MASTER SERIES TO GAIN UX MASTERY / S01-E02
In this episode, Markus Hofmann tells us why designers should master empathy for their users as well as for their own organisation. Working very closely with the business stakeholders as well as end users, Markus offers a different perspective on how to contribute better as a designer. His approach to designing usable solutions is very practical and time-bound and he shares some of his tested strategies with us in this interview. He further shares how one can find a mentor, create a winning portfolio and create a balanced work life.
TIMESTAMPS QUOTES BOOKS ABOUT COMMENTS
TIMESTAMPS
[10:31] | Why it is important to build empathy inside an organization? |
---|---|
[12:25] | What should be the minimum research a startup could do to ship faster? |
[16:24] | Skills essential to get hired UX Designer. |
[18:06] | How to ask the right question? |
[19:54] | Keys to an outstanding portfolio |
[22:19] | How to decide if UX is a career for me? |
[29:28] | What should you do if you don’t have anything to show as a UX designer in your portfolio? |
QUOTES
- Sometimes people don’t even know what they don’t know.
- If you give something, you get more back.
- It’s not the amount of work you do, It’s about the right combination and the right set.
- In UX, you have to challenge the assumptions.
- UX is way more than just the screen designs.
- UX is all about understanding the problem first and then finding the solution.
- Everyone has something to offer.
BOOKS
ABOUT

UX Researcher & Designer at Yara International
Originally from Germany, Markus is currently working in Singapore. His drive to understand the different business and create solution is remarkable and his impressive resume is a testimony of varied experiences he has gained throughout the course of his career. He has worked with agencies, organization and startups of all sizes around the globe.…Currently working for the UX and Research arm for Yara International, Markus is helping his organization create technology aimed at enabling millions of farmers to increase their yield and providing actionable knowledge.
His passion to create relevant and accessible solutions for small farmers and make a difference has taken him around the world from small farms in Africa to the rice fields of India.
An avid traveller, Markus believes it is one of the best learning one can have and is a true exercise in empathy. Extremely willing to immerse himself in various cultures, Markus is deeply attuned to different cultures which reflects very well in his work.
Markus is amongst one of those creative geniuses who understand that a good design is also about providing value to not just the users but also to the business and all other stakeholders of the product. This is why his approach to getting buy in for research and design is flexible and more holistic. Despite all the awesome work he has done and is doing, Markus is extremely humble and helpful. Read More
Other episodes(9)
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Episode 9: How to understand what UX actually means | Preeti Sheokand
7 March 2019, 50 minutes
In this episode UX mentor Preeti Sheokand sits with us and shares how she transitioned from being a scientist to a UX designer successfully. She shares why defining what User Experience means is the most important question that one must answer to create a meaningful UX career. Preeti also shares framework to critically evaluate the designs. Preeti also shares the inspiring story of her design school – Design Shift and how she is designing a unique curriculum for every aspiring UX designer.
Episode 8: How to design a life and a career you love | Karthi Subaraman
28 February 2019, 55 minutes
In this episode we sit with Karthi Subbaraman, the founder and Chief Design Officer at Xperian School. Karthi brings with her a wealth of new insights and perspectives that force us to look beyond design in the context of just interfaces and products. Karthi has learned and taught how to use the design principles for not just designing products but for designing your body, life and even death. She asks some really uncomfortable questions which will make you look harder at your own life and choices you make. Karthi also tells us why designers should embrace business mindset and how they can do so. She defines designers as “sense makers”.
Episode 7: Why designers should embrace storytelling | Amit Patel
21 February 2019, 40 minutes
In this episode we talk UX designer and mentor Amit Patel. With no formal degree in design, Amit went on and learned UX by talking to users, businesses and doing a lot of work. He shares with us how asking right set of questions can be a game changer. He talks about the things he is teaching his students at his design school – Experience Haus. Amit focusses a lot of attention on the art of storytelling and shares a practical framework to design a story for your product.
Episode 6: The skills that will make you a great UX Designer | Sudhir Mor
16 February 2019, 55 minutes
In this episode, we bring to you Sudhir Mor who is the co-founder of Design Shift- a UX School in Banglore. Sudhir shares his incredible and inspiring design journey with us. He is empowering his students with not just conventional design skills but also giving them exposure to different industries, businesses, and technology. His perspective on design education is very unconventional and practical. You may not want to miss this episode if you are struggling with how to create a perfect portfolio, as he shares some awesome tips on that too.
Episode 5: How to bring visibility to UX research in your organization | Upasna Bhandari
7 February 2019, 60 minutes
In this episode UX researcher Upasna Bhandari shares with us how she used her extreme academic research skills and implemented them in one of the best startup of Singapore. Unlike typical research studies which can be months long, Upasna is setting up agile research processes which are more suited for fast paced startups. While she is doing it she is making sure she is training the stakeholders and her teammates within her organization in user research.
Episode 4: How to look past the default and create an amazing life story | Paul Millerd
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In this episode, we sit down with Paul and learn how to think beyond the default path. He shares why winning the prestige bingo is not the only way to succeed and tying self-worth to money is a bad strategy. He teaches some tactical strategies and questions that can help you create a powerful personal story.
Episode 3: How not asking questions can be holding you back | Menaka Chandrasekhar
26 January 2019, 48 minutes
In this episode, Menaka shares with us the lessons from her very successful UX career. Having worked in diverse industries and organizations, Menaka shares some of the most practical ways to create a rewarding UX career even when you don’t know where to start.
17 January 2019, 50 minutes
In this episode, Markus Hofman tells us why designers should master empathy for their users as well as for their own organization. Working very closely with the business stakeholders as well as end users, Markus offers a different perspective on how to contribute better as a designer.
Episode 1: How to get the education of a lifetime | Xavier Bertels
7 January 2019, 60 minutes
In this interview, Xavier shares with us how he successfully transitioned from Graphic Designing to User Experience Design. A successful design entrepreneur with a deep interest in music and martial arts, Xavier shares how education is not a one-time event that stops at a degree but it is something you do for your lifetime. He further discusses how did he start his company, how they navigated the challenges of the remote work and how he has created a solid culture within his company.
Bonus: Why Designers must learn Storytelling | Jake Knapp
3 minutes
In this video, Jake Knapp - the author of NY bestselling book Design Sprint and Make Time tells us why Storytelling is one skill that every designer must master. Jake explains how designers can leverage storytelling to gain empathy with users, share their story internally and build teams and then share their solution with the users.
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