This is HCD – Human-Centered Design, UX & Service Design Thinking Podcast

We are building an independent global network of people doing human-centred work.
Create an account, learn, listen, connect and network - for free → https://www.thisishcd.com/signup
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When you walk into an organisation that does not understand what design really does, your first instinct might be to set up a research phase or propose a design system. But that can wait. In this episode, Gerry Scullion shares three things that actually build credibility in those critical early weeks: being useful to the people around you before advancing your own agenda, adapting your language to fit their world instead of leading with jargon, and documenting every small improvement so you have real evidence when it counts. Credibility is not built on a single presentation. It is built through consistent, visible contributions that make people want to involve designers more often.
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→ Train my organisation https://www.thisishcd.com/training
→ Designing for Social Impact with Service Design with Gerry Scullion (and Rachael Dietkus) at Belfast Design Week https://belfastdesignweek.com/events/designingforsocialimpact-withservicedesign
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BECOME A MEMBER (IT'S FREE!)
→ Take the FREE Introduction to Journey Management course with Marc Stickdorn & Gerry Scullion
https://www.thisishcd.com/learning/introduction-to-journey-management
→ Discover & Connect with others https://www.thisishcd.com/directory
→ Claim partner discounts https://www.thisishcd.com/partners
→ Submit an Article https://www.thisishcd.com/blog
→ Video Courses https://www.thisishcd.com/courses
________________________

We are building an independent global network of people doing human-centred work.
Create an account, learn, listen, connect and network - for free → https://www.thisishcd.com/signup
________________________

The metrics-driven leader isn't your enemy — but they might be your biggest unlock. Gerry shares a practical approach to translating qualitative insights into the language of KPIs, OKRs, and cost savings, and why winning over this type of leader can amplify your impact across the whole organisation.
________________________
→ Train my organisation https://www.thisishcd.com/training
→ Designing for Social Impact with Service Design with Gerry Scullion (and Rachael Dietkus) at Belfast Design Week https://belfastdesignweek.com/events/designingforsocialimpact-withservicedesign
________________________
BECOME A MEMBER (IT'S FREE!)
→ Take the FREE Introduction to Journey Management course with Marc Stickdorn & Gerry Scullion
https://www.thisishcd.com/learning/introduction-to-journey-management
→ Discover & Connect with others https://www.thisishcd.com/directory
→ Claim partner discounts https://www.thisishcd.com/partners
→ Submit an Article https://www.thisishcd.com/blog
→ Video Courses https://www.thisishcd.com/courses
________________________

Creators & Guests

Gerry Scullion - Host

We are building an independent global network of people doing human-centred work.
Create an account, learn, listen, connect and network - for free → https://www.thisishcd.com/signup
________________________

You've done the research. You have the insights. You walk in confident — and it falls flat. In this episode, Gerry unpacks three mistakes designers make when pitching to leadership, including why leading with your methods kills buy-in before you've even started, and what to do instead.
________________________
→ Train my organisation https://www.thisishcd.com/training
→ Designing for Social Impact with Service Design with Gerry Scullion (and Rachael Dietkus) at Belfast Design Week https://belfastdesignweek.com/events/designingforsocialimpact-withservicedesign
________________________
BECOME A MEMBER (IT'S FREE!)
→ Take the FREE Introduction to Journey Management course with Marc Stickdorn & Gerry Scullion
https://www.thisishcd.com/learning/introduction-to-journey-management
→ Discover & Connect with others https://www.thisishcd.com/directory
→ Claim partner discounts https://www.thisishcd.com/partners
→ Submit an Article https://www.thisishcd.com/blog
→ Video Courses https://www.thisishcd.com/courses
________________________

We are building an independent global network of people doing human-centred work.
Create an account, learn, listen, connect and network - for free → https://www.thisishcd.com/signup
________________________

AI and design — not the hype, not the doom, but the practical reality. Behrad Mirafshar is the founder of Bonanza Design and host of the UX for AI podcast. He's been deep in the weeds using AI in real client projects — from research and data sense-making through to agents, automation and building modern applications. In this conversation, Gerry and Behrad explore why the real value of AI-driven design sits in the research phase, not auto-generated wireframes. They discuss how designers can use AI as a sparring partner and agent ecosystem to move faster through the double diamond, what skills and attitudes will matter most as we head toward 2030, and the tough questions around bias, inclusion, data ownership, and the younger generation using these tools.https://www.bonanza-studios.com/
de.linkedin.com/in/behradmirafshar

3. Three Key Takeaways
The real value of AI in design is in research, not wireframes. If you're only using AI to generate screens, you're touching the tip of the iceberg. The power sits in navigating massive datasets, creating blueprints for exploration, and making sense of complexity — but the researcher's instinct and judgement still can't be replaced.
AI should make you charge more, not less. Behrad is delivering more value to clients by using AI agents and orchestration tools — and pricing accordingly. The competitive advantage isn't the tool, it's the designer who knows how to wield it with specificity and judgement.
In 2030, hiring will be about attitude, not tools. The tools will keep changing every week. The designers who thrive will be the ones with relentless curiosity, a willingness to go deeper than surface-level prompting, and the ability to keep the human in the loop when AI wants to run the show.

________________________
→ Train my organisation https://www.thisishcd.com/training
→ Designing for Social Impact with Service Design with Gerry Scullion (and Rachael Dietkus) at Belfast Design Week https://belfastdesignweek.com/events/designingforsocialimpact-withservicedesign
________________________
BECOME A MEMBER (IT'S FREE!)
→ Take the FREE Introduction to Journey Management course with Marc Stickdorn & Gerry Scullion
https://www.thisishcd.com/learning/introduction-to-journey-management
→ Discover & Connect with others https://www.thisishcd.com/directory
→ Claim partner discounts https://www.thisishcd.com/partners
→ Submit an Article https://www.thisishcd.com/blog
→ Video Courses https://www.thisishcd.com/courses
________________________

Creators & Guests

Gerry Scullion - Host

We are building an independent global network of people doing human-centred work.
Create an account, learn, listen, connect and network - for free → https://www.thisishcd.com/signup
________________________

What does psychological safety actually feel like when it's present? And what quietly erodes it? In this episode, Louise Dennison O'Shaughnessy — Director of Mental Health and Wellbeing at EHS International — joins Gerry to unpack the behaviours that damage teams: unclear roles, poor communication, and toxic high performers who get a pass because of their output. They dig into negativity bias (80% of our thoughts are naturally negative), why busyness can become addictive, and practical ways to build healthier boundaries with work and technology. If you've ever felt overworked, unheard, or stuck in the wrong environment — this one's for you.
________________________
→ Train my organisation https://www.thisishcd.com/training
→ Designing for Social Impact with Service Design with Gerry Scullion (and Rachael Dietkus) at Belfast Design Week https://belfastdesignweek.com/events/designingforsocialimpact-withservicedesign
________________________
BECOME A MEMBER (IT'S FREE!)
→ Take the FREE Introduction to Journey Management course with Marc Stickdorn & Gerry Scullion
https://www.thisishcd.com/learning/introduction-to-journey-management
→ Discover & Connect with others https://www.thisishcd.com/directory
→ Claim partner discounts https://www.thisishcd.com/partners
→ Submit an Article https://www.thisishcd.com/blog
→ Video Courses https://www.thisishcd.com/courses
________________________

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