iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 03/08/2026

Just over a week until I finish my current role. Things are starting to feel very, very real. Going to miss so many people. The worst bit about leaving a job is no longer being around the great people you get to work with everyday.

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 19/05/2026

Being in a relationship with a fellow ADHDer doesn’t come without its challenges, but god it is good. Whenever I misplace things like my AirPods, phone, wallet he usually knows where it is. Whenever he loses his, I usually know where they are. Does that make us a power couple? 😂

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 26/12/2025

To fellow neurodivergent people: Well done. We made it through another Christmas. I’m proud of us.

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Reposted by Cal Laird

Craig Abbott @craigabbott.co.uk · 22/12/2025

Autistic burnout, at this time of year. Changes in routine. Increased social activity and masking. Expectations on how you’ll spend your time, your money and your energy. Sensory overload, different lights, textures, smells and sounds. It’s ok not to be ok, even when it’s “the season to be jolly”.

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Sarah Drummond @rufflemuffin.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

I knew this day would come. I'm leaving Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park next year as my board tenure is up. That means, there are board positions up for grabs. In fact, there are 5 as all The Scottish Government appointed members are leaving. bit.ly/3JYmotR

bit.ly

Guide the Future of Our National Park: 2026 Board opportunities - Here. Now. All of us.

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority is on the look out for five new Ministerially appointed board members in 2026.

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 14/12/2025

Zrobiliśmy piernik staropolski (we made traditional Polish gingerbread). Dating a Polish man brings me a lot of joy. Bonus points for the baked goods and hearty cooking.

A plate with a fork lying on it showing half eaten piernik staropolski cake, which is traditional Polish gingerbread. The plate is white with speckled gradient edged plate is in the foreground with a soft focus snowy Christmas tree with warm white lights is in the background.

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 04/11/2025

Today in ADHD: Turns out my work phone does indeed erase itself when you enter the password wrong too many times. I thought it was bluffing.

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 03/11/2025

Trying to find a new ceiling light fitting that doesn’t show a bare bulb at most angles, yet is in the style or colour I want, is turning out to be very hard. Can you just let me be autistic in peace?

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 02/11/2025

Sundays are for shaving your head whilst listening to The Deep Blue Okay by @selfesteem.music-social.com at full volume.

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 24/09/2025

Usually when I run a workshop participants steal my sharpies. It’s always the sharpies. Not today though. They stole my scissors!

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 30/08/2025

After losing weight I told myself I’d cut down on the jumper of jackets, fleeces and hoodies I own. I know have at least double the amount. WHY?!

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 15/08/2025

As a seller, eBay’s “Simple Delivery,” which you must now use for most items, is the least “simple” thing I’ve ever used. May I suggest it is renamed to “eBay Stressful Delivery” or “eBay Delivery Experience That Replaced a Perfectly Functional Delivery Experience That Wasn’t Broken Delivery”

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 24/07/2025

I've seen a handful of Service Design roles at Admiral recently... I'm with them for my car insurance - renewal price was nuts. The process of turning off auto renewal took about 15 clicks and I had to answer a bunch of questions. Please don't make it this hard to turn off auto renew. ARGH.

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 12/07/2025

Selling a lot of my old clothes on Vinted due to weight loss but also realising lots of them are missing their label, because sensory issues. Also remembering how many times I’ve yanked a label off in anger when the feeling has driven me nuts and I’ve then had to sew up the seem on the side…

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 26/06/2025

Does anyone else hate passwordless sign in using email? Passkeys are fine but whenever I have to use sign in via magic link through email my heart sinks

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 26/06/2025

My referral letter came through from my local NHS board the other day. A physical letter, of course. Phoned the central booking team. Made an appointment. Person on the phone said “no problem, I’ll send an appointment letter in the post.” It got me thinking…

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 25/06/2025

Submitted my Self Assessment Tax Return well before the January deadline. This is the first time I’ve managed to do it MONTHS before. Thanks Elvanse.

