🎙️ What the Heck is a Design Engineer? (with Dave Darnes)
Design engineer. UX engineer. Front-end dev with opinions. What does it all mean?! In this episode, we sit down with Dave Darnes to untangle the ever-evolving world of design and development (And Dave is our first non-Font Awesomer on the pod!). We talk about why job titles keep getting weirder, whether "engineer" is a fair title for folks who work on the web, and how design systems can bridge the gap between teams. Plus, we explore the future of the role — will tools like Figma and AI replace design engineers, or will the internet always need humans who can actually build things?🚀 Tune in for a fun, insightful, and slightly existential conversation about the intersection of design, dev, and the titles we give ourselves.🏆 Key TakeawaysDesign Engineer: Job Title or Existential Crisis? Dave breaks down the blurry line between design and development and why this role exists.Gatekeeping vs. Open Web: How the internet has democratized career paths—and why some job titles might be a shield against skepticism.The Future of Design & Dev: Will tools like Figma and AI squeeze out design engineers, or is there always a place for people who build with craft?Design Systems & Developer Relations: Why advocacy (not nagging) makes or breaks adoption.Rockstar/Ninja/Unicorn Titles: Just ... don’t.⏱️ Episode Breakdown🕛 00:00 - Meet Dave Darnes – 🇬🇧 UK-based designer/developer, father of sick children (but still here for the podcast).🎤 02:30 - The Legendary "David Darnes" Callout – A completely necessary and extremely fun moment of podcast magic.🛠️ 06:45 - What is a Design Engineer Anyway? – The Venn diagram of design and development overlaps in weird ways.📛 12:15 - Why Job Titles Get Messy – Specialization vs. generalization and the need to impress hiring managers.🏗️ 18:30 - Engineer as a Title — Does It Matter? – Structural engineers hold up buildings; do web engineers hold up the internet? (Kinda, yeah.)🔄 24:00 - The Evolution of Design & Dev Roles – How web components, CSS variables, and other tech are shifting expectations.🥕 30:45 - How to Get People to Actually Use a Design System – Hint: Be more carrot, less stick.🤖 35:00 - The Battle Between Figma & AI – Will design engineers survive the encroaching automation?🔄 40:30 - If You Had to Rename 'Design Engineer'... – Dave's answer is almost annoyingly simple.🔗 Resources & LinksCheck out Dave’s work: https://darn.es/His blog on design systems: designsystems.wtfIs 2025 the Year of the "Design Engineer"? Submit your own “David Darnes” callout on his website (seriously, do it).🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/🎵 Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/ "After School Keyboard Club" https://pixabay.com/music/video-games-after-school-keyboard-club-casio-vl-tone-80s-chiptune-retro-151684/Font Awesome on the Socials🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome📸 Instagram: @font.awesomeStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!
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43:11
Dave Gandy on Why Boring is Best™ in Engineering
In this episode, Dave and Matt explore First LEGO League, where kids as young as third grade tackle robotics and engineering challenges. As a coach, Dave shares how he guides his team to embrace the golden rule of engineering: Keep it simple, keep it sturdy.Listeners will learn how to spot the difference between over-the-top complexity and straightforward solutions that just work. Practical beats fancy almost every time.Dave also shares how his time at MIT taught him that simplicity is the secret sauce of reliable design. His mantra “Boring is Best™” takes center stage as he unpacks how choosing functional, dependable solutions often leads to bigger wins.But this isn’t just about gears and sensors — it’s about the people behind the bots. Coaching young engineers shines a light on the ultimate truth: Good engineering is all about putting people first.Key Takeaways:LEGO League 101: Where third graders gear up to build and program robots like tiny pros.Simple Wins: In engineering, simple and sturdy beats flashy but fragile every time.Dave's MIT Mantra: Inspired by his alma mater, Dave champions practical, reliable solutions.Power of Basics: Stick to the fundamentals, and you’ll go further than you think.Test, Tweak, Repeat: Early testing and iteration > chasing perfection out of the gate.This episode is proof that when it comes to engineering (and life), keeping it simple doesn’t just work — it wins.Timestamp🧩 0:32 – Coaching Kids in Engineering Through First LEGO League ⚖️ 5:31 – Balancing Simplicity and Creativity in Engineering Solutions 🤖 8:02 – Simplifying LEGO Robotics: Achieving Success Through Minimalism 🤿 10:54 – Innovative Solutions for Underwater Exploration Challenges 🏆 12:38 – Boring Solutions Win Engineering Competitions 🚀 15:45 – Balancing Innovation with Customer Needs in Tech Startups 🔄 17:35 – Embracing Iteration and Accepting Being Wrong for Faster Success 🛠️ 20:01 – Embracing Simplicity and Iteration in Product DevelopmentResources:Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon ProductionsAurora Holiday DanceFont Awesome on the SocialsFirst LEGO League🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome📸 Instagram: @font.awesome💼 LinkedIn: / fontawesome Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!
