Garth Lidbetter
UX & Systems Designer
Location
Sawtell
NSW, Australia
Connect
© 2002-2025 Garth Lidbetter
Garth Lidbetter
UX & Systems Designer
Location
Sawtell
NSW, Australia
Connect
© 2002-2025 Garth Lidbetter
ABC
Consulting
2023
Branding, Visual Identity
ABC’s Audio Division was struggling to see the forest for the trees in its technology planning. With hundreds of programs spanning traditional radio, podcasts, and music — distributed through both broadcast and online channels — their data ecosystem had become complex and fragmented.
Over 12 weeks, I embedded with the division to chart a future-ready data strategy. My role was to run workshops and discovery sessions, bringing together stakeholders from content, production, and distribution.
Partnering with an engineering lead, we mapped the division’s current data flows end-to-end. This revealed bottlenecks, duplication, and clear opportunities for improvement.
ABC’s Audio Division was struggling to see the forest for the trees in its technology planning. With hundreds of programs spanning traditional radio, podcasts, and music — distributed through both broadcast and online channels — their data ecosystem had become complex and fragmented.
Over 12 weeks, I embedded with the division to chart a future-ready data strategy. My role was to run workshops and discovery sessions, bringing together stakeholders from content, production, and distribution.
Partnering with an engineering lead, we mapped the division’s current data flows end-to-end. This revealed bottlenecks, duplication, and clear opportunities for improvement.
ABC’s Audio Division was struggling to see the forest for the trees in its technology planning. With hundreds of programs spanning traditional radio, podcasts, and music — distributed through both broadcast and online channels — their data ecosystem had become complex and fragmented.
Over 12 weeks, I embedded with the division to chart a future-ready data strategy. My role was to run workshops and discovery sessions, bringing together stakeholders from content, production, and distribution.
Partnering with an engineering lead, we mapped the division’s current data flows end-to-end. This revealed bottlenecks, duplication, and clear opportunities for improvement.
Role & team
Role: Systems designer
Team: Project manager, Project lead, Engineering lead, Technical solution architect
Client: Product owner, Program sponsor, Stakeholders, SME's
Role: Systems designer
Team: Project manager, Project lead, Engineering lead, Technical solution architect
Client: Product owner, Program sponsor, Stakeholders, SME's
Role: Systems designer
Team: Project manager, Project lead, Engineering lead, Technical solution architect
Client: Product owner, Program sponsor, Stakeholders, SME's
Tasks
SME interviews across multiple divisions
Business analysis
Technical data journey mapping
Success metric setting & tracking
Process documentation
SME interviews across multiple divisions
Business analysis
Technical data journey mapping
Success metric setting & tracking
Process documentation
SME interviews across multiple divisions
Business analysis
Technical data journey mapping
Success metric setting & tracking
Process documentation
Deliverables
Guiding principles
Technical service map
Change management plans
3 phased horizon model
Guiding principles
Technical service map
Change management plans
3 phased horizon model
Guiding principles
Technical service map
Change management plans
3 phased horizon model
32
SME interviews
12
week engagement
3
areas identified for future focus
3
stepped horizon plan
Background & Brief
The original brief was to scope a single platform to house all audio assets. Within the first week, it was clear the problem was broader. The real need was to review the entire data flow across the division and identify targeted improvements — not simply to build another single platform.
We reframed the work to focus on diagnosing systemic issues and recommending practical, phased improvements.
The original brief was to scope a single platform to house all audio assets. Within the first week, it was clear the problem was broader. The real need was to review the entire data flow across the division and identify targeted improvements — not simply to build another single platform.
We reframed the work to focus on diagnosing systemic issues and recommending practical, phased improvements.
The original brief was to scope a single platform to house all audio assets. Within the first week, it was clear the problem was broader. The real need was to review the entire data flow across the division and identify targeted improvements — not simply to build another single platform.
We reframed the work to focus on diagnosing systemic issues and recommending practical, phased improvements.
Challenges
Shifting brief
Within the first week, the project scope and priorities changed significantly. I quickly realigned the team, reset stakeholder expectations, and adapted our approach—maintaining momentum while ensuring the work stayed strategically relevant despite moving goalposts.Niche technical domain
The subject matter was highly specialised. I leaned on technical experts, rapidly upskilled, and translated complex concepts into clear language for stakeholders. Acting as a bridge ensured decisions were informed, aligned, and technically sound without slowing the pace.Short time frame
With tight timelines, we embedded quickly, built trust fast, and extracted insights efficiently. Through structured conversations and quick wins, we earned credibility early—balancing speed with depth to inform design decisions.
Shifting brief
Within the first week, the project scope and priorities changed significantly. I quickly realigned the team, reset stakeholder expectations, and adapted our approach—maintaining momentum while ensuring the work stayed strategically relevant despite moving goalposts.Niche technical domain
The subject matter was highly specialised. I leaned on technical experts, rapidly upskilled, and translated complex concepts into clear language for stakeholders. Acting as a bridge ensured decisions were informed, aligned, and technically sound without slowing the pace.Short time frame
With tight timelines, we embedded quickly, built trust fast, and extracted insights efficiently. Through structured conversations and quick wins, we earned credibility early—balancing speed with depth to inform design decisions.
