Design
Ready for everything, or ready for anything?
Why it’s not smart to design for everything. Read more
Sinking sand
How often is it that we’re not able to see where we’ll get stuck in our work? Read more
Could-be-anywhere-ness
A story that starts with planning decisions in Coventry, and the problem of design losing any sense of the places and communities it represents. Read more
The design mindset and how organisations manage uncertainty
Exploring the stages how design helps organisations to manage uncertainty. Read more
The prototyping mindset
Why prototyping can be an important tool for learning as part of discovery work. Read more
Simplify your slide decks
Some practical advice for simplifying your slide decks, and for thinking about what you want to communicate. Read more
The push and pull of giving design feedback
Some more thoughts on design feedback. Do you need to push or pull? Read more
Creativity is putting all the balls in the paddling pool
Sometimes there isn’t a good reason to try something new. Other than, why not? Read more
Map making
Understanding and using service maps as moments in time. Read more
The link between hypotheses and telling stories
Useful formats for capturing and working with hypotheses as stories. Read more
Reflections from Services Week 2020
Some reflections on service design and service patterns after speaking in Newcastle at Services Week 2020 – as part of a Government Digital Service series of events. Read more
Open is inspiring
Why working in the open can also be inspiring. Read more
Strategy
Most strategy is finding the clearest, or best available route forward for making progress (rather than standing still). Read more
A house without windows
The windows we build into our work are about giving ourselves a way to see the world outside, as well as letting the world see us. Read more
Types of design focus
Some working definitions. Why the language we use and what we mean when we’re using a design-led or based approach is important. Read more