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During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic retailers needed to limit the number of customers inside a store to help slow the spread of the virus.

In response to this, Ombori designed and built a virtual queuing system — which is free to use — allowing customers to join a queue and wait in a safe place away from the store and other customers.

For customers arriving at the store, the retailer generates a customised poster they can place outside the entrance. This poster contains a QR Code and information to the customer. A customer scans the QR Code or sends a text message to a number, for example: `Q1` -- They then receive a confirmation text message with their queue ticket, followed by a second message when it's almost time for them to enter the store.

Customers can also book a slot online and choose a time slot they would like to arrive and shop.

Ombori have partnered with H&M for their digital innovation projects, with a focus on sustainability and customer engagement.

Our two most successful collaborations are the Interactive voice mirror, which received press coverage in more than 25 countries (read by over 8 million people and counting) and the recently launched Smart collection bins.

For 2020, H&M aims to collect five million pounds (2.3m kg) of recycled clothing through the smart bins in the USA. This will enable the company to plant 100,000 trees in association with the One Tree Planted organization.

Kambi is the leading supplier of online and land-based Sportsbooks platform to the regulated sports gambling and gaming industry.

Their platform powers some of the biggest brands in the US and in Europe, delivering scalable, unique, high-quality sports betting experiences.

Ombori advised Kambi on creating a robust design system for use internally and providing documentation to their customers. I conducted a full audit of existing design assets, created a new Design Component Library in Sketch, and helped to develop a living design documentation website using Gatsby.

The success of this work created an ongoing relationship where I am now involved in the design of the Kambi core product.

I participate in Design Sprints, continue to contribute to the UI Kit and Design System, and work on new concepts and products for the core Kambi offering.

Target Australia wanted to rethink their entire in-store customer experience. Ombori helped Target with a digital innovation initiative for their flagship store in Melbourne CBD.

I flew out to Australia, to work alongside the Target team where I lead two weeks of intense Design Sprints, user research, and testing.

The successful collaboration helped to develop digital products that are now being rolled out to Target stores nationwide.

Consulting on Design System best practices. Design Sprints, and product design. I worked with Nordnet for two years developing their product and assisting with a complete redesign of the brand.

I also wrote documentation for the new design system, which evolved into some of the most popular articles on the subject you can read on Medium.

Nordnet UI Kit

In 2015 I felt ready to take my career to the next step and expand my skillset by co-founding a design agency with two longtime friends.

The three of us always worked differently, and this was no exception. The agency only operated remotely. Meaning we had no offices, no set working hours, and we never met a single client in person. Our client list spanned the globe, and the company was a success from the start.

As well as a lead design and front end development role, I helped to manage a fully remote team of talented and ambitious designers, thinkers, and strategists. As well as pitch to clients, and take care of design work and front end development.

I discovered the more success we achieved, the further away I moved from doing what I loved: designing. So decided to step away from the business.

I joined Bwin as a senior designer for their Incubator team. This was my first full time remote working position. The team was tasked purely to innovate. We would dream up hundreds of concepts, prototype most of them, and develop the best. If a product gained traction we would hand it over to another team and the process continued.

My role at Bwin progressed into becoming not just a designer of interfaces but a designer of social games too and I was asked to join their sister company, Win. During my time at Win I helped to design the games Slots Tale and Quick Words. In addition to the design of these games I created the designs and art direction for all accompanying assets. From Facebook and Twitter pages, to websites and adverts.

Collaborating with the Google Hangouts team, we wanted to create a unique gaming experience to promote the launch of the platform's new API.

We designed and created an online poker game called Aces Hangout, which used AR technology to place digital cards and items on users webcam feeds.

It was a huge success covered by top tech publications and was the first game available on Google Hangouts.

1. An Atomic Workflow for Design and Development
2. A Crafty way to automagically keep your design team in sync
3. A Closer Look at our Atomic Workflow in Action

1. How I learned to put the team first when running a Design Sprint
2. Distributed design sprints

1. I don’t work remotely. I’m part of a distributed team!

Hiking the three highest peaks in England, Scotland, and Wales. Then cycling the distance between then in one continuous effort. I broke a 37 year old record.

The Hodder Way is a 27-mile route from the river’s source on Access Land near the Cross of Greet to Hodder Foot, where it joins the River Ribble. From the boggy ground near the head on moorland, it passes through the attractive villages of Slaidburn, Newton, Dunsop Bridge, Whitewell, Bashall Eaves and Great Mitton.

The Lancaster Canal is 57 miles long linking Preston to Kendal on the North West coast of England. The first 14 miles are on abandoned sections of the old canal and make for interesting scenery and landscape. But for a route that is so flat, I had lots of ups and downs.

Lockdown means limiting time outside to one form of exercise per day. And as close to home as possible. No driving anywhere for training, so no hills.

It's something I've often wondered but never really had the desire to act on until now: How many times up my stairs would it take to reach the summit of my favourite / bucket-list mountains?

I dropped a tape measure from our first floor landing and created a quick spreadsheet containing calculations for some of our regular walking hills in the Lake District.

I decided to have a go at "Wansfell Pike" — a 488m high hill in Ambleside. Or, 163 reps of my stairs at home.

To keep track my progress I made a simple web app. It has a big button at the bottom that I tap every rep. It then shows a live update of my current reps and total elevation. Plus how close I am to completing a hill.

This gave me the idea to see how much indoor elevation I could gain and see if I could do the height of everest before the lockdown is lifted. (There's some crazy guys 'Everesting' their stairs in a single day. I wish I had that kind of time! But kudos. That's a big slog.)