Shifting brief
Within the first week, the project scope and priorities changed significantly. I quickly realigned the team, reset stakeholder expectations, and adapted our approach—maintaining momentum while ensuring the work stayed strategically relevant despite moving goalposts.Niche technical domain
The subject matter was highly specialised. I leaned on technical experts, rapidly upskilled, and translated complex concepts into clear language for stakeholders. Acting as a bridge ensured decisions were informed, aligned, and technically sound without slowing the pace.Short time frame
With tight timelines, we embedded quickly, built trust fast, and extracted insights efficiently. Through structured conversations and quick wins, we earned credibility early—balancing speed with depth to inform design decisions.
Solution
We delivered a clear path forward.
First, we documented the current and future state data journey, showing how data moves and is stored today and how it may move and be stored tomorrow. This gave everyone—from architects, engineers, content teams, digital teams and leadership—a shared mental model.
Next, we developed a five-year roadmap: a practical, staged plan with clear next steps to modernise infrastructure, reduce duplication, reduce manual input and unlock new capabilities.
Finally, we set out a long-term vision and benefits. This horizon view gave leadership confidence in the strategic direction and aligned the division around exciting future prospects.
We delivered a clear path forward.
First, we documented the current and future state data journey, showing how data moves and is stored today and how it may move and be stored tomorrow. This gave everyone—from architects, engineers, content teams, digital teams and leadership—a shared mental model.
Next, we developed a five-year roadmap: a practical, staged plan with clear next steps to modernise infrastructure, reduce duplication, reduce manual input and unlock new capabilities.
Finally, we set out a long-term vision and benefits. This horizon view gave leadership confidence in the strategic direction and aligned the division around exciting future prospects.
We delivered a clear path forward.
First, we documented the current and future state data journey, showing how data moves and is stored today and how it may move and be stored tomorrow. This gave everyone—from architects, engineers, content teams, digital teams and leadership—a shared mental model.
Next, we developed a five-year roadmap: a practical, staged plan with clear next steps to modernise infrastructure, reduce duplication, reduce manual input and unlock new capabilities.
Finally, we set out a long-term vision and benefits. This horizon view gave leadership confidence in the strategic direction and aligned the division around exciting future prospects.
32
SME interviews
12
week engagement
3
areas identified for future focus
3
stepped horizon plan
Conclusions
By bringing a methodical process to the discovery of a complex ecosystem, we gave ABC’s Audio Division the clarity it needed to move forward with confidence. The new data journey and roadmap aligned teams across content, production, and technology. Leadership gained a clear vision of where to invest, how to modernise, and what benefits to expect.
The result: a unified strategy with practical action items to support ABC’s audio ambitions for years to come.
By bringing a methodical process to the discovery of a complex ecosystem, we gave ABC’s Audio Division the clarity it needed to move forward with confidence. The new data journey and roadmap aligned teams across content, production, and technology. Leadership gained a clear vision of where to invest, how to modernise, and what benefits to expect.
The result: a unified strategy with practical action items to support ABC’s audio ambitions for years to come.
By bringing a methodical process to the discovery of a complex ecosystem, we gave ABC’s Audio Division the clarity it needed to move forward with confidence. The new data journey and roadmap aligned teams across content, production, and technology. Leadership gained a clear vision of where to invest, how to modernise, and what benefits to expect.
The result: a unified strategy with practical action items to support ABC’s audio ambitions for years to come.
Feedback
Luke St George
Product Manager, ABC
"Working with Kablamo is like an addictive drug - you get things done and it's like I need my next hit to just give me one more feature"
"Working with Kablamo is like an addictive drug - you get things done and it's like I need my next hit to just give me one more feature"
"Working with Kablamo is like an addictive drug - you get things done and it's like I need my next hit to just give me one more feature"
Ben Boyter
Engineering Lead
"Could this man be any better at running interviews or workshops? I don't think so. In awe of the skill of this guy. Absolute unit.
Add his ability to present the findings concisely back to the ABC senior stakeholders. I've just seen a demonstration of absolute confidence and deep knowledge of a space that ABC desperately needs. Garth has ABC eating out of the palm of his hand. Everyone is nodding at what he is saying. No complaints. This is unheard of."
"Could this man be any better at running interviews or workshops? I don't think so. In awe of the skill of this guy. Absolute unit.
Add his ability to present the findings concisely back to the ABC senior stakeholders. I've just seen a demonstration of absolute confidence and deep knowledge of a space that ABC desperately needs. Garth has ABC eating out of the palm of his hand. Everyone is nodding at what he is saying. No complaints. This is unheard of."
"Could this man be any better at running interviews or workshops? I don't think so. In awe of the skill of this guy. Absolute unit.
Add his ability to present the findings concisely back to the ABC senior stakeholders. I've just seen a demonstration of absolute confidence and deep knowledge of a space that ABC desperately needs. Garth has ABC eating out of the palm of his hand. Everyone is nodding at what he is saying. No complaints. This is unheard of."
Zuni Dierk
Technical solution architect
"Garth has been an absolute pleasure to work with, he has well and truly gone beyond his role to ensure that Kablamo delivered something of value for the ABC. I can confidently say I’ve met few people who have his combination of emotional intelligence, creativity, and critical thinking."
"Garth has been an absolute pleasure to work with, he has well and truly gone beyond his role to ensure that Kablamo delivered something of value for the ABC. I can confidently say I’ve met few people who have his combination of emotional intelligence, creativity, and critical thinking."
"Garth has been an absolute pleasure to work with, he has well and truly gone beyond his role to ensure that Kablamo delivered something of value for the ABC. I can confidently say I’ve met few people who have his combination of emotional intelligence, creativity, and critical thinking."