Writers of Silicon Valley

Do you enjoy the podcast? Please leave a review! Our new course, Advanced UX Content for Product, is out! Use PODCAST20 to get 20% off. Should content designers care about "vibe coding"? AI prototyping has taken the design world by storm. Replit, Cursor, Lovable, Figma Make...all of them are certainly very cool. But do they actually change the way we design? And if they do, should we even care? David Hamilton joins me to talk about it. What we talked about: Designing content for cars across screens, systems, and contexts The stakes of language in safety-critical interfaces Why consistency across app and vehicle language really matters How content designers can shape AI systems What “vibe coding” is and why content still plays a key role Why the last 5% of polish is the new differentiator The importance of taste, trust, and systems thinking Where to find David:  LinkedIn  David's Substack Do you enjoy the podcast? Please leave a review! Our new course, Advanced UX Content for Product, is out! Use PODCAST20 to get 20% off.

Do you enjoy the podcast? Please leave a review! Our new course, Advanced UX Content for Product, is out! Use PODCAST20 to get 20% off. Check out the Content Design Salary Survey When words make or break the player experience Most content designers work in apps, websites, and services. But what happens when your product is a massive open-world RPG or a competitive shooter? In this episode, I talk with Ben Moran, a UX writer who’s worked on AAA video games, about the unique challenges of designing language for games. From menu systems and HUD elements to skill trees and settings, we explore how content design in games is a constant balancing act between immersion and usability. We also talk about the differences between “content design” in the gaming industry (quests, story content) versus UX writing for UI, and why game studios are missing opportunities when they don’t bring dedicated UX writers onto their teams. What we talked about: How Ben transitioned from product design and copywriting into UX writing for games The difference between content design for quests and UX writing for UI Immersion vs. usability: why both matter, and how to find the balance Deciding when to name things in a game (and when not to) Making complex systems like skill trees, armor upgrades, and settings feel approachable Why players will tolerate complexity in gameplay, but not in basic navigation The missed opportunity when studios don’t hire UX writers Lessons from games that can inspire innovation in digital products Where to find Ben:  LinkedIn Ben's article on UX writing in video games Do you enjoy the podcast? Please leave a review! Our new course, Advanced UX Content for Product, is out! Use PODCAST20 to get 20% off. Check out the Content Design Salary Survey

Do you enjoy the podcast? Please leave a review! Our new course, Advanced UX Content for Product, is available for preorder. Order and get 25% off, plus 30% off another course or workshop. Get 25% off all courses and workshops at UX Content Collective Navigate AI with clarity, not panic There’s a lot of noise about AI right now. It’s going to replace us. It’s going to revolutionize everything. It’s the best thing since sliced bread or the beginning of the end. In this episode, Andrew Stein, a content design leader and thoughtful skeptic, helps us cut through the noise. We talk about what AI actually means for content professionals, how to spot the hype, and what it looks like to respond with nuance instead of fear. This isn’t an AI doomscroll. It’s a clear-eyed look at the choices ahead of us—and why content designers are uniquely positioned to ask the right questions. What we talked about: Why skepticism is a healthy response to AI What content design still does better than AI (by a long shot) The pressure to “prove your value” in the age of automation How to have thoughtful conversations about AI at work Why embracing complexity is part of the job now The difference between curiosity and panic Where content strategy still shines no matter the tools Why being critical of tech isn’t being anti-tech Where to find Andrew:  LinkedIn Our new course, Advanced UX Content for Product, is available for preorder. Order and get 25% off, plus 30% off another course or workshop. Get 25% off all courses and workshops at UX Content Collective

Do you enjoy the podcast? Please leave a review! ATTEND OUR MAJOR COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT ON MAY 6. REGISTER HERE.  Get 20% off courses and workshops at UX Content Collective with PODCAST20. Staying hopeful, getting hired, and embracing the hustle The job market for content designers hasn’t been easy—and it’s even harder when you're trying to break into the field for the first time. But if there’s anyone who knows how to stay resilient through the process, it’s Casey Webb. In this episode, Casey shares her journey from marketing to UX content design—navigating layoffs, contracts, full-time roles, and everything in between. She talks candidly about building confidence, managing rejection, and why being coachable has been her secret weapon in landing roles at companies like Wells Fargo, Warner Bros. Discovery, eBay, and Indeed. If you’re job searching right now, or just feeling uncertain about your next move, this episode is for you. What we talked about: How Casey transitioned from marketing into content design The ups and downs of job hunting over the last few years Why the expectations for content designers have changed The importance of business impact and strategic thinking in portfolios How to deal with contradictory interview feedback Why the “one yes” mindset can help you push through Tips for preparing for interviews and asking smart questions Why reaching out and building a network really works How to show up with humility and curiosity—on and off paper Staying grounded when the job search gets tough Where to find Casey:  LinkedIn ATTEND OUR MAJOR COURSE ANNOUNCEMENT ON MAY 6. REGISTER HERE.  Get 20% off courses and workshops at UX Content Collective with PODCAST20.