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Design Downtime

Design Downtime

by Guy Segal

Season 5

Sam Gordashko Loves to DJ

Get ready for the beat to drop, when Sam Gordashko joins us to talk about her love of DJing. She traces her journey from recording mixtapes off the radio as a kid to spinning sets at Burning Man. She shares how she learned to embrace imperfection as a recovering perfectionist, breaks down her systematic approach to navigating 50,000 tracks, and explains how DJing puts her into a flow state of constant, calculated risk-taking. Sam also offers practical advice for anyone curious about trying DJing themselves. Guest Bio Sam Gordashko (she/her) is a freelance design systems pro with a design tokens obsession based out of Toronto, and she's on a mission to make complex tech feel human. Over the years, Sam has worked with big names like Getty Images, Shutterstock and Intuit, plus plenty of scrappy startups figuring it all out, with most of her career spent as a "Design Team of One" at various tech innovation startups. You might know her as Samantha Gordashko or Sam I am Designs, the public speaker, host of design systems events, and educational content creator focused on design tokens, design-to-development processes, and systems thinking. She's got a knack for turning intimidating technology into approachable, actionable workflows and has built a reputation in the design systems community for making people laugh while sharing her future-friendly design pro tips, real-world workflows, epic fails, and radical honesty about what not to do. Links Sam’s website: https://samiam.design/ Sam’s set, Promise Cherry Beach, June 12, 2022: https://soundcloud.com/ilovepromise/aubade-promise-cherry-beach-june-12-2022 Sam’s set, Solar Seance, Club Rapture: https://soundcloud.com/aubade_samiam/ssrapture Credits Cover design by Raquel Breternitz.

Helen Gaskell Loves Writing Romantic Fiction

Love is in the air, when Helen Gaskell joins us to talk about writing rom com novels. She shares the story of her accidental path to publishing — from writing a fan letter to a mobile game, to landing a deal with just 10,000 words written. Helen reveals the surprising structural discipline behind the genre, and passionately defends romantic fiction as a misunderstood feminist art form, arguing it offers sophisticated social commentary and genuine emotional comfort. Her debut, The Regency Switch, is available now from HarperCollins. Guest Bio Helen Gaskell (she/her) is a freelance lead content designer based in the UK. After ten years at the BBC as a content producer she now works on GOV.UK projects and has spent time at over a dozen central government departments. Most notably, she worked on the first public-facing AI-driven project for the Foreign Office, and wrote the UK government's guidance on AI for services. Links The Regency Switch: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-regency-switch/helen-gaskell/9780008769574 Helen’s author website: http://helengaskellwriter.co.uk/ Helen’s design website: https://www.helengaskell.co.uk/ Credits Cover design by Raquel Breternitz.

Mike Perrotti Loves Plants

Get your fill of chlorophyll, when Mike Perrotti joins us to talk about his passion for plants. He shares how a therapist's recommendation to add greenery to combat seasonal depression unexpectedly spiraled into a tropical obsession. Mike describes how he catches himself coveting rare expensive plants and consciously redirects back to the meditative joy of caregiving and cultivation. He also reveals how managing a diverse collection in a low-light apartment requires the same constraint-driven creative thinking as design. Guest Bio Mike Perrotti (he/him) is a Product Designer at Datadog living in Brooklyn with an assortment of plants and reptiles, a cat, and a loving partner who tolerates it all. He spends his weekends in his lush greenhouse by day and on dark, foggy dancefloors by night. Before moving to New York in 2012, he studied art in Philadelphia, then fell sideways into UI design and frontend development. He later went on to become a major contributor to various design systems, including GitHub's Primer. Along the way he developed a pattern of picking up hobbies and going completely and shamelessly overboard with them. His houseplant hobby snuck up on him and (predictably) spiraled into an obsession. Links Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-perrotti-81402572/ Mike on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mperrotti_ Credits Cover design by Raquel Breternitz.

Daniel Sanchez Griborio Loves Karate

It’s time to wax on, wax off as Daniel Sanchez Griborio joins us to talk about his lifelong love of karate. He describes how his parents enrolled him at age five, and how the structure and rigor created a sense of belonging. Daniel explains karate's core philosophy of seeking perfection while understanding it's unattainable, and how focusing on incremental progress sustained him through five consecutive years of losing in the first round of nationals before finally winning at age 17. He talks about karate becoming an anchor and a reminder that "what you put in, you get out," shaping how he approaches everything from work to parenting. Guest Bio Daniel Sanchez Griborio (he/him) is a design leader at Scotiabank and a lead instructor in User Experience Design at BrainStation. With over 15 years of experience in various design roles, he has held positions such as Director of Product Design and Senior Manager of User Experience at Scotiabank, guiding the creation of user-centric digital banking solutions. Daniel has also contributed to organizations like The Felt Store and TD, where he has focused on enhancing design strategies and e-commerce experiences. He possesses a passion for empowering future designers with industry insights and real-world applications. Links Daniel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielsanchezgriborio/ Daniel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealdanielsan/ Credits Cover design by Raquel Breternitz.

