weeknotes – designswarm {thoughts}

Weeknote 8: what it means to be a designer in the NHS

I’m on holiday so I shouldn’t really be writing a weeknote but I’m getting lots of designers reaching out to me on Linkedin who have never worked in the NHS, wanting to work there. This is my personal view and not my employer’s. Being a designer in the public sector might not mean a public… Continue reading Weeknote 8: what it means to be a designer in the NHS

Weeknote 7: design truisms

I was in the first day of a two day away day at work and I was thinking of Jenny Holtzer’s truisms. They feel true (even if they might not be), which is what’s so cool about them. I think it’s the same for some myths about the NHS and what it is and isn’t… Continue reading Weeknote 7: design truisms

Weeknote 6: is it really that complicated?

There’s a new tech leader in the NHS which means whatever he thinks about design, UCD or designers will probably trickle down at some point. I am listening closely to the signs and this week, he said that things were not as a complicated as he was expecting. I thought that was interesting because it… Continue reading Weeknote 6: is it really that complicated?

Weeknote 5: on singing behind the beat

I had two classic ‘behind the beat‘ moments this week. The first involved taking the reigns in relation to a runaway situation. The second involved seeing something happen and letting it happen (temporarily). My two Deputy Directors were on leave at the same time for a few days so that temporarily exposed me and other… Continue reading Weeknote 5: on singing behind the beat

Weeknote 4: there may be an I in design but don’t let that fool you

I’ve been reminding myself of what Jane Jacobs wrote: “[…] there must be eyes upon the street, eyes belonging to those we might call the natural proprietors of the street. The buildings on a street equipped to handle strangers and to insure the safety of both residents and strangers, must be oriented to the street.… Continue reading Weeknote 4: there may be an I in design but don’t let that fool you

Weeknote 3: finding a pattern

I’ve figured out that my weeks are like sandwiches. Mondays and Fridays are quiet, while Tuesdays to Thursdays are back to back meetings. With a sample of 3 weeks, is it really a work pattern or a short term trend? That question lingered as I was drawn into a couple of conversations about service patterns.… Continue reading Weeknote 3: finding a pattern

Weeknote 2: unapologetic admin

Second week was a short week again. I thought about Ed Ruscha a lot. I sat in some more team check-ins and by virtue of repetition, words start to float up to the surface. I’m spotting patterns but it doesn’t mean they’re service patterns, they’re just activities each team has to develop in a… Continue reading Weeknote 2: unapologetic admin

Weeknote 1: What do we have here?

I spent a lot of time on dance floors when I was in my 20s and I have been jiving on and off since 2014. Sometimes you go to a night out in a venue you’ve never been to and you’re trying to find your friends either on or off the dance floor. Eventually you… Continue reading Weeknote 1: What do we have here?