To get a copy of the show transcript, visit: www.unpackingdesign.com/podcast/2-8--How do we ensure that our financial well-being is maintained and growing alongside our lives and career?There’s one important part of life that many designers are never taught—financial well-being.If you were to ask a colleague or a friend for financial advice, you might receive wildly different responses from person to person. But, even so, no one’s plan will be right one for you. We each need to research and develop what your own plan should be.In this episode, Tim breaks down why it’s important to learn about personal finance and how to get started.--Episode Mini Lessons:Figure out where you currently stand with your personal financesDetermine your values and live within themLearn how to invest and start as soon as possiblePractice negotiatingLearn more about Tim’s lesson to his younger self--have a financial plan--in this episode of Unpacking Design.—Thank you for listening to Unpacking Design!To share your thoughts and make suggestions, keep the conversation going on instagram with Mike (@archivalley) and Tim (@tim_ung)Please consider leaving an honest rating and review on iTunes and anywhere else that you listen to podcasts. They help us get the show in front of more awesome listeners like you!Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to make sure you stay up to date on each new show!

Unpacking Design

Have a Financial Plan

To get a copy of the show transcript, visit: www.unpackingdesign.com/podcast/2-7--How do we identify burnout and avoid experiencing it ourselves?One of the fears that many designers share is reaching a point in their career where they completely burn out.But the fear isn’t burning out, it’s the time it takes to recover from it. Some designers take months or years. Others will switch careers completely.In this episode, Mike discusses the importance of understanding what burnout in the battle against it, how to overcome burnout, and how to prevent it from happening again to you in the future.--Episode Mini-Lessons:No one starts at burnout.Burnout is treatable and can be overcome, but it isn't easy.Burnout targets well-meaning, high-performing creatives.Put on your oxygen mask first. Take care of yourself first so you can adequately take care of others.Burnout can happen again.Learn more about Mike’s lesson to his younger self, burnout is real, in this episode of Unpacking Design.—Thank you for listening to Unpacking Design!To share your thoughts and make suggestions, keep the conversation going on instagram with Mike (@archivalley) and Tim (@tim_ung)Please consider leaving an honest rating and review on iTunes and anywhere else that you listen to podcasts. They help us get the show in front of more awesome listeners like you!Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to make sure you stay up to date on each new show!

Burnout is Real

To get a copy of the show transcript, visit: www.unpackingdesign.com/podcast/2-6--How much time should go into planning a project before working on it?Most people fall on either side of the planning and executing spectrum. They either have trouble taking action or start their projects without a plan. Everyone has a sweet spot somewhere between both. When you find yours, creating content and developing projects becomes streamlined.In this episode, Tim discusses the importance of maximizing our effectiveness as designers by embracing better habits, better balance, in planning and doing.--Episode Mini Lessons: Find balance between planning and doing Determine what you personally need to plan and what you can pursue with less planning Just try new things without overthinking them Know the difference between developing a system versus a planLearn more about Tim’s lesson to his younger self--Plan less and do more-- in this episode of Unpacking Design.—Thank you for listening to Unpacking Design!To share your thoughts and make suggestions, keep the conversation going on instagram with Mike (@archivalley) and Tim (@tim_ung)Please consider leaving an honest rating and review on iTunes and anywhere else that you listen to podcasts. They help us get the show in front of more awesome listeners like you!Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to make sure you stay up to date on each new show!

Plan Less. Do More.

To get a copy of the show transcript, visit: www.unpackingdesign.com/podcast/2-5--Why is it important to know who you are and lean into it?From the moment we begin to form memories, to the moment we retire, there are several lives we will have lived.In this episode, Mike and Tim discuss the idea that we don’t owe the world anything including the need to prove ourselves. When something doesn’t resonate with you, be willing to say no to those opportunities.--Episode Mini-LessonsThere is no one in the world quite like you.You are not your work.The experiences and qualities you offer the world make it a better place.You don't owe the world anything and that includes proving yourself.Letting go is not giving up.Learn more about Mike’s lesson to his younger self--Lean into who you are and let go of who you aren’t--in this episode of Unpacking Design.—Thank you for listening to Unpacking Design!To share your thoughts and make suggestions, keep the conversation going on instagram with Mike (@archivalley) and Tim (@tim_ung)Please consider leaving an honest rating and review on iTunes and anywhere else that you listen to podcasts. They help us get the show in front of more awesome listeners like you!Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to make sure you stay up to date on each new show!

