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Actionable are an award winning insight, strategy &
innovation consultancy
We work with leaders to understand and tackle business and societal challenges, explore opportunities and build innovation capability.
We combine our expertise in human insight, research, business intelligence and design thinking, to help our partners understand people and markets, invent and improve offerings, develop exciting strategy and design new ventures.
Our clients range from global healthcare companies and charities, to insurance companies, Government agencies and new ventures looking to have impact.
Sample work
Strategic Consulting – Kildare Library Services’ 5-Year Strategic Development Plan
Kildare Library Services engaged Think Actionable to design and facilitate the creation of their 5-Year Strategic Development Plan (2025–2029). The challenge was to develop a strategy that would guide the future of library services across the county — one that was both visionary in ambition and grounded in real community needs.
The brief called for a process that not only addressed operational priorities, but also positioned libraries as inclusive, accessible, and central to the cultural and social fabric of Kildare.
The Process
Think Actionable led a Human-Centred Design process that placed the voices of library staff, users, and community partners at the heart of the plan.
Stakeholder Engagement – A series of interviews, surveys, and workshops with frontline staff, partner organisations, and local groups to capture diverse perspectives.
Community Voices – Facilitated engagement with library users to understand how services are currently experienced, and where gaps or opportunities exist.
User Journey Mapping – Applied participatory tools to identify touchpoints, challenges, and areas for innovation.
Collaborative Synthesis – Worked closely with the Kildare Library Services leadership team to distil insights into clear themes and practical actions.
This structured yet inclusive approach ensured that the final strategy reflected the lived experiences of those it serves, while remaining aligned with organisational goals.
The Outcome
Launched in 2025, the 5-Year Strategic Development Plan provides Kildare Library Services with:
30 Strategic Actions organised across 7 Development Areas, covering digital innovation, service expansion, community wellbeing, and inclusion.
A roadmap that is visionary yet actionable, balancing ambition with achievable steps.
A framework that secures the role of libraries as vital public spaces for learning, creativity, and community connection.
The strategy is more than a document — it is a commitment to evolve and grow with the people of Kildare, ensuring the library service remains relevant, inclusive, and impactful well into the future.
The brief called for a process that not only addressed operational priorities, but also positioned libraries as inclusive, accessible, and central to the cultural and social fabric of Kildare.
The Process
Think Actionable led a Human-Centred Design process that placed the voices of library staff, users, and community partners at the heart of the plan.
Stakeholder Engagement – A series of interviews, surveys, and workshops with frontline staff, partner organisations, and local groups to capture diverse perspectives.
Community Voices – Facilitated engagement with library users to understand how services are currently experienced, and where gaps or opportunities exist.
User Journey Mapping – Applied participatory tools to identify touchpoints, challenges, and areas for innovation.
Collaborative Synthesis – Worked closely with the Kildare Library Services leadership team to distil insights into clear themes and practical actions.
This structured yet inclusive approach ensured that the final strategy reflected the lived experiences of those it serves, while remaining aligned with organisational goals.
The Outcome
Launched in 2025, the 5-Year Strategic Development Plan provides Kildare Library Services with:
30 Strategic Actions organised across 7 Development Areas, covering digital innovation, service expansion, community wellbeing, and inclusion.
A roadmap that is visionary yet actionable, balancing ambition with achievable steps.
A framework that secures the role of libraries as vital public spaces for learning, creativity, and community connection.
The strategy is more than a document — it is a commitment to evolve and grow with the people of Kildare, ensuring the library service remains relevant, inclusive, and impactful well into the future.
Strategic Workshop Facilitation – HSE Public Health
Public Health within the Health Service Executive (HSE) carries a wide remit: protecting health, improving health outcomes, enhancing health services, and generating health intelligence. To strengthen collaboration and explore innovation opportunities across these domains, HSE Spark Innovation Programme invited Think Actionable to design and facilitate a large-scale strategic workshop with national and leadership teams from Public Health.
The brief was to create a space where leaders could surface priorities, share insights, and accelerate collective understanding — enabling the group to move towards meaningful action across a complex, evolving agenda.
