This is HCD – Human-Centered Design, UX & Service Design Thinking Podcast

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 In today's episode, I'm diving into conversation with Graham Nolan, the Head of Design for Accenture Song in Ireland. We're going to be discussing an Accenture Trends Report, which as many of you know, is an annual report that's been created for the last 16 or 17 years, I believe. And we're particularly going to be focusing on the role of generative AI. And we're exploring both the benefits and the challenges. From responsible data usage to governance. So we'll discuss how organisations and individuals can benefit from having their own localised AI.
Now, we highlight the critical importance of understanding AI's impact on trust, ethics, and brand creation. It's fascinating to see how AI is transforming tasks like search, turning traditional search bars into something that's a little bit more efficient, and also that gives us the power of having some conversational tools.
We're going to try to understand revolutionising customer service and the interactions that surround both customer service and interaction touch points. Now, despite the fears of AI replacing jobs, we discuss what it's more likely to do in terms of automating tasks, freeing the employees for better use of their time and more strategic and creative efforts, which most businesses out there are really interested in doing.
Another interesting point in this conversation, is the apparent lack of customer obsession in many organisations. That was identified in the trends report. And this is reflected in practices like shrink inflation, reduced staffing and surge pricing, pushing the boundaries of customer forgiveness.
Now, Accenture Ireland is always on the lookout for talented designers and hosts. It's a vibrant design chapter connecting designers across the company. The trends report is now available to download digitally and encourage you to connect with Graham on LinkedIn for more insights.
Stay tuned to The Human Centered Design Network Podcast as we unpack the evolving trends and discuss what organisations like yourselves need to design and create a better future for all.


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Creators and Guests

Host
Gerry Scullion
Gerry Scullion is an Irish-born, globally recognised service designer, educator, podcaster, coach, and founder based in Dublin. With 22+ years in design, his career spans roles in interaction design, UX, and leadership positions—most notably as Head of Design at Myspace Australia/NZ and later serving clients like Cochlear, Microsoft, Aer Lingus, and government bodies  . He’s the Founder & CEO of The Human‑Centered Design Network and the voice behind This is HCD, a popular podcast and design community with over one million downloads . A committed educator, he has developed several online courses—spanning UX fundamentals, journey mapping, stakeholder mapping, prototyping, and service blueprints—as well as authoring “Service Design for Executives” on Pluralsight . A passionate keynote speaker at events like UX Scotland and Service Design Days, he shares his insights on resilience in design, ethical frameworks (“do no harm”), and embedding design within tech-led environments . Gerry is also Co‑founder and Director at Humana Design, a Dublin-based agency focusing on design research, consultancy, and enabling design transformation . Beyond design, he’s a coach and mentor to designers worldwide, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and a former Councillor for Ireland . In his personal time, Gerry is a musician, barista-in-training, gardener, and family man living by the sea in Clontarf, Dublin
SM
Producer
Stef Murphy
Stef Murphy, is a Dublin based podcast producer.

What is This is HCD – Human-Centered Design, UX & Service Design Thinking Podcast?

Welcome to This is HCD – Human-Centered Design, UX & Service Design Thinking Podcast, the global show for designers, innovators, and changemakers who want to create better products, services, and experiences.

Hosted by Gerry Scullion, with over 1-million downloads worldwide.

Each episode dives into conversations with leading voices in service design, UX design, interaction design, customer experience, and design strategy. Together, we explore the methods, mindsets, and real-world stories that bring human-centered design and design thinking to life.

Whether you’re a UX researcher, service design practitioner, product manager, or design leader, you’ll find actionable insights, practical tools, and inspiration to elevate your practice and drive meaningful change.

Tune in and join the global human-centered design community — learn how to design with purpose, create inclusive solutions, and shape a more thoughtful future.