Digital

Article — 11 August 2025 — 1,745 words

Life beyond the folder system

Digital — Information architecture — Technology — Web

The folder metaphor is so intuitive to generations of computer users that they can struggle to think of any other way of using a computer. Yet for younger generations, the idea is completely alien.

Article — 1 July 2024 — 1,082 words

Reflecting on two years as a user experience consultant; looking ahead to working on structured content

Digital — Information architecture — User experience — Work

The latest chapter in my career has closed, as I have found an incredibly exciting new opportunity. But the past couple of years have given me a lot to reflect on.

Article — 6 November 2022 — 1,179 words

One twit can make a service a dodo

Digital — Politics — Web

I have complicated feelings about the apparent imminent demise of Twitter in the hands of a reckless owner.

Article — 29 March 2021 — 1,110 words

Beginner’s guide to content design

Design — Digital — User experience

Many people are intrigued by content design but unsure if it’s the right fit for them. So here is my beginner’s guide to being a content designer. Find out why it might be a better fit for you than you might think — and why it might not be.

Article — 1 April 2020 — 10 words

How to build a bad design system — Robin Rendle — CSS-Tricks

Design — Digital

What’s worse than design by committee? Design system by committee.

Article — 23 January 2019 — 539 words

The limitations of the phrase user experience

Digital — User experience

The meaning of user experience has changed over time. While it can still be a useful phrase, its limitations are becoming problematic.

Article — 24 July 2018 — 879 words

How I learnt to embrace handwriting, sketching and sticking stuff on walls

Design — Digital — User experience — Work

Working on walls is an unbeatable way to create ideas as well as communicating them. But I learnt that lesson the hard way.

Article — 11 June 2018 — 611 words

Stop saying people don’t like change — it’s a lie

Design — Digital — Media — User experience

People often say things like “change is hard” or “people don’t like change”. That is a dangerous delusion.

Article — 13 November 2017 — 1,239 words

Facebook and Twitter are repeating the catastrophic mistakes of past designers

Architecture — Digital — Technology

Architects had to face up to the problems that eventually emerged with bold modernist designs. Now Facebook and Twitter need to wake up to the fact that their platforms are damaging society.

Article — 31 October 2017 — 308 words

Stop adding complexity – be an undesigner

Design — Digital

How do you make something better? Human instinct often tells us we should add something to improve it. But this evidence shows we should stop adding complexity.

Article — 12 October 2017 — 327 words

The open web has rough edges, but this is why we need to protect it

Digital — Web

Native apps, social media networks and big content silos are slick. But the whole idea about the web — the reason it has been so successful — is that it is open and democratic.

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.