Insights - NEC Digital Studio

A graphical illustration of 2 hexagonal shapes. In the foreground of one is the word 'Policy' in large text. In the forefront of the other is the word 'Design' in smaller text.

27 March 2025 · Articles

Opening the door to user-centred design in policy creation

In this article, our Head of Design Gavin Maguire explores how government ministers are now embracing the value of user-centred design (UCD) and why this provides a great context for practitioners to help policy-makers adopt the approach.

A graphic illustration of a book lying flat and open with 2 pages in view. The word 'playbook' is written underneath.

4 February 2025 · Articles · News

Our playbook powers services that work for life’s complexities

The NEC Digital Studio playbook is now publicly available online, full of information about what we do and the unique approach we take. Two of its creators – Strategy Director Phee Kinnear and Propositions Lead Annie Tucker – chat about why it’s there and how people can use it.

An orange outlined illustration of a house.

16 January 2025 · Articles

The role of service design in social housing

In this blog post, Becky Mallaband, our Head of Learning Design talks to Dave Skinner (formerly of Incommunities Housing Association) about the role Service Design has to play in the housing sector.

22 November 2024 · Articles

Participatory methods for inclusive and contextual research

In this article Senior User Researcher Rebecca Partridge explores how a shift to more online research methods can impact certain user groups, and why re-introducing more participatory methods will encourage more inclusive and contextual research.

22 November 2024 · Articles

The value of Research Operations for project teams

Research Operations, often known as Research Ops or ReOps, is a discipline that’s essential for organisations seeking to scale the operations of their research. Here, one half of NEC Digital Studio’s Research Ops team, Kirstie, shares her reflections on how this function brings value to project teams and clients.

22 November 2024 · Articles

The value of Research Operations for participants

Research Operations, often known as Research Ops or ReOps, is a discipline that’s essential for organisations seeking to scale the operations of their research. Here, User Researcher and one half of NEC Digital Studio’s Research Ops team, Anu, shares their reflections on how we utilise this function to bring value to projects from a participant perspective.

27 September 2024 · Articles

Dusting off the User Research toolkit

In this article Principal User Researcher Nicola Graham-Marti explores why the shift to online research methods has happened, how this enabled our work to continue during the pandemic and what we could regain from broadening our research techniques again.

27 August 2024 · Articles

5 ways to embrace diversity in user research teams

Unlike other design-related specialisms, there isn’t a traditional route into User Research (UR), and like many others, our team come from a wide range of backgrounds. In this article, Senior User Researcher Will Newton explains how we turn this ambiguity into opportunity at NEC Digital Studio and shares his top tips on utilising the diverse experience of UR teams to your advantage.

8 July 2024 · Articles · News

Welcome to NEC Digital Studio

NEC Digital Studio puts life at the centre of services, positively changing how people experience the world.

24 January 2024 · Articles

A Researcher’s career journey: from the academy to the user

Becoming a User Researcher isn’t always a linear journey like other careers can be. In this article, Gordon Tait, User Researcher at NEC Digital Studio, reflects on his lifelong passion for research, and shares what he has learned from applying his practice in different contexts throughout his career.

28 November 2023 · Articles

9 things to remember when doing research with underrepresented communities

Anu Samaraweera and Chandni Patel co-author this article, with support from their colleague Jane Leggat, based on their experiences of facilitating research with underrepresented communities of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.

Women on laptop for public sector web accessibility

15 September 2023 · Articles

Digital Divide: The impact of public sector web accessibility on users with visual impairments

The accessibility of public sector websites is key for enabling people with disabilities access to vital information. This report examines common issues and how these can be resolved.