In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick discuss a shift that most SaaS and startups are not ready for: internal tools are getting real investment in 2026. That's because their customers are realizing they can build exactly what they need on their own.

This changes how SaaS operates. Instead of buying another one-size-fits-all product, more buyers will ask: why don’t we just build this ourselves? Tyler and Nick figure out how SaaS products can survive this shift and why being integration-ready is about more than just “having Zapier.”

If you are building B2B SaaS, working in product, or designing enterprise tools, this episode gives you strategy you can actually apply.

Here is what is on the table:
🔸 Why internal tools are getting bigger budgets in 2026
🔸 The new SaaS threat: customers building their own tools
🔸 Why enterprises want software tailored to their workflows
🔸 The real SaaS moat: flexibility, integrations, and ecosystems
🔸 Zapier, Make, MCPs, and why they change retention
🔸 Using integrations as product signals for what to build next
🔸 Founder-led SaaS, branding, and why “slop” is the new competition

Subscribe to The Design Table Podcast
https://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe

More about Tyler and Nick
Tyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white
Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick break down what product design will look like in 2026 and why this year will feel like a shock to a lot of designers. Tyler calls it the year of the builder, where titles start collapsing and the market rewards people who can actually ship.

They discuss why design has been misunderstood for years, how that misunderstanding is costing you still today, and why design is slowly getting eaten by product and engineering departments.

This is not AI fear and it is not a rant. It is a practical blueprint for how designers stay relevant when the goalposts move.

If you want to protect your career and increase your leverage, the answer is simple: skill stack and build.

Here is what is on the table:
🔸 Why 2026 will be “the year of the builder”
🔸 Why design roles are merging into hybrid titles
🔸 The designer vs. developer gap and how it wastes time
🔸 When building real prototypes beats building Figma prototypes
🔸 How AI changes what teams expect designers to ship
🔸 The next wave: builders who can design, ship, and think business

Subscribe to The Design Table Podcast
https://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe

More about Tyler and Nick
Tyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white
Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick pull back the curtain on the recruiter side of the design job market. This is not a rant and it is not recruiter hate. Instead, it is a practical explanation of how the system actually works.

They break down what preferred suppliers are, why some recruiter outreach goes nowhere, and how designers accidentally hurt themselves by ignoring messages or being unprepared. The conversation reframes recruiters as long-term career relationships instead of one-off transactions.

If you are job hunting, freelancing, or just want leverage when opportunities appear, this episode gives you context most designers never get.

Here is what is on the table:
🔸 How recruiters really source and screen designers
🔸 What preferred supplier lists are and why they matter
🔸 How to identify low-value recruiter outreach
🔸 Why replying even when uninterested pays off later
🔸 Screening recruiters the same way they screen you
🔸 Keeping your CV ready before you need it
🔸 Signaling availability without oversharing
🔸 Playing the long game with career relationships

Subscribe to The Design Table Podcast
https://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe

More about Tyler and Nick
Tyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white
Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick break down how experienced product designers are actually using AI in real workflows. Not the hype. Not the panic. The practical reality.

They talk through where AI is genuinely useful, where it creates more problems than it solves, and why most of its real value shows up after discovery, not before (like most say).

From copy refinement and edge cases to design system consistency and handoff support, this episode shows how AI helps designers move faster without outsourcing judgment.

If you feel behind because you are not “AI-first” or worried that tools like Figma Make will replace your role, this conversation will help how you think about AI and your craft.

Here is what is on the table:
🔸 Where AI actually fits in a real design process
🔸 Why AI shines in later-stage design work
🔸 Using AI for copy limits, constraints, and edge cases
🔸 How Figma Make and vibe coding fit into real projects
🔸 Treating AI like an assistant instead of a decision-maker
🔸 Why strong design systems matter more than prompts
🔸 The risks of hallucinated UI and false confidence
🔸 Shipping faster without lowering quality

Subscribe to The Design Table Podcast
https://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe

More about Tyler and Nick
Tyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white
Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

In the second half of this conversation, Tyler and Nick shift gears and answer a question they hear constantly:

“If I am brand new to design, where do I even start anymore?”

