Designing an error dashboard, and contributing to the design community

Error dashboard

This sprint we did a bit of a handbrake turn and picked up a new little problem to work on.

The team had become aware of a spike in errors and we wanted to explore if we could display these to users via the RAVS interface so that they could fix things themselves.

These errors are caused later, when we send our data to other parts of the NHS, so they aren't things we can spot as the user completes the everyday parts of our service.

Since it was quite a technical problem, I decided to work closely with a few people on the team to help keep the work on track. I've been putting in regular check-ins with our content designer, product manager, software developers and business analyst.

I've also tried to capture every question and suggestion that is raised as we critique and iterate the design. I think this has really helped us to move quickly and stay aligned.

We're aiming to do some user research on the prototype next sprint. Watch this space.

Reviewing design community work

Frankie has been inviting me to review some PRs (pull requests) from the wider community work he's involved with, like the NHS prototype kit and X-GOVUK. I feel like I'm dipping my toe slowly into this world.

I'm really thankful of the opportunity and can see lots of benefits to getting involved with this work, I get to:

  • work with, and learn, from amazing designers
  • see sneak peaks of upcoming features and content
  • have a deeper understanding of the tools and guides that I rely on every day
  • give back to a community that has helped me countless times

Blindboy and Ceri John Phillips

Outside of work, I went to see Blindboy in Cardiff earlier this week. I've only been listening to his podcast for a few months but my wife heard me laughing along to it, so she got me tickets as a surprise present!

I love listening to the way he links things like folklore, politics, technology and the environment.

His guest was Ceri John Phillips, a welsh storyteller. I left wanting to learn more about Welsh history, myths and legends (like the Mabinogion).

I'd recommend listening to Blindboy's podcast if you have a spare few hours.

Chali 2na

I also went to see Chali 2na (of Jurassic 5 fame). It was great to see such an amazing rapper in such a small venue, although I reckon he should be filling much bigger places.

He really got the modest crowd going though and I reckon everyone there knew every single word of classics like Concrete Schoolyard (Youtube video).

Bookmarks Bookmark

Addressing accessibility issues in your service - GOV.UK Design System