Rob Whiting 📓
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whitingx.bsky.social
Rob Whiting 📓
@whitingx.bsky.social
#Research & #Design at @merlan.bsky.social ⟹ Narrow of purpose, wide of vision. ツ
‘What went right this week: the good news that matters.’

“ #Biodiversity was brought into focus, #Helsinki went a year without a road death, and investment in #Renewables surged, plus more good news.”

www.positive.news/society/good...
What went right this week: the good news that matters
Biodiversity was brought into focus, Helsinki went a year without a road death, and investment in renewables surged, plus more good news
www.positive.news
August 29, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Reposted by Rob Whiting 📓
Design books

Apple's design process. Creative Selection is a great description of the design process.

us.macmillan.com/books/978125...

#Booksky #design #books #designbooks #Apple
August 28, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Reposted by Rob Whiting 📓
COMING UP: #Norwich #Amiga Group meet at Albion Games Cafe on Friday 19th September, 5-10pm. As always, it's open to anybody so just pop in on the night for plenty of Amiga-related activities with our great community.
August 25, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Reposted by Rob Whiting 📓
A free creative writing opportunity for 18–25 year olds in Yorkshire ✍

Applications are now open for Life in a Northern Town, a playwriting course led by Northern Broadsides.

1/3
LIFE IN A NORTHERN TOWN - Northern Broadsides
www.northern-broadsides.co.uk
August 28, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Reposted by Rob Whiting 📓
You might not know:

There used to be a hidden page for many services on GOV.UK, which would display the underlying user need through a user story and its alignment with the platform proposition.

You just had to insert /info to any service landing page’s URL.

I still think it’s brilliant.
August 28, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Forty Minutes: 1984 Voices in a City.

“[A] Comparison between life in #Orwell 's novel and the reality of life in #1984.”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwNW...
Living in Britain in 1984 | Forty Minutes: Voices in a City | Classic BBC Documentary | BBC Archive
YouTube video by BBC Archive
www.youtube.com
August 28, 2025 at 9:44 AM
“The UK has lost a quarter of its clubs and late night venues since 2020.”

www.musicradar.com/music-indust...
Coming like a ghost town: The UK has lost a quarter of its clubs and late night venues since 2020
Towns are becoming “night-time deserts” warns Night Time Industries Association
www.musicradar.com
August 28, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Reposted by Rob Whiting 📓
🦊

I wrote about the administration’s “national design studio,” and how its shoddy construction isn’t a mistake. It’s a clear signal of priorities, and ones we need to actively, urgently rebuke. ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/a-noti...
A notional design studio. — ethanmarcotte.com
A design language, if you can keep it.
ethanmarcotte.com
August 27, 2025 at 4:32 PM
@dhruvbhutani.bsky.social on how ‘Smart devices are turning out to be a poor investment’.

“… we are left with the remains of a dream unfulfilled and electronics that respond to the whims, fancies, and ever-changing business decisions of corporations …”

www.androidpolice.com/smart-device...
Smart devices are turning out to be a poor investment
Smart devices were supposed to make life better, but constant updates have made them worse
www.androidpolice.com
August 27, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Reposted by Rob Whiting 📓
Light green leaves
August 27, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Reposted by Rob Whiting 📓
👀 The TypeTogether Premier service/partnership is FREE, omg

• access to typefaces
• free professional advice on type and typography! pairing! legibility! terroir!

Check out the offer 👇
Join Premier to try Sakkal Saad /// The release of the Sakkal Saad typeface by Dr Mamoun Sakkal is still a few weeks away, but members of TypeTogether’s Premier programme can already try it in their designs.

Join here: premier.type-together.com

🧵 1/4

#typography #fontsky #graphicdesign #Arabic
August 27, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Festival of Commoning

“A celebration of people acting together to build #Commons of all kinds.”

📆 12th-13th September 2025
📍 Stroud, Gloucestershire

🎟️ festival-of-commoning.org

^ via @acuity.design
home2 | Festival of Commoning
festival-of-commoning.org
August 27, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Reposted by Rob Whiting 📓
NYT: Joe Gebbia wants to make government services more “satisfying.” Some peers in the design industry are skeptical

Me: that's me, I'm one of the peers

“"It looks a little bit like a stunt hire,” Mr. Hon said."

