We mentor designers and help them reach the next level of their careers.
Free, forever.


Hosted by Tim & Nate inside Design Buddies
We’re Nate and Tim.
We created the Design Shaped community to help designers trying to learn and improve. We go live every Friday at 11am PT inside Design Buddies: portfolio and resume reviews, plus candid talk about hiring, leveling, AI, and workflows. It’s free, always.
Watch live, every Friday
Recent clips
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Specialist vs. generalist: finding your design niche
Job search: differentiating your skills effectively
Clarifying your designer identity in your portfolio
Building an About Us page with photos
AI skills vs. programming fundamentals: what comes first?
AI portfolio strategy: avoid overwhelm
Validate your value proposition: argue the opposite
Targeting startups: the wrong approach
Product vs. market orientation: which business strategy wins?
Ethical AI in design: shaping the future
Case study length: skimming vs. detail
AI’s impact on jobs: temporary displacement?
AI art debate: ethics vs. current use
The business of design: data vs. estimation
Beat digital product design competition
AI is changing product design
Understanding applicant tracking systems (ATS)
Strategic portfolio positioning explained
Make your links accessible: spell them out
UX designer vs. product designer job titles
Stand out: craft a unique job value proposition
Resume & portfolio: archive vs. aspiration
Crafting case studies that impress recruiters
Resume ATS optimization: avoid columns
Find your product designer level
Figma for resumes: a trap for ATS?
Beat the ATS: boost your resume word count
The value of your resume work
Why ATS software struggles with columns
Improve portfolio presentation for reviewers
Find your ideal career: love, value, income
Decoding design titles: UI, UX, and product design
Why nobody reads your case study (and how to fix it)
UI, UX, and product design: what’s the difference?
The crucial first step in case studies
Specialization vs. generalization in job applications
Niche down: the power of specific positioning
Agency design hiring: team vs. individual skills
Strategy vs. execution: where do you fit?
Interviewing is practice, even for senior roles
Resume length: one page or two?
Adobe’s dark pattern creates friction
Website clarity for financial sector businesses
Website analytics tools: Google Analytics vs. PostHog
Value propositions: less generic is more powerful
Unlock your value: tailor your pitch
Understanding your portfolio’s 3 target audiences
Understanding applicant tracking systems (ATS)
Transitioning industries: finance to healthcare for product designers
The “why, how, what” approach to resume bullets
The secret to getting hired: networking and referrals
The power of small design systems
The illusion of expertise: spreading too thin
Targeting niches to reduce competition for clients
SLC vs. MVP: understanding product development
Measuring success beyond hard metrics
Is your value proposition truly unique?
Is your animation turning viewers away?
Inspiration is a chain of human ideas
HTML and CSS vs. Framer: which wins?
Generalist vs. specialist in tight job markets
Generalist designers have the advantage in today’s market
Find mentors at large organizations using ADPList
Your online portfolio: a mini you
Weaving impact throughout your case study
The power of strong writing in storytelling
The pitfalls of redesigning popular apps like Netflix
Stand out in your job search
Solve problems, not browse websites
Researcher turned designer: your unique career advantage
Product design vs. UI design case studies
Portfolio for freelancers vs. full-time roles
Perception is king in marketing
Make your case studies readable: skimming strategies
Indie developer portfolio: build authority & trust
How recruiters read your resume
How hiring managers evaluate candidates
Good case studies have detailed descriptions
Figma’s AI capabilities questioned
Discover your unique niche: become a specialized designer
Choose your path: freelance or full-time?
Career direction for entry-level candidates
Anti-AI designer? Redefining good design & AI roles
AI’s impact on UI design & Agile’s future
AI for idea generation
Your online portfolio: a mini you
Visual text size: rule for screen readability
Two things that position candidates as junior level
Things good portfolios do well
Sticky note secrets: make your notes readable & useful
Showcase UX skills: storytelling beats design in your portfolio
Sharpen your value proposition
Recruiters and value props
Recruiter’s thoughts when referring candidates
Product designer: make your value prop clear
Portfolio strategy for early-stage interviews
Make case studies skimmable with storytelling
How hiring managers review portfolios
Hiring managers want your problem-solving process, not just results
Get LinkedIn Learning free — high-quality tech education
Find your ideal audience for your portfolio
Everything is soup
Dentistry to UX: domain experience to solving problems
Building case studies for the right audience
AI website design affordance traps
AI design accountability: who’s really responsible?
AI context limits and the Goldilocks zone
Agile vs. waterfall: AI’s impact explained
Agile UX: master enterprise companies & UX design
Case study housekeeping for recruiters
Product vs. market: build it or find the need first?
Unlock your unique career path with vertical knowledge
Turn your About page into a referral magnet
Focusing on your differentiation











