In this first episode, I sit down with Gavin, a designer, builder and creator of Figma plugins downloaded over 600,000 times. We talk about the messy, emotional side of design: instinct, burnout, psychological safety and how our environments shape the work we do. Gavin shares his journey from Rolls Royce to government projects to building tools for designers, and we explore what it takes to balance empathy, pragmatism and craft in today’s shifting UX landscape.
*Gavin’s figma plugins*
https://www.figma.com/@gavinmcfarland
*Gavins website*
https://gavinmcfarland.co.uk/
*Gavins LinkedIN*
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavinmcfarland/
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:51 The Role of Design in Engineering
06:46 Navigating Job Titles and Industry Changes
09:27 AI’s Impact on Design and Decision Making
12:40 Emotional Intelligence in Design
15:49 Burnout and Mental Health in Design
26:25 Navigating Operational Challenges in Design
30:21 The Role of Psychological Safety in Design Environments
35:38 Building Authentic Client Relationships
39:44 Influential Figures in Design Practice
43:54 Proud Achievements in Design
46:50 Current Projects and Future Aspirations
49:44 NEWCHAPTER