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Hard Problems

@hardproblems.com
48 followers 5 following 25 posts

We're a non-profit that helps tech people to work on the hard problems that matter in the world: problems like public health, climate change, and good government.

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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 29/09/2026
We just published a new article on Hard Problems. Elyce shares the best websites for tech people and designers who want to do meaningful work on problems like healthcare and climate change. Find the best communities, the best content, and great resources. www.hardproblems.com/articles/web...
hardproblems.com
Websites for designers who want to work on hard problems
The best websites for designers, PMs, and technologists looking for meaningful work — thoughtful writing, job boards, and communities.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 16/09/2026
Public policy is where much of the powerful change in the world can happen. What can designers do to support better policy? www.hardproblems.com/articles/des...
hardproblems.com
Design for policy change
Most policy failures are built in before a rule is ever tested. Eniola Ayedun on where design fits in policy-making, from the UK to Nigeria.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 09/09/2026
We just started a new series where we interview design teams that work on gnarly problems. Our first interview was with Resolve to Save Lives. Their design team is trying to help save lives from heart disease around the world. Who we should interview next? www.hardproblems.com/articles/des...
hardproblems.com
Design that improves heart health for millions
Tony Joy tells us what the design team does at Resolve to Save Lives, a global public health nonprofit.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 08/09/2026
We just shared several amazing opportunities for designers on the job board: - Senior Product Design at Our Future Health (genomic research) - Graphic Designer at Great British Energy (nuclear energy) - Head of Creative Studio at State Library Victoria in Australia. www.hardproblems.com/jobs
hardproblems.com
Hard Problems
A nonprofit helping designers to work on the hard problems that matter in the world.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 04/09/2026
We're listening. Thank you.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 03/09/2026
Transitioning to a career to work on climate change, good government, or healthcare can be daunting. One way to make the move is to do a fellowship program. These are often paid and will arm you with new skills and connections. www.hardproblems.com/articles/fel...
hardproblems.com
Fellowships to help you shift into a career designing for impact
A handpicked list of fellowships for designers and technologists moving into impact work — for early career, mid-career, and design leaders.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 31/08/2026
We just added more jobs to the job board. There are 464 active roles for designers, writers, and PMs to work on meaningful problems. www.hardproblems.com/jobs
hardproblems.com
Hard Problems
A nonprofit helping designers to work on the hard problems that matter in the world.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 26/08/2026
Rare opportunity to work on a product used by public health teams all over the world. Good pay too. getodk.org/about/jobs/s...
getodk.org
ODK - Collect data anywhere
Powerful forms to collect the data you need wherever it is. Join the researchers, field teams, and other professionals using ODK to collect data that matters.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 25/08/2026
We are hiring our first intern. This is a paid internship for a designer based in London. Details on the post. www.hardproblems.com/articles/des...
hardproblems.com
We're hiring a part-time design intern in London
Hard Problems is hiring a paid design intern for 9 months in London. Design, writing, and podcast production with a small non-profit helping designers work on the things that count.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 11/08/2026
We just finished reading Why Design is Hard by Scott Berkun and Bryan Zug. It's such a good read and is full of actionable advice for designers who want to build their influence and ship great design work. I love how pithy the book is. Only 100 pages! www.hardproblems.com/articles/why...
hardproblems.com
Why Design is Hard by Scott Berkun and Bryan Zug
Scott Berkun and Bryan Zug's Why Design is Hard is a short, sharp guide to building the influence designers need to ship great work — especially in organizations tackling hard problems.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 08/08/2026
There is a famous quote about design from former Jaguar and Tata motors head, Ralf Speth: “If you think good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design.” Nowhere is this more true than in healthcare. www.hardproblems.com/articles/hid...
hardproblems.com
The hidden costs of bad design
In fields like public health, education, and climate action, poor design is undermining success.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 30/07/2026
Our team at Hard Problems has pulled together our favorite books that will help you on your path to working on gnarly problems. www.hardproblems.com/articles/boo...
hardproblems.com
Books for people who want to work on hard problems
A curated reading list for designers moving into public health, climate change, healthcare, and the public sector — with our top picks and category-by-category recommendations.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 26/07/2026
Joining a charity’s board is an excellent way to use your design, product, and strategic skills for good. We think that joining a charity’s board is an excellent stepping-stone to working full-time on a hard problem. www.hardproblems.com/articles/joi...
hardproblems.com
How to join a nonprofit board
How senior designers and product leaders can find, join, and contribute to nonprofit boards and advisory groups — and use the role as a path to full-time impact work.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 15/07/2026
Our job board now has email alerts. Filter jobs by your location and criteria and you'll receive daily email updates. www.hardproblems.com/jobs
hardproblems.com
Hard Problems
A nonprofit helping designers to work on the hard problems that matter in the world.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 07/07/2026
We just made a massive update to hardproblems.com with a better job board and lots of original writing. Comments and suggestions are very welcome, please.
hardproblems.com
Hard Problems
A nonprofit helping designers to work on the hard problems that matter in the world.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 19/06/2026
Hard Problems now has an awesome job board with hundreds of roles for designers, PMs, copywriters, and researchers on urgent problems in the world. www.hardproblems.com/jobs
hardproblems.com
Hard Problems
A not-for-profit helping designers to work on the hard problems that matter in the world.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 03/06/2025
We had a great conversation last week about how tech people can support public health projects around the world. Video is available now! youtu.be/_1fBpkwNcAA
youtu.be
Why are public health experts looking for technologists?
YouTube video by Hard Problems
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 02/06/2025
We're currently reading @rutgerbregman.com's new book Moral Ambition. It's very good and very aligned with Hard Problems ideas. Definitely worth reading and get a taste with his recent interview on The Daily Show: www.youtube.com/watch?v=djKB...
youtube.com
Rutger Bregman - “Moral Ambition” | The Daily Show
YouTube video by The Daily Show
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Reposted by Hard Problems
Daniel Burka @dburka.bsky.social · 19/05/2025
What are you doing on June 3? We're hosting a dinner in London for 20 people at @hardproblems.com with @andybudd.bsky.social. It's a good opportunity to discuss tech and design with smart and empathetic peers. Please RSVP lu.ma/0iqbo3f6
lu.ma
Dinner at Hard Problems during SXSW London · Luma
Join us for a dinner in the Hard Problems office to meet good tech people and for a discussion of the current state of the industry. You will be asked for…
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 08/04/2025
Join us on Thursday!
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 21/03/2025
Our next event in London (and online) is coming up in a few weeks. Join us on Thursday, April 10 to discuss with ASquared how it's possible for a design agency to focus their work on sustainable development goals. Please RSVP: lu.ma/kme2kbaa
lu.ma
Fireside chat with ASquared: Can a design agency do good in the world and run a successful business? · Luma
We will discuss with three of the leaders of ASquared about their agency's transition to a B-Corp that does half their work with organizations working on…
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 26/02/2025
We are hosting our first campfire chat at Hard Problems, with Brian O'Donnell of the DHIS2 project in public health. Brian will coming to London from Oslo, so we can ask him what it takes to succeed at the intersection of public health and tech. lu.ma/bengeegp
lu.ma
Fireside chat with Brian O'Donnell from DHIS2.org · Luma
Campfire chat We are hosting tech architect Brian O'Donnell (Linkedin) for a fireside chat where we will discuss: Technology in global public health Careers in…
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Reposted by Hard Problems
Our World in Data @ourworldindata.org · 23/01/2025
Cardiovascular disease death rates have fallen rapidly in many countries
This chart presents data on cardiovascular disease death rates per 100,000 people from 1950 to 2021 for four countries: the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy. 

