The UX Level-Up

Jon Alderink is a UX consultant with experience in Industrial IoT, where he’s worked on complex machine software systems, and he previously worked at Twist Think. He has also worked as a color artist for Marvel and DC, and recently created his own website, Norn Forge, where he’s been experimenting with OOUX, AI workflows, and connected tools.

In this episode of the podcast, Sophia and Jon talk about why AI can generate screens but still struggles to design the system underneath, how OOUX helped Jon’s team move faster and make better product decisions, and how designers can use tools like Notion, Claude, and schema markup without offloading the critical thinking that makes their work valuable.

LINKS:
Be one of our Scholars!
Connect with Jon on LinkedIn
Check out Jon’s Website - Norn Forge
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Meghan Logan is a Lead Product Designer at Stripe, and her work sits at the intersection of systems thinking, systems architecture, product strategy, and neurodiverse thinking. She also speaks at conferences about how design frameworks can better support neurodivergent brains and create safer, more effective ways of working.
In this episode of the podcast, Sophia and Meghan talk about Meghan’s ADHD diagnosis and the masking that so many neurodivergent designers experience at work, why OOUX and ORCA can feel like such a safe and clarifying framework for ambiguous design problems, and how structured systems thinking can help designers communicate better, reduce bias, and create more inclusive products.

LINKS:
Register for The UX Level Up Live
Connect with Meghan on LinkedIn
Check out Meghan’s Medium!
Listen to Meghan’s Talk
Podcast with Karen Hewell on applying OOUX to your own inner world
Continue the conversation in the forum!

Mandi Geiselman has worked as Senior UX Designer at Autodesk, where she designs for complex media & entertainment tools (like Maya and 3DS Max), and she is an Advanced OOUX Strategist who’s created resources on building an OOUX community of practice inside big organizations.
In this episode of the podcast, Sophia and Mandi talk about OOUXing Horizon Forbidden West, why game UX isn’t about “making it easy,” and how bases, extensions, and conditional logic can make even the most complex systems more understandable (and more shareable for teams).

LINKS:

Join the OOUX Forum

Connect with Mandi

💪 Get access to the free training and get 20 strategies to level up your UX practice! OOUX.com/levelup

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In this short solo episode, Sophia shares a big mistake she made in 2025 — one that directly contradicts a core OOUX principle she teaches. Using real examples from EdTech, Mighty Networks, and OOUX’s own course offerings, she breaks down the problem of overlapping objects and the three ways teams can handle them: combine, differentiate, or live with confusion. She also announces an important shift in how OOUX training will be structured moving forward — and why this change makes things clearer for everyone.

LINKS:

OOUX Forum (free to join)
OOUX Website
OOUX Newsletter
The Self-Paced OOUX Masterclass 3.0
Continue the Conversation at the OOUX Forum

Elena Haskins is the founder of Anele UX Studio, where she helps B2B companies design clearer, more intuitive software across industries ranging from early-stage startups to enterprise giants like Prudential, Party City, and the NFL. She’s also an Advanced OOUX Certified practitioner—one of the earliest Cohorts to complete the training—and a sought-after workshop facilitator known for making complex OOUX concepts feel accessible, even fun.

In this episode of the podcast, Sophia and Elena dig into how to teach OOUX without overwhelming people, why asking sharper questions can instantly elevate your UX practice, and how Elena bridges the gap between designers and developers using a stripped-down, practical ORCA workflow. They also explore client-friendly documentation, role-based prioritization, and Elena’s signature philosophy: people stick around when you make them feel smarter—not confused.

Links:
Connect with Elena on LinkedIn

Check out Elena's Website

Read "A List Apart: Object-Oriented UX" Article

Explore the Throughline Conference program (Jan 29–30) - throughlineconf.com - Use the discount code: OOUX50 (get $50 off)

Continue the conversation on the OOUX Forum!