Dean Vipond
@deanvipond.bsky.social
Design leadership and human-centred stuff in general. Previously lead designer at NHS Digital and lots of other things. He/Him.
I found reading Easy Riders Raging Bulls difficult, because aside from Francis For Coppola and Steven Spielberg, everyone else in 1970s Hollywood was called Bob.
Editorial processes are sometimes hard when you're dealing with reality.
Actual note for an autobiography:
"In this chapter, everyone seems to be named Jimmy. Is there anything we can do about that?"
Actual note for an autobiography:
"In this chapter, everyone seems to be named Jimmy. Is there anything we can do about that?"
January 7, 2026 at 8:55 AM
I found reading Easy Riders Raging Bulls difficult, because aside from Francis For Coppola and Steven Spielberg, everyone else in 1970s Hollywood was called Bob.
Reposted by Dean Vipond
Likewise - I can't help be gobsmacked at the OSA years where I was literally called a paedo by a UKGov official for defending end-to-end encryption (www.thenational.scot/news/2535406...), and now UKGov is bending over backwards about why the NCII CSAM platform is their special snowflake.
I've made this point elsewhere, but it seems bananas to me that in the state where I live, I would have to enter a valid ID to watch consensual, ethically produced pornography but if I want to watch actual, honest to gawd CSAM all I have to do is log on Twitter and holler at Elon's little bot.
January 7, 2026 at 6:42 AM
Likewise - I can't help be gobsmacked at the OSA years where I was literally called a paedo by a UKGov official for defending end-to-end encryption (www.thenational.scot/news/2535406...), and now UKGov is bending over backwards about why the NCII CSAM platform is their special snowflake.
Reposted by Dean Vipond
"What is the ROI of UX?" is shaped like a question, but it is actually two hostile premises:
1) that UX is sufficiently marginal for its value to be openly questioned
2) that the asker has the authority to judge this question, and practitioners are merely consulted on it, as a matter of courtesy
1) that UX is sufficiently marginal for its value to be openly questioned
2) that the asker has the authority to judge this question, and practitioners are merely consulted on it, as a matter of courtesy
January 6, 2026 at 1:27 PM
"What is the ROI of UX?" is shaped like a question, but it is actually two hostile premises:
1) that UX is sufficiently marginal for its value to be openly questioned
2) that the asker has the authority to judge this question, and practitioners are merely consulted on it, as a matter of courtesy
1) that UX is sufficiently marginal for its value to be openly questioned
2) that the asker has the authority to judge this question, and practitioners are merely consulted on it, as a matter of courtesy
Reposted by Dean Vipond
In today’s episode of #FixTheForms, @adamsilverhq.bsky.social battles with a button that isn’t sufficiently buttony
Pro tip: make your buttons look like buttons, on-screen or off
Related: we bought a new microwave last year and were delighted to find one that has actual buttons, not a flat screen
Pro tip: make your buttons look like buttons, on-screen or off
Related: we bought a new microwave last year and were delighted to find one that has actual buttons, not a flat screen
It’s 2026, we’re all worried about AI taking over design but check this UX out...
Let me explain:
We stayed over at Blackwood Forest over xmas.
When we arrived, I plugged the car into the electric charging point.
After it was charged I tried to release the charging cable.
Let me explain:
We stayed over at Blackwood Forest over xmas.
When we arrived, I plugged the car into the electric charging point.
After it was charged I tried to release the charging cable.
January 6, 2026 at 2:07 PM
In today’s episode of #FixTheForms, @adamsilverhq.bsky.social battles with a button that isn’t sufficiently buttony
Pro tip: make your buttons look like buttons, on-screen or off
Related: we bought a new microwave last year and were delighted to find one that has actual buttons, not a flat screen
Pro tip: make your buttons look like buttons, on-screen or off
Related: we bought a new microwave last year and were delighted to find one that has actual buttons, not a flat screen
Reposted by Dean Vipond
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar
Final window
‘Skating by Moonlight’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
Final window
‘Skating by Moonlight’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
December 24, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar
Final window
‘Skating by Moonlight’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
Final window
‘Skating by Moonlight’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
Reposted by Dean Vipond
Can anyone recommend someone looking for contract work in January who can do a mix of Product and Delivery? Going to CC @jukes.ie as it's for the team you just left! But open to good people from anywhere
December 18, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Can anyone recommend someone looking for contract work in January who can do a mix of Product and Delivery? Going to CC @jukes.ie as it's for the team you just left! But open to good people from anywhere
Reposted by Dean Vipond
Very solid question here that was met with a non-answer
The OBR has warned of the downside risk to the UK economy of an 'AI bubble' bursting
I asked the Minister whether he agreed, and what steps his department and UKRI are taking to protect investments in innovative companies that would undoubtedly be affected by a market correction
I asked the Minister whether he agreed, and what steps his department and UKRI are taking to protect investments in innovative companies that would undoubtedly be affected by a market correction
December 18, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Very solid question here that was met with a non-answer
Reposted by Dean Vipond
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 18
‘Trafalgar Square’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
‘Trafalgar Square’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
December 18, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 18
‘Trafalgar Square’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
‘Trafalgar Square’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
Reposted by Dean Vipond
“Service design does a lot of things, but it doesn’t do anything alone.”
