Episode
#186 - Positioning Your Portfolio for AI Skills with Aneta Kmiecik of Be Your Own Design Team
- Podcast
- Awkward Silences
- Published
- Mar 31, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2571
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
Erin May sits down with Aneta Kmiecik, founder of Be Your Own Design Team, to tackle one of the biggest questions facing designers today: how to position AI skills in portfolios and resumes. With 15 years in creative industries and a community of 200,000 followers, Aneta brings unique insights into navigating career strategy during this AI transformation. Aneta reveals her Past Present Future framework for career positioning and explains why most companies aren't explicitly requiring AI skills yet, but smart candidates should still showcase them strategically. She discusses the three designer archetypes emerging at AI native companies and shares practical advice on standing out when AI can generate portfolios and case studies for everyone. CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 04:06 AI Skills in Job Descriptions Reality Check 06:52 Research Strategy for AI Portfolio Positioning 14:23 Audience Context Determines AI Skill Positioning 17:49 Past Present Future Portfolio Framework 27:10 Common Portfolio Mistakes in AI Era 35:46 Future of AI Skills in Applications 38:39 Favorite Research Interview Techniques RESOURCES Lenny’s Podcast featuring Jenny Wen, Design Lead for Claude - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh8bcBIAAFo 2024 AI in User Research Report - https://www.userinterviews.com/ai-in-ux-research-report CONNECT WITH ANETA KMIECIK: - LinkedIn: Aneta Kmiecik - Instagram: @ux.aneta - Newsletter: Be Your Own Design Team - Portfolio Course: uxportfolio.co