Lean Into Who You Are. Let Go of Who You Aren't.

To get a copy of the show transcript, visit: www.unpackingdesign.com/podcast/2-4Everyone talks about the need to be authentic, but how do you find what makes you… you?These days there’s an abundant amount of information that some people are developing and others are repeating.In this episode, Tim discusses the importance of educating yourself to improve the quality of the conversations you start. The cycle of practicing, learning, applying, teaching, and repeating is critical for discovering our own voice and sharing thoughtful points in discussions with other people.--Episode Mini-Lessons:Read, research, and educate yourselfDetermine your position and base it on the researchTeach based on experience combined with what you learn through researchAlways continue to research, learn, and teachNever take your voice for grantedLearn more about Tim’s lesson to his younger self, Find Your Voice, in this episode of Unpacking Design.—Thank you for listening to Unpacking Design!To share your thoughts and make suggestions, keep the conversation going on twitter with Mike (@archivalley) and Tim (@tim_ung)Please consider leaving an honest rating and review on iTunes and anywhere else that you listen to podcasts. They help us get the show in front of more awesome listeners like you!Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to make sure you stay up to date on each new show!

Find Your Voice

To get a copy of the show transcript, visit: www.unpackingdesign.com/podcast/2-3Why is it more important to focus on practice over the end product?In a world where we are bombarded by media depicting only success, it can be difficult to motivate ourselves to keep going when we fail.When we show up consistently, we may encounter a healthy mix of success and failure. Along the way, it’s important to find meaning in the grind (not the achievements) to keep us moving forward.In this episode, Mike and Tim discuss consistency and how they found their pace with all of their side hustles. Everyone starts with multiple interests. We eventually find what resonates with us the most through the process.--Episode Mini-Lessons:We all start somewhere, so show up today and do your best. Then show up tomorrow Fail, fail, and fail some more. Learn from failure.Apply your lessons and move forward to the next thing. and do it all again.Find meaning in the grind, not the achievementConsistency long term will help you more than sprinting. Show up and find your pace.Find yourself through the practice of a singular focus.Learn more about Mike’s lesson to his younger self, Practice Matters More than the Result, in this episode of Unpacking Design.—Thank you for listening to Unpacking Design!To share your thoughts and make suggestions, keep the conversation going on twitter with Mike (@archivalley) and Tim (@tim_ung)Please consider leaving an honest rating and review on iTunes and anywhere else that you listen to podcasts. They help us get the show in front of more awesome listeners like you!Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to make sure you stay up to date on each new show!

Practice Matters More Than the Result

To get a copy of the show transcript, visit: www.unpackingdesign.com/podcast/2-2How do we learn to speak clearly so we can communicate our ideas efficiently and effectively?One of the things most people are afraid to do is public speaking. Imagine being in front of a group of people waiting for you to tell them something that they didn’t know. We’re afraid because we haven’t practiced speaking enough to develop the confidence necessary to thrive.In this episode, Mike and Tim discuss the importance of practicing speaking with other people in different situations. They talk about the importance of clearly articulating ideas and learning to acknowledge when something great has been said rather than restating it in your own words.--Episode Mini-Lessons:How to get rid of filler wordsFind comfort in silencePractice speaking with other people in various situationsClear communication is one of the toughest skills to learn, but it’s the most valuableEveryone has something to sayLearn more about Tim’s lesson to his younger self--Speaking with clarity--in this episode of Unpacking Design.—Thank you for listening to Unpacking Design!To share your thoughts and make suggestions, keep the conversation going on twitter with Mike (@archivalley) and Tim (@tim_ung)Please consider leaving an honest rating and review on iTunes and anywhere else that you listen to podcasts. They help us get the show in front of more awesome listeners like you!Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to make sure you stay up to date on each new show!

