Design Best Practices

We are a welcoming community of board game designers and playtesters, please join us and bring your games in development for feedback, to play upcoming games, or just to chat about the hobby and industry! We range from first-time designers, hobby designers, published designers, and publishing companies. We meet **every Tuesday** at The Ludoquist board game cafe in Croydon, from 6:30pm-10pm. We try to ensure that as many games can be played in an evening, and prioritise those that haven't been able to test their games recently, although we cannot guarantee that your game will be played in the first session you join. The **final meeting of each month is reserved for playing published games**. We use this time to catch up on games that we want to try or discuss. You can also join our Facebook Group community for feedback and discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/playtestuksouthlondon We look forward to seeing you!

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/console-table/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/console-table/) **⋆⋆⋆** **Suitable for:** Absolute beginners. No prior experience in woodworking is required for this course. **About:** Learn traditional carpentry skills using a mixture of hand tools and modern drills to create a beautiful console table at the height of your choice. This is a twelve evening course to make an elegant console table for your home. The workshop is suitable for confident beginners and will teach how to measure and mark your work and how to use saws, chisels , planes as you construct bridle, mortise and tenons and shoulder joints. The design of the table can be altered in height to adapt to a coffee table, a small breakfast bar or hall table. The base is constructed in pine and the top is furniture grade plywood. These 12 evenings are a perfect starting point for many aspects of woodwork that will give you confidence to choose and replicate basic wood joints into other projects. Using a mixture of traditional hand tools and modern drills and saws, our experienced tutor will guide and inspire you as they teach age old techniques in carpentry. As you begin making wood joints traditionally constructed from seasoned pine, you will learn how to use and care for chisels, saws, planes and spoke-shaves. Maximum dimensions: Table top: 18mm Birch plywood – 80cm x 40cm – Base H82cm x W68cm x D33cm – overall table height 85cm

Looking to brush up on your BSL skills or connect with other learners? Sacred Grounds is hosting a weekly Sign Club every Tuesday from 5-7pm. This casual and informal meetup is perfect for anyone learning BSL, whether you're just starting out or looking to keep your skills sharp. Come along to practice signing, connect with others in the community, and even try ordering your coffee in BSL! There’s no fee to join - all we ask is that if you're able to, you support the coffee shop by purchasing a drink or snack while you're here (please note that outside food and drinks are not permitted). Sacred Grounds is all about creating a warm and inclusive space, so don’t be shy - come sign with us! We look forward to welcoming you.

We are back from hibernation and would like to say a very warm welcome to *We Need to Talk*, the event series that discusses the most topical themes facing people in tech right now. Join us at the **Accurx Office** on May 5th for an evening of lively discussions, thought-provoking chat, and the opportunity to network with other curious and ambitious colleagues in tech. First, as ever, a huge thank you to all those who joined our last events, you keep us inspired to find the best topics and speakers. ***We Need to Talk*** is centred around creating a community to uplift each other, have open discussions and create an inclusive space for us all. We are so proud of this community - thank you for supporting us on this journey. Please invite your friends too and spread the word. For the upcoming event, our generous hosts **Accurx** will be kicking off the evening with a quick intro to who they are and what their mission is. This will be followed by our fabulous keynote speaker **Dr Lisa Plotkin** (Head of Policy and Influence at the Florence Nightingale Foundation) who needs to talk about ***When Hierarchy Fails: Lessons from 55 years of NHS scandals*** One year in, we also want to hear from you - what can you share on the good, the bad and the curious of using AI tools. We are hosting an **Open Discussion on AI Learnings** from Ethics to Hallucinations we would love to get your thoughts! Our favourite part of WNTT is how much intellectual debate takes place and we would like to learn even more from you. **Event schedule:** 6:00:🥤 Doors open 6.30: 🗣️ **Welcome and introduction from Accurx** 6.40: 🗣️ **DR Lisa Plotkin: *When Hierarchy Fails: Lessons from 55 years of NHS scandals*** 7.00: 💡 Q&A 7:10: 🍻 Drinks and networking 7:30: 🗣️ **Open discussion: AI learnings** 8.00: 🍻 (Optional): We offer a warm invitation to join us at the pub for a post event social and pizza - to carry on the talks. **Lisa's talk: *When Hierarchy Fails: Lessons from 55 years of NHS scandals*** **Power tends to protect itself**, and that is often most visible in the institutions we rely on most. Dr Lisa Plotkin works in nursing and midwifery policy and advocacy, within a workforce that is largely female, often undervalued, and frequently operating at the sharp end of both hierarchy and human impact. Drawing on a series of NHS inquiries, including Mid Staffordshire, Morecambe Bay and East Kent, she will explore how serious failures are not just isolated events, but emerge from deeper, systemic conditions. These include cultures that prioritise compliance over openness, sideline those who speak up, and leave those closest to problems without the authority to act. This talk will look at what these inquiries, taken together, reveal about how power really works in large organisations, and why the same lessons keep resurfacing. It will also consider what better looks like in practice, and what it takes to build cultures where hierarchy supports the work rather than shielding itself. Ultimately, the question is not simply who failed, but what needs to change so that failure is no longer the default. **P.S...** We would love to keep our events free and inclusive. We are orchestrating these events in our spare time and our hosts are generously gifting us the spaces to hold them. If you have signed up and can't make it any longer - we would really appreciate it if you let us know on Meet Up, it just helps us plan accordingly for the night. **P.P.S...** Please let us know if you have accessibility requirements, the venue has stairs internally and we want to make sure we can accommodate everyone. We have a new [LI page](www.linkedin.com/company/we-need-to-talk-london/), please give us a follow to help us grow this community We can't wait to see you! Samira, Emma and Erin

