Ruby Steel's path in design has been characterised by her interest in multi-sensory experiences and finding ways to help people overcome impairments. Recently, she appeared in the BBC television series 'The Big Life Fix' as part of a team of designers working to improve life for specific individuals and groups. In one episode, Ruby and the team use digital to help a man communicate with his family again after suffering a stroke. We recorded at Smart Design's London studio, where Ruby is senior design strategist, and go on to talk about Ruby's early motivations for design, her work on multi-sensory and inclusive design projects and how digital itself is becoming far more multi-dimensional. Get in touch with feedback and questions @mexfeed on Twitter or email [email protected].

Show notes with links to everything discussed:

https://www.mobileuserexperience.com/design-talk-30-ruby-steel-smart-design/4666/

Contact:

T: https://twitter.com/mexfeed/

E: [email protected]

Driving change with strategic design in diverse industries - from healthcare to automotive - has emerged as the dominant theme in the first year of the MEX podcast. Hosts Marek Pawlowski and Alex Guest review memorable insights from some of the 20+ guests who've been on the show over the last year and discuss how they've evolved since. The conversation leads to a discussion of user experience lessons Alex is now applying in his own start-up and exciting plans for the future of MEX Design Talk. Thanks to all our guests, listeners and contributors for a great first year! Get in touch with feedback and questions @mexfeed on Twitter or email [email protected].

Show notes with links to everything discussed:

https://www.mobileuserexperience.com/?p=4607

Contact:

T: https://twitter.com/mexfeed/

E: [email protected]

Roger Andersson Reimer, co-founder and UX Director of Swedish design agency TOPP, talks to Marek Pawlowski, founder of MEX, about multi-touchpoint experience design. The discussion includes TOPP's emergence from the history of TAT and Blackberry, their work on wearables for Samsung and Pins Collective, design tools for next generation distributed experiences and the roots of Roger's design education. Feedback @mexfeed or [email protected].

Show notes with links to everything discussed:

https://mobileuserexperience.com/?p=4498

Contact:

T: https://twitter.com/mexfeed/

E: [email protected]

Alex Genov, head of UX Research at Zappos, talks to Marek Pawlowski, founder of MEX, about designing retail experiences, understanding users as people and emerging user research methods. The conversation covers Genov’s early interest in experimental social psychology and expands into a discussion of how he has applied his knowledge in both financial services and retailers. Genov and Pawlowski also talk about Zappos’ core commitment to customer service and how its adoption of the holocracy organisational principles influence its ability to conduct user research without silos.

Show notes with links to everything discussed:

https://mobileuserexperience.com/?p=4392

Contact:

T: https://twitter.com/mexfeed/

E: [email protected]

Marek Pawlowski and Alex Guest take up Patrizia Bertini's challenge from the last episode and go in search of wearable technology beyond the smartwatch. After questioning the term 'wearable' itself, Marek and Alex cite examples ranging from illuminated clothing to medical implants, before searching for design approaches which might result in products more relevant to users' lives. Marek challenges listeners to abandon the smartphone as the anchor point for wearable products and see whether it leads to greater creativity...tweet us your feedback @mexfeed or email [email protected].

Show notes with links to everything discussed:

https://mobileuserexperience.com/?p=4277

Contact:

T: https://twitter.com/mexfeed/

E: [email protected]

Patrizia Bertini, Alex Guest and Marek Pawlowski pick their most memorable digital - and non-digital - user experiences from 2016. With examples ranging from virtual reality and conversational interfaces to home baking and biodegradable thank you cards, the MEX team try to unpack what makes for an extraordinary UX. The conversation turns to the year ahead and the hosts' hopes for skills and technologies to improve digital design in 2017. Patrizia leaves listeners with a challenge: to send in your examples of wearable technology beyond the smartwatch...tweet us @mexfeed or email [email protected].

Show notes with links to everything discussed (it's a mega list this time around!):

http://www.mobileuserexperience.com/?p=4180

Contact:

T: https://twitter.com/mexfeed/

E: [email protected]

Mat Hunter, Managing Director of the Central Research Laboratory, talked to Marek Pawlowski, founder of MEX, about the manufacturing heritage of CRL’s unique startup acceleration facility and his plans for a design-led hardware renaissance in the UK. The CRL resides in the Shipping Building on the old EMI site, where the evocative slogan ‘His Master’s Voice’ is emblazoned in huge letters across the exterior, recalling the history of a location closely associated with British industry and creativity. Today the Central Research Laboratory is an accelerator of digital and manufacturing innovation, helping a new generation of hardware companies achieve industrial scale. Mat took on the role in 2016, after a career which has included time as a partner at IDEO, Chief Designer Officer for the Design Council and lecturing at the Royal College of Art and Imperial College.

(Updated, Sunday, 18th December to correct audio issues)

Shows notes with links to everything discussed & bonus photos from visiting the Central Research Laboratory:

http://www.mobileuserexperience.com/?p=4139

Contact:

T: https://twitter.com/mexfeed/

E: [email protected]

The healthcare and pharmaceutical industries are increasing their investment in digital experience design at a key moment in their wider transformation. With experimental new business models such as payment based on patient outcomes rather than product volumes, digital services are being trialed for both patient health tracking and as a form of direct treatment. Rob Graham, Global Head of UX at the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, and someone who has led user experience departments in large telcos and retailers, sat down with Marek Pawlowski at the MEX/16 conference to record a live interview and audience discussion for the podcast. The conversation ranges from the challenges of user experience research in heavily regulated markets like healthcare to Rob's career motivations.

Show notes with links to everything discussed:

http://mobileuserexperience.com/?p=4130

Contact:

T: @mexfeed

E: [email protected]

Agile has become the de-facto approach to rapid, user-centred product development. However, it is not just for coders. In fact, Agile is at its most effective when product management and marketing work in the same rhythm. In this episode, hosts Marek Pawlowski and Alex Guest are joined by Roland Smart, author of 'The Agile Marketer' and someone who has seen these practices first-hand on the agency side with pioneering UX consultancy Adaptive Path and now client-side with Oracle, one of the world's largest software companies. The episode explores the diverse ways in which marketers’ knowledge of existing users, and potential customers, can be integrated with design process.

Show notes with links to everything discussed & bonus content:

http://mobileuserexperience.com/?p=4107

Contact:

T: @mexfeed

E: [email protected]

MEX/16 brought together a diverse set of designers, strategists and digital pioneers to define new ideas and best practice for experience design. The two day conference, hosted in London by Marek Pawlowski, Alex Guest and Patrizia Bertini, is recapped in this special edition of MEX Design Talk. Building on 12 years of MEX events, the conference combined workshops, expert talks and tangential inspirations to push the boundaries of design practice.

Show notes with links to everything discussed & bonus content:

http://mobileuserexperience.com/?p=4092

Contact:

T: @mexfeed

E: [email protected]