Unpacking the Dynamics of UX, AI, & Business with Zachary Newton - S3 Ep.14

In this episode, we're joined by Zachary Newton, the talented UX Director of CreateApe. With a background blending design leadership and tech prowess, he's a driving force behind creative endeavors in Brand, Product, UI/UX, Video, and Marketing. Zachary's passion lies in crafting experiences that harmonize business objectives and user satisfaction, going beyond pixels to shape digital innovation. 

Discussion points - 

• What path did you follow to become the designer and creative professional you are today? 1:26
• Do your past experiences significantly influence your current role and approach? 3:37
• Do you believe that achieving a high level of discipline is crucial when self-learning to establish a career compared to pursuing formal education? 6:36
• Rapid fire round 7:49
• How do no-code and low-code platforms impact the user experience when compared to custom-built solutions, and what are your thoughts on their significance in UX design?11:13
• How do you and your team stay up-to-date with evolving technologies and trends to ensure you remain competitive in delivering products and services? 16:43
• Tell us about the podcasts you host. 23:48
• What advice would you give to individuals who are just starting their careers and aspire to reach the level of expertise you have achieved? 27:05

Show notes - 

• I started with development and later shifted to design to work on products I found enjoyable. It allowed me to influence their appearance, functionality, and perception, primarily focusing on design, with some development involvement. 
• I often advise people, even during user or stakeholder interviews, to ask 'why' multiple times. You might have heard of this technique, but it's essential to approach a question from various angles to uncover the true answer.
• Everything I've done up to today, including video editing, design, and development, has been self-taught. I haven't received a traditional education in these fields.
• You've always got to have that hunger and drive to educate yourself, to understand what you don't know and learn from it.
• I'm personally a fan of low-code and no-code solutions. I believe they are excellent for rapid development, iteration, and testing. However, there may come a point where a custom solution is necessary. Two of my favorite low-code and no-code platforms are Webflow and FlutterFlow, which allow you to build websites and applications.
• I believe that as creatives or agencies, we need to embrace AI tools rather than fear them and figure out how to incorporate them. In the future, it will be about orchestrating the synergy between these tools and technologies.
• In the Soapbox Business Show podcast, my co-host Mario and I interview various business professionals, mainly those who own or run their businesses. We firmly believe that regardless of their industry, these conversations offer valuable insights and information.
• There have been instances where I've found that what is taught in classrooms is outdated or no longer relevant. To stay ahead, it's essential to stay hungry, continue learning independently, and be hands-on. These factors combined will contribute to your success.

Links - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyrnewton/ Company website: https://www.createape.com/ Portfolio/ website: https://zacharynewton.me/ Podcasts: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/story-archives https://soapbox.house/