Building a User-Centric Digital Ecosystem for Local Governance

Project Overview

I collaborated with The Office for Local Government (Oflog), a data-driven governmental organisation, to design and launch a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that enhances transparency and accountability in local government. Through a user-centred approach and the integration of Design Thinking principles, we developed a sustainable digital ecosystem that serves stakeholders ranging from ministers and local authority leaders to citizens.

Key Achievements

Empowered Oflog with agile and user-centred design practices for ongoing development.
Delivered an MVP that met Oflog’s mission of promoting accountability and transparency.
Fostered collaboration and inclusivity by engaging stakeholders in the design process.

Oflog faced the dual challenge of creating a user-centric digital platform for diverse stakeholders while establishing a collaborative, agile workflow. My role was to guide the team in adopting Design Thinking and agile principles to ensure the project was both innovative and impactful.

The Challenge

The 14-week engagement focused on fostering collaboration, extracting insights from stakeholders, and building a scalable MVP:
1. Organising Collaborative Workflows:
Introduced agile methodologies to streamline workflows, prioritise tasks, and foster iterative development.
Encouraged cross-team collaboration to promote creativity and innovation.
2. Facilitating Co-Design Sessions:
Led interactive sessions with ministers, local authority leaders, and citizens to gather insights and feedback.
Synthesised outputs into actionable strategies, ensuring the platform met user needs.
3. Promoting Design Thinking:
Instilled empathy for end-users through hands-on activities and workshops.
Guided the team in rapid prototyping and iterative testing to validate hypotheses.
4. MVP Mindset:
Helped identify critical features and functionalities that would deliver maximum value while staying lean.
Focused on developing the smallest, most impactful solution to test and iterate upon.

The Approach

The collaborative effort between Oflog and Lady UX resulted in a successfully launched MVP that transformed how local government performance is tracked and shared.
Delivered a user-centric digital ecosystem accessible to diverse stakeholders.
Successfully implemented agile and Design Thinking principles within the organisation.
Enhanced transparency and accountability in local government through the platform’s innovative design.

The Outcome

This project underscored the importance of embedding Design Thinking principles and agile methodologies into digital transformation efforts. It highlighted the value of involving stakeholders early in the process to ensure solutions align with user needs.

Lessons Learned

Oflog’s commitment to user-centred design and agile practices demonstrates how digital transformation can enhance governance. The partnership with Lady UX delivered a sustainable digital ecosystem that supports transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. This case study is a testament to the transformative power of UX design in public sector innovation.

Conclusion