Paulina Hernández

Overview

EL NO DISEÑO is a podcast created at the Centro de Investigaciones de Diseño Industrial (UNAM). Its goal is to reduce the generational gap between students and graduates, and to build a support network against job insecurity and lack of information after university.

Social media

Spotify EL NO DISEÑO
Instagram : @elno_diseno

  • Role
    Creator and technical operator
    ‍    March 2022 - February 2023

Problem

Through participatory observation and direct experience, we identified a lack of accessible and safe spaces to talk about: job insecurity, thesis work, scholarships, competitions, master's programs, post-graduation expectations, mental health, and daily life in design.

Students graduate without practical knowledge to face the job market.

Research

Tools used:

  • Asynchronous surveys via Facebook and WhatsApp (different generations)
  • Collaborative benchmarking of design and educational podcasts
  • Figma-based cluster with the team

Participants:

  • Recent students and graduates from Industrial Design
  • Nearby academic and creative communities
  • Design professionals from various specialties

Project development

Product design:

  • Format: Biweekly podcast, 20–30 minutes long
  • Tone of voice: Friendly, direct, inclusive
  • Theme: Professional life in design, from the student experience
  • Visual identity: Co-created with the team

Specific Role:

  • User Research: Research of direct and indirect references through benchmarking and surveys using the Double Diamond methodology.
  • Visual Identity Co-Design: Participated in ideation and visual proposal selection sessions
  • Technical Production: Preproduction, recording, editing, publishing, and platform management (Spotify).
  • Promotion & Social Strategy: Content promotion on Instagram and Facebook, with strong engagement from the design community.

We carried out research on some popular podcasts and conducted a shared benchmarking process. Later, we created a new activity to help us better visualize what EL NO DISEÑO is today, focusing on the key attributes we found important.A survey was sent to the community of the Center for Research in Industrial Design through Facebook and WhatsApp groups, which included different generations. The goal was to understand how often they listen to podcasts on different platforms and learn about their experiences as part of the community.The survey was previously structured based on a brainstorming session with the team. Image taken from the Figma workspace, showing podcasts from different channels and topics.

Before starting the podcast production (recording), we had to meet several requirements such as choosing the name, short phrases or spots, the topics for each episode, scripts, and outlines. These were all part of the podcast ideation process. Image taken from the Figma workspace used for ideation.

Rehearsal of the first episode "Dear Third-Semester Design Student (Querido yo diseñador de tercer semestre)", recorded in a space kindly offered by our host Gabriel Flores, voice of the podcast. Own photo.

Fourth-semester CIDI students scanning the QR code for the Instagram account @elno_diseno.Own photo.

Post-production involved cleaning the recorded audio for the final release. I used Adobe Audition, guided by a downloaded copy of the "El No Diseño Technical Script", which included notes that helped me during the editing process. Editing workspace shown in Adobe Audition. Own image.

Great first episode. I graduated from LDI and I'm finishing my thesis. You’re absolutely right — it’s important to graduate as soon as possible, and not take anything for granted. Everyone’s story is different, and what works for one person might not work for others. [...]Thank you for the podcast. I’ll be waiting for the next episodes. Best regards.
Follower of @elno_diseno
Instagram

Results

After the release of the first episode, the podcast EL NO DISEÑO achieved key results in terms of reach, engagement, and early validation:

  • 🎧 221 total plays on Spotify
  • 🔁 144 streams (continuous listens)
  • 🎧 108 unique listeners
  • 💜 52 followers on Spotify
  • 📈 Over 200 followers on Instagram after launch
  • 🌍 Reached audiences in Mexico, Japan, and Nicaragua

This project was developed using the Double Diamond approach and Design Thinking principles. The podcast worked as a service solution designed to meet real needs within a specific community.From the research, we found a lack of informative and horizontal spaces for design students. The content, tone, and format were defined through qualitative insights and validated by listening and engagement metrics on social media.The result was an audio experience that strengthened communication, a sense of belonging, and access to useful knowledge beyond the classroom.

Paulina Hernández
paulina.hernandez.des@gmail.com