Social science

Article — 10 February 2025 — 801 words

The object of information architecture

Information architecture — Parenting — Social science — User experience — Work

In my job at the Scottish Government, we are understanding the opportunities that can be provided by following an object-oriented approach to structuring our information.

Article — 4 February 2025 — 1,406 words

There’s no such thing as a technology problem

Business — Social science — Society — Technology — Web

Information has become the forgotten half in “information technology”. Tech companies are struggling because they aren’t focusing on the human problems they need to solve.

Article — 10 February 2022 — 341 words

Could you be our nudge intern?

Economics — Social science — User experience — Web — Work

We have a fascinating opportunity for a University of Edinburgh undergraduate student to join our team as an intern this summer. The job has a cool title: nudge intern.

Article — 21 October 2021 — 1,758 words

Design approaches aren’t sufficient to be human-centred

Design — Social science — User experience

Many designers talk about user-centred design. But design approaches alone aren’t sufficient to ensure we are human-centred. Design approaches can be used carelessly — or even maliciously — to centre the designer and sideline the user.

Article — 2 July 2021 — 1,431 words

Pace layers in experience design — Stabilise innovation by understanding people’s needs

Design — Social science — Society — Technology — User experience

Innovation falls flat when it doesn’t respond to a human need. Use human-centred approaches to understand people’s fundamental motivations and needs. These are the stabilising forces for innovation.

Article — 21 August 2019 — 133 words

Why did the UK become a failed state? — Simon Wren-Lewis — mainly macro

Economics — Media — Politics

This post is about how a policy (crashing out of the EU) that will do nearly everyone harm and some great harm seems to have considerable, albeit still minority, support… You either have to assume that a third of the population has gone mad, or instead see this as a fundamental failure of information. The […]

Article — 10 April 2019 — 627 words

Are users rational? It depends on what you mean by rational

Design — Economics — User experience

It’s fashionable to dismiss rational choice theory out of hand. But contrary to what you may have been told, aspects of rational choice theory can still be helpful in understanding the world. And I find it a useful way to think about user experience.

Article — 14 October 2018 — 854 words

How Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman has supported my career

Economics — Social science — User experience — Work

Last week I attended the Public Sector Design Community Meet-up. Attendees were invited to share a book, podcast or talk that has influenced or supported their career.

Article — 8 October 2018 — 434 words

The danger of relying on natural talent

Design — Music — Science — Social science

Believing you are naturally talented at something may in fact be detrimental to your development.

Article — 9 October 2017 — 383 words

Nobel economics prize: Richard Thaler and behavioural economics

Design — Digital — Economics

Richard Thaler has won the Nobel economics prize for his work in behavioural economics. Knowing about this area is essential if you are a designer, to help you gain an understanding of what makes people tick.

Article — 2 March 2017 — 1,339 words