Department for Education - IFATE Institution Data Service

• Platforms Web
• Company GOV.UK
• Period 2021

The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (or IFATE) operates within the GOV.UK Department for Education. They had a very old and almost unusable data service that allowed data analysts and IFATE staff to access apprenticeship and T-Level information. Having easy and timely access to data is vital - it allows IFATE to review and approve apprenticeship programs and allocate funding accordingly.

My first task was to conduct user research and surveys with existing staff and users of the old data portal. User satisfaction was with the current platform was poor, most users found it very difficult to navigate and find relevant data, and as a result of the poor experience even the data itself was often outdated.

I needed to design something new. There were three requirements: make it easy to use and navigate, present clear data, and modernise the platform by adopting the GOV.UK Design System (GDS). Using GDS for the redesign allowed the new Institution Data Service site to fit in with most other government websites, and at the same time the familiarity to government staff instantly made the site easier to use. UI components from GDS are also very well designed in terms of accessiblity and clarity of information presentation, so using the GOV.UK Design System made everyone's life easier.