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/follow-on-woodwork-4/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/follow-on-woodwork-4/) ⋆⋆⋆ Directed at those people who have completed one of our longer woodwork courses, or those with confident woodwork skills, we offer an eleven-day week opportunity to build an individual project. During this course, run by experienced carpenter/joiner/furniture maker Ruth Thomson, you will learn how to manage a practical project from sketching it, making a technical drawing, writing a cutting list, costing, marking out and construction to produce a piece of wood furniture. The group will visit a timber yard to learn how to select lengths of soft woods. You will learn the safe use and versatility of a router, a biscuit jointer, a jigsaw and other power tools as needed and learn when and how to make jigs to help fabricate accurate shapes. Using basic workshop machines including a bandsaw and a belt sander, as well as classic hand tools, you will cut and assemble and then learn how to sand, glue and finish your project to completion. We are happy to discuss your personal project if you already have something in mind. There is a size limitation due to time constraints and project storage. Call Alison on 0207 7607613 or send a photo or sketch to info@thegoodlifecentre.co.uk Each learner will pay for their own materials. We can take delivery of timber if externally sourced. Please note that we cannot handle MDF in the workshop as the dust requires special extraction and respiratory equipment. Plywood or solid timber will be pre-machined for you on our planer thicknesser and table saw.

We are an informal and friendly group who meet in one of the studios at the Cockpit Theatre to develop our skills and confidence in a relaxed environment. We will go through a few exercises and try out some: improvisation, script work, duologues or monologues, with participants optionally bringing their own material or pieces to work on together. The exercises and things we work on differ from week to week. Beginners are welcome. The workshop is led by Mark Ramsay, a trained actor with almost 30 years of film and stage experience with occasional assistance from a guest facilitator. Venue: The Cockpit Theatre, Marylebone, Gateforth St, London NW8 8EH, Studio 2 (Upstairs) **Time: 19:00 to 21:00** Cost: £7 for the room hire, payable at the venue in cash **If no longer attending please update RSVP**

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/upholstery-bring-your-own-chair-daytime-23/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/upholstery-bring-your-own-chair-daytime-23/) **⋆⋆⋆** KEY PROJECT: RE-UPHOLSTERING YOUR OWN CHAIR. Suitable for beginners and fun for advanced learners. This workshop is led by Krasmira Nikolova, an experienced upholsterer. We provide the use of all upholstery tools and equipment including compressed air staple guns. Basic upholstery materials that you require for your project will be moderately charged on a pay-as-you-use basis and will be dependent on each chair’s requirements. We can advise you on the purchase of your top fabric and we have a lovely library of fabric samples to help make up your mind. The Goodlife Centre sells all the basic tools and materials for use on projects worked on at home. This is a fantastic chance to up-cycle and personalise a family piece you have at home or a junk shop find and a great way to immerse yourself into the wonderful world of upholstery. The course is suitable for both beginners and those who have a basic knowledge but little experience who wish to extend their expertise. **Choosing a suitable chair** If you are a newcomer to upholstery, there are a couple of pointers to help you choose a chair to work on. Choose something that has one or two flat planes – a seat and a back – as curves and arms are more complex and take longer to achieve. The chair on the right was completed in about 12 weeks. If you are a complete beginner, you could bring something more simple such as an upholstered footstool. More experienced upholsters can bring more complex pieces. Your chair can be traditionally built or modern, but be aware that some modern pieces have been constructed using machinery and are difficult to recreate by hand. [Click here for a detailed PDF of suitable chairs.](https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2r8UvbQtaH5RTVKUjlBdkhDX3c/view?usp=sharing) **Please email info@thegoodlifecentre.co.uk with a photo of your chair prior to the course so we can answer any suitability questions and advise if your chair is suitable**. We have very limited storage at the centre, so we can only store smaller pieces during the course. Please make sure the total dimensions are less than 1000mm high by 750mm wide, with a depth of 750mm. The use of tools and machinery is included. All materials will be charged at nominal rates. Some materials will not be kept in stock but can be ordered. Approved projects can be stored at the centre. We cannot offer additional time to work on your project outside of workshop times.