- The United States shows a significant decline in cardiovascular disease death rates, starting from around 500 deaths per 100,000 people in 1950 and dropping to below 150 by 2021, indicating a fourfold decrease.
- France's trend similarly reflects a decrease, with rates starting near 300 in 1950 and falling to around 50 by 2021, illustrating a fivefold reduction.
- The United Kingdom's data mirrors France's, beginning at around 500 in 1950 and reducing to around 100, also representing a fivefold decline.
- Italy exhibits a decline as well, with cardiovascular death rates decreasing from 400 per 100,000 in 1950 to around 100 in 2021, indicating a fourfold reduction.

The data source is the WHO Mortality Database (2024) and the chart is published by OurWorldInData.org.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 17/01/2025
Kick-off 2025: Two great healthcare events in London, some great job openings, and our co-working space will have our first open house days next week. newsletter.hardproblems.com/p/new-co-wor...
newsletter.hardproblems.com
Kick-off 2025
Two great healthcare events in London, some great job openings, and our co-working space will have our first open house days next week.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 17/12/2024
Health icons, AI news, and job opportunities: The healthicons.org project adds new icons that match Material icons, Mozilla summarizes an important article about AI in antenatal care in Zambia. newsletter.hardproblems.com/p/health-icons
healthicons.org
Health icons
Free, open source health icons. Use in your next commercial or personal project. Editing is ok. Republishing is ok. No need to give credit.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 17/12/2024
New co-working space for Hard Problems opens in London: This week we had a soft-launch of our new co-working space in London. Apply for a desk if you want to work in the same space as other people working on the world's big challenges. newsletter.hardproblems.com/p/new-co-wor...
newsletter.hardproblems.com
New co-working space for Hard Problems opens in London
This week we had a soft-launch of our new co-working space in London. Apply for a desk if you want to work in the same space as other people working on the world's big challenges.
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Hard Problems @hardproblems.com · 17/12/2024
Books we like this week: We've been reading some dark and cynical books about tech, design, and changing the world. Trust us... it was worth it. newsletter.hardproblems.com/p/books-we-l...
newsletter.hardproblems.com
Books we like this week
We have been reading some dark and cynical books about tech, design, and changing the world. Trust us... it was worth it.
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