Hello! I’m Michael
A design researcher,
writer, and
speaker
I have interdisciplinary interests and write First & Fifteenth, a newsletter featuring my essays on human-computer interaction, conceptual art, Black Geographies, and data justice.
In February 2025, I will be speaking at Research by the Sea in Brighton.
In the past, I have spoken at The Conference in Malmö; UK Parliament Digital Service conference, SPACE4, and UNPARSED in London; ffconf, and UX Camp in Brighton, and Design Thinking Zeal online.
My work uses socio-technical approaches to examine how people use technology, while seeking to deeply understand the personal, social, political and historical contexts -- ultimately, contributing to an improved design so people of all abilities can benefit.
In February 2025, I will be speaking at Research by the Sea in Brighton.
In the past, I have spoken at The Conference in Malmö; UK Parliament Digital Service conference, SPACE4, and UNPARSED in London; ffconf, and UX Camp in Brighton, and Design Thinking Zeal online.
My work uses socio-technical approaches to examine how people use technology, while seeking to deeply understand the personal, social, political and historical contexts -- ultimately, contributing to an improved design so people of all abilities can benefit.
Writing
Talks
Research by the Sea, Brighton
Feb 2025
ffconf, Brighton
Nov 2024
SPACE4, London
Oct 2024
UK Parliament Digital Service, London
Sept 2024
The Conference, Malmö
Aug 2024
UNPARSED, London
Jun 2024
UX Camp, Brighton
Apr 2024
UX Camp, Brighton
Apr + Oct 2023
Design Thinking Zeal #42, online
Feb 2022
Services
Design research
Conference speaking
Enterprise strategy
Project management
Knowledge management
Accessibility testing
Career
UK Parliament Digital Service, London
User experience researcher
Mar 2024 - now
UXMICHAEL.CO, London
Design researcher // Public speaker
Sep 2023 - now
Fluent Interaction, London
User experience researcher
Apr 2022 - Sep 2023
UXMICHAEL.CO, London
User experience researcher
Jan 2020 - Sep 2020
SWIFT, London
Senior anti-financial crime consultant
Sep 2015 - Mar 2022
Bank of England // Euroclear // Santander, London
SWIFT, RTGS and Unix Systems payment specialist
Sep 1998 - Aug 2015
Projects
About me
My career began during the late 1990s in the financial services industry, where I gained expertise in payments, anti-money laundering and sanctions for some of the largest banks in the UK, EU, and USA.
After transitioning into design from 2019, I felt there was a disconnect between design research in academia and industry. I try to bridge this gap by using an art-led approach taking in research from human-computer interaction, data justice, and Black Studies to enrich my methods and insights.
I have spoken in the UK at ffconf, SPACE4, UK Parliament Digital Service and UX Camp, in Sweden at The Conference, and online at Design Thinking Zeal. I have also participated in panels for City Alumni, CONVERS(AI)TIONS, and Ladies That UX Brighton.
I currently write First & Fifteenth, a fortnightly newsletter for researchers, technologists and creative thinkers. I have also had my writing published by the Design Research Society.
After transitioning into design from 2019, I felt there was a disconnect between design research in academia and industry. I try to bridge this gap by using an art-led approach taking in research from human-computer interaction, data justice, and Black Studies to enrich my methods and insights.
I have spoken in the UK at ffconf, SPACE4, UK Parliament Digital Service and UX Camp, in Sweden at The Conference, and online at Design Thinking Zeal. I have also participated in panels for City Alumni, CONVERS(AI)TIONS, and Ladies That UX Brighton.
I currently write First & Fifteenth, a fortnightly newsletter for researchers, technologists and creative thinkers. I have also had my writing published by the Design Research Society.
In 2015, I gained certification as a TOGAF Enterprise Solutions Architect.
In 2022, I graduated with Distinction from City, University of London with an MSc in Human-Computer Interaction Design.
My dissertation was an empirical study, exploring why voice assistants produce unequal outcomes for people who speak English with international, regional British accents, or marginalised sociolects.
My dissertation was supervised by Dr. Alex Taylor.
In 2022, I graduated with Distinction from City, University of London with an MSc in Human-Computer Interaction Design.
My dissertation was an empirical study, exploring why voice assistants produce unequal outcomes for people who speak English with international, regional British accents, or marginalised sociolects.
My dissertation was supervised by Dr. Alex Taylor.
