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Explore 374 conversations with design leaders
45 min · Aug 2026
Dr Jutta Treviranus
Hey folks, and welcome back to another episode of This is HCD. My name is Gerry Scullion, and I'm a human-centred service design practitioner based in the beautiful city of Dublin, Ireland. Today's episode is a little different, and I'm genuinely excited about it. I'm handing the mic over to my colleague and guest host, Hyun Song, who sat down with someone I've wanted on this show for a long time: Dr. Jutta Treviranus, founder and director of the Inclusive Design Research Centre at OCAD University in Canada, and one of the most influential voices in inclusive design anywhere in the world. Jutta has spent more than four decades challenging the idea that we should design for the average person, and this conversation could not be more timely. In this episode, Hyun and Jutta get into what inclusive design actually means once AI enters the picture. They talk about why the data we train these systems on keeps failing the people who need the most support, why simply adding "more data" about people with disabilities can make an AI system more confident and more wrong at the same time, and what it will actually take to build systems that work for all of us, not just the statistical middle. Before we jump in, here are three things to listen out for: First: the Human Starburst. Since 1979, Jutta has been informally collecting one question from almost everyone she meets: what do you need to thrive? Plotted out, the answers form a starburst. Around 80% of needs cluster tightly near the centre, while the remaining 20% scatter across the huge, jagged periphery, and that's where people with disabilities tend to land. Nearly every system we design, from products to health care to education, works reasonably well for the centre and breaks down completely at the edges. Second: more data doesn't fix a biased AI, it can make it more confidently wrong. Jutta tells the story of testing self-driving car models with footage of a friend who pushes her wheelchair backwards through intersections, a real but statistically rare behaviour. Every system decided it was safe to proceed. The fix everyone suggested was more data. When Jutta retested with additional, even oversampled data, the systems didn't get safer, they got more confident that people in wheelchairs move forward, and would have run her over with greater certainty. Third: real inclusion means full participation, not personas. Jutta argues that people with lived experience of disability need to be in the room to frame the problem in the first place, not consulted after the fact through empathy exercises or diagnostic categories that flatten how varied disability actually is. She's chaired the technical committee behind Canada's new accessible and equitable AI standard, and she makes the case, backed by economic modelling, that designing for the whole spectrum from day one actually costs less over time, not more.Right, let's get into it. This is Hyun Song's conversation with Dr. Jutta Treviranus. Enjoy.
47 min · Aug 2026
Sarah Stone McDevitt
In this episode of This is HCD, Gerry Scullion is joined by Sarah Stone McDevitt, an author, dyslexia advocate and SaaS ecosystems specialist, in a conversation that started as a favour to a friend and ended up as one of Gerry's favourite reads of the year.
47 min · Aug 2026
Jamaal Digital Davis
In this episode of This is HCD, guest host Hyun Song kicks off her special series on inclusive design and accessibility, in conversation with Jamaal Digital Davis, a senior inclusive designer at Yahoo and founder of Inclusive Tech Club.
2 min · Aug 2026
Hyun Song
I'm delighted to introduce Hyun Song, someone I've come to know through the Coaching Community here at This is HCD. Hyun is an exceptional practitioner and thinker, and a valued member of our community - someone who embodies the values we hold as human-centred design practitioners.
85m min · Jul 2026
Leisa Reichelt
"The next most important thing that I did was I didn't negotiate with myself before I negotiated with them. I think we do it a lot, where we go, what do we need to make this work? And we look at it and we go, oh, that's too much, they'll never go for that. I'd better tone it down to something that doesn't look so outrageous. And then you take that in, and they negotiate you down even further, and you end up with not enough. So I wrote down what I thought I needed, and I went and I asked for that. And I didn't get that, but I got a good chunk of it."
46 min · Jul 2026
Juan Garcia Mansilla
Gerry sits down with Juan, co-founder of Unit 1, the company behind the smart helmets Gerry's whole family now wears. They cover the pandemic pivot from ski helmets to cycling, why people don't wear helmets (and how design fixes that), what MIPS actually does, teaching drivers to read turn signals on a cyclist's head, and the newly announced Bosch partnership connecting helmet and e-bike. Plus the 35-minute customer support call that convinced Gerry this is what human-centred business looks like.
