In this episode of The Product Design for Learning Podcast, host Greg Arthur delves into the nuances of production with Matt Ash, founder of Changeably and a seasoned expert in learning design. Together, they explore how to streamline production processes while maintaining creativity and quality, even when faced with challenging projects like compliance training. Matt shares lessons from his career, including award-winning projects and insights on balancing innovation with client expectations.

Matt Ash is a consultant, strategist, and founder of Changeably. With a background in learning design, Matt has spearheaded creative, award-winning projects, including films recognized at the Cannes Corporate Film Festival and New York Film Festival. He is an advocate for using agile methodologies in learning design to improve efficiency and elevate content quality.

• Balancing Creativity and Structure: Production thrives on creative freedom but demands clear scope, deadlines, and budget to avoid pitfalls.
• Client Collaboration: Effective communication and stakeholder involvement at every stage are key to navigating changes and ensuring alignment with project goals.
• Agile Production: Iterative approaches, rooted in discovery and regular review, can prevent scope creep and enhance output quality.
• Challenging Compliance Norms: Even compliance projects can be engaging and innovative when approached with an audience-focused mindset.

Matt shared his journey from creating early-stage e-learning to scaling an agency team and pioneering agile methodologies. His production philosophy focuses on consistency, audience-centric creativity, and aligning with business goals.

Matt discussed the importance of giving filmmakers, developers, and designers creative freedom while aligning their outputs with project goals. This approach fosters innovation even in traditionally rigid fields like compliance.

Using an audience-centric approach, Matt transformed compliance content into compelling narratives, earning prestigious awards. His work exemplifies how purpose-driven storytelling can elevate even the most mundane subjects.

Matt emphasized the need for clearly defined scope, deadlines, and budgets. He advised conducting a robust discovery phase and identifying key goals to prevent misalignment during production.

Flexibility and open communication are crucial. Matt shared how referencing agreed-upon goals and involving all stakeholders early on helps mitigate costly scope creep.

Matt recommended following the same structured processes you advise clients to use—pausing to reflect, sharing challenges, and seeking alternative perspectives to resolve issues effectively.

Greg introduces Matt Ash and the episode’s focus on the art and science of production in learning design.

Matt recounts his career highlights, including agile experimentation and managing award-winning creative teams.

The shift from dull compliance content to engaging, award-winning films is explored.

Matt shares...

In this episode of the Product Design for Learning Podcast, host Greg Arthur sits down with Jess Andrews, a seasoned learning and development professional with experience on both the agency and in-house sides of the table. Jess shares insights into the nuanced relationships between agencies and internal teams, the challenges of making an impact in learning and development (L&D), and how to foster collaboration for successful projects.

Jess Andrews

Jess is a learning and development expert who recently transitioned to an in-house role at Multiverse after an impactful career working agency-side. She brings a wealth of experience in managing creative projects, building strong client relationships, and implementing innovative L&D solutions.

• Logistical Support: Small teams often need help with scalability and quick turnarounds.
• Creativity and Industry Expertise: Agencies bring fresh ideas, innovative solutions, and cross-industry insights.

• Agency Work: Offers end-to-end control and responsibility but can be overwhelming due to multitasking.
• In-House Work: Requires letting go of control in some areas and focusing on influencing internal stakeholders.

• Clear Communication: Regular check-ins and transparent discussions about goals and challenges.
• Relationship Building: Understanding each other's work styles and stress points fosters collaboration.
• Alignment on Goals: Both parties must be clear about the ultimate objectives to avoid misaligned priorities.

• Misalignment on goals or poor initial scoping can derail projects.
• Agencies need to balance challenging their clients with respecting internal constraints.

Greg Arthur introduces the podcast and welcomes Jess Andrews to discuss the relationship between internal teams and agencies.

Jess explains the dual reasons of logistical support and creative innovation for seeking external help.

Jess shares her experiences adjusting to the in-house mindset and managing internal stakeholders.

Discussion on the importance of understanding communication styles, stressors, and shared goals.

Jess highlights the role of agencies in helping organizations achieve quick, measurable outcomes.

Exploration of how poor scoping and internal biases can undermine a project’s success.

Jess and Greg share strategies for reconciling conflicting recommendations between teams.

Jess offers practical advice for strengthening collaboration and overcoming challenges.

Jess speculates on evolving dynamics, including potential synergies with contractors and the growing marriage of design and learning.

The Product Design for Learning Podcast delves into the art and science of designing impactful learning solutions. Each episode features industry...

In this episode of the Product Design For Learning Podcast, host Greg Arthur sits down with Patrick Mullarkey, Senior Leadership Development Manager at Staffbase, to discuss the pivotal role of Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) in the product design process. From idea validation to scalability, Patrick shares his expertise in creating learning strategies that drive meaningful outcomes. This engaging conversation highlights the importance of feedback, iteration, and humility in both product design and leadership development.

Patrick Mullarkey is the Senior Leadership Development Manager at Staffbase and an accomplished learning and leadership professional. With over 12 years of experience, he specializes in designing strategies that empower leaders and teams to excel. Passionate about bridging the gap between concept and execution, Patrick brings a wealth of knowledge on MVPs and their role in fostering innovation.

• MVPs as Testing Grounds: MVPs are essential for moving ideas from theory to practice, allowing teams to validate concepts and uncover user needs.
• The Value of Feedback: Accepting constructive criticism and iterating on it leads to better, user-aligned solutions.
• Scaling with MVPs: By testing early, teams can address scalability issues and resource requirements before full implementation.
• Leadership Training Through MVPs: Creating impactful, emotionally engaging scenarios in leadership programs is key to fostering behavioral change.

How would you summarize the MVP phase?

MVPs are a critical "moment of truth," transitioning ideas into practical tests to validate whether they solve real user problems.

What are examples of good and bad MVPs?

• Good: Quickly sketching ideas for immediate feedback and collaboration.
• Bad: Overly polished prototypes that discourage user engagement or fail to address alignment issues early.

How basic can an MVP be?

An MVP should go beyond static presentations to interactive prototypes that allow users to experience and engage with the concept.

Why is an MVP phase essential?

Without MVPs, teams risk wasting resources on unvalidated solutions. MVPs provide clarity on direction, scalability, and feasibility.

How do you incorporate leadership development into MVPs?

Using scenarios that evoke emotional responses helps participants practice skills in a realistic, impactful way, leading to better retention and application.

What if an MVP fails?

Failure in MVPs isn’t a setback but a learning opportunity. Acting on feedback and having a clear plan for the next steps builds trust and ensures progress.

What tools or advice can help with MVPs?

• Embrace ambiguity and view it as a sign of progress.
• Focus on the process rather than the final product.
• Use frameworks that prioritize iterative feedback and flexibility.

Greg introduces the episode and guest Patrick Mullarkey, setting the stage for a deep dive into MVPs.

Patrick explains the role of MVPs in bridging the gap between concepts and practical application.

Patrick shares lessons from both successful and less effective MVPs, emphasizing the importance of alignment and feedback.

The discussion highlights challenges like over-polished...