Andy Polaine
Touchpoint Observatory: SIM Card Vending Machine
In Germany, mobile phone contracts are 24 months by default, not just for an iPhone. Additionally, there is a culture here whereby contracts are automatically …
Writing & Thinking
A mix of essays and commentary about design, innovation, technology, society, coaching, personal and leadership development. Since 1996.
Pirating 3D objects
Interesting piece in The New Scientist about pirate file-sharing moving into the realm of 3D objects thanks to the growth of cheap 3D printers. Of course the …
Service Design in Tourism 2012 announced
Switzerland, like Austria (where Service Design in Tourism is being held), has a big tourism industry. Mainly in the mountains, of course, but also the lakes …
15 fantastic data visualisations
15 fantastic data visualisations is a collection of “some of the best and most beautiful visualisations on the web that are based on time, geography, …
wemakeit.ch - a new Swiss crowd-funding platform
wemakeit.ch is a new Swiss crowd-funding platform in the style of Kickstarter. It is the “Schweizer Crowdfunding-Plattform für Kunst-, Musik-, Film-, …
Touchpoint Observatory: Velobox
My home town of Offenburg has a whole load of Veloboxes at the station (at both entrances on both sides of the tracks). On one side they even have a Velobox …
The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying
The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying is the result of an Australian palliative care nurse who interviewed her patients over the years. Number two from men? “I …
Interaction Awards 2012 Winners
Sadly I couldn’t be at Interaction ‘12 in Dublin this week, so I’ve been vicariously soaking up the vibe (but not the alcohol) on Twitter and …
Derek & Clive's Labels sketch
Derek & Clive’s Labels sketch is Peter Cook and Dudley Moore tackling service design in a discussion about the use of labels. (Note:This is very much …
Touchpoint Observatory: Send your post from the restaurant
This restaurant in Freiburg, Germany, called Omas Küche (Grandma’s Kitchen) was super family-friendly, but what caught my eye was the first page of the …
Touchpoint Observatory: Armed Ticket Collectors
These people - five in total - were ticket inspectors on an early afternoon bus in Luzern, Switzerland, very much a tourist destination. So why are they …
Accepting Less
Accepting Less is a plea from designer James Victore about getting back on the right path in life - downshifting, essentially. “Emails, chats, texts, …
Designer Founders
Designer Founders is a “non-profit book of 35+ rare personal interviews with the founders of tech-startups who have various design backgrounds.” …
The Myth of the Brand New Innovation Myth
The Myth of the Brand New Innovation Myth I hear a lot of talk about innovation in my travels as an academic and consultant in service design. Innovation is not …
Master level program in Social and Collaborative Housing: Designing, planning and managing the contemporary housing
A new Master level program in Social and Collaborative Housing: Designing, planning and managing the contemporary housing has been organized by the POLI.design …