Latest news and ideas

User-centred design (UCD) often gets taught as a clear, structured process: speak to users, validate decisions, iterate, deliver. In an ideal world, everything flows neatly. But in reality? It very rarely works like that.  Here, Opencast Senior Interaction Designer James Tabiner shares his perspective on what it means to practise UCD in the real world, especially in environments shaped by constraints like tight budgets, shifting deadlines, limited user access, or small teams.  His core message: the real skill isn’t just doing UCD well; it’s knowing what to do when you can’t. 

In this blog, Rachel Derbyshire, Senior Interaction Designer at Opencast, explores the increasingly complex global landscape of AI regulation in 2026. As governments accelerate efforts to govern artificial intelligence, organisations are facing a fragmented and often challenging environment to navigate. From the EU’s rigorous, risk-based framework to China’s highly targeted regulatory controls and the UK’s flexible, pro-innovation approach, the rules shaping AI are evolving rapidly, and not always in alignment. This blog unpacks the key differences between these approaches and what they mean for businesses striving to remain compliant, competitive, and forward-thinking in a shifting regulatory world.

In Part One of this series, we explored how DevOps emerged as a response to the challenges of modern software delivery and why many organisations have struggled to realise its full value. In this second article, Opencast Practice Lead Scott McCarthy examines how DevOps has matured beyond its original foundations and become a set of complementary practices focused on delivering reliable, sustainable outcomes at scale. This article explores how DevOps continues to evolve and what organisations need to do to remain effective in an age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems.

In this blog, Opencast Practice Lead Scott McCarthy explores how DevOps has evolved from a response to the challenges of modern software delivery into a widely adopted approach. Drawing on experience working with complex delivery teams, he reflects on how the original intent of DevOps has sometimes become less clear as organisations focus on tools and structures alongside culture and outcomes. This is Part One of a two-part series, focusing on how DevOps emerged, why it can be perceived as confusing, and where organisations commonly face challenges when putting it into practice.

At a recent Opencast event in Newcastle, we brought together voices from the Ministry of Justice, The Recruitment Junction and our own People team for an open, panel-led discussion. The session was designed to explore a complex challenge: how organisations can move beyond stigma and policy barriers to open up more employment opportunities for people with convictions, while staying grounded in the realities businesses face.

Accessibility in legacy services is often deprioritised in favour of future redesigns. In this blog, Adam Liptrot, Senior Consultant and Accessibility Specialist at Opencast, explores why that approach falls short, and why making meaningful improvements today is essential for the people who rely on these systems every day.

In this blog, Linzi Shearer, Head of Capability Development at Opencast, explores how AI is reshaping software engineering and what that means for capability, quality, and accountability. From shifting skill demands to the growing importance of judgement and validation, Linzi sets out why strong engineering fundamentals matter more than ever in an AI-enabled world.

In this blog, Darren Horobets-Farley, Senior Agile Delivery Manager, explores the evolving role of the Delivery Manager in an increasingly AI-driven world. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes more deeply embedded in software delivery, many traditional delivery tasks are increasingly being supported and enhanced through automation and AI. Darren explores what this shift means for Delivery Managers, where AI can genuinely add value, and why human leadership, judgement, communication and trust remain essential to successful delivery teams.   

In this blog, Luke Ryan, Client Relationship Director at Opencast, shares practical guidance for consultants stepping into new public sector engagements where information is incomplete, context is sparse, and objectives are still forming. From stakeholder mapping to RAID logs, Luke outlines the tools needed to reduce ambiguity, build credibility, and demonstrate value from day one.