Dan
@dandoescontent.bsky.social
Content design, systems & structure. // Advocate of a lighter, more efficient & more accessible internet.
Sometimes I curse GOV.UK. Then I have to use literally any official US Government website and and all is forgiven.
November 18, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Sometimes I curse GOV.UK. Then I have to use literally any official US Government website and and all is forgiven.
👇👇
average cms demo: "Our customizable workflow engine moves your content from idea to launch!"
average enterprise process: "okay, for two months all content lives in a set of dropbox folders, then moves to Teams Chat; 45 minutes before launch, someone sends a fax to Dave…"
average enterprise process: "okay, for two months all content lives in a set of dropbox folders, then moves to Teams Chat; 45 minutes before launch, someone sends a fax to Dave…"
November 13, 2025 at 6:14 PM
👇👇
"Sometimes when we join an organisation we find that, beyond hiring you, it has made absolutely no other changes to allow you to actually do the work it expects you to do."
Literally 90% of my career, tbh. 😆😭
Literally 90% of my career, tbh. 😆😭
We've written about the 5 things that are needed in any scenario to create an organisation that can design and deliver services well
This is for all the people stepping into leading service design, whether it's in their title or not.
good.services/writing/comm...
This is for all the people stepping into leading service design, whether it's in their title or not.
good.services/writing/comm...
November 7, 2025 at 11:56 AM
"Sometimes when we join an organisation we find that, beyond hiring you, it has made absolutely no other changes to allow you to actually do the work it expects you to do."
Literally 90% of my career, tbh. 😆😭
Literally 90% of my career, tbh. 😆😭
Another year has passed with neither a content or interaction designer coming within touching distance of HMRC's online self-assessment service. 😔
November 6, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Another year has passed with neither a content or interaction designer coming within touching distance of HMRC's online self-assessment service. 😔
95% of orgs are not prepared for (or even aware of) the future web landscape.
They're still thinking of, and creating, websites like it's 2005. Despite the very obvious fact that "websites" will become less and less of a thing.
Browsers without address bars? They're already here.
They're still thinking of, and creating, websites like it's 2005. Despite the very obvious fact that "websites" will become less and less of a thing.
Browsers without address bars? They're already here.
AI browsers are shifting mental models for search from "where do I go?" to "what do I want?".
So does that mean UX might be building AI features backwards?
How might user-centred and ethical design help meet human needs (safely) in the intent-driven search era?
uxdesign.cc/what-perplex...
So does that mean UX might be building AI features backwards?
How might user-centred and ethical design help meet human needs (safely) in the intent-driven search era?
uxdesign.cc/what-perplex...
What Perplexity’s AI browser reveals about UX’s future
I stopped typing URLs after 3 days.
uxdesign.cc
November 3, 2025 at 10:27 AM
95% of orgs are not prepared for (or even aware of) the future web landscape.
They're still thinking of, and creating, websites like it's 2005. Despite the very obvious fact that "websites" will become less and less of a thing.
Browsers without address bars? They're already here.
They're still thinking of, and creating, websites like it's 2005. Despite the very obvious fact that "websites" will become less and less of a thing.
Browsers without address bars? They're already here.
Reposted by Dan
#ContentDesign is more than words. This is still so misunderstood.
As well as making text relevant, clear, readable and accessible, it's about:
• the presentation of information: layout, format
• content usability, inc interaction, pattern and component design
• backend data
• IA
• a holistic view
As well as making text relevant, clear, readable and accessible, it's about:
• the presentation of information: layout, format
• content usability, inc interaction, pattern and component design
• backend data
• IA
• a holistic view
Extreme - More Than Words (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by ExtremeVEVO
www.youtube.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:46 PM
#ContentDesign is more than words. This is still so misunderstood.
As well as making text relevant, clear, readable and accessible, it's about:
• the presentation of information: layout, format
• content usability, inc interaction, pattern and component design
• backend data
• IA
• a holistic view
As well as making text relevant, clear, readable and accessible, it's about:
• the presentation of information: layout, format
• content usability, inc interaction, pattern and component design
• backend data
• IA
• a holistic view
Service design gripe: why do car tax rates shown on the reminder letter not align with what I'm charged online?
I get the letter, it shows X amount. Go online to pay and the actual amount is ~10% more. Every time. Why? Annoying.
I get the letter, it shows X amount. Go online to pay and the actual amount is ~10% more. Every time. Why? Annoying.
October 29, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Service design gripe: why do car tax rates shown on the reminder letter not align with what I'm charged online?
I get the letter, it shows X amount. Go online to pay and the actual amount is ~10% more. Every time. Why? Annoying.
I get the letter, it shows X amount. Go online to pay and the actual amount is ~10% more. Every time. Why? Annoying.
There is so much to unpack here.
October 16, 2025 at 8:53 AM
There is so much to unpack here.
Is Digital ID the same as GOV.UK One Login? Which is both a cross-service system and a native phone app.
