Laura Yarrow
@laurayarrow.bsky.social
Head of Design for GOV.UK at GDS. Ex HM Land Registry. Public speaker. Observer of humans. Crisp connoisseur. Yarn hoarder. Northerner.
Reposted by Laura Yarrow
So sorry to all those wonderful folks affected, you’ve done such amazing, important work ❤️
18F's website has been removed. Hours after the staff was laid off, the whole damn site is gone, including hundreds of blog entries and essential resources. The entire De-risking Guide that I wrote, vanished from the internet.
18f.gsa.gov
March 1, 2025 at 11:15 PM
So sorry to all those wonderful folks affected, you’ve done such amazing, important work ❤️
White space isn’t empty—it’s powerful. ✨ In design, negative space isn’t just ‘blank’; it shapes how we see, feel, and understand the world - both on screen and off.
www.laurayarrow.net/blog/whitesp...
www.laurayarrow.net/blog/whitesp...
Whitespace isn't empty — Laura Yarrow
As a designer, understanding the importance of whitespace as a visual tool is non-negotiable, but it’s an often fought-over topic in organisations. Often stakeholders will want to reduce whitespace an...
www.laurayarrow.net
February 20, 2025 at 9:52 AM
White space isn’t empty—it’s powerful. ✨ In design, negative space isn’t just ‘blank’; it shapes how we see, feel, and understand the world - both on screen and off.
www.laurayarrow.net/blog/whitesp...
www.laurayarrow.net/blog/whitesp...
Businesses: "Our users will use our product exactly the way we think they will, and it will always work as we intended".
Humans: Hold my beer....
youtube.com/shorts/CWE41...
Humans: Hold my beer....
youtube.com/shorts/CWE41...
#sing #singing #singers #monarch #shorts
YouTube video by Youtube Shorts France 🇫🇷
youtube.com
February 14, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Businesses: "Our users will use our product exactly the way we think they will, and it will always work as we intended".
Humans: Hold my beer....
youtube.com/shorts/CWE41...
Humans: Hold my beer....
youtube.com/shorts/CWE41...
Reposted by Laura Yarrow
Public sector has far surpassed private in UK for years now when it comes to digital services.
#facts
#facts
Anyone pledging that government digital services should be as good as the private sector should know that I've spent less than 5 mins successfully ordering a new driving licence and so far about 15 trying and failing to update my travel insurance policy
February 7, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Public sector has far surpassed private in UK for years now when it comes to digital services.
#facts
#facts
Amazing job 🤩
Job ad of the year just dropped: its only BLACK ROD housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...
Black Rod - Houses of Parliament
Title: Black Rod. Employer: House of Lords. Salary: £87,000 - £114,000. Closes: 02/03/2025, 23:55
housesofparliament.tal.net
February 7, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Amazing job 🤩
Reposted by Laura Yarrow
Serenity now! Serenity now! / S09E03 The Serenity Now https://seinfeldism....
January 28, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Serenity now! Serenity now! / S09E03 The Serenity Now https://seinfeldism....
This week I sat down and wrote some thoughts down on the Blueprint for Modern Digital Government. Tldr? : Exciting, bold, and hugely ambitious. Bring it on. www.laurayarrow.net/blog/theres-a-lot-to-be-excited-about-in-the-blueprint-for-modern-digital-government
There’s a lot to be excited about in the blueprint for modern digital government — Laura Yarrow
Last week was quite the ride. We kicked the week off with our Secretary of State (SoS), Peter Kyle, announcing the new Digital Centre, and blueprint for modern digital gov at the GDS office in Londo...
www.laurayarrow.net
January 26, 2025 at 2:22 PM
This week I sat down and wrote some thoughts down on the Blueprint for Modern Digital Government. Tldr? : Exciting, bold, and hugely ambitious. Bring it on. www.laurayarrow.net/blog/theres-a-lot-to-be-excited-about-in-the-blueprint-for-modern-digital-government
I think I speak for us all when I say:
What the hell am I doing up this early and why aren’t I in my pajamas anymore?!
#firstdayback #january
What the hell am I doing up this early and why aren’t I in my pajamas anymore?!
#firstdayback #january
January 6, 2025 at 7:21 AM
I think I speak for us all when I say:
What the hell am I doing up this early and why aren’t I in my pajamas anymore?!
