I’m Damian Rees. I find out why websites don’t get enquiries.
I watch real people use your website, listen to what they say, then tell you plainly what’s stopping them from getting in touch. I do the work myself, and I keep Make Human small so it stays that way.
You won’t be handed to a junior
I’ve spent 25 years in UX and customer research, including 13 years running my own agency and leading UX at Ipsos, first for Europe and then globally. The person you speak to on the first call is the person who watches your customers and writes the recommendations.
Your visitors aren’t the problem
I trained in psychology and spent three years at NATS, the UK’s air traffic control service, working on software that reduces human error. When a controller makes a mistake, you don’t blame the controller. You look at what the system made easy to get wrong. I look at websites the same way. If visitors aren’t enquiring, it’s rarely their fault.
I won’t sell you a redesign you don’t need
I’ve run an agency, and at Ipsos I assessed agencies the business was thinking of buying, so I know how easily a project grows. I start with the smallest change that will fix the problem. If research won’t change your decision, I’ll tell you rather than sell it to you.
Where I’ve worked
Digitas, the BBC, NATS and Appius, then my own agency, Experience UX, from 2007 to 2020. After that I joined Ipsos as UX Director for Europe and then Global UX Director. I set up Make Human in 2023 to get back to sitting with customers myself. Bex, Debbie and Steve join when a project needs them.
Over the years I’ve also worked on projects for the Financial Times, Burberry, Siemens, Vitality, Argos, Marks & Spencer, Halifax and Transport for London.
Outside work
I live in Christchurch in Dorset with my family, including two kids, a cat and a new puppy. When I’m not working you’ll usually find me walking the dog or checking my fantasy football team.
At a glance
- Name Damian Rees
- Role Founder and lead UX consultant, Make Human
- Based in Christchurch, Dorset, UK
- LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/damianrees
- Experience 25 years in UX, usability and customer research
- Education BSc (Hons) Applied Psychology and Computing, Bournemouth University
- Certification CPUX, Certified Professional for Usability and User Experience
- Previously Global UX Director at Ipsos, founder of Experience UX, Senior Human Factors Specialist at NATS, Senior Usability Engineer at the BBC
Common questions
Who is Damian Rees?
Damian Rees is a UK user experience (UX) consultant and the founder of Make Human. He has 25 years of experience in usability, customer research and UX design, including roles at the BBC, NATS (UK air traffic control) and Ipsos, where he was Global UX Director.
What does Damian Rees do?
He helps marketing teams find out why their website isn’t converting, through independent website reviews, customer research and usability testing, and UX design.
Does Damian do the work himself?
Yes. Damian leads most Make Human projects personally, bringing in the wider team when a project needs more research or design capacity.
Where is Make Human based?
Make Human is based in Dorset, UK, and works with organisations across the UK.