Proud of the user centred design community in NHS digital prevention services, who between us published 13 design history posts today: design-history.prevention-services.nhs.uk/all/ 🎉
#WorkInTheOpen
#WorkInTheOpen
All posts
design-history.prevention-services.nhs.uk
December 19, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Proud of the user centred design community in NHS digital prevention services, who between us published 13 design history posts today: design-history.prevention-services.nhs.uk/all/ 🎉
#WorkInTheOpen
#WorkInTheOpen
As a public servant, I write #weeknotes to let people see what I do as Product Manager of #GDS ’s Service Standard & Service Manual. Here’s 3 weeks in one go, you lucky so-and-sos!
Please have a peaceful break. Here’s to a user-centred 2026:
1/5 #govdesign
Please have a peaceful break. Here’s to a user-centred 2026:
1/5 #govdesign
December 19, 2025 at 6:04 PM
As a public servant, I write #weeknotes to let people see what I do as Product Manager of #GDS ’s Service Standard & Service Manual. Here’s 3 weeks in one go, you lucky so-and-sos!
Please have a peaceful break. Here’s to a user-centred 2026:
1/5 #govdesign
Please have a peaceful break. Here’s to a user-centred 2026:
1/5 #govdesign
Try doing plain language instead, which is itself user-centred by definition.
Bonus: choose the words that your readers are familiar with - which may include terms formerly condemned as jargon.
www.effortmark.co.uk/why-plain-la...
Bonus: choose the words that your readers are familiar with - which may include terms formerly condemned as jargon.
www.effortmark.co.uk/why-plain-la...
Why plain language and Plain English are different - Effortmark
In the UK, Plain English is associated with a specific commercial consultancy. Plain Language is about writing that people can use.
www.effortmark.co.uk
December 18, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Try doing plain language instead, which is itself user-centred by definition.
Bonus: choose the words that your readers are familiar with - which may include terms formerly condemned as jargon.
www.effortmark.co.uk/why-plain-la...
Bonus: choose the words that your readers are familiar with - which may include terms formerly condemned as jargon.
www.effortmark.co.uk/why-plain-la...
don’t think i’ve ever been so involved as i am now in writing words to go into papers, submissions, briefings, etc. and there is only so much about user-centred software development and deployment that you can plain-english.
December 18, 2025 at 4:52 PM
don’t think i’ve ever been so involved as i am now in writing words to go into papers, submissions, briefings, etc. and there is only so much about user-centred software development and deployment that you can plain-english.
Our case study w/ the Dudley Group NHSFT demonstrates how a flexible, user-centred digital platform can enhance clinical safety, streamline workflows and lay resilient foundations for future innovation.
🔗 Read the case study here: lnkd.in/d9Uw8bMu
#DigitalHealth #HealthIT #NHS #DigitalMaturity
🔗 Read the case study here: lnkd.in/d9Uw8bMu
#DigitalHealth #HealthIT #NHS #DigitalMaturity
December 15, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Our case study w/ the Dudley Group NHSFT demonstrates how a flexible, user-centred digital platform can enhance clinical safety, streamline workflows and lay resilient foundations for future innovation.
🔗 Read the case study here: lnkd.in/d9Uw8bMu
#DigitalHealth #HealthIT #NHS #DigitalMaturity
🔗 Read the case study here: lnkd.in/d9Uw8bMu
#DigitalHealth #HealthIT #NHS #DigitalMaturity
Because old tech was a lot more interesting, it was hardware focused.
It centred around how the user interacted with the device and its mechanics.
Now the smartphone is the standard, and tech changed to software focus. Everything revolves around apps and services offered on the exact same devices.
It centred around how the user interacted with the device and its mechanics.
Now the smartphone is the standard, and tech changed to software focus. Everything revolves around apps and services offered on the exact same devices.
Why do Gen Z have a growing appetite for retro tech?
Why do Gen Z have a growing appetite for retro tech?
Gen Z are going retro, with studies showing a resurgence in people buying tech in the modern age that can be dated back decades.
www.bbc.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Because old tech was a lot more interesting, it was hardware focused.
It centred around how the user interacted with the device and its mechanics.
Now the smartphone is the standard, and tech changed to software focus. Everything revolves around apps and services offered on the exact same devices.
It centred around how the user interacted with the device and its mechanics.
Now the smartphone is the standard, and tech changed to software focus. Everything revolves around apps and services offered on the exact same devices.
I have so many thoughts on this whole thing that I could write an essay. 😆
Another is that content design has become a career pivot for marketers and journalists who have little previous exposure or experience to what user-centred design actually is. Further reinforcing that CD is "just writing".
Another is that content design has become a career pivot for marketers and journalists who have little previous exposure or experience to what user-centred design actually is. Further reinforcing that CD is "just writing".
December 8, 2025 at 6:08 PM
I have so many thoughts on this whole thing that I could write an essay. 😆
Another is that content design has become a career pivot for marketers and journalists who have little previous exposure or experience to what user-centred design actually is. Further reinforcing that CD is "just writing".
Another is that content design has become a career pivot for marketers and journalists who have little previous exposure or experience to what user-centred design actually is. Further reinforcing that CD is "just writing".
