University of Edinburgh

Article — 22 August 2022 — 1,698 words

12 years in higher education web and user experience management

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 — 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 — 3 April 2020 — 100 words

Understanding what students really need from a virtual learning environment — presented at UX Glasgow virtual meetup

Service design — User experience — Work

This week I presented to the UX Glasgow community about our user research into the needs of students and staff working with course materials digitally at the University of Edinburgh. It was my first real experience of presenting to a live audience remotely.

Article — 15 October 2019 — 815 words

User experience lessons from a university dumping Blackboard

User experience — Work

One university got so frustrated with Blackboard they finally ditched it. But this experience highlights a big problem with almost all enterprise software.

Article — 22 September 2019 — 376 words

Alex and I had a great time riding a chopper over Edinburgh

Edinburgh — Personal

We had another incredibly kind wedding present from some of our friends — a helicopter tour of Edinburgh!

Article — 24 April 2019 — 328 words

Coming face to face with real life at the Service Design Academy user research bootcamp

Design — User experience — Work

I’ve had a great time over the past two days on the Service Design Academy’s user research bootcamp. These bootcamps are truly intensive. We were working with a live brief in a serious problem space.

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 — 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 — 20 June 2018 — 558 words

Why I value working in user experience in higher education

Edinburgh — Technology — User experience — Work

The University of Edinburgh is currently recruiting for four UX-related roles. I’m passing on the message because it’s an exciting time to be pushing forward with UX work at the university.

Article — 22 April 2017 — 767 words

Pastures new

Digital — Work

After almost two years at SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College), I have decided to move on. The opportunity to work with the University of Edinburgh Website Programme was too good to ignore.