About Us
It's our mission to spread design and data best practice and shape a better, connected world.
 DALL·E 2024-05-01 15.51 |  DALL·E 2024-05-01 15.51 |  DALL·E 2024-05-01 15.55 |
|---|---|---|
 DALL·E 2024-05-01 15.52 |  DALL·E 2024-05-01 16.01.04 - contemporary illustration network cyber security people |  DALL·E 2024-05-01 16.02.54 - contemporary illustration infrastructure asset management |
 DALL·E 2024-05-01 16.05.10 - contemporary illustration smart city connections people |  DALL·E 2024-05-01 16.07.02 - contemporary illustration smart city connections people |
Our Story
Design+Data was founded by Nick Lewis and Leanne Coker, bringing together their expertise in service design, systems-thinking, data architecture and analytics. They have more than 30 years combined experience delivering digital services and systems across the public and private sectors.
Nick and Leanne met in 2010 whilst working on big infrastructure projects at a global engineering consultancy. Nick was a data consultant, Leanne a design engineer and they quickly discovered the benefits a blended design/data capability can bring to teams. Their career paths diverged in the years that followed with each honing their skills in different arenas. Leanne went on to work at a large systems engineering firm then a startup digital agency where she developed her specialisms in service design, systems-thinking and agile delivery. Meanwhile Nick set up a successful business as a freelance data consultant, delivering infrastructure asset management systems for the transport sector.
In 2022 they joined forces to create Design+Data, an agency on a mission to share design and data best practice and help shape a better, connected world.
​
​
_edited.jpg)
How We Work
A strong set of principles guide how we work, whatever the brief.
Iterative and incremental
We've seen enough projects fail to know that The 'Big Bang' approach to transformation doesn't work in large organisations. Projects that set out to change too much at once can easily end up delivering nothing. It's a story we've seen play out too many times, and at huge cost to organisations and people. Agile working isn't a silver bullet solution that fits every context, but we believe the iterative and incremental philosophy can and should be adopted across more sectors.
​
Systems Perspective
We are systems-thinkers and use this approach to tackle complex problems. We help teams think holistically and consider all parts of the system. When designing new services we look beyond the technology and data to also consider people, process and environment. We look at how these elements interact and how the system changes over time. Our team are skilled at integrating different workstreams and leading multi-disciplinary teams. In todays interconnected world this systems perspective is becoming increasingly vital to success.
Outcomes focus
To successfully roll out new technologies, organisations need a clear and validated line of sight to expected benefits. At Design+Data we have developed a robust framework for thinking about and measuring outcomes and it guides us in all we do. When re-designing systems and services we focus on 4 interconnected dimensions for improvement - efficiency, reliability, access and experience. It’s our mission to drive progress in these areas because we know it will keep us moving towards a more resilient, sustainable and equitable future.