The Design Psychologist | Psychology for UX, Product, Service, Instructional, Interior, and Game Designers
Welcome to The Design Psychologist, a podcast where we explore the intersection of psychology and design. The show is hosted by Thomas Watkins, a design psychologist who has spent years applying behavioral science principles to the creation of digital products.
We sit down with a variety of experts who apply psychology in different ways to the design of the world around us. Thomas uses his expertise to guide conversations that provide practical advice while illuminating the theory behind why designs succeed.
Tune in if you are a design practitioner who seeks to understand your work on a deeper level and craft experiences that are intuitive, effective, and delightful.
Podcasting since 2025 • 21 episodes
The Design Psychologist | Psychology for UX, Product, Service, Instructional, Interior, and Game Designers
Latest Episodes
Frontstage, Backstage: How Service Design Really Works (with Marc Stickdorn)
What’s the real impact of service design on customer experiences?In this episode of The Design Psychologist, host Thomas talks with service design expert Marc Stickdorn, PhD, author of "This is Service Design Doing," about the evolution ...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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1:00:16
The Peak-End Rule in Design: What We Take Away
What shapes the memory of an experience, and how can designers use that insight to create better, more human-centered products?Design more memorable and emotionally resonant experiences by understanding how people actually remember what ...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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18:04
Less Load, More Learning: First Principles of Cognitive Load Theory (with John Sweller)
What’s the best way to choose how you’ll teach something so it actually sticks?Design your next lesson so learners don’t just follow along—they understand, remember, and apply their new skills.By grounding your instructio...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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1:05:16
Designing with Tension: What the Zeigarnik Effect Reveals About Memory and Momentum
Have you ever noticed how an unfinished task — or a cliffhanger at the end of a show — keeps tugging at your attention?How can the Zeigarnik effect’s lingering cognitive tension help us design products, services, and experiences that peo...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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10:34
Closing the Knowing-Doing Gap: Designing for Real Behavior Change (with Julie Dirksen)
Why is it so hard to change behavior—even when people already know exactly what to do?Design your next learning experience so people don’t just understand what to do— they actually do it.By uncovering the psychology ...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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1:13:11