S03E07 (#335). Lou Downe, author of Good Services and former director of design for the UK government joins us in this episode. We sat down with Lou and asked—Where is service design going wrong, and are we even doing service design?

S03E06 (#334). Aarathi Krishnan is an international aid expert, specialising in humanitarian futures and strategic foresight. In a world where the sets of rules that have governed us as humanity are rapidly changing, how will we know if the solutions that we are designing now are going to be fit for purpose?

S03E05 (#333). A linkshow. James and Per discuss two articles they’ve stumbled on. This time we feature articles about things that slow down your website’s experience and why you can’t do anything about it plus the concept of “failing early” but not in a “failing fast” startup way.

Sheryl Cababa, an international speaker and educator at the University of Washington, shares her experiences two years after publishing her book on systems thinking for designers. She discusses the importance of embracing systems thinking in design strategies, especially in complex fields like global health and education technology. Sheryl emphasizes proactive initiatives in user research and critiques the disconnect between tech solutions and societal needs. The conversation unfolds around the obstacles of integrating disruptive technologies and the evolving role of junior designers in fostering ethical practices.

S03E03 (#331). Your destiny isn’t tied to a role. You were a person before your role. Leadership expert and strategist Christina Joy Whittaker talks to us about the murky middle, a phenomenon rooted in misalignment and purpose and quite distinct from imposter syndrome which is rooted in confidence.

S03E02 (#330). Oobah Butler, journalist and filmmaker known for his prankster antics, joined us to discuss his work, including “The Great Amazon Heist” and “The Shed at Dulwich”. Oobah highlights the relative ease of manipulating algorithms, such as TripAdvisor and Amazon, to boost fake products’ rankings.

Explore the fascinating world of dark mode and its impact on user experience and accessibility. Discover the benefits like reduced eye strain and battery savings, along with the challenges it poses for designers. Learn about European accessibility regulations and the necessity to respect user preferences in design choices. Delve into the intricacies of crafting logos for dual modes and the importance of high contrast options. This discussion emphasizes the balance between aesthetic appeal and functionality in modern web design.

This is an update to let you know that we are delaying the start of season 3 as Per is soon to have a heart operation. We’re aiming now to start Season 3 in the new year, once Per has recovered.

This is an update to let you know that we have reached the end of Season 2, a sensible 10-month season this time rather than more than 10 years! It’s time for us to take a short break before we kick off Season 3 on August 9th.

Steve Portigal, author of Interviewing Users, reflects on the evolution of user research in the past decade, emphasizing the importance of understanding people's needs. Topics include personal growth in research, preserving organizational memory, empathetic data consent, and navigating challenges in tech. The discussion also delves into the significance of asking the right questions in user research amidst the AI age.