Welcome to episode 15 of the UX Fika podcast. In this conversation sit down with Giles Colborne — design leader, strategist, author of Simple and Usable, and now founder of Made Simple.

We talk about his journey from studying physics to co-founding cxpartners, what it meant to grow it into one of the UK’s leading design consultancies, and the mixed emotions of eventually letting it go. Giles shares what he’s learned about leadership from both raising kids and leading teams, and why stepping back is sometimes the most powerful thing you can do.

Giles shares the three values he’s taken with him from cxpartners and what they actually mean, from making it easy for people to do great work, to how to be truly user centred, and lastly, find clarity and simplicity.

We also dive into why so many organisations still struggle to link design delivery with leadership goals, how AI is forcing companies to rethink the way they work, and what an AI-native organisation might look like.

It’s a thoughtful conversation about leadership, letting go, and designing organisations with the same care we bring to designing products.

Plus:

☕️ Why smoked salmon bagels is his go to fika

⭐ Why the best place for a fika is sometimes your own sofa

What we cover:

00:00 Introduction and Background

07:05 The Journey to cxpartners

12:01 Transitioning from cxpartners

16:51 Reflections on Human-Centered Design

21:42 The Impact of AI on User Experience

26:46 Core Values and Creating a Productive Environment

33:32 Understanding Human-Centered Design

37:59 The Role of AI in User Experience

41:18 The Future of Browsing and User Interaction

44:40 Finding Clarity and Simplicity in Design

54:00 Bridging the Gap Between Management and Delivery Teams

59:50 The Impact of AI on Organizational Structure

01:03:30 Agility in the Age of AI

01:06:48 Leadership and AI: A Shift in Dynamics

01:08:46 Empowering Teams: The Role of Trust

01:11:38 Creativity and Innovation in Design

01:14:48 The Future of Design: Embracing Change

01:18:45 Ethics and Human-Centered Design

01:20:09 Fika: A Personal Touch in Conversations

Where you’ll find Giles:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• Simple and Usable book

Where you’ll find Anna & UX Fika:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