All my writing archive
Censorship online: who needs evidence?
5 August 2008, spiked
A new UK parliamentary report says the internet must be regulated to protect children - even though there’s no proof they are being harmed.

Hands off our internet connections
30 July 2008, spiked
The UK government is demanding that service providers punish users who share files illegally. That's a threat to everyone's freedom.

Guest comment: Creativity versus Counting
12 June 2008, Netimperative
Is the digital industry becoming too dependent on using web analytics to asses customer behaviour? Collecting too much data can cloud decision-making, even causing complacency when bolder decisions need to be made.

Can design cut crime?
22 May 2008, spiked
Government attempts to ‘design out’ crime by sticking anti-theft, noise-emitting devices around the country will make us feel less secure.
Update Read Lorraine Gamman, director of the Design Against Crime Centre's vitriolic response, also on spiked. Wonder if I touched a raw nerve?

Winners and losers in a troubled economy
10 March 2008, The Telegraph Business Club [Registration required], Director of Finance online & iMedia Connection
Trendy online gadgets are no substitute for genuine innovation in products and services.

Why we should swat The Mosquito
13 Feburary 2008, spiked
The launch of the Buzz Off campaign to rid Britain’s streets of a screeching ‘anti-youth gadget’ should be welcomed - and built on.

Are marketers hiding behind UGC?
18 December 2007, netimperative
Does our infatuation with user-generated content betray a lack of creativity and conviction within the marketing industry?

Tracing the history of Helvetica
28 November 2007, spiked
A film about a font?! Yes, and it's gripping, too, showing how a sleek typeface has encouraged good design and helped to shape big ideas.

Comment: Design in denial
November 2007, Blueprint Issue 260
Design is about more than being sustainable or socially responsible--and its time to defend design for its own sake. Afraid only available in print

Don't curb design enthusiasm
26 September, the Guardian's arts&entertainment blog
The idea of sustainable design is an oxymoron. Design is about exploring limits, not about imposing them.

'It looks like Lisa Simpson giving head'
7 June 2007 spiked
The bizarre squashed swastika that is the London 2012 Olympics logo perfectly captures the authorities' confusion about what the Games are for.

The tyranny of technology
24 April 2007 spiked
While technology is high on the public agenda, in contrast to developing countries like Rwanda, our lack of ambition is striking.

Comment:
Taking a shortcut around the digital divide
March 2007 Future Cities Project
While digital inclusion has become a major focus for funding and social renewal, it is questionable whether IT is actually being used for the right reasons.

Essay:
Putting design and technology to good use
October 2006 Battle of Ideas 2006 conference
No one could argue that design and technology does not help society transform itself. However, today the content of the transformation is arguably not as bold, innovative and challenging as is sometimes supposed. This is not due to a lack of available tools, techniques and materials, but rather a lack of imagination.

Disabling innovation
16 September 2004 spiked
Will setting standards for accessibility stifle innovation?

Parliament in the Public Eye Download 98k
May 2004 Institute of Ideas
The Institute of Ideas response to the Hansard Society Commission on Parliament in the Public Eye’s Call for Evidence.

Touchy-feely toasters
22 April 2004 spiked
A new book argues that products should be designed around their users' emotions..

What's the big idea?
10 March 2004 spiked
More blogging by Britain's MPs and ministers is likely to reduce politics to the level of a webchat.

Dean and not heard
6 February 2004 spiked
Howard Dean’s virtual network was a poor substitute for political conviction.

'Ethnography' exposed
30 December 2003 spiked
Why do political and business leaders want to immerse themselves in our everyday lives?

Dark-sky thinking
16 October 2003 spiked
If only the World Creative Forum’s ideas matched the ambition of its title.

What iCan can’t do
20 November 2003 spiked
The BBC’s new web site will not build community or rescue democracy.

Blog-standard politics
31 July 2003 spiked
Could blogging MPs reinvigorate the electorate?

A mob for no reason
3 July 2003 spiked
Email gangs come together — and go away again.

Computing communities
17 June 2003 spiked
Software geeks are turning into social engineers.

Social software — get real
20 March 2003 spiked
Can software build worthwhile relationships?

Leonardo made limited
12 November 2002 spiked
Users taking the lead highlights our reluctance to design

Success is more than counting clicks Download 23k
27 June 2002 New Media Age
Profits are more than a few clicks away

Excuse-ability
28 March 2002 spiked
The internet services industry often worries about how to keep customers loyal.

What use for usability? Download (Zip file) 975k
March 2002 Cre@te Online
Usability is on the lips of every interaction designer these days, but while no one denies its benefits, its not all it’s cracked up to be.

User Experience 2001/2002
26 November 2001 Usability News
Report back from User Experience 2001/2002 Conference, organised by the Nielsen Norman Group.

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