Web Usability is a family business. Founded and run for over 20 years by husband and wife, Sarah and Peter, it is now run by their daughter, Lucy.
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How it began
Back in 2001 Sarah and Peter were working together as management consultants. While completing a project for the Department for Trade and Industry the opportunity arose to apply their market research skills to the digital world. It was their first foray into the world of user experience (UX) at a time when the space was very much in its infancy.
This taste of UX was all they needed to realise it was the place for them and so the management consultancy pivoted to become Web Usability.
Hear more about Sarah and Peter’s journey into UX on the Web Usability Podcast.
What happened next?
Lucy meanwhile grew up surrounded by UX. You could say it’s in her blood.
Dinner table discussions would often be peppered with nuggets from the UX world as Sarah and Peter reflected on their working day and the insights they had delivered to clients.
Little did she know, one day this would also be her reality!
With a background in marketing, Lucy always felt one step removed from her customers. She wanted to actually speak to them, understand their thoughts and feelings, witness them interacting with the online world. Not just look at numbers or hear their thoughts second hand.
So, in 2018, she made the leap into UX and joined the family business.
How’s it going now?
Fast forward to today and Lucy finds herself at the helm of the Web Usability ship, navigating the route between honouring the legacy she’s acquired while breaking new ground and pushing Web Usability to deliver even more enjoyable and accessible online experiences.
Her mission is to prioritise the needs of users while balancing the needs of our clients’ organisations to create online experiences that are accessible, functional and enjoyable for users.
As an experienced user researcher she has led on projects for clients including Disney, Bank of England, David Austin Roses, National Highways, Intellectual Property Office and The British Museum (to name just a few – see more of our clients).
She is also deeply passionate about the importance of digital accessibility and ensuring the online world is for everyone. In her time at Web Usability, she has developed a robust accessibility service offering, championing inclusive design and working with many organisations to embed accessibility in their processes and practices.
She shares much of her experience as host of The Web Usability Podcast where she also has the pleasure of interviewing and learning from a range of inspiring guests.
What else should you know?
Lucy is also a Mum. She wants to create a future where her girls can choose to be whoever they want, however they want. As an ambassador for Business and Babies, she is determined to improve the infrastructure that supports entrepreneurial mothers, advocating for more inclusive working practices that accommodate the realities of balancing work and family life.
When not running Web Usability, you’ll find her with her girls, walking her dog Zola and (when time allows) in the mountains – her happy place!