This summer, I used the Scandinavian Airlines app to check my family in to our flights. Unexpectedly, it turned into a code-breaking challenge!

An unexpected code-breaking challenge

In digital design, we are conflicted between thinking fast and slow, and between caring and causing harm. I'll explain what is happening, why it is happening, and what we can do to correct it. I'll also give you some concrete advice about checking how appropriate your speed is. The article that this episode is a reading of contains many links to references. I recommend that you <a href="https://beantin.net/digital-design-is-conflicted/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">visit Digital design is conflicted</a> and look at the links. Sound credits:<a href="https://freesound.org/people/Ruben_Uitenweerde/sounds/486166/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Glass breaking</a> by Ruben Uitenweerde (CC BY 3.0 DEED)<a href="https://freesound.org/people/blouhond/sounds/360423/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Female snoring</a> by Blouhond (CC BY-NC 4.0 DEED)<a href="https://freesound.org/people/giddster/sounds/336532/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Breathing, calm, mouth exhale</a> by Giddster (CC0 1.0 DEED)

Digital design is conflicted

In 2006, the same summer as my eldest child was born, I made the move to being self-employed. Over 17 years later, I'm still an independent consultant. Here are 5 pieces of advice if you are just starting out.

My top tips for being self-employed

AI makes you more efficient. Helps you work faster. But does that come with a hidden cost? People are saying that using "AI" saves them time. Anything from a few minutes to hours, but even as much as a typical working day.&nbsp;It helps them work faster.

"AI saves me a day a week"

The experience of a delayed flight highlights the wider impact of poor service design. With an air of authority and accuracy, the departure board said that the gate to for my flight would be shown at 19:27. Not 19:15, not soon, but&nbsp;nineteen twenty seven. "Relax" it said on the screen.&nbsp;"We've got this covered" the screen reassuringly implied.

Final call

My summer project during the summer of 2023 was to revamp my website. Well, that's not strictly true. The project of creating this new website started a few years ago. Actually, not even&nbsp;that&nbsp;is strictly true. The work on&nbsp;this particular plan&nbsp;started this year. Work on a website never ends.

The journey to a new website

A podcast where Senior digital advisor, designer, digital analyst, economist &amp; podcaster, James Royal-Lawson shares audio versions of articles writen and published on <a href="https://beantin.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Beantin.net</a> - Reflections, anecdotes, essays and guides related to digital media, design and measurement.

The talking tin with James Royal-Lawson

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