From darkness to design leadership: A candid chat with Rob Armes on beating psychosis

12/08/23 • 58 min

#046 - How we feel has a direct impact on our creativity and confidence. However, we don’t openly talk about our mental health at work.
In this episode, I speak to my friend Rob Armes who’s a design leader and founder of the UX consultancy, Circular UX. Rob opens up on his mental health struggles, including periods of psychosis and suicidal thoughts. And even after recovering and returning back to work, he experienced severe imposter syndrome.
Rob shares how he got back on his feet and took back control of his life and career, which includes starting his own consultancy. Rob also shares his advice on freelancing and growing beyond your comfort zone in your career.

Shownotes

Connect with Rob Armes

https://robarmes.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robarmes/

Being Brilliant by Andy Cope

Nielsen Norman Group

How you can get into UX contracting and freelancing | by Rob Armes (He/Him) | Nov, 2023 | Bootcamp

Mental health support links

Overview - Psychosis - NHS

Illustrations by Isa Vicente

https://www.instagram.com/isadezgz/

Music by Brad Porter

https://prtr.co/

Follow Design Feeling on social!

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/designfeelingco

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/designfeelingco/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/designfeelingco

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@designfeelingco

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/designfeelingco

Shownotes

Connect with Rob Armes

https://robarmes.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robarmes/

Being Brilliant by Andy Cope

Nielsen Norman Group

How you can get into UX contracting and freelancing | by Rob Armes (He/Him) | Nov, 2023 | Bootcamp

Mental health support links

Overview - Psychosis - NHS

Illustrations by Isa Vicente

https://www.instagram.com/isadezgz/

Music by Brad Porter

https://prtr.co/

Follow Design Feeling on social!

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/designfeelingco

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/designfeelingco/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/designfeelingco

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@designfeelingco

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/designfeelingco

Previous Episode

Let go of the illusion of control and personal responsibility through facilitation - Charles-Louis de Maere

#045 - Do you take personal responsibility for things that don’t go according in your plan in your organisation? Do you try to control the outcome and burn yourself out in the process? What if you could let go of all that?

In this episode, I speak to Charles-Louise de Maere who’s an expert facilitator helping organisations with collaborative thinking, storytelling and visual thinking. Charles-Louis shares some amazing facilitation techniques that’ll enable you transform your sense of personal responsibility into a collective one within your organisation. He also talks about “Kishōtenketsu”, an Asian storytelling framework which is not based on a conflict, like the “hero’s journey” is. Charles-Louise also shares tips on how you can use visual thinking to collaborate, regardless of your sketching abilities.

Shownotes

Attend the end of year retro for designers and changemakers

https://www.designfeeling.co/retro

Connect with Charles-Louise de Maere

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charleslouisdemaere/

Learn Kishōtenketsu with Charles-Louis

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/explorationlabssrl/758666?

World cafe method of facilitation

https://www.fsg.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/World-Cafe-Method_0.pdf

Show credits

Illustrations by Isa Vicente

https://www.instagram.com/isadezgz/

Music by Brad Porter

https://prtr.co/

Follow Design Feeling on social!

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/company/designfeelingco

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/designfeelingco/

Twitter
https://twitter.com/designfeelingco

TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/@designfeelingco

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/designfeelingco

Next Episode

Reflecting on your year, riding the waves you’re on and being aware of the mountain you're climbing with Josie Downey and Jason Mesut

#047 - We wrap up Season 4 reflecting on some end of year reflection workshops I ran with Design Strategist, Josie Downey, to help designers and changemakers reflect on their year and refocus on 2024. We are also joined by Product Strategy Consultant, Jason Mesut, who attended one of those workshops.

Have you reflected on your year and set your intentions for 2024? If you already have or if you’re thinking of doing one, this episode might give you some ideas and new ways of going about it.

In this episode: