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The Design Psychologist | Psychology for UX, Product, Service, Instructional, Interior, and Game Designers

Thomas Watkins
Design Psychology
User Experience Design
Psychology
User Experience
Indi Young
User Experience (UX)
Behavioral Science
Design
Performance Load
Qualitative Research
UX Design
Mental Models
Thinking Styles
Deep Listening
Hick's Law
Decision Making
Cognitive Bias
Empathy In Design
User Research
Product Design

Welcome to The Design Psychologist, a podcast where we explore the intersection of psychology and design. The show is hosted by Thomas Watkins, a design psychologist who has spent years applying behavioral science principles to the creation of digital products.

We sit down with a variety of experts who apply psychology in different ways to the design of the world around us. Thomas uses his expert... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes25Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DesignArtsCareersBusiness

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Artwork for The Design Psychologist

Latest Episodes

Go to thedesignpsychologist.substack.com to get episode summaries right in your inbox so you can easily reference, save, and apply what you learn. 

Have you ever been in a crowd where no one clapped until one brave soul started the applause? Or walk... more

Get episode summaries right in your inbox so you can easily reference, save, and apply what you learn:  thedesignpsychologist.substack.com

Why do so many user personas fail in practice, and what can we do about it?

Have you ever worked on a team wh... more

Why are games so deeply engaging? What psychological principles make game design such a powerful tool for shaping attention, emotion, and learning?

Game design is not a niche skill. It's one of the most refined disciplines we have for designing atte... more

What is the sweet spot between new and familiar, and how do you design for it?

Create products that feel groundbreaking and instantly intuitive by applying the psychology of the MAYA Principle.

By unpacking how humans respond to familiarity and nov... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Tamara Adlin
Expert mentor and advisor to startup founders and large companies with a significant history in UX strategy.
Formerly at Amazon
Episode: Align Before Design: The Psychology of Strategic Alignment (with Tamara Adlin)
Jesse Schell
CEO of Schell Games, Professor at Carnegie Mellon, and author of The Art of Game Design
Schell Games
Episode: Why Games Work: Emotional Arcs, Flow States, and Meaningful Play (with Jesse Schell)
Marc Stickdorn
Award-winning author, keynote speaker, and expert in service design
More Than Metrics
Episode: Frontstage, Backstage: How Service Design Really Works (with Marc Stickdorn)
John Sweller
Cognitive scientist and creator of Cognitive Load Theory.
University of New South Wales
Episode: Less Load, More Learning: First Principles of Cognitive Load Theory (with John Sweller)
Stephen P. Anderson
Design leader focused on workforce learning and organizational development, author of 'Figure It Out' and 'Seductive Interaction Design'.
Episode: How to Visualize the Invisible: Metaphors, Models, and Meaning (with Stephen P. Anderson)
Larry Marine
Veteran UX researcher and author of disruptive research methodologies.
LSA Digital
Episode: Disruptive by Design: Uncovering Game-Changing Insights (with Larry Marine)
Indi Young
A UX practitioner, consultant, and author with a focus on qualitative research and user understanding
Episode: How to Decode Conversation: A Paradigm Shift in Qualitative Insight and Human Understanding (with Indi Young)
Chris Wickens, PhD
World-renowned expert in human factors and aviation psychology.
Colorado State University
Episode: Designing for Risk: What Aviation and AR Reveal about Attention, Disaster, and Human Factors (with Chris Wickens)
John Whalen
Cognitive scientist, longtime UX expert, business strategist, and CEO and founder of Brilliant Experiences.
Brilliant Experiences
Episode: The Six Minds of UX: A Design Checklist You Didn't Know You Needed (with John Whalen)

Host

Thomas Watkins
A design psychologist focused on applying behavioral science principles to enhance design effectiveness and user experience.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 4 ratings
  • A must-listen for anyone designing for humans

    Everything is “AI, AI, AI…” today, but really, humans are still at the core of every decision. We feel, we change, and influencing behavior isn’t easy. That’s why psychology is more important than ever, and I love how The Design Psychology brings that focus through the lens of both design and psychology.

    Whether you’re in business, service design, or product development, Thomas covers all the essential aspects—with thoughtful insights and wonderful guests. I highly recommend this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Amélie U
    United Statesa month ago

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#62
Canada/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#70
Italy/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#219
Australia/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#36
Ireland/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#41
Sweden/Arts/Design
Apple Podcasts
#65
India/Arts/Design

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Frontstage, Backstage: How Service Design Really Works (with Marc Stickdorn)
Q: How do we implement service design in a real organization?
It involves examining both frontstage customer experiences and backstage operations to streamline processes and enhance service delivery.
Frontstage, Backstage: How Service Design Really Works (with Marc Stickdorn)
Q: What are some of the big problems and tiny problems that would be solved by service design?
Service design addresses both minor UX issues that may appear across various channels and major systemic service challenges, ensuring a coherent and customer-centric experience.
Less Load, More Learning: First Principles of Cognitive Load Theory (with John Sweller)
Q: What is the expertise reversal effect, and why do experienced learners need the exact opposite of what beginners need?
As learners become more knowledgeable, they benefit less from worked examples and need to engage in problem-solving to enhance their skills.
Disruptive by Design: Uncovering Game-Changing Insights (with Larry Marine)
Q: What is the key differentiator you focus on in your research methodologies?
Knowledge is central to understanding how to design products that truly meet user needs and fill in their knowledge gaps.
Disruptive by Design: Uncovering Game-Changing Insights (with Larry Marine)
Q: Can you tell us about your educational background and how it informs your perspective today?
I was in the first graduating class of cognitive scientists, and Don Norman was my professor, which laid a strong foundation for my approach to UX research.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Design Psychologist

What is The Design Psychologist about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on the interplay between psychology and design, this podcast offers in-depth conversations that provide valuable insights for design practitioners. Key topics include decision-making, user experience, and methodologies in UX research, with episodes featuring expert guests who share their knowledge and experience. Ranging from theories like Hick's Law to practical discussions about qualitative research methods, the content aims to equip listeners with the psychological tools needed to enhance their design approach. Unique concepts such as affordance, cognitive psychology, and visual collaboration are frequently explored, making it a compelling listen for those interested in creating intuitive, user-centered designs.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Design Psychologist?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Design Psychologist:

1. NN/G UX Podcast
2. Science of Reading: The Podcast
3. 99% Invisible
4. On with Kara Swisher

How many episodes of The Design Psychologist are there?

The Design Psychologist launched a year ago and published 25 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Design Psychologist?

Recent guests on The Design Psychologist include:

1. Tamara Adlin
2. Jesse Schell
3. Marc Stickdorn
4. John Sweller
5. Stephen P. Anderson
6. Larry Marine
7. Indi Young
8. Chris Wickens, PhD

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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