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Businesses, particularly small businesses, have suffered during the recent lockdowns. The most recent tier-4 restrictions have meant that non-essential shops were required to close their doors at very short notice. However, small businesses have some advantages over big retailers when it’s impossible to know what COVID-19 will impose restrictions next week or even tomorrow. Big… Continue reading Example of a small businesses pragmatic approach to adapting to new lockdown restrictions

Have you ever had something you cherish taken from you? It’s an awful feeling. Well, that’s how I felt when my beloved bicycle, Stella, was stolen recently. I’ve done everything in my power to track her down, but it’s been a frustrating and eye-opening experience. Background Bicycle purchases and bicycle theft have gone through the… Continue reading Responsible digital marketplaces – reducing the ease with which stolen property can be resold

Lots of us novices have been practising yoga at home during lockdown. It’s been a fun way of getting some exercise without the pressure associated with attending live classes with people who can bend, stretch and contort themselves into crazy unfathomable positions. The problem As a novice, it’s hard to know if you are doing… Continue reading Product idea: using technology to help with at-home-workouts (yoga)

It has become evident to me in recent months that digital isn’t enough. Many institutions are beginning to expect customers to rely solely on digital tools, and quite frankly, I’ve begun to realise that not enough people have the access needed. Schools My mother, a secondary school teacher, has told me that getting schoolchildren to… Continue reading When digital isn’t enough

Many companies and industries are finding ways to adapt to not being in an office or conducting their services face-to-face, where it was previously unimaginable or not thought practical. We’ve been thrust into a world where innovative business practices are the norm, and companies need to find a way to adapt quickly so they can… Continue reading Customer experience challenges and wins for businesses whose services were previously face-to-face only

When lockdown started, there were many posts and tweets about the fancy collaborative tools available to help remote working. But, unfortunately, many of us are restricted in the tools we can use on our work computers. So, we had to become creative when thinking about how we adapt for collaboration when working from home with… Continue reading Kicking off a project during lockdown – making do with the tools you have

I recently had a leaky sink. I didn’t know how to find out where it was coming from so I could fix it or get it fixed (the water was coming from behind the pedestal). I’m not naturally practical. I searched online and couldn’t find an answer. I wrote to the manufacturer to ask for… Continue reading Service idea: show me how (to fix something)

The problem In the last few years, I’ve met an increasing number of people who are entering the field of UX feeling disheartened and disillusioned with the process of searching for a job. The market for juniors is overcrowded, and many companies aren’t looking to hire people with no experience. At a UX meetup recently,… Continue reading Event idea: New product and student/entry-level jams

As a consultant/freelancer/contractor changing projects every 3-12 months, it can be time-consuming and tiresome to provide references and recommendations for past work. Don’t get me wrong, everyone I’ve worked with has great things to say about me 😏. However, some places insist on 2-3 years of work history. This could add up to collecting 12… Continue reading Service idea: an easier way to provide references or recommendations

In an unfamiliar place and short of time, it’s often easy to look for an easy shortcut to a good experience. People often go to TripAdvisor to find recommendations for a good restaurant or experience in their location.  Having done the same thing recently, I started to better understand how top-rated places achieve this.  Incentivising… Continue reading The difficulties in trusting online reviews