Dr Default persona

29 Jul 2026

In this moment: Gary Hawkes
In a recent discussion with Ambassadors I mentioned that I have been referred to before as "Dr Default". I thought this might be an interesting persona to explore.

While others jump straight into how to customise software and tools to make their experience of using software unique to them, Dr Default  rarely customises anything. Be it Powerpoint presentations, operating system backgrounds, he see's them as tools and gets no pleasure in personalisation or flashy designs. When testing software he will take it as it comes out the box and learn it as it is from its base set-up. He lives a themeless existence in the software world. 
Gary Hawkes profile image
Gary Hawkes
Head of Engineering
He/Him

Head of Engineering who came from QE. Admirer of all humans (with a special affinity for testers). I love to bring out the best in people and help them grow. I have a very tactical view of delivery and love working to find the sweet spot so that processes are a balance between effort and value. Music nut.

Open To
Write
Mentor
Podcasting
CV Reviews
Attending MoTaCon 🤝
Ambassador
Rosie Sherry
Love this, and all the hidden default signals in the image is so good!

Ady Stokes
Excellent, no notes! :)


Sign in to comment
Explore MoT
 Closing the Test Automation Gap: Practical Solutions for Advanced QA Teams  image
Complex workflows, flaky tests, fragmented tools, and AI-driven pressure are making it harder for QA teams to keep up.
MoT Software Testing Essentials Certificate image
Boost your career in software testing with the MoT Software Testing Essentials Certificate. Learn essential skills, from basic testing techniques to advanced risk analysis, crafted by industry experts.
This Week in Quality image
Debrief the week in Quality via a community radio show hosted by Simon Tomes and members of the community
Subscribe to our newsletter