Speak with Clarity

To get a copy of the show transcript, visit: www.unpackingdesign.com/podcast/2-1Why is it important for us to pace ourselves through our lives and careers?There are so many projects creative professionals want to pursue in their careers and personal lives. Those who chase long-term endeavors often face an impasse. They begin to juggle too much at once or they lose the motivation to do what once empowered them.Trying to do all the things at once will lead to mediocrity or burnout. Neither situation is where you want to be.In this episode, Mike shares his story about burning out in his own career when he was juggling a full-time job and multiple side hustles. He shares the importance of focusing on one important thing at a time to improve your results and your enjoyment of the process.--Episode Mini Lessons:Trying to do all the things at once will lead to mediocrity or burnout. Neither is where you want to be.Learn to Embrace the Stillness. Live in the moment instead of pressuring the future to happen in the 'perfect' way.Life is long. There will be enough time to taste many different things deliberately.Treat your life in seasons.Create goals, but be open to serendipity.Take care of yourself to do more profound, meaningful, and better things.Learn more about Mike’s lesson to his younger self--Pace yourself--in this episode of Unpacking Design.

Pace Yourself

This season is all about a single theme -- "Life Lessons to My Younger Self"Starting July 15, 2021, we'll be releasing a new masterclass episode every two weeks, twelve episodes in total. Each episode, we'll dive deep into a lesson that Mike and Tim would teach their younger selves--6 for each.The intent is to provide a comprehensive look at topics that we believe can help emerging professionals and creatives avoid the missteps we took years ago.We hope you'll join us for the adventure.

Unpacking Design - Introducing Season 2

A big announcement for the show!First, the show will be taking a break for a few weeks. Ugh. I know.Second, the reason the show is going on hiatus is to fine tune the future vision we have for the podcast moving forward.After 150+ Episodes and over 3 years, we believe that the show is due for a change.You are the best audience we could ask for and we hope you’ll stick around for the next leg of the Unpacking Design journey.Listen in to this episode where you can get more details from Mike about what the heck is going on with the podcast.—Thank you for listening to Unpacking Design!To share your thoughts and make suggestions, keep the conversation going on twitter with Mike (@archivalley) and Tim (@tim_ung)Please consider leaving an honest rating and review on iTunes and anywhere else that you listen to podcasts. They help us get the show in front of more awesome listeners like you!Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to make sure you stay up to date on each new show!

Unpacking Design Show Announcement

Shownotes: www.unpackingdesign.com/podcast/154What book has influenced the way that you think about your approach to your life and finding clarity to the things that you do?Mike introduces a new topic that Unpacking Design will start focusing on in 2021 – books. Mike and Tim will bring several books to the table and talk about how they’ve inspired their life, career, and projects. The first book in this series will be Start with Why by Simon Sinek.Starting off the discussion, Mike shares his personal experience of how the book, Start with Why, helped him get through his period of burnout. He gives a summary of Simon Sinek and his book to give context to the conversation. He describes a specific example that Sinek gives in his book and Ted Talk about Apple and how they don’t sell a product, they sell an idea.Tim shares his thoughts on Sinek’s Ted Talk and his book by talking about the ways that the companies that were discussed in his writing has influenced the way that Tim thinks about his approach to business and life. Mike shares why he pursues all of the endeavors in his life and the impact he wants to have in the design community and the world.The transition the discussion to the self-development movement that followed Sinek’s book where a lot of other books focus on similar ideas, but aren’t as articulate as Sinek’s. They talk about the way that the book was written, the examples that were used, and the logical explanation of each chapter of the book.Learn more about Start with Why by Simon Sinek and how it can influence your approach to life, career, and projects in this episode.—Thank you for listening to Unpacking Design!To share your thoughts and make suggestions, keep the conversation going on twitter with Mike (@archivalley) and Tim (@tim_ung)Please consider leaving an honest rating and review on iTunes and anywhere else that you listen to podcasts. They help us get the show in front of more awesome listeners like you!Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to make sure you stay up to date on each new show!

