DesigningOverload is the personal blog for Alan Cruickshank. Since 2018 Alan occasionally writes about Data, People, Data People, DIY, 3D Printing and generally building things, breaking things or measuring things.
You might find links here to content that Alan has written on other site or platforms, like podcast appearances or conferences. Where possible, there will be attribution for where that content originally appeared. You might find links to service providers, careers pages or other company specific stuff on those links - that’s usually because of the context that led to that content existing in the first place.
About Alan#
Engineer, Designer & Maker.
For the most up-to-date bio, check out the about section of A14K Ltd , where you can also find a contact form to get in touch and work together.
Alan spent eight years leading data at tails.com —first as Head of Data, then as Insights Director. During that time he was awarded First-Generation Chief Data Officer by DataTalks (2018) and included in the DataIQ 100 (2020). He oversaw analytics, data science, privacy, and consumer insight, and several of his team members have since gone on to head data functions at companies such as Hertility and Gousto , and one has herself been included in the DataIQ 100.
Beyond tails.com , Alan has coached data leaders at a variety of other SMEs, helping them make pragmatic, growth-driving decisions. His philosophy is simple: analytics and insight exist to improve decision-making—and to empower the people who make those decisions.
Alan is also the author and maintainer of SQLFluff , the world’s most widely used open-source SQL linter—a project that began as a hack-day idea at tails.com . Today, through his consultancy brand A14K , he supports a range of customer-focused SMEs.