38 min · Jul 2026
Gary David
Gerry sits down with Dr. Gary David — design sociologist at Bentley University and host of the Experience by Design podcast. They explore what sociology brings to design that psychology can't: from finding common ground with people who see the world radically differently, to why a beloved "Approve All" button in a medical records system is a patient-safety risk hiding behind great UX. Plus: AI as a monkey with a hammer, the classroom's return to analog, and what designers should do when leadership isn't convinced their work matters.
12 min · May 2026
Gerry Scullion
A solo episode this week. Gerry opens up two things close to his heart: a call for real, messy-middle case studies for the forthcoming book This is Human-Centred Design, and an invitation to join the This is HCD community while a few spots remain. Honest work, fair pricing, and the real story behind the name along the way.
42 min · May 2026
Ben Reason
Starting a new role in an organisation that doesn't understand service design? The UK Parliament faced something similar. They had a backlog five times their capacity, no clarity on what services they actually provided, and no way to prioritise. Livework co-founder Ben Reason shares how his team helped Parliament recognise its services, organise around customer journeys, and deliver a transformation two years ahead of schedule. If you're trying to make the case for design in your organisation, this one's for you.
45 min · May 2026
Caroline Jarrett
Forms expert Caroline Jarrett joins Gerry to talk about why the rush to AI is colliding with something most organisations haven't fixed - their own data. A conversation about errors, forms, and the unglamorous work that actually moves the dial.
6 min · May 2026
Gerry Scullion
Your research is solid. The stories are real. But your boss only wants to know the ROI. In this episode, Gerry breaks down how to reframe your design findings in the language metrics-driven leaders already trust, so your insights actually get acted on.
5 min · Apr 2026
Gerry Scullion
Starting a new role as a designer or consultant? Those first few weeks are make or break. Gerry shares three practical ways to build credibility fast: solving other people's problems first, learning the organisation's language before introducing design jargon, and keeping a log of every contribution you make. Credibility is built through a steady drumbeat of small, visible wins.
6 min · Mar 2026
Gerry Scullion
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.
50 min · Feb 2026
Behrad Mirafshar
Behrad Mirafshar joins Gerry to cut through the AI hype — where the real value sits for designers, how to charge more with AI, and what scares him most about it.
42 min min · Feb 2026
Louise Dennison O'Shaughnessy
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.
70 min · Jan 2026
Dr. Rami Kaminski
The Psychology of Not Belonging: A Conversation with Dr. Rami Kaminski
19 min · Nov 2025
Marc Stickdorn
Marc Stickdorn on Journey Management, AI & Leading Change in Chaotic Times
8 min · Nov 2025
HCD News Roundup - AI Reshapes UX Careers plus Canva acquires Affinity and more
HCD News Roundup - AI Reshapes UX Careers plus Canva acquires Affinity and more
31 min · Nov 2025
Lucy Kimbell
Public Design, Power & the Future of Services — with Lucy Kimbell
62 min · Nov 2025
Chelsea Mauldin
When Chelsea Mauldin first introduced design thinking into the U.S. government, she ran straight into scepticism — back then, design was often dismissed as “throw pillows and pretty fonts.
21 min · Oct 2025
Ali Fawkes
Design isn’t just creativity — it’s care. In this episode, Gerry sits down with Ali Fawkes, Head of Social Innovation at Humanly (founded by Jenni Parker) to unpack practical safeguarding and trauma-informed practice in design research.
48 min · Oct 2025
Johanna Lundqvist
Gerry Scullion talks with Johanna Lundqvist, a former hospice nurse turned designer, about the wisdom gathered from years of palliative care.
56 min · Oct 2025
Thea Snow
Everything is Everything: Imagination, Justice & Reimagining Government with Thea Snow
21 min · Sep 2025
Mike Parker
Liminal Breaks with Mike Parker 'Riding the Storm – When the World Feels Like Too Much'
58 min · Sep 2025
Steven Puri
From Hustle to Flow – Steven Puri on Real Productivity
44 min · Sep 2025
Sara Fortier
Scaling Design Talent with Sara Fortier
19 min · Sep 2025
Mike Parker
Liminal Breaks by Mike Parker 'Drift to Peace'
65 min · Sep 2025
Aubrey McCarthy
A Senator, a Judge & Four Women in Recovery: Breaking Ireland’s Cycle of Addiction and Prison
51 min · Aug 2025
Rachel Knight
Carrying Stories: Researcher Well-being and the Cost of Caring with Rachel Knight
68 min · Aug 2025
Allen Bobinac
Systems of Care – Allen Bobinac on Rethinking Homelessness and Addiction Support Services
5 min · Aug 2025
Relaunching the Global Human Centered Design Directory
Relaunching the Global Human Centered Design Directory
64 min · Aug 2025
Darragh McCullough
This episode is a must-watch for changemakers, designers, entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about what modern farming can become.