The Process
We designed a high-energy, participatory workshop for 45 leaders from across the national Public Health team. The facilitation approach combined structured decision-making with creative, human-centred tools to ensure both breadth of input and depth of discussion.
Key elements included:
Decision-Making Exercises – Structured activities to help the group prioritise complex issues and identify where innovation could have the greatest impact.
Human-Centred Design Tools – Techniques to draw out diverse perspectives, ensuring all voices were heard and insights captured.
Case Studies – Real-world examples to inspire thinking and connect Public Health challenges to innovative approaches in practice.
The day was carefully paced to balance collective exploration and focused synthesis, enabling participants to build shared understanding and momentum.
The Outcome
The workshop generated a clear set of priority areas and innovation opportunities for Public Health, underpinned by the collective experience of the leadership team. Outcomes included:
A shared view of challenges and opportunities, accelerating alignment across a wide-ranging remit.
Identification of strategic areas for innovation, providing a foundation for subsequent action planning.
Strengthened collaboration within the Public Health leadership team, reinforcing a culture of openness and collective problem-solving.
The event showcased the power of human-centred facilitation in bringing together diverse expertise, enabling leaders to navigate complexity and move towards meaningful, actionable innovation.
The brief was to create a space where leaders could surface priorities, share insights, and accelerate collective understanding — enabling the group to move towards meaningful action across a complex, evolving agenda.
The Process
We designed a high-energy, participatory workshop for 45 leaders from across the national Public Health team. The facilitation approach combined structured decision-making with creative, human-centred tools to ensure both breadth of input and depth of discussion.
Key elements included:
Decision-Making Exercises – Structured activities to help the group prioritise complex issues and identify where innovation could have the greatest impact.
Human-Centred Design Tools – Techniques to draw out diverse perspectives, ensuring all voices were heard and insights captured.
Case Studies – Real-world examples to inspire thinking and connect Public Health challenges to innovative approaches in practice.
The day was carefully paced to balance collective exploration and focused synthesis, enabling participants to build shared understanding and momentum.
The Outcome
The workshop generated a clear set of priority areas and innovation opportunities for Public Health, underpinned by the collective experience of the leadership team. Outcomes included:
A shared view of challenges and opportunities, accelerating alignment across a wide-ranging remit.
Identification of strategic areas for innovation, providing a foundation for subsequent action planning.
Strengthened collaboration within the Public Health leadership team, reinforcing a culture of openness and collective problem-solving.
The event showcased the power of human-centred facilitation in bringing together diverse expertise, enabling leaders to navigate complexity and move towards meaningful, actionable innovation.
Human-Centred Design – Maxillofacial Prosthesis Service
For patients awaiting a prosthesis following the amputation of a nose, eye, or ear, the waiting period can be long and emotionally challenging. While extraordinary work is already being carried out by the clinicians and prosthetics team at the Maxillofacial Unit in St James’s Hospital Dublin, there was an opportunity to explore how design thinking could help improve the patient journey during this critical stage of care.
In collaboration with HSE Spark Innovation Programme and the Maxillofacial Unit at St James’s, Think Actionable was invited to support the development of a patient-centred solution that could provide both practical and emotional benefit.
The Process
We worked closely with clinicians, prosthesis technicians, and patients to apply a Human-Centred Design approach.
Collaborative Research – Engaged directly with patients, clinicians, and technicians to understand the lived experience of the prosthesis journey.
Design Development – Co-created concepts with the clinical team to explore potential interventions that could complement the existing pathway.
Prototype & Testing – Developed and trialled a temporary prosthesis solution, allowing patients to benefit while awaiting their permanent prosthesis.
Patient Partnership – Ensured patients were active collaborators, shaping and refining the design alongside the medical team.
This partnership between design and clinical expertise highlighted the value of integrating new perspectives into healthcare innovation.
The Outcome
The project has had a significant real-world impact:
A temporary prosthesis solution has now been implemented with 14 patients, providing improved quality of life during the waiting period.
The process reinforced the importance of patient voice and advocacy, culminating in a powerful contribution from a service user at the HSE Spark Innovation Summit.
Clinicians, technicians, and patients together have demonstrated a model for co-designed healthcare innovation that could inspire similar initiatives in other specialties.
