GOV.UK
Designing data
Bringing data into the design studio; and design into data projects: by Cat Drew, Dr Lucy Kimbell & Stephen Bennett A couple of weeks ago, we took part in a ‘data studio’: an experimental workshop hosted at an arts university …
Policy Lab
Policy Lab is bringing new policy techniques to the departments across the civil service, helping design services around people’s experience, using data analytics and new digital tools.
Why Labs are as much about mindset as toolset
Andrea Siodmok shares her thoughts from the back of an Uber, on how experiencing innovation is much better than just being told about it.
Reflections on education, skills and forecasting futures
Six months after graduating from an MA in design from London College of Communication (LCC), I was fortunate enough to be invited for dinner with the Vice Chancellor of my university (UAL) and the Head of my College (LCC). As …
Data Dilemmas - how Open Policy Making can help us use data ethically
Ever heard the term ‘data science’? Nearly 40% of the population have never heard about it, and over 20% have heard the term but don’t know what it means. But we’ve all probably experienced it in one way or another. So over the last 18 months, GDS has been working to develop an ethical framework for the use of data science in government so that people feel confident to innovate with and use data.
Tools for discovering data
I’m off to speak at Open Data Manchester this evening about both how open data and open working can make better policy. I thought I’d share some of the tools we in Policy Lab use to help us think through …
Opening up policy problems to fresh talent
Policy Lab and the Social Investment & Finance Team asked MA students studying Service Design at the Royal College of Arts to grow the social investment market in new ways. This is what they came up with.
On loan to Lab
I'm now over half-way through my time in Policy Lab, on loan from the Treasury to learn, employ and ultimately bring back new and innovative policy approaches. During my time at the Treasury I've learned a lot, about how policy …
Graphic design and policy making
For the last three years I have spent my time cycling in between Policy Lab in Westminster, the Government Digital Service in Holborn and London College of Communication in Elephant and Castle. I had decided that after 10 years in a fairly traditional civil service career path I wanted to do something more ‘creative’ and decided to do a part time Masters in Graphic Design.
Exploring the evidence
I find it really hard to read a long report unless I’ve got a particular question to answer. So when Uscreates got people to go on an ‘evidence safari’ to explore evidence I thought “we should do more of that”!
Notes from a policy speed dating event
One strand of the Open Policy Making agenda is about using a broader range of evidence to inform policy. For example the What Works centres were set up to enable policy officials to access research and make use of it …