Part of the problem IMHO has been promoting content design in silo so heavily, when we should have been promoting it in the context of an overarching user-centred design approach.
December 8, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Part of the problem IMHO has been promoting content design in silo so heavily, when we should have been promoting it in the context of an overarching user-centred design approach.
I also offer a user-centred design pathway course, which covers 20 different user research methods, inclusive design considerations, a glossary of #UCD terms, plus a whole lot more.
User-centred design pathway course, Cake Design Studio
Design products and services centred around user needs. Discover 20 user research methods, and gain an understanding of terminology, roles, digital transformation, multi-disciplinary teams, iterati…
cakeconsultancy.com
December 4, 2025 at 6:09 PM
I also offer a user-centred design pathway course, which covers 20 different user research methods, inclusive design considerations, a glossary of #UCD terms, plus a whole lot more.
writing it before I forget - a tribute to user centred designers and push back against covid minimising and revisionism medium.com/@jack.garfin...
I am glad you had a good pandemic
Those posts written by someone who did a thing and can’t let it go? This is one of them.
medium.com
December 2, 2025 at 3:14 PM
writing it before I forget - a tribute to user centred designers and push back against covid minimising and revisionism medium.com/@jack.garfin...
One of my PhD chapters: 'Designing user-centered technologies to address the illegal wildlife trade' is OUT NOW in the @society4conbio.bsky.social journal Conservation Science and Practice! Please check out the graphical abstract and give it a read: conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
December 2, 2025 at 10:15 AM
One of my PhD chapters: 'Designing user-centered technologies to address the illegal wildlife trade' is OUT NOW in the @society4conbio.bsky.social journal Conservation Science and Practice! Please check out the graphical abstract and give it a read: conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
The people I know who work in this area call it User Centred Design.
December 1, 2025 at 11:06 AM
The people I know who work in this area call it User Centred Design.
User-centred design?
December 1, 2025 at 9:55 AM
User-centred design?
Absolutly! The Chigi vase is the source of tremendous interpretive controversy in ye olde hoplite debate, but as you say it pretty clearly shows massed hoplite warfare of the kind its end-user would appreciate!
November 30, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Absolutly! The Chigi vase is the source of tremendous interpretive controversy in ye olde hoplite debate, but as you say it pretty clearly shows massed hoplite warfare of the kind its end-user would appreciate!
📊We explored a renewed, 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿-𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, guided by contributions from the European Commission, the Government of Nigeria, the UK FCDO, and the Gates Foundation, alongside insights from the IATI Secretariat team.
November 28, 2025 at 3:34 PM
📊We explored a renewed, 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗿-𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, guided by contributions from the European Commission, the Government of Nigeria, the UK FCDO, and the Gates Foundation, alongside insights from the IATI Secretariat team.
🌍 A powerful day of collaboration at the #IATI Community Exchange 2025 in Nairobi!
From opening remarks on data for resilience to user-centred visions for quality, traceability, and local impact — our global community came together to shape the future of aid transparency. 💡✨
From opening remarks on data for resilience to user-centred visions for quality, traceability, and local impact — our global community came together to shape the future of aid transparency. 💡✨
November 28, 2025 at 3:33 PM
🌍 A powerful day of collaboration at the #IATI Community Exchange 2025 in Nairobi!
From opening remarks on data for resilience to user-centred visions for quality, traceability, and local impact — our global community came together to shape the future of aid transparency. 💡✨
From opening remarks on data for resilience to user-centred visions for quality, traceability, and local impact — our global community came together to shape the future of aid transparency. 💡✨
Like other catalogues (lexica, dictionaries, telephone books), Floras will not survive unless they move online and become portable, updatable, specimen-image-centred, and linked to AI-based identification of user-uploaded photos.
🧵3/4
🧵3/4
November 28, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Like other catalogues (lexica, dictionaries, telephone books), Floras will not survive unless they move online and become portable, updatable, specimen-image-centred, and linked to AI-based identification of user-uploaded photos.
🧵3/4
🧵3/4
NEW AIFL BLOG ALERT! A couple of weeks back Tim Grant gave a fascinating talk as part of the AIFL seminar series on 'user centred explanation design in AI-produced forensic evidence'. If you missed it, or would like a recap, it is now available as a blog. Find it here: aifl-blog.com/the-future-o...
The future of AI in court
User centred explanation design in AI-produced forensic evidence
aifl-blog.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:56 AM
NEW AIFL BLOG ALERT! A couple of weeks back Tim Grant gave a fascinating talk as part of the AIFL seminar series on 'user centred explanation design in AI-produced forensic evidence'. If you missed it, or would like a recap, it is now available as a blog. Find it here: aifl-blog.com/the-future-o...
"Just use components from our design system, adhere to the style guide, meet WCAG and hey presto, we'll be user-centred! 🪄 Right?!"
November 28, 2025 at 8:59 AM
"Just use components from our design system, adhere to the style guide, meet WCAG and hey presto, we'll be user-centred! 🪄 Right?!"