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Reposted by Cal Laird

Ryan Vamps @ryanvance.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

If you have been chasing some kind of neurodiversity diagnosis on the Scottish NHS for years, you might be interested in filling in this government investigation into why waiting times are so long. www.parliament.scot/about/news/n...

parliament.scot

Committee seeks views on ADHD and autism

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 13/06/2025

Inspired by so many folk who are writing weeknotes, I've joined in! I used to write them in my last job but never shared them publicly. I wanted to get back to informally reflecting on things, found it really useful for myself. This time: they are public. designwithcal.com/weeknotes/1

designwithcal.com

Weeknote 1 — Cal Laird | Service Designer • designwithcal | Dundee

Heatpumps, socialising and squeaking

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 12/06/2025

@octopus.energy Hello! Octopus customer here. Have you guys thought about integrating with Samsung to take advantage of their AI Energy features? Imagining something akin to Octopus Intelligent Go but for home appliances? I think that would be quite cool ;) happy to help work with you as well…

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 10/06/2025

My two modes when I have an appointment are either far too early or late and manically stressed. Why can’t I be in between the two? Why?!

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 07/06/2025

Finished at HMRC on Tuesday as my contract came to an end. 2 years has absolutely flown by! Feels like a long time but also such a short time. So much has happened, both personally and professionally. So grateful to work with such smashing folk. Last Jira ticket moved to review. Over and out.

Silver laptop with its lid closed, a building access pass with a lanyard wrapped around it is sitting on top of the laptop. A headset is also lying on top of the laptop.

A photo of a computer screen showing a Jira ticket being moved to the “Review” column.

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Reposted by Cal Laird

Stamanfar @stamanfar.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Wrote a post about a very niche subject but one which I hope people will consider when designing services: stamanfar.medium.com/can-someone-...

stamanfar.medium.com

Can someone please service design Special Care Dental services?

Perspectives from a SEND mum

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 05/06/2025

Hate how companies are integrating “AI” in to many products or services. It’s usually just some form of machine learning branded as “AI.” It’s so pointless most of the time—think chatbots that can’t actually help you, AI in Squarespace, Mural, etc. Complete marketing gimmick with little value.

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 31/05/2025

Big pet peeve of mine is when you are on the phone to a service provider and the pre-recorded message whilst you wait says “did you know you can do most things using our online service, visit us at blah-dot-com.” There’s a reason why I’m on the phone to you. Don’t rub salt in to the wound!

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 18/05/2025

Booked a trip to Sweden in around a month, very excited, however, I have now entered the manic travel preparation phase. Two questions floating around in my head: 1. Will Ryanair be a pain in the arse about me bringing my CPAP machine. 2. Can I bring my (prescribed) amphetamines with me.

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 15/05/2025

Just a forewarning for those who are thinking of buying a water flosser: Be careful. My bathroom walls, mirror, floor and most of my upper body have been soaked multiple times. I think I’ll use it in the shower going forward 😂

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 09/05/2025

I’ve lost quite a bit of weight in the last 6 months or so. I’m now at that stage where my clothes don’t actually fit me and some jackets look silly. I liked my jackets. Is it weird I want to purchase the same ones but a size down? I really hate change sometimes 😅

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 02/05/2025

My cat's water fountain broke and I am searching for a new one. Now, I love my smart home gadgets but a WiFi connected cat fountain seems a bit too much, even for me.

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 29/04/2025

Took out a new mortgage recently and registered to manage it online. Was expecting to see something with key info, ability to make an extra payment, request things, etc. No! Were my expectations too much? Monzo’s mortgage functionality is better and they’re not even the lender?!

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Jesmond Allen @jesmonda.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Do I know any first-language Welsh speakers who'd be happy to be interviewed in-person (Bristol/SE Wales area) in mid-May for a Linguistic student's dissertation on the sound system of contemporary Welsh...? I can provide more detail if you DM me :-)

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 25/04/2025

Post bank holiday 4-day week has me feeling like I’ve been ran over by a steamroller. Three times. Then scooped back up, put back together and ran over again for good measure. Anyone else?

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 23/04/2025

Hello! I’m on the lookout for good examples of Government letters/forms/correspondence. Can you help?