As one of the most rewarding projects undertaken, the Maxillofacial Prosthesis initiative shows how design can augment clinical excellence — making the patient journey more humane, supportive, and dignified.
In collaboration with HSE Spark Innovation Programme and the Maxillofacial Unit at St James’s, Think Actionable was invited to support the development of a patient-centred solution that could provide both practical and emotional benefit.
The Process
We worked closely with clinicians, prosthesis technicians, and patients to apply a Human-Centred Design approach.
Collaborative Research – Engaged directly with patients, clinicians, and technicians to understand the lived experience of the prosthesis journey.
Design Development – Co-created concepts with the clinical team to explore potential interventions that could complement the existing pathway.
Prototype & Testing – Developed and trialled a temporary prosthesis solution, allowing patients to benefit while awaiting their permanent prosthesis.
Patient Partnership – Ensured patients were active collaborators, shaping and refining the design alongside the medical team.
This partnership between design and clinical expertise highlighted the value of integrating new perspectives into healthcare innovation.
The Outcome
The project has had a significant real-world impact:
A temporary prosthesis solution has now been implemented with 14 patients, providing improved quality of life during the waiting period.
The process reinforced the importance of patient voice and advocacy, culminating in a powerful contribution from a service user at the HSE Spark Innovation Summit.
Clinicians, technicians, and patients together have demonstrated a model for co-designed healthcare innovation that could inspire similar initiatives in other specialties.
As one of the most rewarding projects undertaken, the Maxillofacial Prosthesis initiative shows how design can augment clinical excellence — making the patient journey more humane, supportive, and dignified.
Authored Book – ARRIVE: A Design Innovation Framework
Innovation is often hindered not by a lack of creativity, but by a failure to properly frame the problem. Recognising this, Martin Ryan, alongside co-authors Frank Devitt and Trevor Vaugh, set out to develop a framework that integrates design thinking, strategic management, and behavioural psychology into a single, practical guide for innovators.
The ambition was to create a book that could serve both as a teaching tool and a practical manual, enabling students, professionals, and organisations to navigate the complexities of innovation with clarity and confidence.
The Process
Drawing on years of teaching, practice, and research, the authors synthesised multiple disciplines into a holistic framework they named ARRIVE. The process of writing the book was itself iterative and collaborative, combining academic rigour with real-world application.
Integrating Strategy & Design – Merging tried-and-tested strategy frameworks with the creative problem-solving of design thinking.
Applying Behavioural Psychology – Embedding an understanding of human behaviour to ensure solutions are meaningful and impactful.
Focus on Problem Definition – Structuring the framework to first identify and frame the right problem before moving to ideation and solution development.
Teaching & Practice Feedback – Refining the model through years of use in classrooms, workshops, and consulting projects.
The outcome was a framework that is both conceptually robust and highly practical.
The Outcome
Published by Routledge, ARRIVE: A Design Innovation Framework to Deliver Breakthrough Services, Products and Experiences offers a step-by-step approach to innovation that:
Guides readers to first define the right problem, then clarify its nature, and only then move toward solution development.
Provides a holistic, multidisciplinary framework that integrates design, strategy, and psychology.
Equips innovators with tools to deliver breakthrough products, services, and experiences.
The book has been adopted in both academic and professional contexts, inspiring designers, strategists, and leaders to rethink how they approach complex challenges. Its central message resonates across industries:
“A problem well stated is a problem almost solved.” – Charles Kettering
The ambition was to create a book that could serve both as a teaching tool and a practical manual, enabling students, professionals, and organisations to navigate the complexities of innovation with clarity and confidence.
The Process
Drawing on years of teaching, practice, and research, the authors synthesised multiple disciplines into a holistic framework they named ARRIVE. The process of writing the book was itself iterative and collaborative, combining academic rigour with real-world application.
Integrating Strategy & Design – Merging tried-and-tested strategy frameworks with the creative problem-solving of design thinking.
Applying Behavioural Psychology – Embedding an understanding of human behaviour to ensure solutions are meaningful and impactful.
Focus on Problem Definition – Structuring the framework to first identify and frame the right problem before moving to ideation and solution development.