The problem is that "user-centred design" has been boiled down to a series of checklists and paint-by-numbers processes that many orgs believe they can apply in place of speaking to, listening to and observing actual users.
November 28, 2025 at 8:59 AM
The problem is that "user-centred design" has been boiled down to a series of checklists and paint-by-numbers processes that many orgs believe they can apply in place of speaking to, listening to and observing actual users.
Starting a sentence "you can..." is not a magic bullet that makes your content user-centred.
Learn some real #content #usability from my #UCD pathway course.
Pre-Christmas is an expensive time, my course is on sale until 31 December. 🤶🏻 🛷
Learn some real #content #usability from my #UCD pathway course.
Pre-Christmas is an expensive time, my course is on sale until 31 December. 🤶🏻 🛷
Looking for a comprehensive intro to user-centred design for yourself or a team?
My #UCDPathwayCourse covers:
• terminology
• user needs
• iterative design
• inclusive design
• bias
• user research methods
• digital transformation in context of digital accessibility
• multidisciplinary teamwork
My #UCDPathwayCourse covers:
• terminology
• user needs
• iterative design
• inclusive design
• bias
• user research methods
• digital transformation in context of digital accessibility
• multidisciplinary teamwork
User-centred design pathway course, Cake Design Studio
Design products and services centred around user needs. Discover 20 user research methods, and gain an understanding of terminology, roles, digital transformation, multi-disciplinary teams, iterati…
cakeconsultancy.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Starting a sentence "you can..." is not a magic bullet that makes your content user-centred.
Learn some real #content #usability from my #UCD pathway course.
Pre-Christmas is an expensive time, my course is on sale until 31 December. 🤶🏻 🛷
Learn some real #content #usability from my #UCD pathway course.
Pre-Christmas is an expensive time, my course is on sale until 31 December. 🤶🏻 🛷
💡 New short read about false positives in user-centred design.
This is an analogy I find helpful when thinking about how user-centricity is really shaping, directing and impacting the work of digital teams
#digitaltransformation
benholliday.com/2025/11/27/f...
This is an analogy I find helpful when thinking about how user-centricity is really shaping, directing and impacting the work of digital teams
#digitaltransformation
benholliday.com/2025/11/27/f...
False positives and user-centricity
Are there false positives in the user-centricity of your team, programme, or organisation?
benholliday.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:42 PM
💡 New short read about false positives in user-centred design.
This is an analogy I find helpful when thinking about how user-centricity is really shaping, directing and impacting the work of digital teams
#digitaltransformation
benholliday.com/2025/11/27/f...
This is an analogy I find helpful when thinking about how user-centricity is really shaping, directing and impacting the work of digital teams
#digitaltransformation
benholliday.com/2025/11/27/f...
"Never mind all that."
^^ Genuine response from the sponsor of a "user-centred digital transformation programme" I once worked on, when a member of my team who asked him what the user need was for the new microsite he was demanding.
^^ Genuine response from the sponsor of a "user-centred digital transformation programme" I once worked on, when a member of my team who asked him what the user need was for the new microsite he was demanding.
November 27, 2025 at 11:45 AM
"Never mind all that."
^^ Genuine response from the sponsor of a "user-centred digital transformation programme" I once worked on, when a member of my team who asked him what the user need was for the new microsite he was demanding.
^^ Genuine response from the sponsor of a "user-centred digital transformation programme" I once worked on, when a member of my team who asked him what the user need was for the new microsite he was demanding.
What can Europe learn from the Greek Model?
This week, the Hertie School welcomed Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis, who shared how Greece moved from fragmentation to gov.gr and modern digital services, driven by a clear national plan and user-centred design.
A big thank you to Minister Pierrakakis!
This week, the Hertie School welcomed Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis, who shared how Greece moved from fragmentation to gov.gr and modern digital services, driven by a clear national plan and user-centred design.
A big thank you to Minister Pierrakakis!
November 26, 2025 at 12:08 PM
What can Europe learn from the Greek Model?
This week, the Hertie School welcomed Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis, who shared how Greece moved from fragmentation to gov.gr and modern digital services, driven by a clear national plan and user-centred design.
A big thank you to Minister Pierrakakis!
This week, the Hertie School welcomed Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis, who shared how Greece moved from fragmentation to gov.gr and modern digital services, driven by a clear national plan and user-centred design.
A big thank you to Minister Pierrakakis!
We lost to glues and staples as way of fixing one thing to another by user.
We lost to carpets and furniture being manufactured differently.
Product Management compared to UX and Human Centred Design worries me as it has that historical bias we had (tho we were aware of it) 2/2
We lost to carpets and furniture being manufactured differently.
Product Management compared to UX and Human Centred Design worries me as it has that historical bias we had (tho we were aware of it) 2/2
November 26, 2025 at 11:43 AM
We lost to glues and staples as way of fixing one thing to another by user.
We lost to carpets and furniture being manufactured differently.
Product Management compared to UX and Human Centred Design worries me as it has that historical bias we had (tho we were aware of it) 2/2
We lost to carpets and furniture being manufactured differently.
Product Management compared to UX and Human Centred Design worries me as it has that historical bias we had (tho we were aware of it) 2/2