Unpacking Start with Why

Shownotes: www.unpackingdesign.com/podcast/153If there was a social app in its infancy where you could start building a community, would you join? That’s exactly what Clubhouse is in 2021.Tim starts this episode off with a brief introduction to the invite only app that’s currently in beta and only available on iPhones. Tim goes over the overall idea of the app and how it functions so that a new user could quickly understand how to navigate in the app. Mike talks about his initial experiences with the app and asks Tim about his experience as an introvert using an audio based app that focuses on group conversations.Tim talks about the invite only aspect of Clubhouse where a user has to be invited by someone else who knows them. This creates an atmosphere of professionalism and increases the authenticity of the people. He also shares the ping feature where a user can bring a friend into a room by notifying them. This can work for big in-depth discussions where someone can ping an expert to join a room to talk about the topic at hand.Mike and Tim discusses the conversations that occur in the app and the way that moderators and others are inviting and interested in hearing from others. It creates a stage and ambiance where people who are introverted, like Tim, feels comfortable joining conversations and making meaningful connections.They transition the conversation to talking about the future of clubhouse in the social media space and whether it will continue to work in the future. Tim believes that it’s an app centered around creating positive communities filled with knowledgeable discussions and because of the way the app is being built, it will likely be one of the biggest ones in the future. Mike and Tim talk about the benefits of designers and architects getting into the app early while it’s still in beta and starting to build a community of their own now.Learn more about how designers and architects can benefit through Mike and Tim’s discussion of Clubhouse in this episode.—Thank you for listening to Unpacking Design!To share your thoughts and make suggestions, keep the conversation going on twitter with Mike (@archivalley) and Tim (@tim_ung)Please consider leaving an honest rating and review on iTunes and anywhere else that you listen to podcasts. They help us get the show in front of more awesome listeners like you!Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to make sure you stay up to date on each new show!

Unpacking Clubhouse

Shownotes: www.unpackingdesign.com/podcast/152How much meaning does winning an award have to you? Why do you feel that way about awards?Mike starts the episode off with a story about the types of awards that exist in different industries and shifts to his personal views on awards. They used to be something that Mike would apply for to win an award and in some cases it was to build his portfolio and in others, it was related to ego. However, Mike now sees less value in awards and doesn’t focus his time on applying personally for them. Instead, he now looks for opportunities to nominate his friends and colleagues to receive the awards.Tim talks about the issue of awards in recent times where most awards are driven by applications and fees. In order to be entered, one has to pay hundreds of dollars and out of all the applicants, only one person can win the award. Tim shares his personal thoughts on awards that he would pursue, which would be awards that have a legacy, recognition of work, and meaning behind it.Mike dives into the idea of legacy and how the people who receive long-standing annual awards that are based on a nomination process only, are awards that stand out against all others. One example is the Pritzker prize award that one architect receives every year for outstanding work and thoughtfulness beyond the trends of the time.Tim transitions the discussion to talking about the idea of race and gender in the awards and recognition process. He dives into the issue of awards in the design professions where there has historically been a lack of diversity and how minorities have won the least amount of awards. Mike and Tim discuss this idea and talk about the need for more opportunities for everyone to be on an equal playing field to be nominated to receive an award.Learn more about how Mike and Tim view awards and how meaningful they are in this episode.—Thank you for listening to Unpacking Design!To share your thoughts and make suggestions, keep the conversation going on twitter with Mike (@archivalley) and Tim (@tim_ung)Please consider leaving an honest rating and review on iTunes and anywhere else that you listen to podcasts. They help us get the show in front of more awesome listeners like you!Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to make sure you stay up to date on each new show!

