Tom Loosemore
@tomski.com
Partner at Public Digital, co-founder Government Digital Service, ex-BBC. Expect occasional small boat sailing.
Short solstice kayak. Much wildfowl, of many flavours.
December 21, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Short solstice kayak. Much wildfowl, of many flavours.
If you ever get the chance to design, or redesign a public service/platform, please *start* with delegated authority user needs. It's *the* hard problem you can't afford to leave until later.
December 21, 2025 at 11:24 AM
If you ever get the chance to design, or redesign a public service/platform, please *start* with delegated authority user needs. It's *the* hard problem you can't afford to leave until later.
Admission: I've made web things with Replit.ai about which a me from 25 years ago would have been appalled. Zero regrets. Having too much fun.
Replit.ai
December 18, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Admission: I've made web things with Replit.ai about which a me from 25 years ago would have been appalled. Zero regrets. Having too much fun.
The path downriver from Barking Riverside station has opened. Good walk.
December 13, 2025 at 1:03 PM
The path downriver from Barking Riverside station has opened. Good walk.
Reposted by Tom Loosemore
Extraordinary and fascinating insight into how Google Maps decides whether a restaurant thrives - and what to do instead. By data geek and genius Lauren Leek laurenleek.substack.com/p/how-google...
How Google Maps quietly allocates survival across London’s restaurants - and how I built a dashboard to see through it
I wanted a dinner recommendation and got a research agenda instead. Using 13000+ restaurants, I rebuild its ratings with machine learning and map how algorithmic visibility actually distributes power.
laurenleek.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Extraordinary and fascinating insight into how Google Maps decides whether a restaurant thrives - and what to do instead. By data geek and genius Lauren Leek laurenleek.substack.com/p/how-google...
"We created a gateaux of false certainty that we ended up eating for 2 years"
I love it when our clients clock this, and the previously unimaginable suddenly becomes possible.
I love it when our clients clock this, and the previously unimaginable suddenly becomes possible.
December 8, 2025 at 12:38 PM
"We created a gateaux of false certainty that we ended up eating for 2 years"
I love it when our clients clock this, and the previously unimaginable suddenly becomes possible.
I love it when our clients clock this, and the previously unimaginable suddenly becomes possible.
Reposted by Tom Loosemore
Today’s episode of #FixTheForms is an especially brilliant one from @xkcd.com that applies to all registration forms and all websites
xkcd.com/3175/
xkcd.com/3175/
Website Task Flowchart
xkcd.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Today’s episode of #FixTheForms is an especially brilliant one from @xkcd.com that applies to all registration forms and all websites
xkcd.com/3175/
xkcd.com/3175/
Reposted by Tom Loosemore
OK, here is a 5-minute sketch, @tomski.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:27 PM
OK, here is a 5-minute sketch, @tomski.com
In which @richardpope.org shares a very personal example of the problems GDS Local could help local council's to solve. richardpope.org/2025/11/26/a...
Aerated concrete and EHCPs
I was up until midnight last night trying to battle a local …
richardpope.org
November 26, 2025 at 11:35 AM
In which @richardpope.org shares a very personal example of the problems GDS Local could help local council's to solve. richardpope.org/2025/11/26/a...
Wonderful interview with @kwastell.bsky.social in @designweek.co.uk which nicely captures the pragmatism, messiness and sheer human graft required to create the organisational, conditions for customer centricity. www.designweek.co.uk/there-is-no-...
www.designweek.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Wonderful interview with @kwastell.bsky.social in @designweek.co.uk which nicely captures the pragmatism, messiness and sheer human graft required to create the organisational, conditions for customer centricity. www.designweek.co.uk/there-is-no-...
Reposted by Tom Loosemore
These are really interesting reflections on what civil servants do to help create legislation.
And I've finally found out what my brother did for all those years...
And I've finally found out what my brother did for all those years...
November 16, 2025 at 9:53 PM
These are really interesting reflections on what civil servants do to help create legislation.
