Thinking your product needs a “redesign?” Don’t miss the deeper layers of UX design. In this episode, we break down Jesse James Garrett's "Elements of UX" and explain why focusing only on surface-level design can lead to strategic failure.

Discover why neglecting the deeper layers—skeleton (wireframes, interactions), structure (information architecture, content strategy), scope (features, functionality), and strategy (user needs, business goals, technology)—can negatively impact your product's success.

Learn how design thinking at a strategic level can uncover root problems, build user trust, and drive market share, far beyond superficial aesthetics.

Hosts Andrew Sladky, Andy Van Fleet, and Nick Bray share stories from decades of UX work, discuss how human-centered design should influence business strategy, and offer practical ways to assess your own team's UX maturity.

🎧 Listen now on Humans First and subscribe for more insights into design, strategy, and leadership.

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To learn more about Visual Logic’s Humans First approach, ⁠visit visuallogic.com.

Since 1988, Visual Logic has been a trusted User Experience partner for leading companies–helping guide product strategy, and designing stand out user interfaces & customer experiences. Our process helps simplify complex products and leads to elegant, easy-to-use solutions that your customers & end-users will love.

Getting to simple is hard. We’ll help you build & launch with confidence.

For more Humans First, visit: ⁠www.visuallogic.com/podcast⁠

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Keywords: UX design, user experience strategy, Jesse James Garrett, product design, human-centered design, design thinking, design maturity, product strategy, design leadership, visual design, UX layers, design team building

Why is radical transparency the secret weapon of the best consultants? In this episode of Humans First, Andy Van Fleet, Kurt Vander Wiel, and Kayla Byington discuss Getting Naked by Patrick Lencioni—a book that has shaped how Visual Logic approaches client relationships.

They break down the three fears that hold people back—losing business, being embarrassed, and feeling inferior—and share real-world examples of overcoming these fears to build trust and drive meaningful progress. If you’ve ever struggled with difficult conversations or worried about looking inexperienced, this episode is packed with insights on how authenticity can transform your work.

🎧 Listen now on Humans First and subscribe for more insights into design, strategy, and leadership.

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To learn more about Visual Logic’s Humans First approach, ⁠visit visuallogic.com.

Since 1988, Visual Logic has been a trusted User Experience partner for leading companies–helping guide product strategy, and designing stand out user interfaces & customer experiences. Our process helps simplify complex products and leads to elegant, easy-to-use solutions that your customers & end-users will love.

Getting to simple is hard. We’ll help you build & launch with confidence.

For more Humans First, visit: ⁠www.visuallogic.com/podcast⁠

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Keywords: consulting, leadership, radical transparency, business relationships, Patrick Lencioni, Getting Naked, trust-building, professional growth, UX design, workplace authenticity

Why is UX in the military and defense industry lagging behind commercial tech? Designers in this space face massive hurdles—from bureaucratic layers and security constraints to an engineering-first culture that prioritizes capability over usability.

In this episode of Humans First, Nick Bray, Jason Thompson, and Ben Rendall break down the design maturity scale in defense, the challenges of getting user feedback, and why UX is becoming a competitive advantage for the DoD. They also discuss how the industry can attract top design talent and what commercial UX teams can learn from these challenges.

🎧 Listen now on Humans First and subscribe for more insights into design, strategy, and leadership.

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To learn more about Visual Logic’s Humans First approach, ⁠visit visuallogic.com⁠.

Since 1988, Visual Logic has been a trusted User Experience partner for leading companies–helping guide product strategy, and designing stand out user interfaces & customer experiences. Our process helps simplify complex products and leads to elegant, easy-to-use solutions that your customers & end-users will love.

Getting to simple is hard. We’ll help you build & launch with confidence.

For more Humans First, visit: ⁠www.visuallogic.com/podcast⁠

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Keywords: UX in defense, military ux, military software, design maturity, defense tech, user research challenges, DoD innovation, human-centered design, usability in government, UX strategy, UX leadership, design thinking, defense industry

For more Humans First, visit: www.visuallogic.com/podcast