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24:29
Nerd Show and Tell: Meet Lea Verou
It’s finally happening! In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we sit down with Lea Verou to talk about all things usability, web standards, and her journey into tech. From childhood tinkering with imaginary product ads to shaping the future of CSS and web development, Lea has done ... a lot!You’ll hear about her work at MIT, her time on the W3C TAG, and what led her to join Font Awesome as Product Lead. Plus, we get into the finer points of her experience as a hardcore food blogger, and why Greek food just doesn’t do it for her anymore. Oh, and did we mention she may have been the first person to use an icon font on the web?Tune in for an insightful, nerdy, and entertaining deep dive into Lea’s world.Timestamp Summary🎙️ 0:01 | Welcome Lea Verou: The One We Finally Tracked Down 🤗 2:11 | Font Awesome’s Biannual Snuggle: Cozy or Creepy? 💡 3:28 | Lea’s Journey into Tech: The Love of Building Useful Things 💻 5:04 | From Visual Basic to Web Development: The Magic of the Web 🌍 8:49 | Web Standards & Lea’s Role in W3C’s TAG 🖍️ 12:31 | CSS Wizardry: The Inline If Function and Design Tokens 🛠️ 13:53 | How Font Awesome and Lea Crossed Paths 🔍 17:28 | The Truth About Font Awesome’s Licensing Model 🚀 18:18 | What Lea’s Working on at Font Awesome (Hint: Usability FTW) 👥 20:11 | Nerds Who Like People: The Importance of Human-Centric Design 🍜 25:52 | Lea’s Love for Cooking, Food Blogging, and Spicy Delights 🇬🇷 37:19 | Greek Food? Meh. Let’s Talk Global Cuisine 🥩 40:11 | The Steak That Changed Lea’s Life 🔥 42:02 | Favorite Font Awesome Icons? Dumpster Fire & Poo Storm, Obviously 🌐 43:34 | Where to Find Lea Online (Spoiler: Not on MySpace)Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon ProductionsFont Awesome on the Socials🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com 🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome 📸 Instagram: @font.awesome 💼 LinkedIn: /fontawesome🖥️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more nerdery, tech insights, and fun!Lea on the socials! 🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/LeaVerou🌤️ Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/lea.verou.meStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!
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45:00
2024 Wrap-Up: Growth, Legends, and a Kitty Cat Saga
It’s that time of year again! In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we’re reflecting on all the things that went down at Font Awesome in 2024. From expanding the Awesomeverse with Web Awesome and Eleventy to major product updates like the full release of Duotone Icons and shiny new branding, we cover it all.You’ll hear about the Web Awesome Kickstarter campaign (success!), the arrival of industry legends Lea Verou and Zach Leatherman, and the behind-the-scenes Font Awesome updates that made 2024 one for the books. As they say. Oh, and don’t miss Jory’s epic tale of a tuxedo kitten named Toast that could easily inspire a heart warming stop motion holiday movie.Tune in for a fun, nerdy recap of the year that was and a sneak peek at what’s in store for 2025.Timestamp Summary🎉 0:08 | Reflecting on 2024 and Font Awesome's Upcoming Plans 🐾 2:35 | A Christmas Miracle and a Chaotic Kitten Rescue 🌌 7:26 | Building the Awesomeverse: Font Awesome's Expansion and Success 🔧 10:28 | Web Awesome Simplifies Website Building with Reusable Components 🤝 13:12 | Exciting New Hires and Developments at Font Awesome 🎁 16:41 | Exciting Updates and Offers for Font Awesome Pro ✨ 18:51 | Font Awesome's Icon Expansion and Creative Uses 🎥 25:07 | Behind the Scenes of a New Font Awesome Video 🛠️ 27:57 | Customizing Font Awesome Kits for Optimal Website Performance 🌱 30:12 | Evolution ... It'll Save Your Life Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon ProductionsAurora Holiday Dance Font Awesome on the Socials 🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome📸 Instagram: @font.awesome💼 LinkedIn: / fontawesome 🖥️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more nerdery, tech insights, and fun!Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!
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34:07
Myth, Meme, or Madness? The Truth About Ballmer’s Peak 🤔
🍺 What’s the deal with the Ballmer Peak? Myth, meme, or just good old-fashioned developer humor? In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we unpack the hilarity and history behind this coding legend, complete with personal stories, team insights, and a responsible PSA. Whether you’re debugging at 3 a.m. or just love a good laugh, this episode has something for everyone. (And check out the episode on our YouTube for an even more fun! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb77NS_zFgQ)🍻 0:00 - Introduction to Ballmer's Peak 💡 1:31 - What Is Ballmer's Peak? 🎉 3:13 - Ballmer's Peak at Font Awesome Snuggle ⚡ 5:15 - Steve Ballmer and Developer Energy 🚀 7:07 - Achieving Peak Developer Performance 🎶 8:32 - Real Developer Strategies for Peak Performance 🔬 9:06 - DIY Breathalyzer and Exploring Ballmer's Peak 🎬 10:23 - Conclusion and Credits Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions Font Awesome on Social 🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com 🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome 📸 Instagram: @font.awesome💼 LinkedIn: / fontawesome 🖥️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more nerdery, tech insights, and fun!Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!
South Africa