Is it the same as the "GOV.UK ID Check" app? Which itself is neither of the "GOV.UK One Login", "GOV.UK" or "UKVI ID Document Check" apps.
Is it Government Gateway? Is it your NI number? 🤷♂️😵💫
Is it the same as the "GOV.UK ID Check" app? Which itself is neither of the "GOV.UK One Login", "GOV.UK" or "UKVI ID Document Check" apps.
Is it Government Gateway? Is it your NI number? 🤷♂️😵💫
September 25, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Is Digital ID the same as GOV.UK One Login? Which is both a cross-service system and a native phone app.
Is it the same as the "GOV.UK ID Check" app? Which itself is neither of the "GOV.UK One Login", "GOV.UK" or "UKVI ID Document Check" apps.
Is it Government Gateway? Is it your NI number? 🤷♂️😵💫
Is it the same as the "GOV.UK ID Check" app? Which itself is neither of the "GOV.UK One Login", "GOV.UK" or "UKVI ID Document Check" apps.
Is it Government Gateway? Is it your NI number? 🤷♂️😵💫
I enjoy pointing out to SEO folk that the introduction of the alt attribute (HTML 1.2, June 1993) predates the introduction of the first modern search engine (JumpStation, December 1993).
It was always designed and intended as an accessibility feature.
It was always designed and intended as an accessibility feature.
Do not cram alt text with keywords just to improve search engine optimization. This will hinder alt text’s true purpose: improving accessibility. Focus on describing the photo's content. Search engine optimization should not be the goal for writing good alt text.
September 19, 2025 at 3:55 PM
I enjoy pointing out to SEO folk that the introduction of the alt attribute (HTML 1.2, June 1993) predates the introduction of the first modern search engine (JumpStation, December 1993).
It was always designed and intended as an accessibility feature.
It was always designed and intended as an accessibility feature.
Is gov.uk/prepare supposed to redirect to gov.uk/alerts?
September 7, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Is gov.uk/prepare supposed to redirect to gov.uk/alerts?
This is why a strong content model and governance are vital.
What are the *things* your users care about? How do you represent and standardise them? What is a service? What is guidance? Why might you create a website for one and not another?
Without that model, you slide into chaos like this.
What are the *things* your users care about? How do you represent and standardise them? What is a service? What is guidance? Why might you create a website for one and not another?
Without that model, you slide into chaos like this.
Should departments only ever publish content on GOV.UK?
What happens when the content they want to publish isn't guidance and doesn't fit the GOV.UK proposition?
What should GDS's position be on departments creating their own websites?
Read my blog post about it
www.tpximpact.com/knowledge-hu...
What happens when the content they want to publish isn't guidance and doesn't fit the GOV.UK proposition?
What should GDS's position be on departments creating their own websites?
Read my blog post about it
www.tpximpact.com/knowledge-hu...
Websites beyond the GOV.UK proposition - TPXimpact
Departments are creating websites outside the main GOV.UK proposition, risking user trust. We explore why new GDS guidance on domains and branding is now essential.
www.tpximpact.com
August 26, 2025 at 11:38 AM
This is why a strong content model and governance are vital.
What are the *things* your users care about? How do you represent and standardise them? What is a service? What is guidance? Why might you create a website for one and not another?
Without that model, you slide into chaos like this.
What are the *things* your users care about? How do you represent and standardise them? What is a service? What is guidance? Why might you create a website for one and not another?
Without that model, you slide into chaos like this.
Are we still giving candidates the "rewrite this source material" task during content design interviews?
This has been a red flag for a long time. Even more so in 2025.
This has been a red flag for a long time. Even more so in 2025.
August 21, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Are we still giving candidates the "rewrite this source material" task during content design interviews?
This has been a red flag for a long time. Even more so in 2025.
This has been a red flag for a long time. Even more so in 2025.
Reposted by Dan
But to add re evolving, #ContentDesign is supposed to be a disruptor, it’s meant to question internal processes, connect silos, create change in an org. Orgs don’t like change. And they do like hierarchy. So it’s very hard for what’s often a lone CD to do much more than a good web editor would…
August 19, 2025 at 10:48 AM
But to add re evolving, #ContentDesign is supposed to be a disruptor, it’s meant to question internal processes, connect silos, create change in an org. Orgs don’t like change. And they do like hierarchy. So it’s very hard for what’s often a lone CD to do much more than a good web editor would…
Do you think that the discipline of content design has evolved beyond it's formative roots? Do you think it is evolving at the required rate? Faster or slower than other UX disciplines?
August 19, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Do you think that the discipline of content design has evolved beyond it's formative roots? Do you think it is evolving at the required rate? Faster or slower than other UX disciplines?
"But we rely on search traffic! What will we do if people don't click our links?!"
Been warning all my employers for the past decade that this was coming, and how to prepare for it. None of them wanted to listen. Sigh.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Been warning all my employers for the past decade that this was coming, and how to prepare for it. None of them wanted to listen. Sigh.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Google launches new 'AI mode' search feature in UK
The new tool marks a significant change for the search giant but raises questions for advertisers.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 29, 2025 at 9:05 AM
"But we rely on search traffic! What will we do if people don't click our links?!"