**Discover what play can create.** Activation Play is rooted in a simple idea: when we play, we open up. Through playful, theatre-inspired activities, we create a space where you can relax, have fun, and explore new ideas and ways of expressing yourself, no experience needed. Whether you are an artist, a creative, or someone who would not usually describe yourself that way, this experience is designed to meet you where you are. Play is not just for performance. It is a powerful tool for everyday life. It can lift your mood, reduce stress, build confidence, and help you think more freely, connect more openly, and respond more creatively to the world around you. As the session unfolds, play becomes the pathway. Ideas start to flow, confidence builds, and expression comes naturally, not forced. You will make, share, and connect with others in a way that feels real, not rehearsed. Come to play. Leave with more energy, a fresh perspective, and new ways to bring creativity and connection into your day-to-day life. To get 25% off of your ticket please click this [Link to our sign up sheet](https://forms.gle/R6MjSSTvTpLUhQpVA "https://forms.gle/R6MjSSTvTpLUhQpVA") before checking out. Discount code will be offered upon completion of the form.

AI is changing how engineering teams work. Faster iteration. More output. Less time spent on the basics. But turning that speed into real delivery isn’t straightforward. At this Future Form session, we’re looking at what it actually takes to move from faster development to shipping real value. Speakers: **Brian Scanlan\, Senior Principal Engineer \| Intercom** Brian will share how they’re increasing engineering throughput using AI inside a large SaaS codebase. What’s improved, where it’s worked best, and the practical challenges that come with scaling it beyond demos. **Luca Lanziani\, Head of DevOps & Platform Engineering \| Nearform** Luca will explore what happens around the code. Because when development speeds up, the constraints shift. Platform, delivery pipelines, team structures. The organisations that benefit are the ones that adapt. Join us for pizza, drinks, and practical insights of where AI can genuinely accelerate delivery, and what needs to change to make that happen. **If you’re working hands-on with AI tools or responsible for how software gets delivered, this session is for you.**

Get ready for an another awesome night at the London Tech Social! It’s the perfect spot to chill with designers and engineers and make new friends. Whether you’re a tech wizard or just curious, you’ll fit right in. This is your chance to meet cool people and maybe even kick off some exciting projects together🚀 Mark your calendar for a night filled with fun and new connections📅 We look forward to seeing you there!

This a BSL practice group for level 1 students and above. We will be meeting at the national theatre in southbank

Join fellow product people at **The Product Group London** on **Thu 7th May** for an evening of learning, sharing and networking. **Topic of the Night: Product Today: Surviving & Succeeding** Succeeding (or even surviving) in product management today, what does it take? On the night we’ll explore the current state of the industry and what’s required to succeed (and/or survive) now and in the future. Topics will include what’s changing about the role, what’s staying the same and what’s unknown? How is AI, economic uncertainty, changing company dynamics and the selective job market impacting the role? How do you succeed (or survive) today and in the near future incl. what to focus on and which skills to optimize for? **Featured Guest: David Eason, Principal Product Manager, Trainline** David is a Principal Product Manager at Trainline, where he has spent 7 years building and scaling customer-facing products. He currently leads monitisation initiatives, focused on driving meaningful revenue growth by expanding the core Trainline proposition. As a product generalist, David has delivered across all parts of Trainline’s web and app products in B2B and B2B2C spaces. His work has covered the full product lifecycle incl. launching new AI-powered tools in the product. Before joining Trainline, David worked at Ford, where he focused on experimental product development and collaborated with leading London-based software and design agencies. **About The Product Group London** The Product Group London is a monthly meetup designed to bring product people of all levels together for topical discussions, as a group and with our guest speakers. With attendees from startups to large enterprises, there is no shortage of opportunities to network and make new connections. And whilst the focus is on product management, we welcome product designers and engineers to join for some friendly and lively discussions. **A word about our sponsor and host, BrainStation** [BrainStation](https://brainstation.io/london) is a global leader in digital skills training, empowering businesses and brands to succeed in the digital age. Established in 2012, BrainStation has worked with over 500 instructors from the most innovative companies, developing cutting-edge, real-world digital education that has empowered professionals and some of the largest corporations in the world.

