Carrying Stories: Researcher Well-being and the Cost of Caring with Rachel Knight
If you like our content, be sure to sign up to our weekly The Design Compass Newsletter. Design Smarter. Lead Better.Leave a review (+ help us grow): https://ratethispodcast.com/hcdEpisode overviewIn this deeply human episode, Gerry Scullion speaks with Wellington-based design researcher Rachel Knight about the emotional realities of working in social impact. From navigating trauma-informed projects to setting boundaries as a freelancer, Rachel shares powerful insights on staying grounded while doing meaningful work.This conversation is essential listening for anyone working in design research, especially those engaging with vulnerable communities or emotionally charged topics.🔑 Three Key TakeawaysResearcher well-being is non-negotiable: plan for self-care like you plan for scope.Freelancers carry unique risks—build your own emotional safety nets.Lived experience is valuable but can carry hidden costs if not properly supported.Don’t miss this raw and reflective episode. Subscribe and share it with your team.Linksthe original self-care post on Linkedin and the comments where people shared a bunch of resourcessee more about the projects mentioned or get in touch via Rachel's website or sign up to her newsletter for more insights and updates from social impact projectsClick here to watch a video of this episode.
Click here to view the episode transcript.
Creators & Guests
Gerry Scullion - Host
Serdar Mele - Editor
Stef Murphy - Producer
Like what we do? Make a Tip.OrLeave a review: https://ratethispodcast.com/hcdSponsor links10x your service design offering with Smaply. Take 20% off your order with ''ThisisHCD20off'Sign up https://auth.smaply.app/sign-upCheck out This is HCD x Sutsu range. Gerry wears and endorses Sutsu ethical clothing. Get 10% off ScenarioCards.org when you used our link https://scenariocards.org/HCD10
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Systems of Care – Allen Bobinac on Rethinking Homelessness and Addiction Support Services
If you like our content, be sure to sign up to our weekly The Design Compass Newsletter. Design Smarter. Lead Better.Leave a review (+ help us grow): https://ratethispodcast.com/hcdIn this powerful walking episode through Dublin, Gerry speaks with Allen Bobinac, manager of The Lighthouse Café and a man whose journey from sleeping rough in St Stephen’s Green to leading one of Ireland’s most compassionate homelessness services is nothing short of remarkable. Allen shares how lived experience shapes better services, the importance of designing for dignity, and why community is the secret ingredient in recovery. You’ll hear first-hand about Tiglin’s long-term, holistic approach to addiction, trauma, and homelessness, and the vital role of trust, leadership, and purpose in transforming lives.Key Learnings:• Lived experience in leadership ensures services truly meet people’s needs.• Designing for dignity builds trust, safety, and belonging in vulnerable communities.• Long-term, community-centred support is crucial for breaking cycles of homelessness and addiction.https://www.linkedin.com/in/allen-bobinac-ma-1188241a5/https://www.tiglin.ie/Click here to watch a video of this episode.
Click here to view the episode transcript.
Creators & Guests
Gerry Scullion - Host
Like what we do? Make a Tip.OrLeave a review: https://ratethispodcast.com/hcdSponsor links10x your service design offering with Smaply. Take 20% off your order with ''ThisisHCD20off'Sign up https://auth.smaply.app/sign-upCheck out This is HCD x Sutsu range. Gerry wears and endorses Sutsu ethical clothing. Get 10% off ScenarioCards.org when you used our link https://scenariocards.org/HCD10
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Relaunching the Global Human Centered Design Directory
If you like our content, be sure to sign up to our weekly The Design Compass Newsletter. Design Smarter. Lead Better.Leave a review (+ help us grow): https://ratethispodcast.com/hcdIn this short update episode, Gerry Scullion shares an exciting behind-the-scenes change: the Global Human-Centered Design Directory has now moved to the main This is HCD website. What started as a quiet initiative has turned into a valuable resource for connecting values-aligned practitioners across the globe.Discover how this small but intentional update improves access, strengthens the community, and could help you find your next collaborator, mentor, or team member. It’s all part of our ongoing commitment to building a more connected human-centered design ecosystem—together.3 Key Takeaways:The HCD Directory is now live at thisishcd.com/directoryIt’s free, community-driven, and built for peer connectionDesigners can use it to find collaborators globally for work, mentoring, or supportCreators & Guests
