Reading Circle- Design for Real Life cpt1-2
60 min.
Cost: FREE for all member types, register to join the Open Circle (FREE) for invites.
60 minute discussions over two months, moderated by John Alberts, Learning Advocate
Reading Circle- Design for Real Life
Join us for Design for Real Life (now a Free book)
Design for Real Life by Eric Meyer and Sara Wachter-Boettcher is a must-read if you want to move beyond generic “user-centered” design and build products that truly support people— especially in moments of stress, trauma, or exclusion. The book challenges the notion of edge cases, demonstrating how often these are genuine, yet frequently overlooked, user experiences. It provides practical, actionable guidance for creating more inclusive and compassionate digital experiences. If you work in UX, content, or service design, this short, clear book will shift how you think about responsibility and care in design. It’s a quick read with a lasting impact.
Why this matters: For our book club, this discussion matters because it pushes us to reflect on our own work. How can we better connect the dots between research, design, and real-world impact? How do we close the loop in our own processes to ensure we’re designing responsibly? Let’s explore together
Feel free to join as many Reading Circles as possible (you don’t have to attend all of them to participate).
Reading schedule
| Date | Chapters | Pages |
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|
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| 15 July
11:00 EDT/16:00 BST (UK) |
Chapter 3 “Incorporate Stress Cases”
Chapter 4 “Communicate Context and Intent” |
41-65
|
| 29 July
11:00 EDT/16:00 BST (UK) |
Chapter 5 “Cultivate Compassion”
Chapter 6 “Learn from Users” |
66-91
|
| 5 August
11:00 EDT/16:00 BST (UK) |
Chapter 7 “Humanize Your Process”
Chapter 8 “Make the Case” Conclusion |
92-119
|
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Who You will Learn From
Frank Spillers
Founder - UX Inner Circle
Frank Spillers, MS, founded the UX Inner Circle in 2020 to support senior practitioners facing complex challenges. The community exists to sharpen thinking, increase your confidence, and pressure-test real decisions. It’s built for people doing the work, not just talking about it. Frank founded an award-winning UX and Service Design consultancy (Experience Dynamics) and now leads UX and Service Design at numerous organisations, including the UK Government Digital Service. He has worked with and led teams to deliver hundreds of products and services over several decades. His work spans government, enterprise platforms, nonprofits, and global brands. He brings 25+ years as a senior UX and Service Design leader. His focus areas include Inclusive Design, accessibility, emotion-led design, cross-cultural UX, VR/AR, and UX leadership. His work has directly increased conversion by 88% and revenue by 300% for organizations including Nike, Microsoft, Intel, Capital One, Global Disability Rights Now!, the World Bank, and the City of New York.