Been warning all my employers for the past decade that this was coming, and how to prepare for it. None of them wanted to listen. Sigh.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Been warning all my employers for the past decade that this was coming, and how to prepare for it. None of them wanted to listen. Sigh.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Dan
The Content Management industry is doomed to chase flash in the pan feature trends until it recognizes the fact that its job isn’t producing artifacts, but facilitating communication.
Assessing the effectiveness of a message is difficult, so we’re buried in terrible proxy metrics.
Assessing the effectiveness of a message is difficult, so we’re buried in terrible proxy metrics.
July 21, 2025 at 7:00 PM
The Content Management industry is doomed to chase flash in the pan feature trends until it recognizes the fact that its job isn’t producing artifacts, but facilitating communication.
Assessing the effectiveness of a message is difficult, so we’re buried in terrible proxy metrics.
Assessing the effectiveness of a message is difficult, so we’re buried in terrible proxy metrics.
Why do I need a GOV.UK app? I interact with government a handful of times a year, at the very most.
Am I not the intended audience? Confused.
Am I not the intended audience? Confused.
July 1, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Why do I need a GOV.UK app? I interact with government a handful of times a year, at the very most.
Am I not the intended audience? Confused.
Am I not the intended audience? Confused.
No amount of copy editing will save you if your content ecosystem is structurally broken.
June 6, 2025 at 9:39 AM
No amount of copy editing will save you if your content ecosystem is structurally broken.
Reposted by Dan
Are you "paying attention to detail" or are you "bikeshedding the things that are easy to change to avoid dealing with your fundamentally flawed UX"
June 3, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Are you "paying attention to detail" or are you "bikeshedding the things that are easy to change to avoid dealing with your fundamentally flawed UX"
This is an issue if your organisation's business model and KPIs are based on vanity metrics, rather than helping people.
And it's only going to get more pronounced.
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/d...
And it's only going to get more pronounced.
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/d...
Google AI Overviews leads to dramatic reduction in clickthroughs for Mail Online
Mail Online is seeing up to 56% lower clickthrough rate when Google AI Overviews appear for one of its keywords.
pressgazette.co.uk
May 24, 2025 at 8:22 PM
This is an issue if your organisation's business model and KPIs are based on vanity metrics, rather than helping people.
And it's only going to get more pronounced.
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/d...
And it's only going to get more pronounced.
pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/d...
All of this. But also, getting your org to thrive in an AI-centric future-web landscape, requires that more than just your content team understand this stuff.
There are still far, far too many people in positions of "leadership" and power who don't know what they don't know.
There are still far, far too many people in positions of "leadership" and power who don't know what they don't know.
My best guesses about what AI will mean for content strategists in the next few years.
– Content strategy, IA, and CX skills will become even more important. But some industries will have to learn that the hard way.
– Dedicated writing roles will become less common.
(1/x)
– Content strategy, IA, and CX skills will become even more important. But some industries will have to learn that the hard way.
– Dedicated writing roles will become less common.
(1/x)
May 24, 2025 at 9:28 AM
All of this. But also, getting your org to thrive in an AI-centric future-web landscape, requires that more than just your content team understand this stuff.
There are still far, far too many people in positions of "leadership" and power who don't know what they don't know.
There are still far, far too many people in positions of "leadership" and power who don't know what they don't know.
Reposted by Dan
Lists are the best, and I just published one about what I think makes a good design team today. It’s not complete, and only a snapshot in time, but I need it to take sensible decisions things at work, and you might find it interesting 📋
www.kubabartwicki.com/posts/whats-...
www.kubabartwicki.com/posts/whats-...
What’s a good design team anyway?
I’ve been a head of design since March, working on several GOV.UK products and channels: app, chat, pay, notify, forms, emergency alerts. I’m having a lot of fun but there’s a lot to adjust to and to ...
www.kubabartwicki.com
May 17, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Lists are the best, and I just published one about what I think makes a good design team today. It’s not complete, and only a snapshot in time, but I need it to take sensible decisions things at work, and you might find it interesting 📋
www.kubabartwicki.com/posts/whats-...
www.kubabartwicki.com/posts/whats-...
Reposted by Dan
The single biggest way to improve UX delivery in your org, is not to train everyone in Figma.
It's to get agreed and standardised lists of things, definitions and relationships.
It's to get agreed and standardised lists of things, definitions and relationships.
December 9, 2024 at 4:41 PM
The single biggest way to improve UX delivery in your org, is not to train everyone in Figma.
It's to get agreed and standardised lists of things, definitions and relationships.
It's to get agreed and standardised lists of things, definitions and relationships.
👇👇
Also, bring back information architecture. It's the root of so many issues at all my workplaces. We miss you 💔
March 31, 2025 at 10:31 AM
👇👇