Season 1, Episode 162 · Honest UX Talks
#162 These skills will increase your salary in 2026
17 Dec 2025 · 48 min
Episode notes
Anfi and Ioana discuss the key factors that can directly influence your salary and increase your earning potential within your role. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. • What are some less obvious skills crucial for promotion, like visibility and internal branding? • Do you really need to want a promotion, and is it always worth pursuing? • Additional subtle skills that can lead to getting promoted include mentoring juniors, leading workshops, advocating for good design with non-design team members, and demonstrating openness to AI while…
Podcast
Honest UX Talks
Anfisa Bogomolova & Ioana Teleanu · Tech & Science · English
Honest weekly conversations about UX design career, challenges, portfolios, mental health, and all things UX. Ioana and Anfisa together have 20 years of experience in the UX field and trying to share their main lessons to help anyone transitioning to design overcome the fears. Our weekly…
More from Honest UX Talks All episodes →
-
S1 · E167 · 27 Jan 2026 · 43 min
#167 How to stay sane in the age of AI
Anfi and Ioana explore the mental health challenges of recent years, sharing strategies to preserve self-identity, manage anxiety, and set healthy boundaries in the context of an increasingly AI-driven world. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. Check out these links: Preorder Ioana's upcoming book here . The first 100 copies will be hand-signed. Join Anfi’s Job Search community . The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events…
-
S1 · E166 · 21 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
#166 How to get hired in 2026
Anfi and Ioana discuss their strategies for preparing for the upcoming hiring season, covering key topics such as portfolio, the interview process, practical take-home challenges and whiteboard exercises. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. In this episode: 08:33 How to make your portfolio stand out? 21:43 Do I need to show that I am AI first designer? 26:33 Do designers need to specialize or be generalists? 34:48 How to approach Interviewing process? 54:41 How to prepare for white board and take home challenges? Mentioned in this…
-
S1 · E165 · 14 Jan 2026 · 41 min
#165 Skills and traits UX designers need in 2026
Ioana and Anfi discuss how values are shifting in the design world amidst rapid change. They explore the traits that designers should cultivate, current market observations, and whether traditional skills remain relevant. They delve into whether designers need to learn coding, the role of vibe coding, and if we're heading towards becoming design engineers or builders. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. Mentioned in this episode: Preorder Ioana's upcoming book here . The first 100 copies will be hand-signed. Get your Design…
-
S1 · E164 · 31 Dec 2025 · 49 min
#164 Year-End Reflections
Anfi and Ioana reflect on the past year, sharing how their careers have evolved and how AI has impacted their journeys. Looking ahead to 2026, they discuss their goals and upcoming creative projects. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. Check out these links: Preorder Ioana's upcoming book here . The first 100 copies will be hand-signed. Join Anfi’s Job Search community . The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of…
-
S1 · E163 · 24 Dec 2025 · 15 min
#163 Surviving Design - Why I Wrote a Book
Ioana offers a glimpse into her upcoming book release. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. Preorder your copy here . The first 100 copies will be hand-signed. Check out these links: Ioana's AI project: aidesign-os.com Ioana's WhatsApp group Ioana's AI Goodies Newsletter Join Anfi’s Job Search community . The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and…
-
S1 · E161 · 9 Dec 2025 · 34 min
#161 How design industry is changing and what is getting behind us
Anfi and Ioana explore the fundamental transformations shaping the market today. They discuss how AI has become embedded in every aspect of our work, reshaping paradigms and emphasizing outcomes over tasks. The episode delves into how to develop the right mindset for staying relevant, rethinking and renewing your approach to design, and staying adaptable in a rapidly changing landscape. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. Check out these links: Join Anfi’s Job Search community…
-
S1 · E160 · 2 Dec 2025 · 37 min
#160 The design tools we actually use
Anfi and Ioana discuss how AI and design tools they use daily have impacted their workflows. They share their experiences with various tools, highlighting which ones have become essential, and predict how these tools will evolve and shape their work in the coming year. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. Check out these links: Join Anfi’s Job Search community . The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you…
-
S1 · E159 · 26 Nov 2025 · 36 min
#159 Should you get into UX design if you are starting out in 2026?
Anfi and Ioana explore the design scene in 2025, sharing insights on current trends, key shifts, and the evolving landscape. They discuss the changing value of designers in the age of AI, questioning whether traditional roles will remain relevant. Additionally, they offer practical advice for newcomers entering UX design in 2026 from diverse backgrounds amidst this rapid transformation. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. Check out these links: Join Anfi’s Job Search community…
-
S1 · E158 · 18 Nov 2025 · 28 min
#158 The biggest hardships in our UX careers
Ioana and Anfi discuss their biggest career challenges, explore what the industry should do to empower designers and prioritize design, and consider how a shift towards everyone becoming builders might impact the industry's future. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. Check out these links: Join Anfi’s Job Search community . The community includes 3 courses, 12 live events and workshops, and a variety of templates to support you in your job search journey. Ioana's…
-
S1 · E157 · 11 Nov 2025 · 17 min
#157 5-Step plan to get started with vibe-coding
Ioana explains the origin of the term "vibe coding" and its core principles. She outlines how to build products using this approach, including a practical plan for coding with vibe coding methodologies. Ioana discusses how vibe coding can lead to burnout if not managed properly and emphasizes that vibe coding is a genuine approach to software development, not just a trend. She also recommends tools to start exploring vibe coding. This episode was recorded in partnership with Wix Studio. Check out these links:…
Take it with you
The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.
