182. From Perfectionism to Progress: Manuel Lima on the Real Work of Product Design

What does it mean to design with empathy in a world of AI, pressure, and perfectionism? In this episode of the Productized Podcast, host André Marquet sits down with Manuel Lima—author, speaker, and Global Head of Design at Interos Inc.—to explore how the role of design is evolving across disciplines and technologies. They dive deep into: ➡️ Why designers need to lead with empathy and collaboration ➡️ How AI is reshaping creative work and pushing us toward “invisible design” ➡️ The myth of the individual design genius—and why it’s holding teams back ➡️ Manuel's personal transformation and how dance, mindfulness, and self-love influence his creative process ➡️ The ethical responsibility of designers in an attention-driven world This is a conversation about art, leadership, and what it really means to create change—both in our work and within ourselves. 📌Chapters: 01:04 Manuel Lima: A Designer's Journey 01:50 Personal Transformations and Rediscovering Self 04:47 Empathy and Self-Love in Design 05:54 Customer-Centric Companies: A Case for Amazon 07:47 The Ethical Dilemma of Design and Capitalism 09:44 Challenging Design Myths: The New Designer 12:23 The Paradox of Choice in Product Design 15:04 The Myth of Perfection in Design 16:17 The Hero Culture in Design 17:57 Individualism vs. Collaboration in Design 22:22 The Future of Design in an AI-Driven World 23:45 The Impact of Photography on Art 25:22 AI and the Future of Design 27:51 Creating a Culture of Creativity 30:12 The Importance of Understanding the Big Picture 34:10 Influencing Change in Design Teams 🔗 Where to find Manuel: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mslima/ Website: https://www.mslima.com 🔗 Where to find Andre: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marquet/ 🎉 Mark your calendars for Productized Conference 2025! Join us for the 10th edition of this premier event where product leaders gather to share, connect, and celebrate. Get your tickets now 👉 https://www.productized.co Where to find us: Newsletter 👉 http://bit.ly/3aMvWn2 Website: https://productized.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/productized Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/productized.co/ Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/pt-BR/Productized/ 🎧 Listen now and let’s #CreateChangeTogether #ProductDesign #Creativity #EmpathyInDesign #AI #ProductLeadership #SystemsThinking #ProductizedPodcast