“Is it our duty as UX professionals to ‘train’ clients to embrace the whole of User Experience – or should our starting point be enthusiasm that they’re willing to consider users at all?” Janet Six, Managing Editor of UXmatters, collectedContinue reading… How to deal with clients who focus on only one aspect of a UX design
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Inwards and outwards research: choosing your research methods according to the service lifecycle
Is your user research looking inwards, at how your service works, or outwards, at the lives of those it affects? The right research in the right direction at the right time can truly add value – but there’s usually noContinue reading… Inwards and outwards research: choosing your research methods according to the service lifecycle
Quiet time on my own – poster
“Quiet time on my own” is the second poster in my collaboration with illustrator Julia Allum. I chose the phrase “quiet time on my own” for this poster because it’s so crucial for me personally. I love to be withContinue reading… Quiet time on my own – poster
Surveys that Work 2020: training course for HMRC user researchers 2020
It was fun to do a training course with user researchers at HMRC. Each person gave us an example of a survey they were working on. We hoped for examples at all stages from “a few ideas in a surveyContinue reading… Surveys that Work 2020: training course for HMRC user researchers 2020
Listen First Ask Second
For World Usability Day, November 14 2019, I’m excited to announce the first in a series of Effortmark stickers and posters. ‘Listen First, Ask Second’ is the result of a collaboration with award-winning illustrator Julia Allum. Good design starts withContinue reading… Listen First Ask Second
Readability Formulas: seven reasons to avoid them and what to do instead
I had the honour of working with Ginny Redish on this article on readability formulas. Ginny is a leading authority on writing, accessibility, and content design and usability. I’ve lost count of the number of copies of her excellent book,Continue reading… Readability Formulas: seven reasons to avoid them and what to do instead
How to avoid research debt: a workshop on ResearchOps at SDinGOV 2019
What happens after you’ve done some user research for your service? Decisions made, do you move on and forget it? Or do you preserve that research for re-use and future team members? I was discussing this challenge with Stephanie Rosenbaum.Continue reading… How to avoid research debt: a workshop on ResearchOps at SDinGOV 2019
Six things I learned in six months as a user researcher – Zoe McClatchey
Zoe McClatchey is a designer with NHS Digital. We have worked together during her current placement. I was impressed by her user research skills, so I was delighted when she agreed to let me republish her reflections on her userContinue reading… Six things I learned in six months as a user researcher – Zoe McClatchey
Discussing a topic map for how to design a better form
If you’re working on improving a form, especially a government one, what advice do you need? In April 2019, I discussed a topic map that might help to answer that question in a webinar for Digital.GOV. To find out moreContinue reading… Discussing a topic map for how to design a better form
Draft curriculum for ‘How to Design a Form’
Post originally published in 2019; updated in 2022 In March 2019, I was working mostly with the NHS digital standards and redesign team on their advice about patterns. This post: gave the background to the work, explained about the draftContinue reading… Draft curriculum for ‘How to Design a Form’