Phil Spray
@philspray.uk
Husband and dad ❤️
Digital, design, and public services🧑💻
Apple fan 💻
He/him/his
philspray.uk
Apple fan 💻
He/him/his
philspray.uk
Reposted by Phil Spray
The UK Government will send a test alert to mobile phones on Sunday. This is how to switch it off: www.gov.uk/alerts/optin...
Before anyone types before thinking: domestic abuse survivors may need this. If you don’t, just scroll on.
Before anyone types before thinking: domestic abuse survivors may need this. If you don’t, just scroll on.
Opting out of emergency alerts
Opting out of emergency alerts
www.gov.uk
September 1, 2025 at 3:50 PM
The UK Government will send a test alert to mobile phones on Sunday. This is how to switch it off: www.gov.uk/alerts/optin...
Before anyone types before thinking: domestic abuse survivors may need this. If you don’t, just scroll on.
Before anyone types before thinking: domestic abuse survivors may need this. If you don’t, just scroll on.
I’m not some self-help guru, but I just commuted into the office without listening to anything. No music or podcast in my ears. It was good.
August 14, 2025 at 7:27 AM
I’m not some self-help guru, but I just commuted into the office without listening to anything. No music or podcast in my ears. It was good.
Still asking mobile or landline on your ‘digital’ form? Seriously?
August 1, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Still asking mobile or landline on your ‘digital’ form? Seriously?
Reposted by Phil Spray
Regular plea not to use emojis as bullet points!
It makes your post inaccessible, or at least extremely bizarre, for screen reader users and people using text to speech software.
Examples:
➡️ reads as 'Black Rightwards Arrow'
👍 reads as 'Thumbs Up Sign'
💡 reads as 'Electric Light Bulb'
1 of 4
It makes your post inaccessible, or at least extremely bizarre, for screen reader users and people using text to speech software.
Examples:
➡️ reads as 'Black Rightwards Arrow'
👍 reads as 'Thumbs Up Sign'
💡 reads as 'Electric Light Bulb'
1 of 4
July 29, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Regular plea not to use emojis as bullet points!
It makes your post inaccessible, or at least extremely bizarre, for screen reader users and people using text to speech software.
Examples:
➡️ reads as 'Black Rightwards Arrow'
👍 reads as 'Thumbs Up Sign'
💡 reads as 'Electric Light Bulb'
1 of 4
It makes your post inaccessible, or at least extremely bizarre, for screen reader users and people using text to speech software.
Examples:
➡️ reads as 'Black Rightwards Arrow'
👍 reads as 'Thumbs Up Sign'
💡 reads as 'Electric Light Bulb'
1 of 4
When you ask AI to name your fan…
June 17, 2025 at 4:40 PM
When you ask AI to name your fan…
Reposted by Phil Spray
Can you give blood?
June 9, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Can you give blood?
Reposted by Phil Spray
tfw when you're no longer the most famous guy who lived in Peru
a teddy bear wearing a red hat and a blue coat
Alt: Paddington giving a hard stare
media.tenor.com
May 8, 2025 at 5:34 PM
tfw when you're no longer the most famous guy who lived in Peru
I don’t envy the person who has to update the Vatican website with the details of the new pope. Looks like it could’ve been built on Geocities. www.vatican.va/content/vati...
The Holy See
Visiting the official website of the Holy See one can browse: the Magisterium of the Supreme Pontiffs (from Pope Leo XIII to Pope Francis); the fundamental texts of Catholicism in various languages (t...
www.vatican.va
May 8, 2025 at 5:27 PM
I don’t envy the person who has to update the Vatican website with the details of the new pope. Looks like it could’ve been built on Geocities. www.vatican.va/content/vati...
Reposted by Phil Spray
From the CDL blog.
'Content crits: what they are and how to run them' by Sarah Winters.
'Content crits: what they are and how to run them' by Sarah Winters.
