It’s that time of year again — that strange in-between when everyone’s looking back and looking forward at the same time. Agencies around the world churn out lists about the best of last year or try to predict what we’re heading into. This year, however, there’s been an eerie absence…

Every now and again, I come across the same line of advice. Speak up. Lean in. Take charge. Be more assertive. It’s used in many different contexts, although perhaps most notably as a reprimand or encouragement aimed at women in tech. …

Imagine you’ve just finished presenting a mid-stage draft of a digital product. It’s a good solution. You feel like you’ve nailed it. Eagerly, you look to your client for feedback. But your client doesn’t look eager at all. “I hate it! It just doesn’t feel like ’us’” …does this feel…

At the end of 2015, Apple announced its fourth generation Apple TV, and promised us the “Future of Television”. The hype that had been building for months reached a fever pitch, and every digital company fought tooth and nail to claim a slice of the TV sofa. Things seemed to…

It’s that time of year again — the time when agencies around the world are either thumbing through dusty tomes of yesteryear, or digging up their crystal balls from the back of office closets. Our feeds fill with all manner of compilations fuelled by the strange mix of nostalgia and…

While we don’t like to admit it, there are moments in a designer’s career where you hit a plateau for creative growth. This is not pleasing to us. Most designers I’ve met are more obsessed with chasing their next evolution than rabid Pokemon GO players. But training yourself at being…

Lately, a small storm has been sweeping through the design team. The smatter of keyboards ring passionately in the halls, Slack channels drown in lengthy discussions, and the coffee pot runs dry from watering frustrated debaters. The big fuss? Whether or not it is possible to create reusable systems and…

There will always be people who use your product for evil. Here’s what you can do about it. — Designers tend to pull out the ol’ rose-tinted glasses when they speak about the user. “The user,” we proclaim, “is the key… to everything.” And we, of course, are the valiant knights defending the honor of these innocent gazelles of the digital landscape. When the beloved user is questioned or…

Productivity doesn’t always look productive. — By now, most of the people I talk to about my profession have moved past the idea that designers are quirky little oompa loompas that sit around waiting for inspiration to strike. In many ways, this is a relief. Demythologising the design process helps build respect for and understanding of…