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Episode overview
In this deeply human episode, Gerry Scullion speaks with Wellington-based design researcher Rachel Knight about the emotional realities of working in social impact. From navigating trauma-informed projects to setting boundaries as a freelancer, Rachel shares powerful insights on staying grounded while doing meaningful work.

This conversation is essential listening for anyone working in design research, especially those engaging with vulnerable communities or emotionally charged topics.

🔑 Three Key Takeaways

• Researcher well-being is non-negotiable: plan for self-care like you plan for scope.
• Freelancers carry unique risks—build your own emotional safety nets.
• Lived experience is valuable but can carry hidden costs if not properly supported.

Don’t miss this raw and reflective episode. Subscribe and share it with your team.

Links

• the original self-care post on Linkedin and the comments where people shared a bunch of resources
• see more about the projects mentioned or get in touch via Rachel's website or sign up to her newsletter for more insights and updates from social impact projects

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Key Learnings:

• Lived experience in leadership ensures services truly meet people’s needs.

• Designing for dignity builds trust, safety, and belonging in vulnerable communities.

• Long-term, community-centred support is crucial for breaking cycles of homelessness and addiction.

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/allen-bobinac-ma-1188241a5/
• https://www.tiglin.ie/

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In this short update episode, Gerry Scullion shares an exciting behind-the-scenes change: the Global Human-Centered Design Directory has now moved to the main This is HCD website. What started as a quiet initiative has turned into a valuable resource for connecting values-aligned practitioners across the globe.

Discover how this small but intentional update improves access, strengthens the community, and could help you find your next collaborator, mentor, or team member. It’s all part of our ongoing commitment to building a more connected human-centered design ecosystem—together.

3 Key Takeaways:

• The HCD Directory is now live at thisishcd.com/directory
• It’s free, community-driven, and built for peer connection
• Designers can use it to find collaborators globally for work, mentoring, or support

Creators & Guests

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In this episode, I speak with Irish garden designer and tv personality - Diarmuid Gavin. He has presented gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show on nine occasions from 1995 to 2016 - He has also authored or co-authored at least ten gardening-related books.

For regular listeners, you will be familiar with a recent episode I did with 16-time Grammy award-winning producer, Rafa Sardina - well this episode is continuing on that trend. I am really keen to explore other disciplines to see how they work to solve complex problems and also approach their work. I see gardening and working with nature as a direct parallel to working within organisations. Thinking like this, I was excited to speak with Diarmuid to see how he explores designing for the future and chat at length about external factors that could hinder the designer's vision. 

Diarmuid was a great guest - and wanted to give a big shout out to his wonderful Instagram page where he answers questions regularly through his Live events. So if you are interested and getting started with anything garden related - Diarmuids yer man!

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What started as a flower farm has evolved into a thriving community experience with pizza, peonies, and pick-your-own eggs. Together, they explore the deep thinking, sustainable practices, and collaborative mindset driving the farm’s remarkable transformation.

Learn how Darragh blends farming tradition with human-centred principles, and discover how change-makers in any industry can be inspired by the resilience, creativity, and adaptability found in modern Irish agriculture.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• How to diversify without losing focus: a masterclass in iterative business building
• Why collaboration (not control) is essential for modern rural enterprises
• The power of customer experience in reshaping farming's role in local communities

Creators & Guests

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• 10x your service design offering with Smaply. Take 20% off your order with ''ThisisHCD20off'
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Creators & Guests

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• 10x your service design offering with Smaply. Take 20% off your order with ''ThisisHCD20off'
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• Check out This is HCD x Sutsu range. Gerry wears and endorses Sutsu ethical clothing. 

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MADO website: https://www.lookwithmado.com/

‍Connect with Jaclyn via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaclyn-suzuki/

Key Takeaways:

• 🌍 Play is Universal: It transcends age, borders, and background.
• 🤖 Digital vs Physical: The nuances of screen-based vs real-world play.
• 🎯 Future of Play: How brands are reimagining connection through play.

Creators & Guests

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In this solo episode, Gerry shares a heartfelt update on the This is HCD community and why it has evolved into an application-only model. Learn what makes this space radically different from noisy, growth-obsessed communities and how it’s built with intention, purpose, and a desire to create genuine impact.

Whether you’re a human-centred design practitioner or just curious, you’ll hear how members gain access to all of Gerry’s premium courses, personal coaching, and a low-noise, high-value space to learn and connect.

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In this episode of This is HCD, I speak with Mike Parker about Liminal Coaching — a practice grounded in cognitive science that uses intentional daydreaming to help people unlock clarity, creativity, and direction.

We explore the role of the default mode network in the brain and how it becomes active during daydreaming — something most of us were taught to avoid, but that might actually be key to problem-solving and breakthrough thinking.

There’s also a special live session led by Mike — a short guided liminal moment — designed to help you feel more grounded and clear in just a few minutes. If you’re working in a high-pressure environment or navigating complex challenges, this is one to try.

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Dive into a discussion about the transformative journey of letting go of conventional professionalism to embrace authenticity and human connection. 🌀

⏰ Key Takeaways:

• Letting Go for Clarity (00:00 - 01:53):
• Streamlining life and business by shutting down a global community and simplifying digital presence.
• Radical Honesty & Leadership (01:53 - 03:57):
• Uncovering the power of honest, unfiltered communication in transforming team dynamics.
• Redefining Professionalism (41:48 - 53:15):
• Challenging the traditional notion of professionalism to prevent burnout and promote genuine connection.

Creators & Guests

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