Kids don't come with a manual, but what if they came with a playbook?
You want to raise kids who are ready to thrive in a world that’s constantly changing
You’re trying to do more than just manage the chaos. You want to turn it into something meaningful.
​You believe that play, empathy, and collaboration are the foundation for raising confident problem-solvers and thoughtful humans.
You don’t want another parenting hack or self-help book based on someone else's perception.
You want simple, practical ideas that help you think differently.
That’s where the Parenting Playbook comes in.
Because kids don't come with an instruction manual...
Every day brings new questions, new pressures, and no easy answers
When you’re short of time, low on energy it’s easy to fall into the trap of parenting on autopilot. Failing to give kids your full attention, which is often what they need most.
I'm a father of four and fell into that trap, so I decided to do something about it.
I decided to take my work home.
Woa there!
I know how it sounds, but let me explain
For over 25 years, I’ve worked as a User Experience (UX) designer. I spend my days understanding people’s needs and pain points. My aim is to design simple, purposeful solutions that make everyday life a little easier.
When I became a parent I found myself asking:
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"If a childhood is created one experience at a time, what are those experiences made of?"
That question changed everything.
I started looking at my parenting through a designer’s lens. Tuning into the little moments, the meltdowns, the mealtimes and wondering how we might reimagine them. Not to be perfect, but to be more intentional. More creative and more connected.
And that’s how Design Thinking Dad Parenting Playbook was born.
Welcome to the Disco
Don’t worry, they'll be no dad dancing
​Disco is short for Discovery. The first step in the design thinking process.
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The idea I'm exploring is a Parenting Playbook. A collection of simple, creative experiments parents can do with their kids to build empathy, problem-solving skills and resilience.
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It’s aimed at people working in design or tech, but the activities will be easy and fun for any family.
The twist?
I don’t want to design it for parents, I want to design it with them.
So, I'm speaking with as many people as I can to better understand the hopes, hurdles, and hidden opportunities facing families today.
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Right now, I'm asking...​
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What ideas or tools from your work have you tried at home to help with parenting challenges?
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Where do you usually turn for parenting help, inspiration, or advice (that actually works)?
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What’s one thing you’d love to see included in a parenting playbook for raising curious, creative kids?
If any of these questions spark something for you, an idea, a story, a “yes, that's something I want to get involved in!”, get in touch, i'd love to hear from you.
Try an experiment!
Design Thinking Dad is all about small experiments that make a big difference.
You don’t need to be a designer or have any pre-existing experience, just be curious and have a desire to do things better.
No pressure, it's just an experiment!
Curious what 'Design Thinking Dad' is all about?
​​Grab a cuppa and watch this talk from the Leeds Digital Festival on YouTube.
​It’s a short, honest look at how adopting a design mindset can help you parent with more creativity, empathy, and purpose.
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No designer jargon. Just a real story, practical ideas, and a reminder that you’re not in this alone.
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