Good design solves problems.
Great design solves problems that matter: public health
Hard Problems.
- InterviewsNEW
10 min read
Design that improves heart health for millions
Tony Joy tells us what the design team does at Resolve to Save Lives, a global public health nonprofit.
- AdviceNEW
4 min read
Fellowships to help you shift into a career designing for impact
It took me a decade of wrong turns to land the career that I actually wanted. These fellowships can get you there in months.
More content
5 min read
Why Design Is Hard by Scott Berkun and Bryan Zug
A sharp, practical guide to thriving as a designer inside any organization, with particular resonance for those working on society's toughest challenges.
7 min read
The hidden costs of bad design
In fields like public health, education, and climate action, poor design is undermining success.
10 min read
How to join a nonprofit board
If you can’t tackle a hard problem full-time (yet), consider joining a charity's board.
4 min read
Use a spreadsheet to choose your next role
“Job Rank” is a simple scoring framework that helps you score competing offers against your values.
8 min read
Books for people who want to work on hard problems
We often recommend these books to designers, user researchers, PMs, and others making the jump.
- Watch
25 min watch
Why should designers and tech people focus on hard problems?
A short video explaining why we want to see more people tackling urgent global issues.
7 min read
Geek Heresy by Kentaro Toyama
Well-intentioned technology doesn’t always solve the problems it’s meant to address. Toyama explains why, and tells us what we should do instead.
Coworking in London
These health and climate organizations use our coworking space in London, UK. You can use our space if you are visiting the city.
Abuela
Turning senior living facilities into clinical trial sites.
Blute
Giving healthcare students a voice on clinical placements.
Branch
Keep your career on track while you have a baby.
Coolit Labs
Transforming medical devices into beautiful lifestyle objects.
Elyfia
Personalized coaching to Fibromyalgia patients through an app.
Grene
A new operating layer for domiciliary and supported living services.
Health Data Avatar
All your health data in one platform.
Joey
Your child's GP on Whatsapp.
Minimum Viable Narrative
Storytelling for a better future.
Prime Radiant Studio
Using quantitative data to understand the trajectory of society.
Relay
Safety through community-powered infrastructure for women runners.
Resolve to Save Lives
A global public health nonprofit working on the world's largest threats.
4 min read
Welcome to the Hard Problems coworking space
Our coworking space in London is open to teams tackling climate change, public health, and other urgent global challenges.
4 min read
We now have a job board for designers
We have a curated job board with design, product, research, and copywriting roles at orgs solving hard problems.
5 min read
Moral Ambition by Rutger Bregman
A timely provocation for those of us seeking to center our professional lives on problems that matter.
3 min read
Tricks to find a meaningful job on LinkedIn
Meaningful roles can be hard to surface. A few simple tricks help you cut through the noise.
- Watch
75 min watch
Design in Public Health in India
Two of India's leading public health experts share their experience with design and technology.
5 min read
Can a designer improve social care?
Naomi Owolabi, founder of Grene, is using design to tackle one of adult social care's biggest burdens: the paperwork that quietly pushes great managers out of the industry.
3 min read
The missing piece in your design career
Many senior designers feel burned out despite great salaries. The concept of ikigai reveals what to do about it.