Unpacking Awards

Shownotes: www.unpackingdesign.com/podcast/151Have you ever thought about selling digital products online in a place like Etsy? What kinds of people and designers are on there and what are the differences in the types of products that they sell?Tim starts this episode off by framing the discussion around the different levels of designers who are selling digital products in an online marketplace like Etsy. He talks about the general population who are amateurs and self taught as a designer because they got into it as a hobby and eventually turned it into a business. Then, there are young designers who have a lot of energy and some ignorance of the things that they haven’t yet experienced or learned yet.Mike and Tim talk about the interesting idea that a majority of the general population who come up with digital products to sell typically make more sales than designers. Mike talks about the idea that the general population typically designs to solve immediate problems that they’ve encountered or see and are closer to their target audience. Designers are generally bad at business and not good at marketing themselves.Tim shares his thoughts that most of the general population will generally discover a cool idea that they’re excited to create and start the process of making that product. Whereas, designers are typically facing their fears of putting their work out into the world and selling it to others. There’s a fear that there’ll be bad feedback or criticism when the product enters the market place.Mike talks about his experience putting out a digital course for people to purchase and learn from. He planned ahead and didn’t feel like he was afraid of putting out the course and selling it because he put so much effort into creating the product and felt like an expert in the content that the course covered.Tim transitions to talking about the 3rd level of designers who sell digital products, which are at an intermediate level and above. Most designers who have experience as designers have developed confidence in their abilities to produce great content. He talks about the differences in quality of products between the different levels of designers, the price points that they decide to sell their products, and the financial upsides for designers who sell digital products.Mike talks about the focus of the different levels of designers who are selling digital products and how it drives the quality and the cost of their product. People who focus on the idea of making money from their products typically design lower quality products and look at selling the most products. Whereas, designers who have more experience in their craft will put more effort into creating their products, which results in better quality, but not always more sales.Mike and Tim end the episode with advice for people who are interested in developing and selling digital products. Don’t miss out on what Mike and Tim had to say in this episode.—Thank you for listening to Unpacking Design!To share your thoughts and make suggestions, keep the conversation going on twitter with Mike (@archivalley) and Tim (@tim_ung)Please consider leaving an honest rating and review on iTunes and anywhere else that you listen to podcasts. They help us get the show in front of more awesome listeners like you!Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to make sure you stay up to date on each new show!

Unpacking Digital Products and Sales

Shownotes: www.unpackingdesign.com/podcast/150How can the simple practice of owning and consistently journaling help designers grow in both their personal lives and careers?Tim starts this episode by sharing his method of daily journaling over the past year and a half. He talks about setting his goals in December of the previous year, writing it down on the backside of the cover of his journal, and dedicating one page a day to journaling. His focus for each entry is to reflect on events that occurred during the day. He writes down successful moments, events to learn from, achievements, and ends each entry with his one goal for the next day.Mike talks about his latest venture into journaling and purchasing field note books to write down his thoughts and ideas. He uses journaling as a way of finding clarity in his life by writing down his thoughts and reflecting on it through the process of writing. Journaling is a method of documenting the lessons that you’re learning every day and to have those lessons captured in a personal book for reference.Tim transitions to how he uses his journal for personal development and career growth. He shares a story about how daily journaling helped him identify issues on projects he was working on and how he overcame the issues through his evening reflections as he documented significant events in his journal. He talks about how these journal entries helped him prime his mind so that the next time he was experiencing a similar problem; he would be able to react based on his previous experience.Learn more about how Mike and Tim benefitted from the practice of journaling consistently.—Thank you for listening to Unpacking Design!To share your thoughts and make suggestions, keep the conversation going on twitter with Mike (@archivalley) and Tim (@tim_ung)Please consider leaving an honest rating and review on iTunes and anywhere else that you listen to podcasts. They help us get the show in front of more awesome listeners like you!Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to make sure you stay up to date on each new show!

Unpacking Journaling

Unpacking Design is a podcast that shares the perspectives, thoughts, and ideas of two architects from New York on topics ranging from technology, lifestyle, career, health, and news.

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Unpacking Design

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