EVE McCANN
We got the pleasure to do an interview with Eve McCann, who is a participant in our Dig Deep Program. We explored why she wanted to take part in the Dig Deep Program, what is her new business and how she has found building her business.
Can you introduce yourself - your name and what you do?
Hi, I am Eve McCann, a Service and Research Designer obsessed with bringing out the human voice above all else. I’m Belfast born and in 2019, I graduated from The Glasgow School of Art, trained in product, service and experience design. Here, I mastered human-centred design thinking, drawing from research insights to inform concepts and solutions. Solving problems for real people was always at its core.
Afterwards, I collaboratively worked with user-centred design agencies, education authorities, within a software house and most recently, for one of the UK's largest banks. These include; Beatson Cancer Charity, the NHS, The Institute of Cancer Sciences, The University of Glasgow, Reward and Snook.
Why did you want to take part in the Dig Deep Programme?
I'm very grateful to have been chosen for Womenfolk's 'Dig Deep' program, keen to understand how to sustainably grow creative business' with healthy values. 🌱 My specific hope was to understand more about the financial side of running a business, E.g, how cash flow works, pitching for investment and how much it costs to run.
What is the new business that you have been developing?
I've been working towards building awareness of Service Design in Northern Ireland, in businesses and places of education. Service Design helps someone do something. It is the organisation and planning of people, infrastructure and the communication of materials, focusing on interactions between a service provider, a colleague and a customer.
A Service Design approach helps create a consistent experience from the start to the end of a user's journey. I've been developing 'Training, Talking and Teaching' events on Service Design within NI.
Definition of Service Design and its benefits has come from:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/service-designer
https://ahrc.ukri.org/documents/project-reports-and-reviews/scoping-study-on-service-design/
https://www.bl.uk/business-and-ip-centre/articles/4-basic-research-methods-for-business-start-ups.
My experience in the industry.
What has been your biggest hurdle since you started your business?
Covid-19 has forced everyone online, working from home. While I specialise in running remote workshops digitally, it's been challenging to organise sessions with places of education and businesses in NI, as working practices are changing so frequently depending on lockdown regulations.
How do you see your business developing in the future?
It's a work in progress, continuing to develop and take shape alongside the Womenfolk program. I'm currently creating and organising lots of Service Design workshops, within places of education and talks about Service Design, at every chance I get!
What misconceptions did you have about starting your own business?
#WorkLikeAWoman, published in 2018 by Mary Portas, was my greatest influence in challenging my misconceptions about what it means to start a business. Portas' 220 pages detail her career ladder, how you can "make it without a degree" and some very hard & real pitfalls to starting in business. 🏢
My biggest myth debunker, since the Womenfolks program started, was around time management and efficiency. Portas instructs the reader to think of how productive you are, not how long you work. And, not to underestimate the need for "circular ambition" where to be fulfilled, you should have a life in and out of work.📚
Work like a woman post: https://www.instagram.com/p/CET6rrPhDgK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
What have you learnt about yourself since starting the programme?
I have loved joining Womenfolk’s ‘Dig Deep’ program because of their emphasis on the importance of a creative community. Through this open and welcoming environment, I have learned the power of collective honesty. Our group honesty has driven projects forward, by accepting feedback and new ideas, for our businesses and creative pursuits by fellow creatives. It's helped me set clear, manageable goals and targets as we move into 2021.
What/who influences/motivates you?
Recently, I've been inspired by New York Times bestselling author, Austin Kleon. I found his trilogy of illustrated books about creativity in a digital age hugely motivating. They are; Steal Like An Artist, Show Your Work!, and Keep Going. One message, in particular, stuck with me from Show Your Work! Kleon quotes musician, record producer and visual artist Brian Eno who thinks about creativity as a "scenius", where there is an “ecology of talent”, rather than a sole genius.
Kleon continues, ‘being a valuable part of a scenius is not necessarily about how smart or talented you are, but what you have to contribute – the ideas you share, the quality of connections you make, and the conversations you start.’ I love this. It's a reminder that no matter how hard your day is going, or how much you feel like you don't deserve to be in that meeting or that room, you do, and you have something to contribute.
What has been your biggest accomplishment so far since starting your business?
I'm really excited for several events this month, talking and teaching Service Design in different schools to children aged 12-17. In one school, I'm running a virtual workshop. We'll be using some Service Design tools and techniques. E.g, creating customer journey maps, personas and crazy 8's for quick idea generation. Can't wait!
What have you learnt about your business in the last 3 months?
Over the last 3 months, I've been learning the power of small consistent efforts to make a big impact over time. Inspired by 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear, a book recommendation by Womenfolk, who debunks the myth of overnight success in favour of a more sustainable approach. I've been focused on updating my social media regularly, celebrating all successes and recognising the work that went into making them possible.
What things are you going to implement in your business in 2021?
In 2021, my main focus is to find and create opportunities to talk, train and teach Service Design more locally, in our Irish community. My emerging focus for the near future is within places of education E.g, schools, colleges and universities.
What advice would you give your younger self?
The only way to find your voice is to use it. If you talk about the things you love, your voice will follow. Everything you put out into the world adds to your narrative. It helps craft your own story, as you will start to notice patterns in your feed or your blog. You can turn these posts into something bigger and, your stories will get better the more you tell them. Another inspiration from Austin Kleon!
Where can people find you online? (Social media, website)
You can find me at (https://evecanncreate.uk), on Instagram (@evecanncreate______) or facilitating a nearby workshop.