I’m on a mission to bring more compassion into the world because it needs it. I do this through Service Design.

Projects

how i do things

  • Decks and Patios icon

    Think

    Before jumping into solutions, I step back and ask. What’s really going on here? I challenge assumptions, look for unspoken truths, and seek clarity in complexity. Every project begins by defining the core problem not just at face value, and in the context of human experiences, systems, & unseen barriers

  • Outdoor Spaces icon

    Experiment

    My research focus’ on data collection but more so about feeling the landscape. I listen between the lines, noticing contradictions, tensions, & patterns that others might overlook. I piece together fragmented experiences to reveal underlying truths & opportunities for change small or large

  • Custom Additions icon

    Imagine

    I believe the best solutions emerge through co-creation, iteration, & play. By engaging people directly in shaping their own futures, I ensure that solutions are meaningful, empowering, & built to last. This stage is about making ideas tangible testing, refining, & questioning until we find what truly resonates

  • Green Building icon

    Go

    A great idea is only as powerful as its execution. I lead teams through the messy reality of implementation, ensuring that solutions stay true to their intent while adapting to constraints. This phase focuses on aligning people, communicating clearly whilst staying agile in the face of change

  • Explore

    In addition to GDS Agile working and Design Councils Double Diamond when applicable I use my own method. I like to use this phase in bewteen each method to ensure the art of creativity is not lost

DESIGN PROCESS

I work at the intersection of intuition, empathy, & structure balancing deep listening with strategic thinking to uncover meaningful solutions. My approach is fluid, rooted in human connection, & driven by a desire to bridge gaps, whether in knowledge, communication, or understanding

What I bring to the table

Radical Clarity

Making the complex feel simple, not oversimplified

Guided by Experience, Open to Discovery

Learning from patterns, but never assuming the outcome

Balancing Structure & Intuition

Knowing when to map, when to wander

Deep Listening, Honest Reflection

Tuning into the unspoken & addressing the real

Co-Creation Over Prescription

People should feel agency in shaping their own futures

How I See the World

  • Oranssi construction engineer Jamie Kokot

    RIDS

    SERVICE DESIGNER DAY
    CHANGE MAKER NIGHT

    RIDS identifies as a global citizen, with her experiences across numerous countries providing her with a unique perspective. This allows her to navigate cultural barriers with sensitivity, bringing the distinct value of each culture and human essence to the forefront of her work.

  • WORK

    Rids' career has been driven by a passion for humanitarian causes, enhanced by experience in strategy, advertising, & a brief stint in accounting (which she prefers not to dwell on). She holds a BA in Art History & Visual Culture, as well as an MA in Service Design, with a keen interest in speculative design, wicked problems, and future oriented frameworks.

    She’s had the privilege of practicing Service Design with the Labs design & innovation team at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, where she’s been shaking up the status quo. Having recently completed this role, she’s now seeking a new challenge!!

  • vision

    In addition to her primary role, Rids is a trustee for Project Love & actively mentors through ADP List & the Service Design communities with her Royal College of Art colleagues & the Royal Society of Arts pool of talent. She is deeply passionate about giving back, with a long term goal of bettering future generations because why not leave the world a little better than we found it?

    Rids is driven to achieve this by infusing compassion into the foundational stages of the design process, focusing on humanizing the world, one industry at a time. (She's still working on the operating model it’s an iterative process.) Her motivation is fueled by looking beyond the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, aspiring toward the 2050 Anthropocene goals as the next frontier once the SDGs are realized

  • MODUS OPERANDI

    Rids thrives on simplifying complex problems and stripping away jargon making everything accessible. She places the human at the forefront of decision making, always designing with, not for. As a natural connector & catalyst for conversation and collaboration, she excels in fostering fair team dynamics, ensuring everyone, especially those often overlooked, has the space to share their thoughts

    A maverick & creative disruptor, Rids enjoys bringing a touch of fun into her practice, embracing her divergent thinking. She aspires to leave a lasting mark on the world as a compassionate listener, with a big heart for everyone who crosses her path, both professionally & personally

My principles

  • The world needs more understanding, and I’m here to bring it

    COMPASSION FIRST

  • Honesty, directness, & integrity over empty words

    SAY WHAT YOU MEAN

  • I welcome being pushed beyond my comfort zone because it makes me better

    GROWING THROUGH CHALLENGES

  • If I stand with you, I stand with you fully

    LOYAL TO A FAULT

  • NOT about looking good; making a real difference

    IMPACT OVER EGO

  • I take things apart (sometimes literally) to understand them better

    CURIOSITY FUELS INNOVATION

  • I’m a work in progress & THIS IS exactly where I should be

    EMBRACE THE UNFINISHED

  • strangers are stories waiting to be shared

    CONNECT ALWAYS

  • Every system, service, or idea should serve people first

    DESIGN FOR HUMANITY

DESCRIBE ME IN A SENTENCE

  • A RAY OF SUNSHINE

    Abigail Oladapo PLASTIC SURGEON

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