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PODCAST

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

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 expertise to guide conversations that provide practical advice while illuminating the theory behind why designs

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All Episodes

61:46

Disruptive by Design: Uncovering Game-Changing...

The Design Psychologist | Psychology for UX, Product,... ·

2025/07/07

Ever wonder how certain products feel inevitable the moment they appear—rearranging entire markets overnight? In this episode of The Design Psychologist, Thomas sits down with UX pioneer Larry Marine to unpack the mechanics of truly disruptive research—the kind that yields insights so fundamental they can’t be unseen. Most teams unknowingly skip a handful of critical research steps, blinding themselves to the knowledge that changes everything. Larry shows us how treating users, tasks, and ent...

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25:01

The Why Behind Sample Size: How Many People Do You...

The Design Psychologist | Psychology for UX, Product,... ·

2025/06/30

How many participants do you need to test in order to make valid research claims? In this episode, we dive deep into the science and psychology behind sample sizes in user testing. Whether you're working with five users or five hundred, the number you choose can shape the story your research tells—and how credible your findings appear to stakeholders. Why sample size is one of the most misunderstood elements in product researchThe psychological impact of “too few” vs. “just enough” users in h...

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62:31

How to Decode Conversation: A Paradigm Shift in...

The Design Psychologist | Psychology for UX, Product,... ·

2025/06/23

In this episode of The Design Psychologist, we dive deep into the world of qualitative research and human-centered design with legendary UX thinker Indi Young. If you've ever felt like your user interviews only skim the surface—or if you've relied too heavily on personas—you might be missing the most powerful insights. Indi joins us to explore how deep, non-judgmental listening can revolutionize your understanding of users and, ultimately, your design outcomes. Together, we tackle...

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11:27

Why It Feels Right: Affordance and the Mind’s Hidden...

The Design Psychologist | Psychology for UX, Product,... ·

2025/06/16

Why do some products feel natural the moment you touch them—while others are baffling from the start? In this episode, we explore the psychology of affordances—those subtle cues that tell us what to do next, without saying a word. From door handles to digital apps, we break down how great design speaks directly to human intuition. You’ll learn: The psychological principles that make interfaces feel “just right” What Don Norman meant by affordances, signifiers, and anti-affordances H...

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62:28

Designing for Risk: What Aviation and AR Reveal about...

The Design Psychologist | Psychology for UX, Product,... ·

2025/06/09

In this episode, Thomas interviews Dr. Chris Wickens, a pioneer in cognitive engineering and human factors, and they discuss how designers can reduce errors and enhance decision-making when lives are on the line. They delve into the high-stakes world of design psychology for critical environments—think operating rooms, airplane cockpits, and military control systems. Together, they explore the real science of attention, what causes overload and confusion in high-pressure moments, and ho...

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14:27

How to Find the Next Big Idea: Deductive vs....

The Design Psychologist | Psychology for UX, Product,... ·

2025/06/03

How do you figure out what features to build into your design? How do you get those magical insights that actually improve your product—versus just shifting things around? In this episode, we unpack one key distinction that helps design psychologists and UX researchers choose the right method at the right time: inductive vs. deductive research. Imagine you have two different ideas for how to design an app for restaurant waitstaff. You think of adding some possible features, like a picture-ba...

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22:17

Color Psychology in Design: What the Science Really Says

The Design Psychologist | Psychology for UX, Product,... ·

2025/05/28

Send us a text What does the color of your brand really say about your business? Is there truth behind the popular color psychology charts? In this episode, we cut through the noise and explore the actual science behind color psychology—what it tells us, what it doesn't, and what that means for your branding decisions. We’ll explore: Why some color associations (like “blue = trust”) persist—and whether they hold up under scrutinyThe surprising cultural roots behind color meanings (hint: pink ...

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51:00

The Six Minds of UX: A Design Checklist You Didn't...

The Design Psychologist | Psychology for UX, Product,... ·

2025/05/28

Send us a text This episode is an absolute masterclass in human-centered design, featuring Dr. John Whalen—cognitive scientist, seasoned UX expert, and author of Design for How People Think. John introduces us to his powerful framework, The Six Minds of UX, which breaks down the complexity of user experience into six distinct cognitive lenses. Whether you’re designing a website, app, service, or physical product, these six minds offer a foolproof checklist to make sure you’re not leaving any ...

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16:46

Design for Ease: The Psychology of Effort in UX Design

The Design Psychologist | Psychology for UX, Product,... ·

2025/05/28

Send us a text Imagine dragging a jammed suitcase through a crowded airport—frustrating, right? Now imagine that same experience happening in your app, your website, or your product design. That’s performance load: the hidden mental and physical effort users endure when your design isn’t working for them. In this episode, we take our first step into the world of design psychology by exploring the concept of performance load. You’ll learn how cluttered interfaces, too many clicks, and confusin...

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44:51

Psychology Principles Every Designer Should Master...

The Design Psychologist | Psychology for UX, Product,... ·

2025/05/28

Send us a text Today on The Design Psychologist, we're diving deep into the intersection of psychology and design with none other than Susan Weinschenk, PhD—the person you’ll literally find next to the term “design psychologist” in the dictionary. Susan is a pioneer in applying behavioral science to UX and product design, and the author of essential books like How to Get People to Do Stuff and 100 Things Every Designer Needs to Know About People. In this conversation, we explore S...

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2:43

Trailer: Welcome to the Design Psychologist Podcast

The Design Psychologist | Psychology for UX, Product,... ·

2025/05/01

In this teaser episode, host Thomas Watkins introduces The Design Psychologist—a podcast where human behavior meets design. Thomas shares what inspired him to bridge the gap between psychology and design, outlines what listeners can expect in future episodes, and invites you to explore how design shapes our thoughts, emotions, and actions. Whether you're a designer, psychologist, or curious thinker, this show is your gateway into the minds behind meaningful design.

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3:18

Season 1 Trailer: The Design Psychologist

The Design Psychologist | Psychology for UX, Product,... ·

2024/08/16

In this debut episode of The Design Psychologist, I, Thomas Watkins, share my vision for this podcast and outline what listeners can look forward to in our exploration of the intersection of psychology and design. PURPOSEWith eight years of experience running 3Leaf, a UX design agency, I have seen firsthand the critical role that an understanding of human behavior plays in creating meaningful user experiences. This podcast is born out of my belief that psychology is an often overlooked aspect...

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32 results

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