They break down what actually matters when entering product design today, what beginners should ignore, and how to build real skills without getting lost in tools, certifications, and AI panic.

This episode is a practical, honest guide for anyone considering product design in 2026 and beyond. No shortcuts. No fake guarantees. Just clear steps and hard-earned perspective from two senior designers who have seen the industry evolve multiple times.

Here is what is on the table:
🔸 The first steps every new designer should take
🔸 Mentorship vs. coaching and when to pay for help
🔸 Why copying work is not cheating at the start
🔸 The right way to learn Figma before touching AI tools
🔸 Hard skills vs. soft skills and when each matters
🔸 Why AI will not replace designers who understand fundamentals
🔸 How to avoid burnout, fear cycles, and bad advice online

Subscribe to The Design Table Podcast
https://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe

More about Tyler and Nick
Tyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white
Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

2025 felt like two years packed into one. In this episode, Tyler and Nick look back on the biggest shifts in product design over the past year and what they actually mean for designers going into 2026.

They discuss how AI changed the way design work enters teams, why designers are becoming prototype-first thinkers, and how tools like Cursor, Figma MCPs, and AI image generation are closing the gap between design and engineering faster than most people expected.

This is not a hype episode. It is a grounded conversation about experimentation, caution, and why the fundamentals still matter more than chasing every new tool.

If 2025 left you excited, overwhelmed, or both, this episode helps you zoom out and make sense of what actually changed and what did not.

Here is what is on the table:
🔸 Why 2025 became the year of experimentation
🔸 How AI changed the way design requests come in
🔸 Vibe coding vs. real production work
🔸 Where design and engineering are coming together
🔸 Why not every new tool deserves your attention
🔸 The difference between hype and reality
🔸 What designers should carry into 2026 and what to drop

Subscribe to The Design Table Podcast
https://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe

More about Tyler and Nick
Tyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white
Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

After last week's live portfolio review, Tyler and Nick continue where they left off and go deeper into the challenges designers face when trying to stand out in a global job market. They discuss what changes when you apply for design roles in another country and why most designers struggle.

They explain how to adapt your portfolio for a new region, why English mockups can make or break interviews, and how to use remote contracts as stepping stones toward relocation. They also cover when free work is smart, when it is not, and the red flags you must watch for before accepting an unpaid role.

If you want to work in another country and have no idea where to start, this episode gives you the practical steps to follow.

Here is what is on the table:
🔸 Why translating your UI mockups matters more than your resume
🔸 How to research design norms in the country where you want to work
🔸 Using remote roles as stepping stones toward relocation
🔸 When unpaid internships are smart and when they are a trap
🔸 The trust signals hiring managers need before sponsoring visas
🔸 How to build credibility without local experience
🔸 How to negotiate free work without being taken advantage of

Subscribe to The Design Table Podcast
https://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe

More about Tyler and Nick
Tyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white
Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld

In this episode of The Design Table Podcast, Tyler and Nick review and fix a real portfolio from a junior designer who is struggling to land interviews. You will see exactly what is holding him back and the specific changes that turn a forgettable portfolio into one that gets you hired.

They break down whether a Figma file can replace a traditional portfolio, the layout and writing issues that silently disqualify junior designers, and why UI alone is not enough to get hired.

You will learn how to present your work, what hiring managers actually look for, and the simplest changes that instantly make any portfolio feel senior.

If you are rewriting your case studies for the fifth time and still getting ignored, this is the most practical episode you will watch all year.

Here is what is on the table:
🔸 Fixing a real UX portfolio and the mistakes that sabotage it
🔸 Is a Figma prototype enough or do you need a website?
🔸 The UI spacing mistakes that expose beginners instantly
🔸 How to present your designs so reviewers do not skip your context
🔸 Why your case study language sounds weak and how to fix it
🔸 Using grids, copy, and real data to make work look professional
🔸 The difference between showing screens and showing thinking
🔸 Why lorem ipsum portfolios get rejected before conversations even start

Subscribe to The Design Table Podcast
https://www.designtablepodcast.com/subscribe

More about Tyler and Nick
Tyler: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/tyler-white
Nick: https://www.designtablepodcast.com/hosts/nick-groeneveld