*📌**Description*** Agentic AI isn’t about replacing engineers — it’s about reshaping how work flows through the SDLC. We’ll explore new interaction patterns, boundaries, and responsibilities in AI-native delivery. 🔍 ***Key topics*** •Agentic AI • SDLC **⏲️ *Agenda*** 6:00 Pizza and drinks 6:30 Welcome 6:45 Talk 7:30 Q&A 7:45 Networking and Pizzas! 🍕 8:30 Wrap up & See you at the next Meetup! **🎙️*Speaker*** Giulio Roggero CTO @ Mia-Platform 25 years of experience in software engineering, serial entrepreneur with more than 10 business initiatives launched, today is co-founder and CTO at Mia-Platform, the Internal Developer Platform named by Gartner Cool Vendor for Software Engineering Technologies and in the Cloud Application Platforms Magic Quadrant. Principal focus: cloud native, platform engineering, data fabric and omnichannel experience. He likes to paint Blood Bowl miniatures, construct Lego, build and drive RC Cars and learn piano. 📍**Location:** – London Bridge Hive, 8 Holyrood Street, SE1 2EL London

*❗️Event Announcement.* 🎟️ **Register via** [Luma](https://luma.com/5hfjgv9b) — we do not accept sign-ups through Meetup. 📅 **7th May** · Doors 6:00 PM, Start 6:30 PM **How Many SKILL. md Files Is a Profession?** *Discovering accounting's patterns from the corrections of human experts* **🎤***Nikolay Turusin, Data Science Lead · Anna Money* A profession decomposes into a finite library of procedural patterns — smaller than you'd expect. And you don't find them by interviewing experts. You find them by watching where experts correct the system. Nikolay is building a production UK Corporation Tax engine on GenAI. This is his field report: what the right unit of work looks like inside an LLM system, why this kind of automation suddenly becomes tractable, and what expert-bounded self-improvement means when you're shipping to real users. Candid talk. Open discussion. Bring questions.

We meet to learn and practice American Sign Language and to grow our familiarity with Deaf culture. Facilitated by hearing folks (with a connection to a professional interpreter) using Deaf-created content. People of all ASL skill levels are welcome! As we learn, we hope to connect more with the Deaf community in Central Ohio. Join us as you're able! Come regularly or just once - whatever you're looking for! Each meetup will explore different topics related to ASL/Deaf culture, and will feature time to practice conversation with one another. Just bring yourself and a willingness to learn!

**TBA**

**TBA**

**Building a great product is one thing—building momentum behind it is another.** Join **Senior Product Manager Adam Solaiman** and **User Experience Manager Tyson Smith** for a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to turn complex ideas into scalable products inside large organizations. In this session, they’ll share how teams move from ambiguity to execution—navigating organizational complexity, aligning stakeholders, and continuously evolving products after launch. You’ll walk away with insights on how to: * Build and sustain momentum across teams * Adapt to changing priorities without losing direction * Scale products thoughtfully in complex environments Whether you're driving a new initiative or growing an existing product, this conversation will give you practical strategies to keep things moving forward. Come connect, learn, and swap stories with fellow product professionals. \-\-\- Food and drinks will be provided by Switchbox, our generous host. Free parking will be available at the front and back sides of the Switchbox Office.

Practical AI for Power BI Developers A year ago, “agentic AI” was mostly hype for Power BI teams. Today, it deserves your undivided attention. For Power BI pros, there is now a real opportunity to reduce repetitive development work, accelerate delivery, and help developers do more, but only when strong DataOps practices are in place to make AI workflows effective. This session is a no-nonsense introduction to effective AI patterns for Power BI and Fabric development. Along the way, we will make sense of the growing pile of terminology, including skills, plugins, hooks, and MCP. You will see examples of how modern AI tooling can help with development tasks across Power BI and Fabric, along with the prerequisites, guardrails, and DataOps principles needed to use it responsibly. Whether you're burned out on AI hype or already using Copilot CLI daily, this session will show you the foundations that are finally making AI-assisted development genuinely useful.

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

FREE event [https://www.ccad.edu/chroma](https://www.ccad.edu/chroma) Friday, May 15, 3–7 p.m. CCAD campus, 60 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH Join Columbus College of Art & Design for *2025* *Chroma: Best of CCAD*, our annual campuswide exhibition showcasing outstanding student work from across the college’s academic programs. This faculty-juried show features select work from CCAD students of all class years, and is a can’t-miss end-of-year campus celebration recognizing their tremendous achievements. It’ll be a night of fun and entertainment, with interactive games, animation and film screenings, art symposiums, poetry and prose readings, and more (along with some of the best local food trucks). *Chroma* is free and open to all. Many exhibitions including... **Game Art & Design:** **DSB, first floor, Welcome Center lobby and Room 115**