Alastair Somerville
@acuity.design
Clarity and kindness as foundations for work. Information perception in physical & digital places. Facilitation and workshop design for codesign and civic assemblies. Public prototyping on BlueSky. He/him
Article on modern slavery and delivery bikers, reminded of old idea of Work Below the API Line. Of course, now Work Below the AI Line
November 16, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Article on modern slavery and delivery bikers, reminded of old idea of Work Below the API Line. Of course, now Work Below the AI Line
If things feel painful or things look worse today than yesterday, be present with the pain and honour the ancestors who lived with pain too. It’s a simple non-solution just to name and blame some Other. That never gets rid of the pain. That’s why right can endlessly feed off resentment 1/2
November 16, 2025 at 12:36 PM
If things feel painful or things look worse today than yesterday, be present with the pain and honour the ancestors who lived with pain too. It’s a simple non-solution just to name and blame some Other. That never gets rid of the pain. That’s why right can endlessly feed off resentment 1/2
New site for Stroud Valleys Woodcraft Folk bonfire event - small open barn for cooking.
November 15, 2025 at 7:57 PM
New site for Stroud Valleys Woodcraft Folk bonfire event - small open barn for cooking.
Walking Back thru one spiral of hate to get back to the Heart and then restart on path to hope
November 15, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Walking Back thru one spiral of hate to get back to the Heart and then restart on path to hope
The narrative spiral of hate is matched by one of hope. acuity.design/walking-back... Walking people back as possibility?
November 15, 2025 at 10:29 AM
The narrative spiral of hate is matched by one of hope. acuity.design/walking-back... Walking people back as possibility?
The right wing narrative is stabby. It forms and hones a blade and a point. The tightening of blame, nostalgia and revenge.
November 15, 2025 at 12:08 AM
The right wing narrative is stabby. It forms and hones a blade and a point. The tightening of blame, nostalgia and revenge.
In Active Hope workshop today. It’s a theory I knew nothing about. I was struck by how the hope spiral mirrors the radicalisation narrative used by the Right. One roots in gratitude and one in resentment 1/2
November 14, 2025 at 11:16 PM
In Active Hope workshop today. It’s a theory I knew nothing about. I was struck by how the hope spiral mirrors the radicalisation narrative used by the Right. One roots in gratitude and one in resentment 1/2
Character in William Gibson Blue Ant novels who is viscerally aware of brands. A visit to Aldi with its almost but not quite packaging would presumably be hideous torture for her. Today’s sighting is not-quite Pizza Express salad dressing
November 13, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Character in William Gibson Blue Ant novels who is viscerally aware of brands. A visit to Aldi with its almost but not quite packaging would presumably be hideous torture for her. Today’s sighting is not-quite Pizza Express salad dressing
Asking for people to help care needs respect for what they already bear. Ask about past as well as futures in the present.
November 13, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Asking for people to help care needs respect for what they already bear. Ask about past as well as futures in the present.
Steam Frame: worried by the step in, lean back ergonomics. Sounds like you may topple over backwards.
November 12, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Steam Frame: worried by the step in, lean back ergonomics. Sounds like you may topple over backwards.
Participatory design as deliberate laziness.
Stopping professionals trying to do everything. Holding a space so other people can bring their capacities and stories in.
From museum project chat today.
Stopping professionals trying to do everything. Holding a space so other people can bring their capacities and stories in.
From museum project chat today.
November 12, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Participatory design as deliberate laziness.
Stopping professionals trying to do everything. Holding a space so other people can bring their capacities and stories in.
From museum project chat today.
Stopping professionals trying to do everything. Holding a space so other people can bring their capacities and stories in.
From museum project chat today.
Amazon ‘room darkening’ curtains would probably work better if they actually drew them closed
November 12, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Amazon ‘room darkening’ curtains would probably work better if they actually drew them closed
First go at producing local Talking Newspaper today. Was mostly doing recordings and watching how to pick and allocate stories to readers.
November 12, 2025 at 4:27 PM
First go at producing local Talking Newspaper today. Was mostly doing recordings and watching how to pick and allocate stories to readers.
Epic handshake for epic increase in goal achieving
November 12, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Epic handshake for epic increase in goal achieving
In creative procrastination, discovered old cupboard keyholes were brass not iron.
November 11, 2025 at 1:52 PM
In creative procrastination, discovered old cupboard keyholes were brass not iron.
Joyce Carol Oates criticism of Elon Musk’s lack of inner life holds true for Marc Andreesen who also seems unaware that his emptiness is not necessarily true for the rest of humanity.
Christine Rosen has this quote from a speech of his.
Christine Rosen has this quote from a speech of his.
November 11, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Joyce Carol Oates criticism of Elon Musk’s lack of inner life holds true for Marc Andreesen who also seems unaware that his emptiness is not necessarily true for the rest of humanity.
Christine Rosen has this quote from a speech of his.
Christine Rosen has this quote from a speech of his.
Spent last night thinking of care and compassion and then today in constellation therapy about how much we bear and hold from prior generations
November 10, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Spent last night thinking of care and compassion and then today in constellation therapy about how much we bear and hold from prior generations
Did read tee shirt and decide to use another one for a day when I’m attending event with need for very careful facilitation of deep personal issues and emotions.
November 10, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Did read tee shirt and decide to use another one for a day when I’m attending event with need for very careful facilitation of deep personal issues and emotions.
Things can get done during moments of emotional high tides as hard dams of what was viewed as unfair, unreasonable or unthinkable are overwhelmed and breached
November 10, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Things can get done during moments of emotional high tides as hard dams of what was viewed as unfair, unreasonable or unthinkable are overwhelmed and breached
Can’t sleep so reading “Don’t burn anyone at the stake today” by @naomialderman.bsky.social
Just read part about BBC and trusting in its principles rather than critiquing specific staff or editorial choices. Also this quote about the peculiar satisfaction of enragement.
Just read part about BBC and trusting in its principles rather than critiquing specific staff or editorial choices. Also this quote about the peculiar satisfaction of enragement.
November 10, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Can’t sleep so reading “Don’t burn anyone at the stake today” by @naomialderman.bsky.social
Just read part about BBC and trusting in its principles rather than critiquing specific staff or editorial choices. Also this quote about the peculiar satisfaction of enragement.
Just read part about BBC and trusting in its principles rather than critiquing specific staff or editorial choices. Also this quote about the peculiar satisfaction of enragement.
Perhaps there will be a Stonehenge of delivery lockers/parked vans when the superstore is a forgotten ruin
November 9, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Perhaps there will be a Stonehenge of delivery lockers/parked vans when the superstore is a forgotten ruin
Granddad’s WW1 medals out at this time of year
Western Front, Gallipoli and Salonika campaigns in 4th Highland (Mountain) Brigade
Western Front, Gallipoli and Salonika campaigns in 4th Highland (Mountain) Brigade
November 9, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Granddad’s WW1 medals out at this time of year
Western Front, Gallipoli and Salonika campaigns in 4th Highland (Mountain) Brigade
Western Front, Gallipoli and Salonika campaigns in 4th Highland (Mountain) Brigade
The technologies extend the sharing of imagination but the space is also held by such ideas of myths, religion and fiction that hold more and more possibilities
November 9, 2025 at 9:56 AM
The technologies extend the sharing of imagination but the space is also held by such ideas of myths, religion and fiction that hold more and more possibilities
