This Human Life
This Human Life
Melis Senova
A companion podcast to the book This Human. Not quite an audio book, not quite a podcast.
Ep45 - The designer who found his way through
Ep 45 - The designer who found his way through

You’ve just spent weeks doing design research and you have a room full of post-its, artifacts, and data. It can feel overwhelming knowing where to start and how to find the insights within. This story is about how Anh tackles this challenge and finds his way through. 

And after the story, Melis unpacks a few concepts to help support you to deepen your practice in human-centred design. You can keep up to date and even contribute a story or two by joining this human community which is hosted on Mighty Networks here:
https://community.thishuman.com/share/Rm9F4edx1lKVmWG0?utm_source=manual For courses and more free stuff, including worksheets from the book, head over to thishuman.com. For more information on 1:1 coaching and Melis’ deep leadership program head over to melissenova.com.
Jun 10, 2021
16 min
The designer who learned framing is critical
You’re about to run a workshop, people are 20 minutes late, you’ve got a lot to get through so you skip the framing and dive straight in. This is a story about a designer who pushed through a workshop to get the activities complete and skipped the upfront framing. An example of how a simple misunderstanding at the beginning can result in a significant challenge that can be avoided.

 After the story, Melis unpacks a few concepts to help support you to deepen your practice in human centred design. You can keep up to date and even contribute a story or two by joining this human community which is hosted on Mighty Networks here:
https://community.thishuman.com/share/Rm9F4edx1lKVmWG0?utm_source=manual For courses and more free stuff, including worksheets from the book, head over to thishuman.com. For more information on 1:1 coaching and Melis’ deep leadership program head over to melissenova.com.
May 27, 2021
13 min
Ep43 - The designer who persevered
There is a conversation we continue to find ourselves having, which is the one that reminds us that we need to consider the human being in our decision-making. Not as a resource, but as a person. This story is about the designer who was committed to having that conversation, no matter how many times she had to.

And after the story, Melis unpacks a few concepts to help support in deepening your practice in human-centred design. You can keep up to date and even contribute a story or two by joining this human community which is hosted on Mighty Networks here:
https://community.thishuman.com/share/Rm9F4edx1lKVmWG0?utm_source=manual For courses and more free stuff, including worksheets from the book, head over to thishuman.com. For more information on 1:1 coaching and Melis’ deep leadership program head over to melissenova.com.
May 13, 2021
14 min
Ep 42 - The designer who stayed quiet
You know that feeling that sits in your chest, that heavy kind of feeling, when you know that you probably should say something, but you don’t because you don’t fancy the consequences of you speaking up. This story is about that.

And after the story, Melis unpacks a few concepts to help support in deepening your practice in human centred design. You can keep up to date and even contribute a story or two by joining this human community which is hosted on Mighty Networks here:
https://community.thishuman.com/share/Rm9F4edx1lKVmWG0?utm_source=manual For courses and more free stuff, including worksheets from the book, head over to thishuman.com. For more information on 1:1 coaching and Melis’ deep leadership program head over to melissenova.com.
Apr 29, 2021
18 min
Ep41 - Introducing the Design Fables
We are SO excited to be launching our next project! Finally, after many many years of pining and wishing and thinking and yearning… we are embarking on the Design Fables project. In this episode, Melis introduces the concept, why we want to do it, and how you might get involved or simply enjoy the wondrous stories and illustrations about to come your way! You can keep up to date and even contribute a story or two by joining this human community which is hosted on Mighty Networks here:
https://community.thishuman.com/share/Rm9F4edx1lKVmWG0?utm_source=manual For courses and more free stuff, including worksheets from the book, head over to thishuman.com. For more information on 1:1 coaching and Melis’ deep leadership program head over to melissenova.com.
Apr 15, 2021
6 min
Ep40 - A word on flow p202-205
Melis reveals the hidden framework that helped her organise her thinking to write the book This Human. She lifts the kimono on the hidden framework that informs her personal practice of design and shares it to give a different light to the content, and perhaps even a different way to use the content in the book. Melis reads the final few pages of her book pp202-205 wrapping up this 7-month long project! Come over and join us at This Human Community hosted on Mighty Networks. https://community.thishuman.com/share/Rm9F4edx1lKVmWG0?utm_source=manual For courses and more free stuff, including worksheets from the book, head over to www.thishuman.com. For more information on 1:1 coaching and her deep leadership program head over to www.melissenova.com. Music by the very talented Mark Wright and Michael Julia. Much gratitude for your gift.
Mar 30, 2021
17 min
Ep39 - Loving Constraints p194-201
Constraints can be liberating. Constraints can drive creativity. Constraints can be your friend, not your enemy. In this culminating episode, Melis explored what’s required to work with tricky constraints during the final stages of delivering your work. It marks the final installment in Chapter 7! Melis covers pages 194-201 from her book with a whole bunch of stories in between. :-) Come over and join us at This Human Community hosted on Mighty Networks. https://community.thishuman.com/share/Rm9F4edx1lKVmWG0?utm_source=manual For courses and more free stuff, including worksheets from the book, head over to www.thishuman.com. For more information on 1:1 coaching and her deep leadership program head over to www.melissenova.com. Music by the very talented Mark Wright and Michael Julia. Much gratitude for your gift.
Mar 23, 2021
22 min
Ep38 - Stances of delivery p189-193
There’s nothing more important than being able to move your work from the realm of ideas to the realm of reality. This episode focuses on the different aspects of your design worth prototyping, and the stances we ought to take when doing this work. Always about the being, Melis, you always bring it back to that. Melis covers pages 189-193 from her book with a whole bunch of stories in between. :-) Come over and join us at This Human Community hosted on Mighty Networks. https://community.thishuman.com/share/Rm9F4edx1lKVmWG0?utm_source=manual For courses and more free stuff, including worksheets from the book, head over to www.thishuman.com. For more information on 1:1 coaching and her deep leadership program head over to www.melissenova.com. Music by the very talented Mark Wright and Michael Julia. Much gratitude for your gift.
Mar 16, 2021
20 min
Ep37 - A well resolved design p185-188
In this episode, Melis explores what a well-resolved design is and provides a framework of questions that helps you make sure yours is. With the usual deep thinking and real stories from her career to boot. Melis covers pages 185-188 from her book with a whole bunch of stories in between. :-) Come over and join us at This Human Community hosted on Mighty Networks. https://community.thishuman.com/share/Rm9F4edx1lKVmWG0?utm_source=manual For courses and more free stuff, including worksheets from the book, head over to www.thishuman.com. For more information on 1:1 coaching and her deep leadership program head over to www.melissenova.com. Music by the very talented Mark Wright and Michael Julia. Much gratitude for your gift.
Mar 9, 2021
21 min
Ep36 - Commitment and determination p177-184
Melis kicks off the last chapter in ‘this human’ which is all about Delivery. This episode focuses on the different types and levels of commitment required to deliver your work strongly, and with impact. It reminds us of ALL the humans we are designing for to ensure we deliver strong. Melis continues reading through pages 177-184 from her book with a whole bunch of stories in between. :-) Come over and join us at This Human Community hosted on Mighty Networks. https://community.thishuman.com/share/Rm9F4edx1lKVmWG0?utm_source=manual For courses and more free stuff, including worksheets from the book, head over to www.thishuman.com. For more information on 1:1 coaching and her deep leadership program head over to www.melissenova.com. Music by the very talented Mark Wright and Michael Julia. Much gratitude for your gift.
Mar 2, 2021
18 min