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Authenticity, creativity and transcendence are the ultimate outcomes of Universal Design. They are each the product of separate models that form the three-legged stool of the individual rather than the environment. So how is this achieved?   Principles [dropcap]O[/dropcap]ur most fundamental needs, according to Abraham Maslow, starts with establishing the physical basics of food, sleep, […]

The idea that we are what we eat has been around for a long time, but perhaps we are also defined by what we own.   Recognise [dropcap]T[/dropcap]here is a recognised medical condition called ‘affluenza,’ in which the stress associated with the need to own stuff – combined with the costs of maintaining, storing and […]

A shift in mindset is the first requirement of Universal Design. From an emphasis on capital that prioritises social value over fiscal, Universal Design challenges human nature at its core. So how is this shift brought about?   Principles [dropcap]O[/dropcap]ur most fundamental needs are the Sense of Place and our security with regards to ‘I […]

Words, ideals and optimisation are one thing, the reality of being a blind and deaf tetraplegic with arthritis is quite another. Throw cultural expectations and personal authenticity into the mix, and is the outcome a dignified one?   Principles [dropcap]E[/dropcap]ach of us needs a Sense of Place, an awareness and acceptance in our spirit of […]

Agility and the home office – are these the ‘new normal’ of Level 2 life? And is it a tilt or a re-levelling of the workplace playing field? I explore these themes in a 4 part series. Part 3 : Tilting at the loom? This establishment of a ‘new normal’ doesn’t stand on its own, […]

Agility and the home office – are these the ‘new normal’ of Level 2 life? And is it a tilt or a re-levelling of the workplace playing field? I explore these themes in a 4 part series. Part 4 : Tilting – or cheating? [dropcap]W[/dropcap]hen a pinball machine is nudged a little too hard, it […]

Blogs have evolved from supplying commentary around any given topic to become a powerful marketing tool. They’re like the pawn that got to the other end of the board. Blogs – the New Queen on the board? Gambit [dropcap]C[/dropcap]hronologically they are listed with the most recent at the top, and often written in diary form. Ultimately […]

What do your legs look like?   Relationships [dropcap]I[/dropcap]’ve always liked the model of the 3-legged stool when trying to establish a foundation for any enterprise. So when it comes to business, my three legs are: Business is about relationships Never take a professional criticism personally Establish boundaries between your professional and personal lives. Of […]

Backwards to go forwards – how does that work? Mantras [dropcap]I[/dropcap] seem to have a lot of mantras! Another one of them is “Challenge: EVERYTHING” – I’ve even had a stamp made of it. Alongside that I put three principles that I was taught when I was studying to be an architectural draughtsman. They are: […]

How do we review our own KPi’s when we’re self-employed? How can review ourselves objectively? Determine [dropcap]T[/dropcap]he concept of wellness is the idea that our health is largely driven by our state of mind, and our state of mind determines our performance. From a business point of view, performance powers profits, which is why we […]

We feel we can’t go on, but the cost of getting off is too high? Is there an alternative? And how would we manage it? The Machine [dropcap]B[/dropcap]usiness is relational – it can’t operate in isolation. It is symbiotic, contractual and ongoing. It has both bonuses and penalties, benefits and consequences. But at its core, […]

Communication – the art of telling more than we know. Silence [dropcap]S[/dropcap]ilence tells us more than noise, while space is as valid a design element as any graphic or block of text. Gestalt tells us that the whole is different to the sum of the parts, and we’re all aware that. – whether we like […]

I have always struggled with self confidence, yet I seem to be able to cold call, make appointments to meet with high profile strangers and put my hat in to the ring on occasion. Boundaries [dropcap]H[/dropcap]ow does that work? Why is it that in the presence of highly expressive extraverts, introverts like me tend to […]

Three, two, one, escalate? Three Pay Packets [dropcap]A[/dropcap] social worker who specialised in assisting ‘those on the street’ once told me – “we are each only ever three pay packets away from homelessness ourselves” – and anecdotally, we are all aware of those whose home doesn’t come with a letterbox, an issue which compounds the […]

There is no demarcation between work and life – they have become intrinsic. You can wake up in the middle of the night, and discover that you are still at work. Captain [dropcap]S[/dropcap]elf-employment is a very attractive idea. In his poem ‘Invictus,’ English poet William Ernest Henley writes: “I am the master of my fate, […]