 |
UX Leadership By DesignAuthor: Mark Baldino
A podcast by and for UX Design & Product Management Leaders. Your host Mark Baldino, Co-Founder of UX design consultancy Fuzzy Math, brings twenty years of experience in UX design and strategy into a series of conversations with people who lead UX design teams. Language: en-us Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
Listen Now...
From Perfectionism to Play: Unlocking Creativity
Episode 21
Tuesday, 15 July, 2025
Send us a textIn this joyful and energizing episode of UX Leadership by Design, Mark Baldino is joined by creativity catalyst Melissa Dinwiddie — a Juilliard-trained dancer turned artist, jazz singer, improviser, and innovation strategist and coach. Melissa helps individuals and teams get unstuck and unlock their creative potential, even (and especially) when they don’t see themselves as creative. She walks us through her deceptively simple “Create the Impossible” framework—Play Hard, Make Crap, Learn Fast—and dives deep into why perfectionism is the enemy of progress.Whether you’re a self-identified “non-creative,” an overthinking perfectionist, an analytically minded problem-solver, or a leader trying to build more innovative teams, this episode is packed with insight, laughter, and incredibly actionable advice. Bonus content: Melissa was kind enough to create an IMPACT Innovation Checklist for all of our listeners.Key TakeawaysPlay Hard, Make Crap, Learn Fast – Melissa’s 3-part framework helps people move through creative blocks with intention and joy.Everyone is Creative – The belief that creativity is for “others” is one of the biggest blockers to innovation.Perfectionism Kills Progress – Creatives often get stuck chasing an unattainable ideal. Melissa advocates for “intentional imperfectionism.”Improv Builds Better Teams – Activities like “Time Traveler” help teams build empathy, communicate better, and influence with impact.Self-Compassion Fuels Innovation – Letting go of judgment and leaning into curiosity enables us to grow, create, and experiment more freely.Chapters00:00 – Welcome & Guest Intro00:22 – From Juilliard to Jazz02:24 – The Creativity Myth05:40 – The “Create the Impossible” Framework07:02 – Breaking the “I’m Not Creative” Label11:41 – Improv for Innovation & Communication18:16 – Play Hard, Make Crap, Learn Fast24:03 – Helping Creatives Let Go of Perfectionism27:52 – Mark’s Tile Confession32:40 – Where to Find Melissa & Listener ResourcesResources & LinksConnect with Melissa Dinwiddle on LinkedInMelissa’s Website and YouTube ChannelThank you gift: IMPACT Innovation Checklist Connect with Mark on LinkedIn Fuzzy Math - B2B & Enterprise UX Design Consultancy