— Alistair Greo
#ServiceDesign
H/t @claragt.bsky.social
— Alistair Greo
#ServiceDesign
H/t @claragt.bsky.social
December 17, 2025 at 3:23 PM
“Service design does a lot of things, but it doesn’t do anything alone.”
— Alistair Greo
#ServiceDesign
H/t @claragt.bsky.social
— Alistair Greo
#ServiceDesign
H/t @claragt.bsky.social
Reposted by Dean Vipond
What if AI is not a general purpose technology but is a *generally applied* technology (applied in contexts where it both is and isn't useful) and hence is now an ambient factor, something that gets forced into everything, whether it's needed or not.
"AI appears to be a foundational general-purpose technology — akin to electricity or the steam engine — we should anticipate that its use will continue to broaden across all aspects of human endeavor... helping to tackle some of humanity’s greatest challenges." /1
arxiv.org/pdf/2511.19468
arxiv.org/pdf/2511.19468
arxiv.org
December 17, 2025 at 2:46 PM
What if AI is not a general purpose technology but is a *generally applied* technology (applied in contexts where it both is and isn't useful) and hence is now an ambient factor, something that gets forced into everything, whether it's needed or not.
Reposted by Dean Vipond
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 17
‘Winter Pastoral’
Artist: SR Badmin
‘Winter Pastoral’
Artist: SR Badmin
December 17, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 17
‘Winter Pastoral’
Artist: SR Badmin
‘Winter Pastoral’
Artist: SR Badmin
This is sad but unsurprising. Young people spent like 3 years being trained to exist fully in their bedrooms with all their friends at the other end of a device. They’re not going to suddenly come out of their cocoons when they’re in a strange block of flats.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
‘Lonely, terrifying and scary’: 70% of students in UK university halls feel isolated, poll shows
Students blame reliance on phones plus pressure of accommodation costs for lack of social life
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 8:02 AM
This is sad but unsurprising. Young people spent like 3 years being trained to exist fully in their bedrooms with all their friends at the other end of a device. They’re not going to suddenly come out of their cocoons when they’re in a strange block of flats.
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
www.theguardian.com/education/20...
Reposted by Dean Vipond
We're super excited to be returning to the Bagpuss Universe for Yaffle Origins. As mega fans of the Oliver Postbox multiverse, we always dreamed of telling the story of Assistant Professor Yaffle getting his first pair of glasses or whatever. Join us on this barren sphere, in this living death.
December 16, 2025 at 9:38 AM
We're super excited to be returning to the Bagpuss Universe for Yaffle Origins. As mega fans of the Oliver Postbox multiverse, we always dreamed of telling the story of Assistant Professor Yaffle getting his first pair of glasses or whatever. Join us on this barren sphere, in this living death.
These posts are a much needed balm on these dark mornings, but they are also a masterclass in evocative yet efficient alt text.
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 16
‘First Snow’
Artist: Rowland Hilder
‘First Snow’
Artist: Rowland Hilder
December 16, 2025 at 8:29 AM
These posts are a much needed balm on these dark mornings, but they are also a masterclass in evocative yet efficient alt text.
Important thread
I grew up under Section 28.
A state-sponsored silence that dictated what knowledge about my identity could be withheld from me.
“It was the 1980s, right?”
Section 28 wasn’t repealed until 2003. Less than 20 years later, we’re going backwards
Meta started banning queer content from platforms...
A state-sponsored silence that dictated what knowledge about my identity could be withheld from me.
“It was the 1980s, right?”
Section 28 wasn’t repealed until 2003. Less than 20 years later, we’re going backwards
Meta started banning queer content from platforms...