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/s...
From Airbnb to America’s ‘Chief Design Officer’
www.nytimes.com
August 27, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Reposted by Rob Whiting 📓
The UK government will be carrying out a national test of the Emergency Alerts system on Sunday 7 September at 3pm.
Here you can find a variety of assets, including easy read, BSL & audio) to share on your channels and help amplify the campaign.
prepare.campaign.gov...
August 26, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Reposted by Rob Whiting 📓
Something I and many others in the NHS have spent months working on has just gone live, a big update to design system and frontend! 🎉

See service-manual.nhs.uk/design-syste... for the changes.

Not super glamorous work, but it helps improve the foundations for our digital services.
Updating to version 10 - NHS digital service manual
In August 2025, we released version 10 of the design system and NHS.UK frontend library with new features, updates and bug fixes.
service-manual.nhs.uk
August 27, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Reposted by Rob Whiting 📓
My gentle beginner-friendly introductory Sonic Pi course is currently discounted for only one more week.

Learn the basics of coding *and* music - no prior experience necessary.

Use code SUMMER_SALE to unlock a 33% discount - only valid during August.

sonic-pi-studio.teachable.com/p/sonic-pi-i...
Sonic Pi - Introduction
sonic-pi-studio.teachable.com
August 27, 2025 at 8:49 AM
An interesting looking new 📘 book.

Some great examples of #Architecture in this space. I'm a particular fan of the #SamScorer designed hyperbolic paraboloid roof structure used for Markham Moor petrol station (subsequently a Little Chef, then a Starbucks).
August 27, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Reposted by Rob Whiting 📓
226 of the UK's most interesting service/petrol/gas stations. All bound in a new book from Philip Butler.
www.philipbutlerphotography.com/latest
August 27, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Reposted by Rob Whiting 📓
I'm giving away the last few copies of my book, from the early print runs in 2021/22. Email me if you'd like one! Details here: gilest.org/notes/free-b...
gilest.org: Free copies of my book for charities
gilest.org
August 27, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Reposted by Rob Whiting 📓
What’s the best documentary you’ve ever seen?
August 27, 2025 at 8:33 AM
‘Ways of Seeing … examines how we view #Art.’

“Based on the 1972 BBC series and comprised of 7 essays, 3 of which are entirely pictoral …”

www.ways-of-seeing.com
Ways of Seeing by John Berger
Ways of Seeing by John Berger is a seminal text based on the 1972 BBC series of the same name, which explores the role of art in western civilization and how it has shaped how the world is seen.
www.ways-of-seeing.com
August 27, 2025 at 8:24 AM
‘The Sound of Software.’

Some useful insights on approaches to sound design in software development.

notbor.ing/words/the-so...
The Sound of Software | !Boring Software
How to design sound that elevates software and won't drive you crazy
notbor.ing
August 27, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Reposted by Rob Whiting 📓
CLOSING SOON: We're looking for a Policy and Research Manager to join our Healthy Lives team.

In this pivotal role, you'll lead the delivery of policy development and research projects to influence government and employers to improve workforce health.

Apply by 31 August ⬇️

https://bit.ly/3HaGakk
August 27, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Reposted by Rob Whiting 📓
We are looking for Assistant Stage Manager Book Covers for two upcoming Sheffield Theatres productions!

A Christmas Carol
Contract Dates: Monday 17 November 2025 to Saturday 10 January 2026

The Ladies Football Club
Contract Dates: Monday 16 February to Saturday 28 March 2026
August 26, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Reposted by Rob Whiting 📓
Do you have a track record of producing top quality research and policy analysis? Do you have a detailed understanding of health policy and its political context?

Take a look at our Senior Fellow vacancy and apply by 31 August. #researchjobs

www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/job/senior-f...
Senior Fellow (SF05/25)
We are looking to recruit a Senior Fellow to lead on projects across a range of topics within health and care.
www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk
August 21, 2025 at 1:12 PM