I joined TPXimpact a year ago this week which means I should probably look back and think about what I’ve learnt so far. Working with a hybrid team slows everything down because it slows down how you build trust. I made sure to visit all our various offices at least every few months to try… Continue reading A year in
Author: designswarm
Blogging since 2005.
The end of the useful idiot
This recent piece in Fast Company was bothering me. I’ve been in work for almost 20 years soon and I’ve heard people talk about the lack of business acumen in design since I was a student. I posit that something else is happening as ‘design thinking as a service’ enters its mid life crisis. Design… Continue reading The end of the useful idiot
Sunday Scraps #75
I know nothing about Deleuze and I’m not sure I know anymore after this but I learnt some things about cute / a book written by Oliver Sack’s partner about New York / public sector backlogs / a 2009 interview with umberto eco / increasing the accessibility of Powerpoint slides / Sono Electro 2024 Festival… Continue reading Sunday Scraps #75
The case for a Digital Design Council
People have a better idea of how films get made than how [digital] design gets done I was listening to Peter Merholz talk to Andy Polaine (thanks Mathew) who, 35 minutes in, talk about the institutionalisation of Design and it got me thinking: do we need a Digital Design Council? I did a stint at… Continue reading The case for a Digital Design Council
10 questions we should all be asking designers
I’ve been hiring people for almost 20 years. These are some questions I think we should ask more often: What grinds your gears in the design industry? Tell me about a time when you had to give difficult feedback someone Tell me about a time when you encountered an ethically murky situation. What did you… Continue reading 10 questions we should all be asking designers
What to expect (when you’re graduating)
So you’re graduating from a design course this summer? Well done you. Also, welcome to the madness. It’s been a quietly devastating recession and most of my very talented and employable friends are struggling to find work. All the non profits I work with have have suffered from months of funding rejections and unresponsive funders.… Continue reading What to expect (when you’re graduating)
Sunday Scraps #74
At that stage of middle age when I consider buying an eye mask / Mitterrand’s last meal / a lovely sounding supper club in London / can’t believe the House of St Barnabas closed / the most sampled African song / I should write something for Container magazine / the experimental instruments of Michel Waisvisz /… Continue reading Sunday Scraps #74
Sunday Scraps #73
(Picking this up after a year apparently, yikes.) Collective Ending is an art collective in South London / an open call for the latest issue of Branch magazine / a friend recommended the work of choreographer Crystal Pite and dancer Leo Walk / the work of Raymond Briggs is being exhibited at the Ditchling… Continue reading Sunday Scraps #73
What is a design consultant?
I’m Design Director in a digital transformation consultancy after having worked as a consultant for 10+ years and in-house since 2018. Being a designer in a consulting environment is pretty unique so I thought I’d try to describe it for others who are interested in moving into that industry. Sometimes, the user is your client.… Continue reading What is a design consultant?
On middle management in design
Middle management is the intermediate management level of a hierarchical organization that is subordinate to the executive management and responsible for “team leading” line managers and/or “specialist” line managers. Middle management is indirectly (through line management) responsible for junior staff performance and productivity. – Wikipedia After a few years reporting to the founders/CEO of organisations, I find myself in middle management for the… Continue reading On middle management in design