First - let's get the apologies over with. I'd not realised how much effort I was putting into regular posts and therefore how easy it would be to cease posting once work became all-consuming. Still, just excuses. Sorry anyway.
So a couple of links, one via Leisa - this one Demystifying Data Analysis where Rachel Hinman of Adaptive Path eloquently captures some of the techniques we employ to gain real actionable insights from research.
Next - again from Rachel, this time in conversation with an ex-colleague of mine at IDEO, Mark Jones (he's still there, I'm not) - on Service Design.
Now these techniques are shared by many creative folk in the innovation space - and I was lucky enough to help lead a project with London research and innovation consultancy, Sense Worldwide - actually worthy of a post of it's own, especially around their particular approaches to gaining insights. Great bunch of people too.
And of course Service Design is a particular point of focus, one I share with Engine, who I'm now working with.
As a freelancer it's interesting to compare and contrast these two consultancies with each other and, of course with IDEO, a point I will expand upon soon.