Back in August,we announced that S8080 were asked to help with the redesign for the newly launched 10 Downing Street website, http://www.number10.gov.uk/ built in WordPress – the open source web publishing platform. It’s a high profile, high load open source website.
We were absolutely delighted that our modestly sized regional agency was awarded the contract, managed by COI, for what is arguably one of the most high profile Government websites in the world. We have worked hard since starting S8080 in 2000 to build up our experience and reputation and to be recognised at this level makes the whole team very proud.
A very agile and hands-on project management style was called for, to help with the quick turnaround and very busy client!
After visiting the historic office of the British Prime Minister, our User Experience (UX) team set to work refining the way the wealth of information was presented, taking into account the needs of the varied audience types.
We worked hard providing recommendations on the restructuring of the website based around the audience’s needs. This involved prototyping ways of presenting the serious business of the Coalition Government’s policies, ‘Take Part’ initiatives as well as the interactive elements of the website including the history of the building, a timeline of Prime Ministers and much more.
Once the website blue prints (wire frames) had been designed, S8080’s creative team took over. The team visited Downing Street a couple of times, immersing ourselves in the history and details that make this one of the most recognisable buildings in the world. We wanted to show it as a thoroughly modern office but also as a building steeped in history.
We took hundreds of photographs, including the classic ‘10’ that is used on the masthead of the website – an icon that is recognised worldwide
We took hundreds of photographs, including the classic ‘10’ that is used on the masthead of the website – an icon that is recognised worldwide
It was a nerve-wracking couple of days waiting for sign off from the top, but we were confident that we had provided a very well-considered and user centred design. We feel we have achieved the sense of gravitas that the office deserves without it looking like a tourist attraction.
At the end of the day, it’s just another very busy office with lots of toing and froing, as we found out when trying to photograph the door in the gaze of paparazzi on Budget Day!