December 15, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Important thread
Reposted by Dean Vipond
Lads: if you start to say the words "explain it in a way my mum can understand" coming EVEN CLOSE to being verbalised, just stop for a minute and think how sad and disappointed your brilliant mother would be. Do you really think your mum's a bit dim? Would you be prepared to say that to her face?
December 15, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Lads: if you start to say the words "explain it in a way my mum can understand" coming EVEN CLOSE to being verbalised, just stop for a minute and think how sad and disappointed your brilliant mother would be. Do you really think your mum's a bit dim? Would you be prepared to say that to her face?
Reposted by Dean Vipond
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 15
‘Christmas Time’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
‘Christmas Time’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
December 15, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar, window 15
‘Christmas Time’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
‘Christmas Time’
Artist: Ronald Lampitt
Reposted by Dean Vipond
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar
Window 13
‘Winter Lane’
Artist: SR Badmin
Window 13
‘Winter Lane’
Artist: SR Badmin
December 13, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Ladybird Artists Advent Calendar
Window 13
‘Winter Lane’
Artist: SR Badmin
Window 13
‘Winter Lane’
Artist: SR Badmin
Reposted by Dean Vipond
I have described the new initiative at work as “a technology project spun up to do the work of a culture transformation project,” and I think this is a phrase that explains most of my career.
December 8, 2025 at 3:51 PM
I have described the new initiative at work as “a technology project spun up to do the work of a culture transformation project,” and I think this is a phrase that explains most of my career.
Reposted by Dean Vipond
Your wee reminder I'm running an event called After Section 28 which looks at the growing anti-rights movement and attacks on LGBTQ+ people
Want to be an ally? Come learn + get equipped with what help we need
Speakers off chart good, more to be announced
www.tickettailor.com/events/after...
Want to be an ally? Come learn + get equipped with what help we need
Speakers off chart good, more to be announced
www.tickettailor.com/events/after...
December 12, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Your wee reminder I'm running an event called After Section 28 which looks at the growing anti-rights movement and attacks on LGBTQ+ people
Want to be an ally? Come learn + get equipped with what help we need
Speakers off chart good, more to be announced
www.tickettailor.com/events/after...
Want to be an ally? Come learn + get equipped with what help we need
Speakers off chart good, more to be announced
www.tickettailor.com/events/after...
Reposted by Dean Vipond
Very excited to be doing this! Thank you to @shaungomm.bsky.social and @catcutmore.bsky.social, and for mentioning @adhdpathfinding.org.uk
🔥 #CampDigital 2026: We're excited to welcome @himal.bsky.social as a keynote! 🎉
A digital transformation leader with experience delivering high-impact services, Himal also champions neurodivergent leadership and founded ADHD Pathfinding.
🎟 Early bird tickets: www.nexerdigital.com/camp-digital...
A digital transformation leader with experience delivering high-impact services, Himal also champions neurodivergent leadership and founded ADHD Pathfinding.
🎟 Early bird tickets: www.nexerdigital.com/camp-digital...
December 12, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Very excited to be doing this! Thank you to @shaungomm.bsky.social and @catcutmore.bsky.social, and for mentioning @adhdpathfinding.org.uk
Anyone noticed how harsh and bright a lot of LED Xmas lights are? No warmth in the colours at all. And who thought the Microsoft blue screen of death was a Christmassy colour?
December 12, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Anyone noticed how harsh and bright a lot of LED Xmas lights are? No warmth in the colours at all. And who thought the Microsoft blue screen of death was a Christmassy colour?
Reposted by Dean Vipond
Should you wear a mask if you've got symptomatic flu? YES. If you wear it at home *from the onset of your symptoms*, your family members are much less likely to catch flu from you (but you must avoid unmasked co-sleeping and eating around same table - have your meals alone). 1/
December 10, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Should you wear a mask if you've got symptomatic flu? YES. If you wear it at home *from the onset of your symptoms*, your family members are much less likely to catch flu from you (but you must avoid unmasked co-sleeping and eating around same table - have your meals alone). 1/
Reposted by Dean Vipond
Just got my Microsoft Teams Wrapped.
‘You raised your hand instead of reacting 618 times’
‘You raised your hand instead of reacting 618 times’
December 10, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Just got my Microsoft Teams Wrapped.
‘You raised your hand instead of reacting 618 times’
‘You raised your hand instead of reacting 618 times’