Content crits: what they are and how to run them
A crit is a critique. Crits are a great way to reflect on your content's progress. It's all about how you set them up.
contentdesign.london
April 29, 2025 at 7:02 AM
From the CDL blog.
'Content crits: what they are and how to run them' by Sarah Winters.
'Content crits: what they are and how to run them' by Sarah Winters.
Reposted by Phil Spray
Good error messages help users recover and stay on track, not frustrate them.
To write better error messages: consider all types of errors, write like a human, avoid whimsy, use active voice, give a clear way forward, and use consistent patterns.
Great article by @amyhupe.bsky.social
To write better error messages: consider all types of errors, write like a human, avoid whimsy, use active voice, give a clear way forward, and use consistent patterns.
Great article by @amyhupe.bsky.social
How to write error messages that actually help users rather than frustrate them
One of the most consistently neglected parts of today’s user experiences is our handling of errors. We’re so busy designing the happy paths through our products that we often forget to give the same care and attention to the times when things will go wrong
piccalil.li
April 29, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Good error messages help users recover and stay on track, not frustrate them.
To write better error messages: consider all types of errors, write like a human, avoid whimsy, use active voice, give a clear way forward, and use consistent patterns.
Great article by @amyhupe.bsky.social
To write better error messages: consider all types of errors, write like a human, avoid whimsy, use active voice, give a clear way forward, and use consistent patterns.
Great article by @amyhupe.bsky.social
Reposted by Phil Spray
The first Observer overseen by Tortoise Media - and what a picture they got to kick it off.
April 26, 2025 at 8:11 PM
The first Observer overseen by Tortoise Media - and what a picture they got to kick it off.
Reposted by Phil Spray
I'm recovering from a breakdown at the moment and trying to get back on my feet with my workshops & Etsy.
If you could maybe RT my new creative & mental health workshop (previous few posts today,Friday 25th) it would help so much to show it to a few more eyes.
I'd really appreciate it, thankyou 🌿
If you could maybe RT my new creative & mental health workshop (previous few posts today,Friday 25th) it would help so much to show it to a few more eyes.
I'd really appreciate it, thankyou 🌿
April 25, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I'm recovering from a breakdown at the moment and trying to get back on my feet with my workshops & Etsy.
If you could maybe RT my new creative & mental health workshop (previous few posts today,Friday 25th) it would help so much to show it to a few more eyes.
I'd really appreciate it, thankyou 🌿
If you could maybe RT my new creative & mental health workshop (previous few posts today,Friday 25th) it would help so much to show it to a few more eyes.
I'd really appreciate it, thankyou 🌿
Main plan for today is a birthday party for the 12 year old. Not sure where the time has gone! #dadlife
a close up of a man 's face with the words " it 's crazy how " on the bottom
Alt: a close up of a man 's face with the words " it 's crazy how " on the bottom
media.tenor.com
April 6, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Main plan for today is a birthday party for the 12 year old. Not sure where the time has gone! #dadlife
Reposted by Phil Spray
10 spots left for our next Content Design Meetup!
Open critique session for CVs & portfolios; whether you're job hunting or refining your work, we’ve got you.
📅 Feb 4 | 📍 The George & Monkey, Kings Cross | ⏰ 6 PM
RSVP now, limited spaces
shorturl.at/G2PnC
#ContentDesign #UX #PortfolioReview
Open critique session for CVs & portfolios; whether you're job hunting or refining your work, we’ve got you.
📅 Feb 4 | 📍 The George & Monkey, Kings Cross | ⏰ 6 PM
RSVP now, limited spaces
shorturl.at/G2PnC
#ContentDesign #UX #PortfolioReview
Bring your CV or portfolio, get feedback - London Content Design Meet-Up, Tue, Feb 4, 2025, 6:00 PM | Meetup
The London Content Design Meet-Up is back for 2025, and our first session will be all about YOU!