48 min · Jun 2025
Adam Cochrane
Explore the transformative role of facilitation in design with Adam B. Cochran, highlighting its impact on team alignment and decision-making.
67 min · Jun 2025
Jaclyn Suzuki
Discover the transformative power of play across different ages and cultures in this insightful episode with Jaclyn Suzuki and Gerry Scullion.
35 min · Jun 2025
Mike Parker
"🌟 Dive into the world of Liminal Coaching with Gerry Scullion and Mike Parker on This is HCD. Discover how intentional daydreaming, the default mode network, and liinal practices can unlock creative breakthroughs.
59 min · May 2025
Myriam Hadnes
Explore the shift from conventional professionalism to authentic self-expression with Myriam Hadnes, as discussed with Gerry Scullion. A must-watch for embracing genuine connections!
54 min · May 2025
Tim Yeo
Explore the intersection of introversion and leadership as Gerry Scullion interviews Tim Yo, uncovering practical tools and insights for introverts in modern workplaces.
45 min · May 2025
Lee Moreau
In this unfiltered and deeply reflective episode, Gerry Scullion speaks with Lee Moreau – architect, educator, and founder of Other Tomorrows – about the state of design amidst global turbulence.
42 min · Apr 2025
Marc Stickdorn
Explore strategies for achieving alignment in organizations with insights from Mark Stickdorn, focusing on Journey Management and the role of visualization in driving change.
52 min · Apr 2025
Steve Baty
Discover the transformation from human-centered to life-centered design with insights from industry leaders on sustainable practices and strategic design's role in future governance.
42 min · Apr 2025
Jamie Shields
Explore how to unlearn ableism and foster authentic disability inclusion with Jerry Scullion and Jamie Shields in this eye-opening episode.
44 min · Mar 2025
Suzanne Hanway
"Exploring Holistic Approaches, Challenges, and Collaborative Solutions in Supporting Neurodivergent Individuals"
36 min · Mar 2025
Jill Schulman
Discover the science of bravery and how it impacts leadership in the workplace with Jill Schulman, exploring mindset, action, and relationships.
30 min · Mar 2025
Tanuj Shah
Join us for an insightful episode featuring Tanuj Shah, a seasoned UX entrepreneur and founder of Build UX. Discover how Build UX is transforming the way designers work with its innovative tools that streamline research and design workflows. Tanuj discusses the challenges of current UX processes, the importance of live and collaborative UX artifacts, and the future of UX tools integrating AI and workflow enhancements. If you're a UX designer, researcher, or product leader, this is a must-listen to understand how to maintain research integrity while accelerating UX documentation processes. Take advantage of exclusive discounts for Build UX and elevate your design game. Tune in and get inspired to rethink your approach to UX!
43 min · Mar 2025
Marzia Aricò
In this episode, Gerry Scullion sits down with Marzia Aricò to explore the hard truths of design leadership. They discuss why trust is essential, the pitfalls of evangelizing design, and why the role of design leadership may not exist in the future as we know it. Marzia shares insights from her book, Design Leadership Chronicles, and offers practical advice for emerging leaders looking to make an impact.
42 min · Feb 2025
Joff Outlaw
In this episode, I sit down with Joff Outlaw and Brad Marshall, co-authors of Busy Idiots, to explore the modern obsession with busyness and the digital distractions that keep us in a perpetual cycle of inefficiency.
43 min · Feb 2025
Tracy DeLuca
In this episode, Tracy DeLuca discusses how design and psychedelics can transform mental health care and education.
33 min · Feb 2025
Lesley-Ann Noel
In this engaging conversation, Gerry Scullion speaks with Lesley Ann, a designer and author from Trinidad, about her journey from her Caribbean roots to becoming a global citizen and leader in decolonial design..
42 min · Jan 2025
Lucy Flores
In this episode of This is HCD, Gerry Scullion sits down with Lucy Flores, a seasoned design strategist with a passion for advancing equity in the food system.
58 min · Dec 2024
Victor Udoewa
In this conversation, Victor Udoewa shares his journey as a service designer at the CDC, discussing the importance of human-centered design in public health, the challenges of data interoperability, and the need to build trust within communities.
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