The Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) of Australia released
three products today to help government deliver better online services and experiences.This includes beta version of a redesigned dta.gov.au website; an Australian Government Design
System, which is a catalogue of code and detailed components that designers and
developers can use to deliver sites and services quickly and efficiently; and refreshed Digital Guides that will provide
support to meet the Digital
Service Standard.
In its press release, DTA describes these resources as living and seeks feedback from users to shape future versions. Developers are also encouraged to join the communities of practice with hundreds of members supporting and using these tools and resources.
A redesigned beta dta.gov.au
DTA has released a redesigned
dta.gov.au shopfront into beta, with the aim of making it easier for Government
agencies to get help and
advice.
Through discovery work, DTA learnt that 54% of visitors to its
website were having problems finding what they wanted. The site has been
redesigned using the guidance it showcases including the new Australian Government Design System and
refreshed Digital Guides.
The new information
architecture is expected to help agencies find guides and tools to
build services. This includes a new section about the ways agencies can get support for their project.
DTA is inviting thoughts on the website and it will continue
to add new content and features, using feedback to shape the work.
Australian Government
Design System
DTA has released a design
system to help designers and developers deliver sites and services
quickly and efficiently. The Design System provides a framework and a set of
tools to help designers and developers build government products and services
more easily.
This system provides building blocks for teams, including
design elements, open source code and explanations on how these can be deployed
and customised. This intends to avoid the need for reinventing the wheel when
developing websites and digital services.
It also supports a community where
developers can collaborate, share work, make improvements and solve problems
together.
The design system will help government create, test and
release digital services more quickly to the people that need them. It
incorporates the highest usability and accessibility standards and helps
deliver a consistent experience for all users, in line with the Digital Service Standard.
The Design System has been developed as a best-in-class
example of making services available to everyone, baking in accessibility in
preparation to meet new criteria in the international guidelines (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1).
Through this system and cloud.gov.au, a
secure cloud-based platform for hosting website applications, DTA aims to make
it easier to deliver services quickly.
Refreshed Digital Guides
The DTA’s Digital
Guides support agencies meeting the Digital
Service Standard. The information in the refreshed Digital Guides can be
used to meet best-practice, get buy-in for the agency’s approach, manage
expectations and set the project up for success.
The most recent updates include
tools and information to support the service
design and delivery process, starting a team, doing user research and developing
a content strategy.
These guides are based on user research with teams across
government and input from digital specialists. More than 40 agencies provided
feedback to the content strategy tools and resources.
These are also supported by the Content Guide, a
resource on structure, style and accessibility developed with the help of DTA’s content
community.