Dan

Granted I am just one random dude, but I found these to be very good when I had some noisy neighbours move in next door a few years back.

amzn.eu/d/0iyI5PaS

I've always been dubious about whether true content or user-centred design can exist in private sector, for-profit companies. Because, are those companies really going to prioritise user needs if doing so will impact their bottom line? 🤔

Also one of the greatest tools we have to relieve pressure on the housing market.

I've never been able to bring myself to apply for a "content design" job at these type of companies for exactly this reason.

I always get the impression they prioritise "delight/fun/quirky" experiences over simplicity and clarity.

Also reminds me of this old Twitter thread.

threadreaderapp.com/thread/11563...

Solidarity. I'm currently on week 7 of trying to access some old and little used NatWest accounts. Non-descript error messages, broken login flows, unhelpful chatbots, waiting for things to be sent by post. Exhausting.

Extended our lead at the top so I guess the end justifies the means, but our football is honestly atrocious at the moment lol.

Struggleball again olé olé.

Saka goal aside, what did we actually do in that half? Seriously?

Such winning. Fantastic use of everyone's time, money and effort. Bravo.

Jesus, I just had a proper dig into it. It's baffling how people put together and sign off on some of these roles.

Job ad from HM Treasury for a "Delivery Manager and Service Designer". Advertised salary is £57,670 to £67,500.

Ermm, this is two very different roles.

Will HM Treasury be paying this person two salaries? Apparently not. 🤷‍♂️

Heart attack-inducing tightrope football yet again. Thanks for the 3 points, but worrying how we let them boss it after the red card.

Same old problem where we just don't capitalise on our chances. Tbh we've looked half asleep since kick off.

No specific goals? From the org? Which begs the question of why they hired you and instigated a Discovery? 😆🤷‍♂️

Was it to review the successes and failings of a service in its current state? In which case, your task is probably to make recommendations for next steps?

Tie Discovery findings (both positive and negative) to;

- organisational strategy/mission
- legislative and compliance requirements
- risks and rewards for the org (financial, reputational, legal)
- opportunities (to save time, improve efficiency, one-up competitors etc)

👇👇

Very much so. 🥳

I'm more than happy to eat humble pie and be proven wrong. 🤣 Love it.

Can we also take a moment to laugh at just how bad spurs actually are? Like really, hilariously relegation-fodder bad. 🤣

Gyokeres best performance for us to date. He was excellent.

Conceded from *one* spurs touch in our box btw, whilst squandering a dozen of our own chances in front of their goal. As is tradition. 😤

The most infuriating thing is that this spurs team are a total shambles and are there to be put to the sword, if only this team's collective brains hadn't turned to mush over the last month.

Negative. Mind you, I never do.

- they're a static snapshot in time that orgs rarely revisit or update
- how were they created? What was the sample size?
- they feel like decorative "UX theatre" artefacts that soon get forgotten

Empathy mapping is better. Regularly speaking to, listening to and observing real users is the best!

Cons:
- user needs are rarely cleanly segmented by demographics in the way that personas present
- they become a substitute for real UR
- you end up designing for an "average" user that doesn't exist, which actually ends up excluding large numbers of people

Of use in a small, limited handful of scenarios. Also important to consider that the way one org or team creates personas can be different to another.

Pros:
- conversation starter for orgs who have literally never thought about users before
- can bring some core themes to the fore in conservations

I said exactly this to a mate last night. I feel like you're supposed to enjoy it when your team is top of the league for months on end, but this season has been a torturous watch for 95% of the time.

Q that's been rattling around my head for a month or two, that I was gonna hold on to until the end of season, but fuck it...

How psychologically damaging do you fear it may be for this team and this club long term if we don't win the title this season? To have that undeniable "bottlers" tag?

Every game I watch us and think to myself "Jesus, we're the best team in the league? Really?!"

And I question whether I'm expecting too much or being ungrateful or something, but I can't deny what my eyes see.

Biggest game of their season and a chance to put the final nail in our title charge. They will be well up for it and it'll be a miracle if we come away from there with 3 points.