Lucy Bourton

Quotes

• “The ‘digital meeting’ has established a grey area when it comes to politeness.”

• “There is a deliberate theatre of busyness that those in positions of power seem insistent on facilitating.”

• “Worryingly, it seems our industry has picked up on the worst factors of Silicon Valley office culture.”

Articles & interviews

• Design Thrives Beyond Big Tech: Embracing Older Technology

  It's Nice That · Feb 24, 2025

  Written by Lucy Bourton for It’s Nice That’s POV series, the article explores designer and educator Tim Rodenbröker’s embrace of 'low tech' creative practice, inspired by Kris de Decker of Low Tech Magazine. It examines how working with older technology, like a 2006 Lenovo Thinkpad, can foster creativity, reflection, and effectiveness over efficiency in design. The piece contrasts the acceleration of AI and big tech with the value of constraint-driven creativity.

  digital
• Emotion Behind Creative Brilliance: The Untapped Fuel

  It's Nice That · Jan 13, 2025

  Written by Lucy Bourton for It’s Nice That’s Forward Thinking 2025 series, this feature explores how emotion drives creative excellence in an increasingly data-driven industry. Through the lens of ceramicist and TV personality Keith Brymer Jones, the article argues that emotional authenticity and human connection are essential to meaningful creative work.

  It’s Nice Thateditorial
• Is Remote Work Increasing Rudeness?

  It's Nice That · Oct 21, 2024

  Written by Lucy Bourton for It’s Nice That’s POV series, this opinion piece explores how remote and hybrid working have eroded professional etiquette in the creative industry. Drawing on anecdotes from designers and strategists, it highlights how digital meetings have normalized rude behaviors like eating, multitasking, and inattentiveness, reflecting broader issues of respect and power dynamics in online work culture.

  digital
• When Did Colour Palettes Become a Popular Content Commodity?

  It's Nice That · Sep 23, 2024

  Lucy Bourton’s opinion piece for It’s Nice That explores the rise of colour palettes as shareable design content. Through the example of Gareth Jones’ project Found Color, the article examines how designers use curated palettes to express taste, authenticity, and human connection in an era of AI-generated visuals. It argues that the trend reflects a broader cultural shift toward valuing curation and process transparency in design.

  Eighth Daydigital