Mike Monteiro Loves Listening to Records

In the first episode of season 5, Mike Monteiro is "still listening to wax, he's not using the CD" when he joins us to share about his lifelong love of vinyl records. From his parents' 70s console record player to a 4,000-record music room, he traces how music became a path of self-discovery. Mike explains how he keeps track of his incredible collection, talks about the Platonic idea of the prefect record store, and makes a passionate case against audiophile gatekeeping: however you listen to music, you're doing it right. Guest Bio Mike Monteiro (he/him) is the co-founder and Design Director of Mule. He writes and speaks frequently about the craft, ethics, and business of design. He's written a bunch of books, including Design Is a Job, Ruined by Design, and the brand new How to die (& other stories), which is only tangentially about design. He lives in San Francisco, with his wife Erika and their dog Rupert. He has been buying vinyl his entire life, and currently has about 4,000 records. Links Mike’s website: https://www.mikemonteiro.com/ Mike’s Good News newsletter: https://buttondown.com/monteiro Muhammad Ali inserting a 45 into the record player of his 1959 Cadillac Eldorado: https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/1edo3g1/muhammad_ali_inserting_a_45_into_the_record/ Credits Cover design by Raquel Breternitz.

Season 4

Vitaly Friedman Loves Techno

It’s the season 4 finale and we’re celebrating at 150 bpm, when Vitaly Friedman joins us to talk about his lifelong journey through techno music. It all began in Belarus when, as a child, he discovered The Prodigy on cassette, continuing into his teens, that were spent obsessively exploring every possible musical avenue. Vitaly explains his preference for minimal, melodic, and "honest" techno over mainstream EDM, emphasizing his deep appreciation for the craft, passion, and commitment artists put into their work. He discusses how music serves different functions in his life, whether providing flow and calmness while working, or creating vivid, cinematic experiences at live concerts, and reveals his practice of continuously discovering new artists to avoid getting stuck. Guest Bio Vitaly Friedman (he/him) loves beautiful content and does not give up easily. Born in Minsk, Belarus, he studied computer science and mathematics in Germany. While writing algebra proofs and preparing for software engineering at nights in the kitchen, at the same time he discovered passion for typography, interface design and writing. After working as a freelance designer and developer for 6 years, he co-founded Smashing Magazine back in 2006, a leading online magazine for designers and developers. His curiosity drove him from interface design to front-end to performance optimization to accessibility and back to user experience over all the years. Vitaly is the author, co-author and editor of Smashing Books (https://www.smashingmagazine.com/books), and a curator of Smashing Conferences (https://www.smashingconf.com). He is the UX lead with the European Parliament and Smashing Magazine and front-end/UX consultant in Europe and abroad, working with large and small companies and organizations like Haufe-Lexware, Axel-Springer and others. He also runs Measure UX (https://measure-ux.com) and Smart Interface Design Patterns (https://smart-interface-design-patterns.com), friendly video courses on UX and design patterns, along with a live UX training for passionate UX and product designers. Links Vitaly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vitalyfriedman Amelie Lens at EXIT 2021: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80jdSJxZUAE Amelie Lens — Live In the tunnel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1-Xc7EfT44 Worakls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXJawwVI03E Paul Kalkbrenner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YPbpWeIx2Q Extrawelt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryc3YudCYXU Prodigy — Out of Space: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4eav7dFvc8 Credits Cover design by Raquel Breternitz.