Gerry Scullion - Host
Like what we do? Make a Tip.OrLeave a review: https://ratethispodcast.com/hcdSponsor links10x your service design offering with Smaply. Take 20% off your order with ''ThisisHCD20off'Sign up https://auth.smaply.app/sign-upCheck out This is HCD x Sutsu range. Gerry wears and endorses Sutsu ethical clothing. Get 10% off ScenarioCards.org when you used our link https://scenariocards.org/HCD10
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Diarmuid Gavin 'Digging into the world of Garden Design and what Service Design can learn from it'
If you like our content, be sure to sign up to our weekly The Design Compass Newsletter. Design Smarter. Lead Better.Leave a review (+ help us grow): https://ratethispodcast.com/hcdIn this episode, I speak with Irish garden designer and tv personality - Diarmuid Gavin. He has presented gardens at the Chelsea Flower Show on nine occasions from 1995 to 2016 - He has also authored or co-authored at least ten gardening-related books.For regular listeners, you will be familiar with a recent episode I did with 16-time Grammy award-winning producer, Rafa Sardina - well this episode is continuing on that trend. I am really keen to explore other disciplines to see how they work to solve complex problems and also approach their work. I see gardening and working with nature as a direct parallel to working within organisations. Thinking like this, I was excited to speak with Diarmuid to see how he explores designing for the future and chat at length about external factors that could hinder the designer's vision. Diarmuid was a great guest - and wanted to give a big shout out to his wonderful Instagram page where he answers questions regularly through his Live events. So if you are interested and getting started with anything garden related - Diarmuids yer man!Creators & Guests
Gerry Scullion - Host
Serdar Mele - Editor
Stef Murphy - Producer
Like what we do? Make a Tip.OrLeave a review: https://ratethispodcast.com/hcdSponsor links10x your service design offering with Smaply. Take 20% off your order with ''ThisisHCD20off'Sign up https://auth.smaply.app/sign-upCheck out This is HCD x Sutsu range. Gerry wears and endorses Sutsu ethical clothing. Get 10% off ScenarioCards.org when you used our link https://scenariocards.org/HCD10
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Rooted in Innovation: The Future of Farming with Darragh McCullough from RTE's Ear to the Ground and Founder of Elmgrove Farm
If you like our content, be sure to sign up to our weekly The Design Compass Newsletter. Design Smarter. Lead Better.Leave a review (+ help us grow): https://ratethispodcast.com/hcdWhat started as a flower farm has evolved into a thriving community experience with pizza, peonies, and pick-your-own eggs. Together, they explore the deep thinking, sustainable practices, and collaborative mindset driving the farm’s remarkable transformation.Learn how Darragh blends farming tradition with human-centred principles, and discover how change-makers in any industry can be inspired by the resilience, creativity, and adaptability found in modern Irish agriculture.🔑 Key TakeawaysHow to diversify without losing focus: a masterclass in iterative business buildingWhy collaboration (not control) is essential for modern rural enterprisesThe power of customer experience in reshaping farming's role in local communitiesCreators & Guests
Gerry Scullion - Host
Serdar Mele - Editor
Stef Murphy - Producer
Like what we do? Make a Tip.OrLeave a review: https://ratethispodcast.com/hcdSponsor links10x your service design offering with Smaply. Take 20% off your order with ''ThisisHCD20off'Sign up https://auth.smaply.app/sign-upCheck out This is HCD x Sutsu range. Gerry wears and endorses Sutsu ethical clothing. Get 10% off ScenarioCards.org when you used our link https://scenariocards.org/HCD10
Über The Human Centered Design Podcast (This is HCD) | Service Design & UX
Welcome to This is HCD, the premier podcast for human-centered design, with well over 1 million downloads and hosted by Gerry Scullion.
Our mission is to empower designers, changemakers, and innovators to craft a more inclusive and thoughtful future. Each episode brings you engaging conversations with leading voices across service design, UX, interaction design, product management, and more. Together, we explore the nuances of what it means to excel in human-centered design, offering insights, skills, and perspectives to elevate your practice.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just beginning your journey, This is HCD is your destination for actionable ideas and inspiration to drive meaningful change through intentional design.
Tune in, get inspired, and shape the future with This is HCD!
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