In the spirit of 'new year, new job' we're hosting an open critique sessio
shorturl.at
January 22, 2025 at 10:00 AM
10 spots left for our next Content Design Meetup!
Open critique session for CVs & portfolios; whether you're job hunting or refining your work, we’ve got you.
📅 Feb 4 | 📍 The George & Monkey, Kings Cross | ⏰ 6 PM
RSVP now, limited spaces
shorturl.at/G2PnC
#ContentDesign #UX #PortfolioReview
Open critique session for CVs & portfolios; whether you're job hunting or refining your work, we’ve got you.
📅 Feb 4 | 📍 The George & Monkey, Kings Cross | ⏰ 6 PM
RSVP now, limited spaces
shorturl.at/G2PnC
#ContentDesign #UX #PortfolioReview
Reposted by Phil Spray
Some great advice for those new to adding alt text to images. Please consider helping visually impaired, cognitively impaired and neurodivergent folks.
Its about lowering barriers to access and offering parity of experience to all.
It also helps folks from other cultures understand context!
Its about lowering barriers to access and offering parity of experience to all.
It also helps folks from other cultures understand context!
A few tips for making BlueSky a more accessible place.
Please add alt text to images.
Yes, this is the one everyone kind of knows about, but worth flagging.
By all means add some extra context or jokes to it and be creative but please put the actual image description at the beginning.
1/3
Please add alt text to images.
Yes, this is the one everyone kind of knows about, but worth flagging.
By all means add some extra context or jokes to it and be creative but please put the actual image description at the beginning.
1/3
January 22, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Some great advice for those new to adding alt text to images. Please consider helping visually impaired, cognitively impaired and neurodivergent folks.
Its about lowering barriers to access and offering parity of experience to all.
It also helps folks from other cultures understand context!
Its about lowering barriers to access and offering parity of experience to all.
It also helps folks from other cultures understand context!
Happy Christmas all! We’re currently in the calm before the storm of present opening, waiting for the grandparents to arrive.
December 25, 2024 at 10:19 AM
Happy Christmas all! We’re currently in the calm before the storm of present opening, waiting for the grandparents to arrive.
If you’re going to give me a booking number or order number to collect my item, at least try to call it the same thing in all of your comms.
December 22, 2024 at 12:46 PM
If you’re going to give me a booking number or order number to collect my item, at least try to call it the same thing in all of your comms.
Reposted by Phil Spray
Writing is designing. Pass it on.
November 13, 2024 at 5:52 PM
Writing is designing. Pass it on.
If you see this post, quote post a bridge.
October 23, 2024 at 11:06 AM
If you see this post, quote post a bridge.
You might think of Oxford as a place of spires, punting and massive park-and-rides but for me it’s a place to meet fellow UX folk and discuss how to make research more accessible. Would recommend.
October 17, 2024 at 6:57 PM
You might think of Oxford as a place of spires, punting and massive park-and-rides but for me it’s a place to meet fellow UX folk and discuss how to make research more accessible. Would recommend.
Remove a letter, ruin a movie
Apocalypse Ow
Apocalypse Ow
Remove a letter, ruin a movie
One with the wind
One with the wind
Remove one letter, ruin a movie
Apocalypse Ow
Apocalypse Ow
October 3, 2024 at 8:03 PM
Remove a letter, ruin a movie
Apocalypse Ow
Apocalypse Ow
A good first day back in the office after holiday. Lots of face to face stuff with less Teams. If only I’d remembered the holiday sweets!
September 3, 2024 at 6:30 PM
A good first day back in the office after holiday. Lots of face to face stuff with less Teams. If only I’d remembered the holiday sweets!
Reposted by Phil Spray
August 21, 2024 at 12:54 PM
Ah my old nemesis, the Kindle Fire tablet, we meet again.
August 18, 2024 at 9:32 AM
Ah my old nemesis, the Kindle Fire tablet, we meet again.