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 22/04/2025

Sometimes I still doubt I’ve got ADHD and then I find 4 open boxes of Earl Grey tea bags and realise I definitely do 😬

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 22/04/2025

Day 25 of Polish on Duolingo and I’m f*$#ing confused as f%$+.

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 21/04/2025

Saw this 'Red Cord Card' from @euansguide.com today. It's a shame that folk need reminding sometimes so thought this was a fab idea. First time I've seen such a thing. I've seen cords tied up or wrapped over things which can make them inaccessible to those who may need to use them at a time of need.

Image of a 'Red Cord Card' from Euan's Guide which is tied to the bottom of a red pull cord in a disabled toilet. It is lying on a white-specked dark grey floor.

The card reads: "This red emergency cord must hang freely to the floor. If it does not, it may prevent a disabled person from asking for help."

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 20/04/2025

Why is it I genuinely hate loud noises but when I’m seeing an artist I adore I will stand right under the line arrays* and want that 130db of sound right inside me. Line arrays are the hangs of speakers typically seen at concerts. Yes, I know far too much about these sorts of things 😬

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Sarah Drummond @rufflemuffin.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Great write up of our recent trip to BC, to talk connected Government service work. Thanks Marlieke Kieboom for the writing and wise summary and exchange lab for publishing and hosting. Big up @gordonr.ca for helping make this happen digital.gov.bc.ca/2025/04/17/s...

digital.gov.bc.ca

Designing government services that work together: Five lessons from the U.K. – Province of British Columbia

Making digital service delivery easier for public service employees.

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 18/04/2025

Bank hol Friday and I’m still in bed. Feeling the fatigue today. Is this my body telling me I’ve been going too hard recently? I’m inherently bad at understanding and meeting my own needs and often only realise once it’s too late. Does it ever get easier?

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 17/04/2025

Doing manuals for me at work to help build stronger inter-team relationships and mine is the biggest and most detailed. Naturally… 😬

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 09/04/2025

How’s your Wednesday? I’m listening to Self Esteem whilst having a realisation I’m burnt—or burning—out. Do you have any active recovery tips? I cannot stay still for long but I know I need that to really help

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Shaun @sconner.net · 08/04/2025

Last week was autism awareness day. I planned on publishing this article then, but I'm still recovering from a burnout. I finished it today and hit the publish button. If you're interested, it's a deeply personal reflection on the year following my diagnosis.

medium.com

One year later: I wasn’t broken, I was Autistic.

I was diagnosed autistic at 36. “Welcome to the club”, my psychologist said. She confirmed what I had loosely suspected for years. I’m…

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Lizzie Bruce @lizziecake.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

Yes, I had some feedback for the Klinik online "appointment booking" system. Why aren't isn't the UX for GP sites, and appointment booking systems standardised nationally, and why don't they all follow NHS/GOV.UK #design systems?

Screenshot. Thanks for the feedback! Least satisfied indicator is chosen from 4 icon faces. Tell us what you think about our service.
No option for booking smear test, that I could see.
No way to book for multiple appointments about different issues.
No indication of how the GP will make contact.
No appointment booked at the end of the process.
You only choose when the GP might get in touch, some users may think that is booking the actual appointment.
Does not follow NHS or GOV.UK design style which has been usability tested and has accessible design patterns.
My surgery only makes this online form live between 7:30am to 5pm. Entries got to an email address so no reason to close it.
Hard to find Klinik form from homepage.

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 07/04/2025

I’ve been learning Polish. I really want to be able to speak to my partner in his mother tongue. Yes, it’s early days, but seeing his reaction when I could string a sentence or two together made it 100% worth it.

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 07/04/2025

What a week it’s been.

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 01/04/2025

I cannot stand April fool’s day. On a good day, I can barely distinguish between people joking or being serious. I always end up overanalysing everything and feeling super anxious because of this reason on the 1st of April.

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Cal Laird @designwithcal.com · 26/03/2025

Dearest Bluesky. Does anyone know of any paper-based Government forms or letters that are well designed and clear? I’m looking to gather some inspiration to make a case for testing some ideas. If you know of any, I’d appreciate it if you could send examples my way! Thank you

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