Good for Nothing

Rapid prototyping weekends where designers, developers, and strategists come together to help social good organisations.

The format

Good for Nothing runs "gigs" where volunteers spend a weekend (or sometimes just an evening) working intensively with a charity or social enterprise. The organisation arrives with a challenge. The volunteers leave with something tangible: a prototype, a strategy, a brand, or at least a clearer understanding of what they actually need.

My involvement

I've participated in and helped facilitate numerous GFN events over the years, bringing design and development skills to organisations that couldn't otherwise afford them.

Some memorable projects:

• Rapid prototyping for mental health charities needing to test service concepts
• Brand identity work for grassroots community organisations
• Technical architecture advice for social enterprises choosing their first tech stack
• User research facilitation helping charities actually talk to the people they serve

Why it matters

There's something valuable about the constraints. You can't overthink when you've got 48 hours. You can't gold-plate when you're working for free. You have to focus on what actually matters.

It's also a reminder that good work doesn't always require good budgets. Sometimes it just requires good people willing to show up.

The community

GFN has chapters across the UK and beyond. The people who show up tend to be the sort who care more about impact than invoices, at least for a weekend. That creates an energy that's hard to replicate in normal client work.

Ongoing

I still participate when I can. It's good practice to occasionally work outside your comfort zone, with people you've just met, on problems you know nothing about. Keeps you humble.