Katherine Wastell

I’m an experienced design leader based in the UK. I do service design, strategy, and digital leadership. I’m currently a Director at Public Digital.

 
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Designing at scale

I’ve worked across the spectrum of organisational scales. From big companies like the Co-op, BBC, and the Open University, to small start-ups seeking initial seed funding.

I’ve built teams from scratch. Had business cases approved for team restructures and new roles. Led a 70 person team with 3 levels of management. Set up a brand new function in an enterprise-level organisation.

I lead design teams working across the spectrum of service design, user research, content design, visual design and interaction design. I’ve remained hands-on throughout, directing the approach and strategy while overseeing multiple streams of work.

Balancing strategy and delivery

I work with companies to create strategies that shape businesses, services and products according to the needs of their customers. If there’s no customer problem being solved there is no business.

Delivery is ultimately more important than strategy. Strategy is there to enable positive outcomes through delivery. To get to a good strategy, you have to get into the nuts and bolts of delivery, and operate at both levels.

I can lead design, and do design. I have expert knowledge of the fundamentals, from service mapping through to colour theory. I give direction and feedback to shape and improve design work, according to best practice and the outcomes we need to achieve. User needs and beautiful design are not mutually exclusive.

15+ years of experience in design

I’m currently a Director at Public Digital. I lead design across the teams and work with public and private sector organisations to transform their products and services.

I was previously Head of Experience Strategy and Design at Co-op.

Before that I was co-owner and Creative Director at Play.

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