And I've finally found out what my brother did for all those years...
And I've finally found out what my brother did for all those years...
Guess the dataset in this chart.
October 20, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Guess the dataset in this chart.
Reposted by Tom Loosemore
Just want to shout out to @ntcouncilteam.bsky.social who’ve quietly launched the new website- from the confusing mess and collection of PDFs for bin day to this lovely little fella
October 16, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Just want to shout out to @ntcouncilteam.bsky.social who’ve quietly launched the new website- from the confusing mess and collection of PDFs for bin day to this lovely little fella
Excellent case study. TL;DR is that when offering common platforms to gov institutions, you have to think of your users as customers, and apply Lean/Agile toolkit to find product/market fit.
🎉 CASE STUDY ON GOVERNMENT PLATFORMS! 🎉
Scaling Digital Infrastructure in a Siloed State: How the UK government designed & financed GOV.UK Notify
Notify saves the UK gov millions but creating & financing gov platforms is challenging!
Big TY to Hannah White & @jordynfetter.bsky.social.
bit.ly/42FkBQr
Scaling Digital Infrastructure in a Siloed State: How the UK government designed & financed GOV.UK Notify
Notify saves the UK gov millions but creating & financing gov platforms is challenging!
Big TY to Hannah White & @jordynfetter.bsky.social.
bit.ly/42FkBQr
Scaling Digital Infrastructure in a Siloed State
Authored by Hannah White and David Eaves
www.ucl.ac.uk
October 16, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Excellent case study. TL;DR is that when offering common platforms to gov institutions, you have to think of your users as customers, and apply Lean/Agile toolkit to find product/market fit.
Reposted by Tom Loosemore
I wrote about what it was like to go online for the first time 30 years ago. How hard and complicated it seemed, and then how amazing this entirely new world was. Including some extracts from my 1995 diary.
www.gyford.com/phil/writing...
www.gyford.com/phil/writing...
My first months in cyberspace
Recalling the difficulties and wonder of getting online for the first time in 1995, including diary extracts from the time.
www.gyford.com
October 15, 2025 at 3:10 PM
I wrote about what it was like to go online for the first time 30 years ago. How hard and complicated it seemed, and then how amazing this entirely new world was. Including some extracts from my 1995 diary.
www.gyford.com/phil/writing...
www.gyford.com/phil/writing...
Reposted by Tom Loosemore
Today is the last day the IRS accepts tax returns.
It’s also the last day to use Direct File, the IRS’ beloved, free tax filing service, before it’s shut down.
💔 ✊❤️
It’s also the last day to use Direct File, the IRS’ beloved, free tax filing service, before it’s shut down.
💔 ✊❤️
October 15, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Today is the last day the IRS accepts tax returns.
It’s also the last day to use Direct File, the IRS’ beloved, free tax filing service, before it’s shut down.
💔 ✊❤️
It’s also the last day to use Direct File, the IRS’ beloved, free tax filing service, before it’s shut down.
💔 ✊❤️
"AI may be giving you a million prototypes, but if you listen, AI is telling you in quite a painful way that being able to get feedback on your artefacts is much, much more important than the artefacts themselves."
Much hard-earned test and learn wisdom in this post from @duncanjbrown.com
Much hard-earned test and learn wisdom in this post from @duncanjbrown.com
Why I don't believe in "small giants": mechanicalsurvival.com/blog/team-dy...
Team dynamics after AI
Small giants and real giants
mechanicalsurvival.com
October 6, 2025 at 9:37 AM
"AI may be giving you a million prototypes, but if you listen, AI is telling you in quite a painful way that being able to get feedback on your artefacts is much, much more important than the artefacts themselves."
Much hard-earned test and learn wisdom in this post from @duncanjbrown.com
Much hard-earned test and learn wisdom in this post from @duncanjbrown.com
Lee over Sands. One of my favourite places on a windy evening.
October 4, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Lee over Sands. One of my favourite places on a windy evening.
