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.

S02E17 (#327). A linkshow. James and Per discuss two articles they’ve stumbled on. This time we feature articles about how certain features of e-commerce sites have to go, and how a design mistake impacted civic engagement in Iceland.

S02E16 (#326). Nathan Shedroff, author of A Whole New Strategy, talks to us about how we as designers can have strategic impact. Through an expanded understanding of the context you are working within, and building both situational and operational awareness, we can bridge the gap between design and business.

Designer, educator, and author Ellen Lupton discusses the 'rule of three' in design, emphasizing how it aids decision-making and simplifies information. They explore the impact of this principle on storytelling, design choices in IKEA stores, and the power of deliberate design for a compelling narrative.

In this engaging session, Eva-Lotta Lamm, an expert in sketchnoting and visual thinking, leads a playful sketching workshop. Participants dive into fun exercises like the 'Squiggle Birds,' transforming random lines into imaginative art. They discuss how labels influence our artistic perceptions and emphasize the importance of context in design. Eva-Lotta fosters a collaborative spirit, encouraging creativity and spontaneity, proving that sketching can be both a serious tool and a lighthearted experience.

S02E13 (#323).  We are in the age of design-driven change. Maria Giudice joins us to talk about being changemakers – How we can design change in a complex world. We start by looking at the history of change management and how we are now firmly in the age of design-driven change and that requires change...

S02E12 (#322).  Asking the right question and wanting to get a good response. How do we handle that as researchers? Meena Kothandaraman joins us to talk about our curiosity as researchers, the different lenses of inquiry we can apply from exploratory to validation. We talk as well about being curious and the skill of getting...

S02E11 (#321).  How do we know when to trust a system? Carol Smith leads the Trust Lab team at Carnagie Mellon Universty, where they conduct research into making trustworthy, human centered, and responsible AI systems. Our conversation highlights the importance of guardrails and ethical considerations in AI development, as well as to ask the right...