Month Notes – January 2024

Month notes – are they a thing? Switching from weekly to monthly reflections on LinkedIn has allowed me to capture more of the work we're doing at Magnetic and beyond. January has been a month of diverse projects, from enhancing customer experiences for a prominent retailer to delivering internal reward and recognition services for a tech industry leader.

Our journey with the retailer has reached a pivotal point, and I'm hopeful that it's just the beginning of an ongoing collaboration. The tech project has been a robust exercise in how Design Thinking can address a variety of problems effectively.

The focus hasn't been solely outward; we've been looking inwards too. AI is streamlining our operations, freeing up our team to focus on what they do best. Our Manchester hub has undergone a transformation, creating a space that's even more conducive to innovative work thanks to our people team. If you're curious to see the changes and our amazing space, then send me a message.

Recruitment has been another highlight. Partnering with our Design Manager, we're on the lookout for talent to join Magnetic. After spending most of Summer 2023 as interviewee, it’s refreshing to meet the minds eager to contribute to Magnetic’s vision.

I'm also embracing the role of mentor this month, guiding two of our team members. Alongside, I'm investing in my growth through external coaching sessions, reinforcing that learning is a continuous journey.

January has set the tone for a year where adaptation and personal growth go hand in hand. I'm excited for what the rest of the year holds.

Outside of Magnetic I've been working on a number of music related projects – I'll share more about those next month.

Jumping ahead to March, the next Magnetic Exchange has a laser focus on the cost of not innovating. If you'd like to join, then secure your place here.

As always, I’m keen to connect with fellow innovators, practitioners, leaders plus people who want to make a positive and valuable impact using design.

Thanks for reading.