Reposted by Tom Loosemore
"When you’re trying to bring about significant change in any complex system, it’s impossible to know up front exactly what’s going to work, how the various risks are going to pan out or how the context is going to change."
'Being a leader isn’t about becoming great at everything': Civil service reform DG Janet Hughes sets out her priorities
Hughes, who became Cabinet Office DG for civil service reform and efficiency in June, on bringing the spirit of One Team Gov to her new role, test ...
www.civilserviceworld.com
October 1, 2025 at 5:53 PM
"When you’re trying to bring about significant change in any complex system, it’s impossible to know up front exactly what’s going to work, how the various risks are going to pan out or how the context is going to change."
Just seen this Texas TI30 Galaxy on eBay and I'm suddenly back at my comp, being bullied for not having a hideous Casio FX82 like literally everyone else.
No regrets.
No regrets.
October 1, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Just seen this Texas TI30 Galaxy on eBay and I'm suddenly back at my comp, being bullied for not having a hideous Casio FX82 like literally everyone else.
No regrets.
No regrets.
Reposted by Tom Loosemore
The Boring Fund will be open for applications in November.
If your small UK charity needs (up to) £200 to cover something boring like insurance or web hosting, take a look.
They welcome donations too.
If your small UK charity needs (up to) £200 to cover something boring like insurance or web hosting, take a look.
They welcome donations too.
The Boring Fund - Open Collective
We support small non-profit organisations (UK) by only funding the really boring (but essential) stuff like insurance, accountancy or admin
opencollective.com
September 29, 2025 at 10:48 AM
The Boring Fund will be open for applications in November.
If your small UK charity needs (up to) £200 to cover something boring like insurance or web hosting, take a look.
They welcome donations too.
If your small UK charity needs (up to) £200 to cover something boring like insurance or web hosting, take a look.
They welcome donations too.
Replit so very fun. (And so very dangerous.)
September 26, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Replit so very fun. (And so very dangerous.)
This new course on public sector strategy has piqued my interest. vaughntan.org/newpublicstr... Am liking the embracing of uncertainty, and the need to move beyond private sector approaches to strategy. @vaughn.bsky.social
A new way to teach public sector strategy - Vaughn Tan
tl;dr: After over a decade teaching strategy in private and public sector settings, I’ve developed a new public sector strategy course that flips
vaughntan.org
September 12, 2025 at 10:11 AM
This new course on public sector strategy has piqued my interest. vaughntan.org/newpublicstr... Am liking the embracing of uncertainty, and the need to move beyond private sector approaches to strategy. @vaughn.bsky.social
Reposted by Tom Loosemore
Kicking off *exactly* two weeks from now...
🚨 2 WEEKS TODAY 🚨
It's Data Bites #58 with @publicdigital.bsky.social, in London & online
6pm, Thu 18 Sept
Speakers include:
- @bothness.bsky.social, ONS
- Andrea Barry, Youth Futures Foundation, on their data dashboard
- Leonardo Mazzone, DBT, on matching companies across datasets.
Sign up!
It's Data Bites #58 with @publicdigital.bsky.social, in London & online
6pm, Thu 18 Sept
Speakers include:
- @bothness.bsky.social, ONS
- Andrea Barry, Youth Futures Foundation, on their data dashboard
- Leonardo Mazzone, DBT, on matching companies across datasets.
Sign up!
Data Bites #58 — Public Digital
public.digital
September 4, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Kicking off *exactly* two weeks from now...
Reposted by Tom Loosemore
It drives me a bit nuts that the left is just as bad for spouting misinformation and disinformation as the right. Just because "the good guys" are being economical with the actualite (at best) doesn't make it ok. This is a good delve into Curtis's latest nonsense.
Shifty stuff
A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest
bristoliver.substack.com
June 16, 2025 at 10:02 AM
It drives me a bit nuts that the left is just as bad for spouting misinformation and disinformation as the right. Just because "the good guys" are being economical with the actualite (at best) doesn't make it ok. This is a good delve into Curtis's latest nonsense.