I can’t deny that I was a bit nervous as I embarked on my graduate scheme placement at Transform (the second of my four three month placements in different Engine companies as part of its graduate scheme). I was not by nature the most technology-friendly of people, and often found myself more scared than excited by its scope and potential.  I had already come quite a long way in my time at Synergy, starting to tweet (for which I can only apologise to the world) and going from having one heavily selotaped Nokia (produced circa 1990) to being the hideous person you see on the Tube juggling two smartphones.  And I am happy to report that my rather belated initiation into the world of technology has continued apace during my three months at Transform.

One of the things that excited me the most about Transform was the possibility of working with public sector clients, so I was delighted when I was told that my first piece of work would be for NHS Direct. Transform’s work with NHSD on symptom checkers was excellent and award-winning and I am passionate about the idea of public service users being able to engage more with the service they are given, so this was an ideal project. Less ideal however was being told I would have to navigate a content management system in order to make a website. Having thought html was short for “hotmail” (it transpired that it isn’t) it was extremely satisfying to learn that I was able to use this code to design a genuinely helpful tool.

The idea that I could use technology to make a tangible product was a revelation.  Without listing the various pieces of software that I have learnt to use here, suffice it to say that I have discovered that tools I believed were just there to intimidate people  like me actually have a use, and have made my life much easier in a whole host of ways. I still haven’t bought an item of clothing online yet, but with my newfound adventurousness with all things technological, I feel it is only a matter of time before I do. My fears of a chosen outfit not fitting me are gradually being replaced by excitement at the possibility of avoiding the Oxford Street crowds and choosing clothes from the comfort of my desk (outside working hours, of course).

I’m not sure if I am just extremely resistant to change, or lazy, or scared of the unknown, but for a young person working in the communications industry, my fear of technology was pretty unusual. It was also arguably not that helpful in a company like Transform, whose expertise revolves around shifting clients’ consumer transactions to the right channels, which in this day and age will generally involve at least an element – and generally a rather large helping – of digital.

But in many ways, I feel my learning path has been the best sort; rather than being preached to about the importance and usefulness of digital channels, I have seen for myself, in my own little sphere, that channel shift is not done for the sake of it, but for the benefits that it brings. It has all been thanks to the enthusiasm of the people at Transform who are so keen to share all the exciting websites and software that make their lives easier and more fun.

My old, non-digital ways of doing things now seem fairly useless and antiquated, though a few months ago I simply would never have perceived the need to change.  So here is my personal channel shift journey, much more self-absorbed and less important and wide-reaching than the work Transform does, but a step change for me nonetheless.

Image thanks to tjdewey @ Flickr