Sera Tajima Loves Movement

We’re getting in motion with Sera Tajima, as she joins us to talk about her lifelong relationship with movement. She explains how ballet taught her precision, control, and the ability to withstand "good pain”, creating a meditative practice of syncing mind and body, that continued to martial arts. Sera’s athletic journey took a turn three years ago when she developed long COVID, forcing her to completely reassess her relationship with movement. Through her recovery process, she learned to listen to her body's needs rather than pushing through, discovering the importance of small daily movements. Sera continues to advocate for a cultural shift away from the tendency to treat the body as merely a vessel for the mind, and instead reconnect with it on a deeper level. Guest Bio Sera Tajima (she/her) is a product designer turned climate investor and advisor, bringing Silicon Valley growth expertise to founders solving our planet's biggest challenges. She's spent a decade driving growth at Y Combinator, Zendesk, and Webflow—achieving results like 200% acquisition increases. Through Conscious Tech Ventures, she guides climate startups scaling breakthrough solutions. Sera also has a course on sustainable growth. UC Berkeley-educated, Sera has spoken at Ikea, Uber, universities, and tech conferences worldwide, helping founders leverage product-market fit and product-led growth strategies. Her mission: Accelerate conscious tech that makes today's broken systems obsolete. We can't solve climate problems with the same thinking that created them. Links Sera’s website: https://www.conscioustech.co/ Sera on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/seratajima/ Sera on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seratajima/ Sera on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@seratajima Credits Cover design by Raquel Breternitz.

Erika Flowers Loves to Write Novels

Get ready to be swept away into a sprawling space opera, when Erika Flowers joins us to talk about her passion for writing fiction novels. She approaches writing fiction as entertainment rather than high literature, comparing her creative goals to producing Marvel-style blockbuster experiences. Erika traces her journey from discovering fantasy worlds through the Dragonlance series in middle school to spending 16 years learning the craft before finally writing her first complete manuscript. She describes her meticulous, architect-style approach to writing, treating the actual process like an athlete training for an ultra marathon. Erika talks about her strengths writing character dynamics, relationships, and exploring themes through interpersonal drama rather than external action sequences, and gives us a sneak peek into her upcoming projects. Guest Bio Erika Flowers (she/her) is a technologist and designer who brings a love of storytelling into everything she does. By day, she helps organizations shape strategy and design for the future, and by night, she writes sprawling novels and explores the craft of story as a lifelong passion. Erika has worked at tech companies such as Intuit and Mural, as well as serving a term at NASA as a civil servant as a part of their digital transformation initiative. She currently works in medical technology, innovating in the field of diabetes and insulin management. Links Erika’s website: https://www.erikaflowerswrites.com Erika on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helloeflowers Credits Cover design by Raquel Breternitz.

Priyanca D'Souza Loves Outdoor Swimming

It’s time to be one with nature, as Priyanca D'Souza talks to us about her passion for outdoor swimming. She shares how immersing in cold water offers a transcendent experience that pulls her into the present moment, from still lakes where she floats under the sky to challenging rivers that demand complete mental focus. Priyanca explains how outdoor swimming differs fundamentally from pool swimming, and emphasizes the minimalist nature of the activity. She also discusses how she actively seeks swimming spots when traveling, praising cities like Copenhagen for integrating swimming into urban life, and notes the mental health benefits of outdoor swimming, that allow her to completely disconnect from technology. Guest Bio Priyanca D’Souza (she/her) is a Senior User Researcher in the public sector, specialising in Accessibility and Inclusion. She has recently worked on complex projects for GDS, Cabinet Office, Defra and Companies House. She aims to use her lived experience of access needs to embed inclusive practices within teams to drive forward ethical and inclusive design which better meets people's needs. Enabling people to empathise with the barriers our users can face and finding opportunities to alleviate and change things to make experiences better. She is fascinated by the impacts different barriers and conditions can have on cognition, behaviour, people’s interactions and experiences of the world. She has a background in Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, which she combines with lived and varied practical experience. Links Priyanca on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/priyanca.bsky.social Priyanca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyanca-ux Credits Cover design by Raquel Breternitz.

Sidra Mahmood Loves Bluegrass

Tune your banjo and join Sidra Mahmood, as they tell us about their unexpected passion for bluegrass music. Despite a musical journey through heavy metal, punk rock, and electronic music, they found a strong connection to bluegrass with its themes of labor solidarity, poverty, and anti-capitalism, being played with incredible speed and precision through improvisation. Sidra notes the genre's diversity problem, as 95% of bluegrass concert audiences are white and significantly older, despite contemporary bluegrass artists becoming more diverse, and recommends modern acts that blend punk and rock elements into the traditional sound. Guest Bio Sidra Mahmood (they/them) is a government product and service designer who currently builds data products at the federal government of Canada. Sidra knows we're not supposed to talk about work on this podcast but they can very happily talk about it all day. With a deep deep love of government transparency and civic tech, Sidra's been designing things people can use to make government suck less for over a decade. In their spare time, they can be found DJing, hanging out with their two senior retired greyhounds, and being mean to billionaires on the internet. After living in four continents, they call Toronto home. Links Sidra’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidramatik/ Sidra’s bluegrass playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7fY1eYqnDart624M6rLu4w Credits Cover design by Raquel Breternitz.

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