About Us
User Centric Design enables industry success by providing specialised expertise to craft efficient, user-centric solutions, through focussed user engagement. Our commitment to excellence creates a thriving, enjoyable environment, fostering a culture of continuous learning for a motivated, valued workforce.
Meet the Team
Stirling Tyler, Director
“We saw an opportunity to form a team of pragmatic, engineering-focussed Human Factors professionals, deploying their skills on stimulating projects that would provide a challenge.”
Ben and Stirling, themselves successful Human Factors professionals and business owners, got together to create a company with a combined total of 50 years’ experience. Together they have one simple aim; for User Centric Design to be the benchmark Human Factors consultancy and provide a service to their clients that is class leading.
STIRLING TYLER
Director
Stirling has gained an outstanding reputation over 30 years of applying Human Factors across a broad spectrum of areas, from small studies over a few days to large complex industry projects lasting several years. Stirling enjoys the challenge of identifying and solving important issues for users of technology.
He works well under pressure, and delivers the highest standards to tight deadlines. Throughout his career, he has had experience of using a wide range of Human Factors analysis and design techniques to solve real-world problems for his clients across the military and nuclear sectors.
His hobbies include classic cars and holidays in far flung exotic places.
BEN LEONARD
Director
Ben has been a Human Factors Engineer for over 17 years. He has been asked by clients to come back and work on new projects time and time again showing how valued and appreciated his deliverables and expertise is to them. Ben has provided human factors solutions in many industries including: Medical, Defence, Nuclear, Air Traffic Control, Investment Banking and other finance industries.
When not working Ben enjoys spending his free time with his wife and two children; baking sourdough bread and fishing.
ANDREW WRIGHT
Head of Nuclear Human Factors
Andy is a multidisciplinary specialist for the UK safety critical industries, specialising in HF integration to assurance, design substantiation and change management of complex systems. He has provided strategic advice and input to the development of Human Factors strategy documents, policies, and guidance for managing human-related risk, and has authored research papers and whitepapers across various HF topics.
Andy champions people-centric and values-based approaches to building and managing HF teams, and has demonstrated the importance of empowering HF specialists, having led and supported a division of practitioners in the delivery of high-profile, safety-critical projects across the UK.
In his spare time, Andy loves puzzle boxes, literature, games, and spending time with his young family and two ragamuffin cats.
ROB BECKER
Principal Human Factors Consultant
Rob has been a Human Factors Engineer since graduating in 2016, and has quickly developed a wide portfolio of HF work in safety critical industries such as Defence, Air Traffic Control, Cybersecurity and Nuclear.
In 2022, Rob was awarded New Ergonomist of the Year by the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors.
Rob’s enthusiasm for user-centred design means that he always takes time to explore what the user needs and how that can be translated into bespoke solutions that maximise human performance. Rob’s background in psychology and how it can be applied to design means that he takes a unique, human-centred approach in his work, from in-depth user research to creating high-fidelity prototypes.
In his spare time, Rob enjoys photography, interior design and looking after his two cats.
JEMMA OAKES
Principal Human Factors Consultant
Jemma is a Chartered Human Factors Practitioner with 14 years’ experience working in multiple domains including Academic research, Defence, Innovation and Air Traffic Management. During this time, Jemma has used a range of different HF tools and techniques including HFI processes such as HFI plans, EHFA, RAIDO, HRA and HF integration reports.
Jemma has also used physiological assessment techniques including Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Eye Tracking on Civil Aviation and Military projects to optimise the design and implementation of systems and equipment. Jemma has experience in leading and supporting small teams to deliver high quality Human Factors deliverables, she led the Human Factors effort to ensure the safe implementation of a new Flight Plan Management system and a new Military Auto triangulation system within UK airspace.
Dave McNeish
Principal Human Factors Consultant
For over a decade, Dave has worked on the interaction between humans and technology, with experience across Human Factors Integration, Human-Centred Design, cutting edge research, and government policy.
He has a strong background in Defence working across land, air and maritime domains with a particular focus on human-centred Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Autonomous Systems. Dave has also worked across industries to help organisations grapple with the challenges of responsibly adopting emerging technologies, namely AI. He is a Chartered Human Factors Specialist with experience using a wide range of human-centred design, research, and assessment techniques.
In his spare time, Dave enjoys getting outdoors with his wife, kids and dog, and keeping (relatively!) fit.
MELISSA CAFFREY
Human Factors Consultant
Melissa has been a Human Factors Consultant since 2022, specialising in safety assurance within the nuclear industry. She provides specialised Human Factors safety case support, ensuring that the role of the operator is fully considered and that the potential for human error is minimised in safety-critical systems. With a focus on optimising human performance, Melissa plays a key role in enhancing the safety and reliability of complex systems. Her commitment to continuous learning and professional development ensures that she stays at the forefront of industry best practices and regulatory requirements.
Outside of her professional life, Melissa values quality time with her family and seeks out opportunities to relax and unwind while exploring new places and enjoying literature.
Join Our Team
We welcome applications from potential associates or employees.