#firstdayback #january
What the hell am I doing up this early and why aren’t I in my pajamas anymore?!
#firstdayback #january
Reposted by Laura Yarrow
#ServicesWeek to return for its seventh year ✨
Please share and save the date: 17 to 21 March 2025
This event series aims to grow service literacy and is open to all UK public servants. Take part if you can!
#ServiceDesign #GovDesign #LocalGov #LocalDigital
services.blog.gov.uk/2024/12/19/s...
Please share and save the date: 17 to 21 March 2025
This event series aims to grow service literacy and is open to all UK public servants. Take part if you can!
#ServiceDesign #GovDesign #LocalGov #LocalDigital
services.blog.gov.uk/2024/12/19/s...
Services Week is back for 2025
Services Week is an annual event hosted by the Government Digital and Data community, bringing together professionals from across the UK public sector.
services.blog.gov.uk
December 19, 2024 at 3:01 PM
#ServicesWeek to return for its seventh year ✨
Please share and save the date: 17 to 21 March 2025
This event series aims to grow service literacy and is open to all UK public servants. Take part if you can!
#ServiceDesign #GovDesign #LocalGov #LocalDigital
services.blog.gov.uk/2024/12/19/s...
Please share and save the date: 17 to 21 March 2025
This event series aims to grow service literacy and is open to all UK public servants. Take part if you can!
#ServiceDesign #GovDesign #LocalGov #LocalDigital
services.blog.gov.uk/2024/12/19/s...
Dan Saffer blocked me because he couldn’t stand being called out on the stupid thing he posted. Where is the accountability for leaders?
December 10, 2024 at 7:20 AM
Dan Saffer blocked me because he couldn’t stand being called out on the stupid thing he posted. Where is the accountability for leaders?
I'd be interested to know what other designers think of this statement? 🤔
December 9, 2024 at 4:56 PM
I'd be interested to know what other designers think of this statement? 🤔
Reposted by Laura Yarrow
Join us in April for the International #GovDesign conference in Amsterdam from April 9–11.
The call for submissions remains open until December 15.
international.gebruikercentraal.nl/conference20...
The call for submissions remains open until December 15.
international.gebruikercentraal.nl/conference20...
User Needs First International Conference 2025 - User Needs First
Amsterdam, the Netherlands - April 9, 10, 11. For anyone working on better government services. Here's all you need to know.
international.gebruikercentraal.nl
December 6, 2024 at 2:58 PM
Join us in April for the International #GovDesign conference in Amsterdam from April 9–11.
The call for submissions remains open until December 15.
international.gebruikercentraal.nl/conference20...
The call for submissions remains open until December 15.
international.gebruikercentraal.nl/conference20...
This account brings me such joy 😂 watch out for those Christmas card envelopes folks 🤣
Let me ask you. Had she been exposed to any kind of inexpensive glue? / S07E24 The Invitations https://seinfeldism....
November 28, 2024 at 8:25 PM
This account brings me such joy 😂 watch out for those Christmas card envelopes folks 🤣
Great work from Kuba and team, have a read!! 🤩 We’ve had some really interesting and positive results on GOV.UK Chat. It’s as always a team effort, but a big factor in its success has been the excellent design work that’s gone into it 👏 🎉
Just published something about how we’re designing GOV.UK Chat, a product that’s currently in a private beta across some GOV.UK pages
insidegovuk.blog.gov.uk/2024/11/28/h...
insidegovuk.blog.gov.uk/2024/11/28/h...
How we’re designing GOV.UK Chat
Learn more about our approach to designing GOV.UK’s experimental chatbot.
insidegovuk.blog.gov.uk
November 28, 2024 at 7:38 PM
Great work from Kuba and team, have a read!! 🤩 We’ve had some really interesting and positive results on GOV.UK Chat. It’s as always a team effort, but a big factor in its success has been the excellent design work that’s gone into it 👏 🎉
November 22, 2024 at 11:13 PM
Reposted by Laura Yarrow
first draft of a lil civic tech starter pack! focused on practitioners, might do another one on other parts of the ecosystem later.
go.bsky.app/Dw5gEA1
go.bsky.app/Dw5gEA1
November 16, 2024 at 2:24 AM
first draft of a lil civic tech starter pack! focused on practitioners, might do another one on other parts of the ecosystem later.
go.bsky.app/Dw5gEA1
go.bsky.app/Dw5gEA1
Reposted by Laura Yarrow
🗣️ Most things can be conquered …
This a little post I wrote to share some Billy Connolly quotes -where he talks about living with Parkinson’s disease, depression, and his love of drawing. Something really stuck with me when I first heard these
#keepgoing
benholliday.com/2024/11/19/m...
