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Understanding the user who isn't you

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Some publications

Nutrition professionals’ perception of the ‘healthiness’ of individual foods 2007

This paper (main authors, Pete Scarborough, Mike Rayner and Lynn Stockley of Oxford University Department of Public Health) resulted from a study by to compare statistical profiling of the healthiness of foods with the expert assessment of those foods by nutrition professionals. I advised on the design of the study and the development of the on-line questionnaire used to elicit nutrition professionals’ food ratings.

Everyday Practices with Mobile Video Telephony 2006

This paper (co-authored with Kenton O'Hara and Matt Lipson) uses a study of mobile video telephony that I carried out for Orange as the basis for considering the particular advantages and disadvantages of mobility in video telephony.

Design Council knowledge cell on user-centred design

An introduction to user-centred design, and its relevance to the private and public sector, written to commission by The Design Council. I update the content annually. A version of this knowledge cell has now been included in the Open University's course materials on sustainable design.

Are voice calls the Killer Apps? Users (people) and mobile devices

Paper given at Boag Associates’ exhibition on information design in May 2003, looking at the opportunities 3G provides to develop user-centred applications.

Why I work in user-centred design 2003

Invited contribution to a collection of articles on Empathic Design, published by Ilpo Koskinen, Katja Battarbee and Tuuli Mattelmäki

Citizen’s Passport

Audio guide to the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, prepared for people with learning disabilities. Commissioned by United Response, a charity that supports people with learning disabilities and mental health problems. Sponsored by the Citizenship Foundation and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.

Making Solid User Interfaces Work 1996

Paper written with Jacob Buur on the need to improve the design of ‘solid user interfaces’, typically found on domestic appliances and equipment for manual work. At the time, solid user interfaces received little attention compared to the graphical user interfaces on computers.

Right time, right place 1993

I was one of a team reporting to London Underground on its communications with its customers. The report is still quoted widely in discussions of transport and customer focus.

Just Read the Label: Understanding Nutrition Labelling in Numeric Verbal and Graphic Formats 1992

Written with Mike Rayner. Possibly the first study to look at how individuals used nutrition labelling, rather than simply asking focus groups which labelling formats they preferred. We found the formats people said they liked were not the easiest for them to use!

Typefaces for Desktop Publishing: A User Guide, 1990

This is a primer on typeface use for people making decisions about text design. The technology has moved on a little since the book was written but it still turns up on college reading lists because the principles of type choice remain unchanged.