Technology

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 — 22 August 2022 — 1,698 words

12 years in higher education web and user experience management

User experience — Web — Work

Today I have started a new job. But while I’m looking forward, I have also been reflecting, as this moment marks my first real move away from higher education. Despite the differing natures of the three organisations I worked for, there were many parallels across them.

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 — 11 January 2022 — 877 words

Awooga! The metaverse was better 29 years ago

Media — Technology

What’s most surprising about the metaverse is just how lacking in ambition it is. This is a half-hearted rehash of a 30-year-old idea.

Article — 27 September 2021 — 86 words

List of things Google Assistant thinks I want to do instead of make oat milk

Technology

Occasionally I make my own oat milk. When I run out of oat milk, I ask Google Assistant to remind me later in the day to make oat milk. It normally misunderstands me. Interestingly, it misunderstands me in a variety of different ways.

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 — 12 May 2021 — 1,268 words

Why content is more important than code

Design — Information architecture — Technology — User experience

…and what I don’t mean by that.

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 — 30 August 2019 — 669 words

BBC not so sound

Media — Technology

Radio broadcasters are battling each other to be the Netflix of radio. None of them seem to have asked themselves why any of their listeners would want that.

Article — 12 March 2019 — 754 words

30 years of the world wide web

Current affairs — Web

Today the world marks the 30th birthday of the web. I could have said ‘celebrates’ instead of ‘marks’. But despite — or perhaps because of — the fact that it’s the most revolutionary advance in communications of our lifetime, the mood seems reflective rather than celebratory.

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.