About me
Tricky is a seasoned product design leader with over 20 years of experience in creating engaging and impactful digital experiences for leading brands. He is currently the Director of Product Design at The Guardian, where he leads a world-class team of researchers and designers, and shapes the vision for product design across the organisation.
Tricky is passionate about human-centred design, creative strategy, and innovation. He is developing a design system that will empower the Product and Engineering departments to deliver at scale, and define a repeatable approach to innovation. He is also part of the team launching the Guardian’s first new product in several years: Feast, a cooking companion app that enables users to search, save and savour the Guardian's best recipes. Tricky is a keen cyclist, photographer and an advocate for mental well-being both at work and at play.
Projects
- Atkins - Product led transformationAs part of a project to transform them into a more digital company, I have worked with Atkins on several experimental propositions. These include a project exploring mobility as a service where a new brand was designed and the concept of a monthly membership service for Cambridge commuters was tested. I was also the experience design lead on a proposition that delivers fast, accurate and digital damage assessment for airlines, this idea is now in incubation with major airlines as partners.
- CapitaI have been working with Capita over a number of years to help transform their suite of software products and introduce a human-centred design approach to their delivery teams. Primarily this has been with the Children’s Services team, working on innovative experiences that empower teachers to focus their energy on teaching. Beyond schools, I also worked for 6 months, architecting the user experience of a fully integrated social care system that safeguards the most vulnerable and makes it easier for local authorities to deliver better outcomes.
- MaggiesWhilst contracting in 2016 I set aside some time each week to work voluntarily for Maggies, a charity that provides free practical, emotional and social support for people affected by cancer. Initially we used Amazon’s ‘working backward’ approach to write a press release for Maggies new digital service.
- Channel 5Having designed a successful tablet app experience for Channel 5 my team was briefed to design an experience that would deliver Demand 5 video content into the pockets of their viewers via Windows smartphones. We created an app that is true to Channel 5’s brand and Microsoft’s guidelines. Working with an agile approach the project was delivered in small iterations; user-experience ‘sketches’ were delivered for early feedback before working- through the designs as high- delity concepts and then delivering styled XAML controls to the development team. The app can be downloaded from the Microsoft Store and offers users a multi-surface experience for consuming their favourite lms, documentaries and television shows.
Work history
Director of Product DesignThe Guardian
London, United KingdomFull Time
Tricky is the Director of Product Design at the Guardian where he leads a world-class team of researchers and designers. He shapes and leads the vision for product design and is developing a design system that will empower the Product and Engineering departments to deliver at scale. He is defining
a repeatable approach to innovation and part of the team launching the Guardian’s first new product in several years: Feast
Director, UX & DesignNews UK
- London, United KingdomFull Time
As the Director of UX & Design Tricky reported to the CTO and led a team of over 35 researchers, designers and technologists. He shaped the creative strategy and designed digital experiences for The Times, The Sun and Virgin Radio. He also led innovation sprints to experiment with new product propositions which resulted in the launch of a new sports app: talkSPORT Edge
Alongside the ongoing development of the design team, the role requires constant evaluation of our product designs. This involves working closely with our data teams to identify opportunities and working with stakeholders from all areas of the organisation including the editorial teams and global business units.
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Skills
- Creative Direction
- User-centered Design
- UX
- Agile Lean
- Facilitation
- Creative Strategy
- Brands
- Product Design
- Service Design
- Digital Prototyping