NN/G UX Podcast · 2026-04-29 · 45 min
What does it actually mean to design conversationally? Not "add a chatbot" - but genuinely apply the principles of human conversation to the systems we build? In this episode, host Laura Klein sits down with Erika Hall, author of Conversational Design and Just Enough Research, to re-visit a topic that's only gotten more relevant since her book came out in 2018. They dig into why language has always been an important part of any interface, what the cooperative principle of conversation can teach us about interaction design, and how the current AI moment is muddying what "conversational" even means. Erika also makes a sharp distinction between AI that solves real problems and AI that performs work - and offers a theory about why so many people are reaching for answer machines right now. Plus: why the best consulting advice is often just "you have to talk to each other," the role of domain expertise in getting anything useful out of an LLM, and what painting chickens has to do with learning to see.
Incorruptible: How Great Companies Stay Great with Eric Ries73 / 10059. Getting Hired in UX: What to Do When Apply-and-Wait Isn't Enough58. The Truth About Lean & Agile (Feat. Principal Experience Specialist, Laura Klein)57. The Next Decade of UX: Why Psychology Matters More Than Ever (Feat. Thomas Watkins, Founder & Principal UX Architect at 3Leaf)56. AI for UX Analysis: How Accurate Is It? (feat. Christian Holst & Jamie Holst, Baymard Institute)