2021’s TechBBQ was a success sandwiched between lock-downs and covering topics of climate, ethical design and the responsibilities of those who work with technology to employ their talents for good.
Read MoreReflections on TechBBQ 2021

2021’s TechBBQ was a success sandwiched between lock-downs and covering topics of climate, ethical design and the responsibilities of those who work with technology to employ their talents for good.
Read MoreProduct discovery can end as soon as a product is launched and unfortunately its common for deep user research to stop as the product transitions to customer support, feature requests and business drivers. By loving the problem you keep the opportunities to innovate open.
Read MoreIf you get the opportunity to use your product yourself as a team then do it! Only through actual usage do you begin to see the potential for improvements first-hand…
Read MoreDefining DesignOps
Aside from being an excellent conference where learning from peers was the first priority, it also established in my mind what DesignOps is.
And why need to go back to why we have design systems in the first place.
It’s as much about alignment and agreement on direction of a site in a brand’s context as the design and technical aspects of the delivery of the interface.
Designers are a rare breed. We think in non-linear ways. We do not plan as much as get started with something. We create and change as we go. This is actually completely different to a plan and execute strategy.
Planning up front is meaningless when the variables of a successful solution change as you get started. Fixed specifications only serve a historical perspective as time will change the delivery.
Read MoreVery often it is unclear to a product team who is really in charge of budgets, how the fiscal planning will effect the project and if a change in strategic priorities may derail the product development. Add external vendors as team members, and you have all the ingredients for a stalled development process, or one that is really two different processes that may not even co-exist in the same time frame.
Read MoreInnovation requires change. Technological advances are pushing companies to move faster and create new ideas, products, and services that in the industrial age took decades to develop. With change now occurring exponentially instead of incrementally, design is no longer a link in the innovation chain, but the hub of the wheel.
Read MoreOne of the first lessons we learn in the school playground is that moving targets are hard to hit. But speed alone won’t save you from becoming a target. It takes skill to know when to accelerate, or change direction. Lose focus or hesitate, and you’re out of the game.
Read MoreThis post was written in 2011 and I have changed some wording particularly around UX to be more encompassing to any designer who works in a user-centred function. There have been a slew of articles around this subject but the focus here is on the character traits that enable personal growth and allow great team dynamics to exist.
Read MoreWhat is the difference between a good and a great designer? Why do some get better and some stagnate? Is your individual design practice enough to elevate you beyond the competent majority?
Here are a few thoughts around how design work develops from craft, to process to consultation and how your client will always need nurturing.
Read MoreEvidence gained from research is powerful. It can persuade the most stubborn board members if presented in a way where decisions can be made based on facts. Data is also very easy to understand from different perspectives, it is the tangible, cold hard numbers that make it easy for decision makers to trust and react upon.
Read MoreThe power of aesthetics, story-telling and a poignant communication can contribute to a user's experience, however it does not define it.
Read MoreIn the company I work at, we are growing our UX offering around a product and it is a slow but sure process of convincing people that this approach (with the right designers) can really work for their business. However, we must also embark on communication and design work as our market is not as big or as mature as the US or UK. These are driven by the need for business survival but it also ensures we have diverse viewpoints on our projects. Different perspectives provide value.
Read MoreThough I work in UX, a core interest of mine is not so much the practical application of tools but the importance of the organisation of the teams behind creating the best products and being aware of the cultural makeup of those teams.
Read More