Teaching & Practice Feedback – Refining the model through years of use in classrooms, workshops, and consulting projects.
The outcome was a framework that is both conceptually robust and highly practical.
The Outcome
Published by Routledge, ARRIVE: A Design Innovation Framework to Deliver Breakthrough Services, Products and Experiences offers a step-by-step approach to innovation that:
Guides readers to first define the right problem, then clarify its nature, and only then move toward solution development.
Provides a holistic, multidisciplinary framework that integrates design, strategy, and psychology.
Equips innovators with tools to deliver breakthrough products, services, and experiences.
The book has been adopted in both academic and professional contexts, inspiring designers, strategists, and leaders to rethink how they approach complex challenges. Its central message resonates across industries:
“A problem well stated is a problem almost solved.” – Charles Kettering
Product Innovation – REV Saddle, Stübben x Martin Ryan
Equestrian sport demands equipment that is both high-performance and deeply attuned to the needs of horse and rider. Stübben, renowned for its craftsmanship since 1894, partnered with designer and innovator Martin Ryan to develop a next-generation saddle that could combine tradition, innovation, and ergonomics in a completely new way.
The brief was ambitious: create a saddle that delivers maximum comfort, adaptability, and performance, while showcasing a bold design that could stand out in a competitive global market.
The Process
This was a collaborative design and innovation project, bringing together Stübben’s heritage of German craftsmanship with Martin Ryan’s design expertise and user-centred approach.
Research & Insight Gathering – Understanding the needs of modern riders and horses, with a focus on performance, flexibility, and aesthetics.
Concept Development – Exploring ways to challenge the conventions of saddle design while retaining Stübben’s quality standards.
Prototyping & Testing – Iterative development of the REV Saddle, trialled with riders to refine ergonomics, adjustability, and durability.
Brand Collaboration – Aligning the final design with both Stübben’s brand legacy and Martin Ryan’s reputation for innovation.
The design process prioritised form and function, ensuring the REV Saddle could meet the rigorous demands of equestrian sport while also signalling a fresh, modern identity.
The Outcome
Launched internationally at spoga horse in Germany, the REV Saddle represents a bold step forward in equestrian equipment.
A revolutionary saddle design, blending traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge innovation.
Enhanced comfort and performance features for both horse and rider.
A collaboration that showcases how heritage brands and independent designers can work together to deliver breakthrough products.
The Stübben x Martin Ryan REV Saddle has been met with strong interest from riders, retailers, and the wider equestrian community — positioning it as a standout innovation in a market that values both tradition and progress.
The brief was ambitious: create a saddle that delivers maximum comfort, adaptability, and performance, while showcasing a bold design that could stand out in a competitive global market.
The Process
This was a collaborative design and innovation project, bringing together Stübben’s heritage of German craftsmanship with Martin Ryan’s design expertise and user-centred approach.
Research & Insight Gathering – Understanding the needs of modern riders and horses, with a focus on performance, flexibility, and aesthetics.
Concept Development – Exploring ways to challenge the conventions of saddle design while retaining Stübben’s quality standards.
Prototyping & Testing – Iterative development of the REV Saddle, trialled with riders to refine ergonomics, adjustability, and durability.
Brand Collaboration – Aligning the final design with both Stübben’s brand legacy and Martin Ryan’s reputation for innovation.
The design process prioritised form and function, ensuring the REV Saddle could meet the rigorous demands of equestrian sport while also signalling a fresh, modern identity.
The Outcome
Launched internationally at spoga horse in Germany, the REV Saddle represents a bold step forward in equestrian equipment.
A revolutionary saddle design, blending traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge innovation.
Enhanced comfort and performance features for both horse and rider.
A collaboration that showcases how heritage brands and independent designers can work together to deliver breakthrough products.
The Stübben x Martin Ryan REV Saddle has been met with strong interest from riders, retailers, and the wider equestrian community — positioning it as a standout innovation in a market that values both tradition and progress.
Design Sprint with Musgrave Group
Innovating one of the worlds most traditional industries.
