{"id":8119,"date":"2019-01-16T13:41:07","date_gmt":"2019-01-16T18:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.brainstation.io\/?p=8119"},"modified":"2019-01-18T16:11:42","modified_gmt":"2019-01-18T21:11:42","slug":"meet-gerard-popular-podcast-host-and-design-instructor-at-brainstation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brainstation.io\/blog\/meet-gerard-popular-podcast-host-and-design-instructor-at-brainstation","title":{"rendered":"Meet Gerard: UX Consultant, Podcast Host, and Design Instructor at BrainStation"},"content":{"rendered":"

UX Designer, Consultant, and Podcast Creator are just a handful of roles that BrainStation Design Instructor, Gerard Dolan, fills on a day-to-day basis. Dolan has worked in the design field for more than two decades, and has taught multiple design courses<\/a> at BrainStation, including User Experience Design, User Interface Design, and Design Thinking. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"DesignWe spoke to Gerard about what drew him to UX, why he created his podcast, and what it\u2019s like to be a BrainStation Instructor.<\/span><\/p>\n

UX Design as a Natural Next Step<\/span><\/h2>\n

With UX gaining popularity over the course of the past several years, individuals from many different professional backgrounds are scrambling to build their design skills and transition into the field. This is so commonplace, we often forget that for some professionals, UX design was a natural next step. \u201cI come from a traditional art, design, branding background, having studied at OCAD (Ontario College of Art and Design), that always stressed the <\/span>why<\/span><\/i> at the beginning of projects,\u201d says Dolan. \u201cUX was a natural progression based on this training.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, Dolan works in consulting for UX, strategy, and product design. \u201cI\u2019m generally engaged at the start of projects when there\u2019s plenty of ambiguity to go around,\u201d says Dolan. \u201cMy role is to make the complex simple, and to make the design solution compelling for the customer and relevant to a business driver.\u201d Dolan\u2019s work allows him to be at the epicentre of design and business, and gives him a firm grasp on how these two elements influence one another. <\/span><\/p>\n

The BrainStation Experience <\/span><\/h2>\n

Dolan\u2019s knowledge and expertise is something he brings to BrainStation students every class, providing them with insight into what it\u2019s like to work in the design field. He believes in the power of BrainStation to prepare students for the workforce. \u201cThe UX skills training at BrainStation gives a solid foundation and direction for an individual to enter the discipline,\u201d says Dolan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not only is Gerard sharing his own experience, but he\u2019s constantly learning from other UX professionals through his podcast. \u201cBasically, I was tied to the office working and traveling for business. I could barely make it to conferences, and I\u2019m no good if I\u2019m lacking creative input. So I decided to reach out directly to those I wished to have a conversation with,\u201d explains Dolan about his motivation for the podcast. \u201cMany of these conversations have helped me formulate and stress test my processes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Starting the UX Discovery Session Podcast<\/span><\/h2>\n

UX Discovery Session was named one of the best UX podcasts in 2018, and features discussions with various design thought leaders from diverse organizations and industries about new ideas, emerging techniques, and whatever else comes to mind. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe interview format I decided on helps the audience relate to the interviewees as people,\u201d says Dolan. \u201cThe blue sky question for example, \u2018If money and time weren’t an object, is there a project (or an area of interest) you would wish to initiate?\u2019, has had some pretty great answers. Everything from charitable work, to fixing the California transportation licensing office, to wanting to be a cheese farmer.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n