerves,...

The last few weeks, I’ve been doing something I haven’t done in a while.Showing up to real, in-person UX events.And it reminded me of something simple we forget:LinkedIn is amazing.But nothing beats talking to people in real life.I’ve met thousands o...

A UX designer in my coaching program just asked a really smart question:“Should I just keep refining my portfolio? Or is there something else I should be focusing on too?”Here’s what I told her.Yes, your portfolio matters.But it’s not what gets you c...

Let’s be real:Most designers don’t fail interviews because of skill.They fail because of doubt.They second-guess their story.They hesitate in their pitch.They try to “play it safe.”And suddenly — their confidence disappears in the room.But here’...

So yesterday I shared the story of a design leader who kept making it to final interviews — but never converting.Today I want to talk about why that happens.Because this is a hidden trap for senior UX folks:The hiring manager is sold.But the rest of...

Yesterday I had a chat with a design leader who’s been actively interviewing for months.He’s made it to so many final rounds.He’s talented. Sharp. Experienced.People like him.But he keeps falling short at the final stage.And when we dug deeper, we re...