Join us online on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, from 6-8 pm, for an evening exploring how thoughtful design can bring clarity to complexity, whether that’s in public services or the fast-evolving world of artificial intelligence.
What to expect:
Two brilliant talks by Emma Halliday and Ben Zhu, and networking opportunities facilitated by Bobby King and Vinishree.
18:00 Welcome
Talk 1: From Complexity to Clarity: Practical tools for strategic service design
This talk will cover Emma Halliday’s experience in end-to-end service design through collecting and joining the dots, thinking strategically and shaping a shared vision for the future. Emma will talk about how she’s tackled mapping complex systems, bringing people together around common goals and some of the practical tools and takeaways you can use in your own work.
About the speaker:
Emma Halliday is a Lead Service Designer with TPXimpact as well as a systems thinking enthusiast working within government. Emma is passionate about working with others to solve problems and grounds her work in three guiding principles: empathy, clarity and collaboration.
Talk 2: AI that works for people
UX design doesn’t just shape how humans use technology anymore — it’s shaping how AI behaves toward us. In this talk, we’ll discuss about how designers can make AI more trustworthy, adaptable, and human-friendly (without needing to teach it manners). Expect real examples and practical ways to design AI that people actually enjoy using.
About the speaker:
Ben Zhu is a B2B UX designer based in Edinburgh, with experience across startups and SMEs in fields like material handling, nature experiences, tech, and AI. When he’s not designing, he’s collecting Tamagotchis or watching horror films — proof that he loves both cute interfaces and scary systems.
Photo by Ivy Aralia Nizar on Unsplash