Weeknotes #28.24

Hey hey hey heyyyy! Wow, weird intro. This week has felt a lot easier going than last week. I think the post Glasto blues have finally worn off! I do have something on which needs attention so it’ll be another short and sweet episode.

This week, we wrapped up our firebreak project and presented back to the department. It was really lovely working in a different team and getting to know more people that I haven’t met yet. A truly lovely bunch so I feel very privileged!

Resuming normal work; I’ve been to two user research sessions and took notes in the both of them. We got some really interesting insights and I’m looking forward to the synthesis and outputs that come from the back of those.

We’re also doing a design sprint next week! I’ve taken it upon myself to facilitate but I recently found out that our timelines are going to have to be squished due to user availability. So instead of having it spread out over five days, it’s going to be a single-day design sprint so that we have a flat prototype ready to test on Tuesday. Wow!! I’ve never ran a week-long design sprint before but that to me felt a lot less daunting than trying to squeeze it all into one day. So instead of spreading the activities out, we’re going to have a workshop-heavy day where we have a knowledge sharing session, ensure everyone is on the same page (to pinch an idea from a lovely colleague of mine, perhaps a pub quiz to check that everyone understands might be a good idea!), and then straight into rapid ideation.

I’m thinking that because our problem is quite narrow as it stands, that we can do a Crazy 8s style activity but with just 4 ideas instead. Hopefully that makes it a lot less daunting as I know that there are some folks who haven’t taken part in a design sprint style activity before.

Lightning talk

So, I stupidly signed up to do a lightning talk tonight. Unfortunately, I’ve been knocked off my socks with really bad hayfever so I need to time the meds right to make sure that I can get through the talk without sounding too nasal or coughing my way through, which is a total social faux pas! Wish me luck… I’ll need it.

I’ve not rehearsed my content too much as I’m hoping to come across as genuine and authentic rather than over-rehearsed. I’ve told myself I’ll be forgiving and kind to myself whenever I inevitably stuff something up but well see.

Here’s a sneak peak of what’s to come:

I’ll be chatting crap about films

In other news

It’s another Thursday weeknotes-drop which can only mean I have exciting weekend plans. I’m off to London tomorrow to catch Abba Voyage over the weekend. I’ve never been to a hologram gig but I’m well excited!! A top tip I got from a friend was that there will be a few songs in the middle that I probably won’t know. She advised not learning them because it’s ideal time for a loo break so I don’t get fomo about missing one of my faves! I’ll take it!

Warmth, positivity, and good vibes, Dani S ✌️☮️