This a little post I wrote to share some Billy Connolly quotes -where he talks about living with Parkinson’s disease, depression, and his love of drawing. Something really stuck with me when I first heard these
#keepgoing
benholliday.com/2024/11/19/m...
Most things can be conquered
benholliday.com
November 19, 2024 at 5:59 PM
🗣️ Most things can be conquered …
This a little post I wrote to share some Billy Connolly quotes -where he talks about living with Parkinson’s disease, depression, and his love of drawing. Something really stuck with me when I first heard these
#keepgoing
benholliday.com/2024/11/19/m...
This a little post I wrote to share some Billy Connolly quotes -where he talks about living with Parkinson’s disease, depression, and his love of drawing. Something really stuck with me when I first heard these
#keepgoing
benholliday.com/2024/11/19/m...
Reposted by Laura Yarrow
I've put together an article for anyone you know who wants to join in on the #DesignSystems community on @bsky.app
Bluesky & Design Systems Communities
Now is a great time to join Bluesky if you're looking for likeminded folks to learn and share about design systems
designsystems.wtf
November 19, 2024 at 4:39 PM
I've put together an article for anyone you know who wants to join in on the #DesignSystems community on @bsky.app
Well this week can get in the bin! 🗑️ So glad to finally reach the weekend #TFIF
a dumpster with the word chicago on it is surrounded by water
Alt: a dumpster on fire floating through some water.
media.tenor.com
November 15, 2024 at 7:23 PM
Well this week can get in the bin! 🗑️ So glad to finally reach the weekend #TFIF
Reposted by Laura Yarrow
Some BIG jobs in this weeks [slightly early] #jobs newsletter
newsletter.digitalbydefault.jobs/internet-of-...
newsletter.digitalbydefault.jobs/internet-of-...
Internet of Public Service Jobs - 15/11/2024
Internet of Public Service Jobs is a weekly list of vacancies related to product management, agile and design in…you guessed it…‘public service’ curated by @jukesie
[01] Director of Product
Open Univ...
newsletter.digitalbydefault.jobs
November 15, 2024 at 9:28 AM
Some BIG jobs in this weeks [slightly early] #jobs newsletter
newsletter.digitalbydefault.jobs/internet-of-...
newsletter.digitalbydefault.jobs/internet-of-...
I love that the Bluesky starter pack for local authorities has a wheelie bin as its icon! Always the hottest topic 🚮🗑️
November 13, 2024 at 10:42 PM
I love that the Bluesky starter pack for local authorities has a wheelie bin as its icon! Always the hottest topic 🚮🗑️
Reposted by Laura Yarrow
“[A] study, conducted by Samsung UK and OnePoll, surveyed 1,000 UK adults with invisible and visible #Disabilities and reveals that over two-thirds (68%) have felt #Excluded from #Products or #Services due to #Accessibility issues.”
news.samsung.com/uk/inaccessi...
news.samsung.com/uk/inaccessi...
Inaccessible Designs Leave Two-Thirds of UK Adults Feeling Excluded
● Over two-thirds (68%) have felt excluded from products or services due to accessibility issues ● Over half of the respondents (55%) don’t believe mainstream brands are invested enough in making prod...
news.samsung.com
November 13, 2024 at 10:21 PM
“[A] study, conducted by Samsung UK and OnePoll, surveyed 1,000 UK adults with invisible and visible #Disabilities and reveals that over two-thirds (68%) have felt #Excluded from #Products or #Services due to #Accessibility issues.”
news.samsung.com/uk/inaccessi...
news.samsung.com/uk/inaccessi...
I wondered why I wasn’t getting added to any packs, it’s this isn’t it?! 😂
I'm not in any starter packs. I'm an end of level boss.
November 12, 2024 at 4:29 PM
I wondered why I wasn’t getting added to any packs, it’s this isn’t it?! 😂