Design for social good
I’m not just a service designer. I’ve delivered and managed services as well.
I’ve worked in the charitable sector, education, local government and now housing.
My background is rooted in youth and community development (JNC certified). I worked with kids in social homes as a youth worker, now I’m designing services for them. I have skin in the game.
How I work
My approach to work is always collaborative. No one person knows the answers to the problems we’re trying to solve, and the solutions we develop will be better if we do it together.
Discovery is a key part of my work. We need to make sure the work we’re doing is solving the right problems in the right way.
What drives me
I want public and community services to be better, not just on paper, but in people’s actual lives.
That means practical tools, plain language, and change that sticks. It means building capability while we design. And it means putting people at the heart of decisions, especially those who are too often left out.
I’m in this work because I believe it matters.
Design patterns for social housing
I set up a project to help housing providers get to meaningful change quicker, it’s called The Design Patterns for Social Housing. It’s free and built by the community in the housing sector. On there, you can find service improvements and resources to help improve design and change maturity.
If you think I can help or just want to have a chat, get in touch.
hello@daveskinner.co.uk
LinkedIn
My values
Put people first
I design with and for the people who use the service. That includes tenants, staff and anyone who’s often left out. I use user-centred and trauma-informed approaches to make sure people are heard and treated with care.
Make it useful
I care about doing work that has a real impact. That means cutting through noise, being practical, and helping teams make progress fast. If Word or Excel works, we use that.
Be collaborative
I don’t design in a corner. I involve the right people at the right time, make space for honest conversations, and help teams work together across roles and silos.
Share what works
I believe in working in the open and making things reusable. From design patterns to service lists and playbooks, I try to leave things better than I found them and help others do the same.