Seven lessons from leading a large design team
For three years I was part of an operational leadership team running a large design department, which at its largest was 110 strong, with designers at a wide range of seniority levels. I loved working with so many designers, but it did create some unique challenges.
Ten reflections on design leadership
The following reflections are ten of the most important aspects I've learned about leading design for projects and programmes of work. There's hopefully something for both weary professionals and emerging design leaders alike here.
Going freelance
After years of flirting with the idea, I've recently decided to take the big, scary step of going freelance. So, at the end of October of this year I’ll be leaving TPXimpact and beginning a new journey into the world of freelance design product and service design.
Thoughts on moving to Squarespace
This website is now delivered through everyone’s favourite drag-and-drop, influencer romancing, podcast bothering web platform Squarespace, here’s everything I think about that.
Building visual literacy: Making good diagrams
We’re back for a third and final part of my series about diagrams. Here we discuss a couple of quirks to watch out for, how to get started with a diagram and why having a good time making a diagram doesn’t mean you made a good diagram.
Building visual literacy: advanced tips for better diagrams
Continuing from my previous post about making simple diagrams, here’s a follow up set of tips and information to give you the confidence to present your ideas and knowledge visually.
Building visual literacy: Simple diagrams to sell ideas
Recently, a colleague asked me to explain how I create diagrams. I prepared a session and realised these insights could benefit others too
Transforming caution into critical thinking
How I unlock better decision-making with my favorite coaching prompt
Designing how change happens
After a couple of years working in central government teams I noticed something. Individuals who had been through constant change didn’t respond the same way as other people I had worked with.
Being people centred
One year and a bit into my new role at TPXimpact I’ve begun to reflect on how my first senior leadership role is going, and how adopting the people-centred leadership style I first saw in action at mySociety has changed my approach to looking after people at work.
Adjusting to remote work
I’ve been working remotely for nearly seven years now, and I still get that feeling sometimes, the guilty feeling like your output is too low, or you’re not focusing on work enough. What I’ve learnt is no amount of work will ever get rid of it, nor will never leaving your desk, nor responding to every direct message and email immediately.
A review of Ikea’s Bekant Standing Desk
For the money, the Ikea Bekant standing desk is a great choice for any workspace. It looks smart, the mechanics feel right and the range of heights is massive. Sure, it could be sturdier, a touch wider or have some of the extras offered by the competition, but that would take the price from quite expensive to silly money, especially here in the UK.