This is the story of the design thinking process used to develop the worlds first Cantilevered Saddle. The saddle was the invention of Martin Ryan, originally commercialised under the brand name Bua, today retailing as the REV Saddle, retailed through Stubben, global leaders in equestrian equipment. The Saddle was inspired by a design philosophy that challenges orthodoxies and focuses on improving performance of the product for horse and rider. The Saddle patent was formally granted in 2014.
The Big Life Fix TV series
Actionable co-founder Trevor Vaugh appeared as an expert on the acclaimed RTE television series “The Big Life Fix”. The series partnered with a number of health focused charities to identify 12 participants that would share their stories and take part as co-creators. A team of 'experts' were assembled from the fields of design, engineering and computer science, to work through an accelerated design process, to conceive, concept and realise bespoke solutions that would significantly improve the quality of life of participants. Each 'expert' worked collaboratively with a spectrum of experts from neurologists to fashion designers and craft furniture makers. This purpose-driven collaboration insured the series and the projects delivered extraordinary impact within unique constraints.The significance of the program has been marked by a massive upsurge in public awareness of the role design can in innovation.
Challenge
This was an ambitious project in terms of scale, extremely tight production deadlines, and in some cases, the deteriorating health of participants. Over one year, the series followed eight 'experts' as they attempted to understand the unique challenges faced by the participants and then move rapidly into concept development, experimentation and a humbling dose of trial & error. This was a challenging process for participants, often asked to try things outside of their comfort zone. The prototyping phase saw the solutions refined, and first-of-their-kind, safe, robust and reliable solutions developed. Added to the complexity, the entire process had to be captured on camera, meaning projects had to be carefully planned to align with crew and participant availability and project scheduling. The brief to the 'experts' was simple – immerse in the participant lives to understand their challenges and design a solution that will make a meaningful improvement in their lives.
Resolution & impact
Over 45 minutes, across six episodes, two participants and the experts working with them were introduced to viewers. These participants had debilitating and often progressive medical conditions ranging from Alzheimer’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis, to Motor neuron disease and Caudal Regression Syndrome. Each episode tells the story of how the ‘experts’ worked to understand the participants challenges, meet doctors, medical supports and researchers and then proceed with designing, prototyping and producing an solution.
Each of the 12 projects were novel, bespoke and highly innovative. The 12 projects were universally considered to have exceeded the participants expectations and those of their families, carers and clinical teams.
Challenge
This was an ambitious project in terms of scale, extremely tight production deadlines, and in some cases, the deteriorating health of participants. Over one year, the series followed eight 'experts' as they attempted to understand the unique challenges faced by the participants and then move rapidly into concept development, experimentation and a humbling dose of trial & error. This was a challenging process for participants, often asked to try things outside of their comfort zone. The prototyping phase saw the solutions refined, and first-of-their-kind, safe, robust and reliable solutions developed. Added to the complexity, the entire process had to be captured on camera, meaning projects had to be carefully planned to align with crew and participant availability and project scheduling. The brief to the 'experts' was simple – immerse in the participant lives to understand their challenges and design a solution that will make a meaningful improvement in their lives.
Resolution & impact
Over 45 minutes, across six episodes, two participants and the experts working with them were introduced to viewers. These participants had debilitating and often progressive medical conditions ranging from Alzheimer’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis, to Motor neuron disease and Caudal Regression Syndrome. Each episode tells the story of how the ‘experts’ worked to understand the participants challenges, meet doctors, medical supports and researchers and then proceed with designing, prototyping and producing an solution.
Each of the 12 projects were novel, bespoke and highly innovative. The 12 projects were universally considered to have exceeded the participants expectations and those of their families, carers and clinical teams.
The History of PPE - Audio essay by Trevor Vaugh on RTE Radio One 'The Business"
€28m worth of personal protection equipment such as masks, gloves and goggles is coming from China to Ireland. It comes as healthcare workers complained about the shortage of protective equipment in our hospitals. Trevor Vaugh, from Maynooth University explains the origins of such products.
UX Design module Talent Garden
This module was designed to give participants a deep introduction and understanding of the Human-Centered Design process. Working closely with the leadership team in Talent Garden, Actionable designed and delivered this engaging, hands-on and challenge based module.
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