Posts by this team

How we examined the processes behind ESFA funding statements

With a new focus on inefficiencies and complexities in the generation and dissemination of funding statements, we explored the problem space to gain a better understanding of how design might address some of the issues.

Communicating funding alpha

12 March 2025

Shifting focus to simplify GAG statements

We recently stepped back from the design of a single place for funding information, to simplify the production and output of General Annual Grant (GAG) statements.

Communicating funding alpha

3 March 2025

Why we tested two versions of our prototype in one research round

To test, verify and iterate specific areas of our prototype in a limited period of time, we split a single round of research into two parts.

Communicating funding alpha

24 February 2025

Naming the service: a design workshop approach

Naming a service is often led by a content designer, but it's an important task during discovery that the whole team should be involved with.

Communicating funding alpha

3 February 2025

Why we added an AI chat feature to our funding service

Perhaps the craziest idea to come out of an earlier Crazy 8s workshop was to create an AI chat to help our users find the right information and guidance for funding streams.

Communicating funding alpha

14 January 2025

How we aim to bring dispersed information and features into one place

Using a lot of different platforms to get information about funding is a big pain point for our users. So we looked at ways to bring that information together in one place.

Communicating funding alpha

6 January 2025

How we used a Crazy 8s workshop to generate prototype ideas

We used a fast sketching challenge to generate design responses to problems and pain points identified in our research.

Communicating funding alpha

18 December 2024

Why we chose job stories over user stories to document user needs

We changed how we capture and represent the user needs identified in research, to focus less on the user's role and more on what they need to do.

Communicating funding alpha

13 December 2024

How we used a content heuristic to improve ESFA communications

We used a content heuristic framework to evaluate content across ESFA, understand how service users refer to key elements in the service and produce recommendations for the service.

Communicating funding alpha

11 December 2024

Why we returned to discovery in alpha

When our alpha phase started to feel a bit more like a beta phase we needed to find out why. And then we needed to return to discovery...

Communicating funding alpha

22 November 2024