Paul O'Neill
@pauloneill79.bsky.social
Interaction design & service design in gov. Lover of all tech things for good. Ex Citizens Advice, Home Office, MoJ. Currently at DBT.
UI design has really gotten lazy. Content often now is centre aligned on webpages. Saw this first in the abundance of Wordpress templatery when media queries began as a convenient approach to mobile design.
But it's now become the norm. So oddly off, look at the "Our aim" content below
But it's now become the norm. So oddly off, look at the "Our aim" content below
November 3, 2025 at 11:42 AM
UI design has really gotten lazy. Content often now is centre aligned on webpages. Saw this first in the abundance of Wordpress templatery when media queries began as a convenient approach to mobile design.
But it's now become the norm. So oddly off, look at the "Our aim" content below
But it's now become the norm. So oddly off, look at the "Our aim" content below
open.substack.com/pub/cutlefis...
@johncutle.fish expresses the feelings around the many gov digital teams
"No. Well, yes. But no. AI. I mean... people made things too complex.”
@johncutle.fish expresses the feelings around the many gov digital teams
"No. Well, yes. But no. AI. I mean... people made things too complex.”
TBM 385: "We Have To Simplify!"
“We have to simplify!
open.substack.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:27 AM
open.substack.com/pub/cutlefis...
@johncutle.fish expresses the feelings around the many gov digital teams
"No. Well, yes. But no. AI. I mean... people made things too complex.”
@johncutle.fish expresses the feelings around the many gov digital teams
"No. Well, yes. But no. AI. I mean... people made things too complex.”
Detach instance, detach instance, detach instance...
Working in Figma always ends up this way.
I really think the best laid plans and good intentions behind figmas componentization just never really works.
Working in Figma always ends up this way.
I really think the best laid plans and good intentions behind figmas componentization just never really works.
October 7, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Detach instance, detach instance, detach instance...
Working in Figma always ends up this way.
I really think the best laid plans and good intentions behind figmas componentization just never really works.
Working in Figma always ends up this way.
I really think the best laid plans and good intentions behind figmas componentization just never really works.
Noticing a huge increase in websites and companies employing surveys and user research in the past couple of years. A good sign. Theory: the low interest rate mania of hockey stick user expansion is over were in an era of retention and value for the user
September 30, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Noticing a huge increase in websites and companies employing surveys and user research in the past couple of years. A good sign. Theory: the low interest rate mania of hockey stick user expansion is over were in an era of retention and value for the user
I like this use case of generative AI tech from this FT's tech team. Joining the dots up on the unstructured data on MP donations and supporters medium.com/ft-product-t...
Inside the FT’s AI-Powered Story Finding
Leveraging Data Science to Uncover Hidden Patterns and Enhance Investigative Journalism
medium.com
September 28, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I like this use case of generative AI tech from this FT's tech team. Joining the dots up on the unstructured data on MP donations and supporters medium.com/ft-product-t...
View from the window today sat the DBT DDaT all hands away day. Refreshing meeting colleagues in the flesh
September 23, 2025 at 2:14 PM
View from the window today sat the DBT DDaT all hands away day. Refreshing meeting colleagues in the flesh
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... GPs using AI transcription tool to speed up paperwork. That's use case I like
GPs turn to AI to help with patient workload
Should more AI be used to help GPs with consultations and administrative work?
www.bbc.co.uk
September 17, 2025 at 8:06 PM
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... GPs using AI transcription tool to speed up paperwork. That's use case I like
"highlighted "leadership instability" within Bristol City Council, which has had five different directors of children's services since 2019." Reading details of the thematic review of youth violence in Bristol.
Leadership churn has real life cost in public services
Leadership churn has real life cost in public services
September 12, 2025 at 2:39 PM
"highlighted "leadership instability" within Bristol City Council, which has had five different directors of children's services since 2019." Reading details of the thematic review of youth violence in Bristol.
Leadership churn has real life cost in public services
Leadership churn has real life cost in public services
I've casually asked my tech colleagues to explain what oAuth means for an ordinary user. Subject matter experts close to the tech have struggled to break it down, so I asked an AI. I liked the answer, read below
September 10, 2025 at 11:05 PM
I've casually asked my tech colleagues to explain what oAuth means for an ordinary user. Subject matter experts close to the tech have struggled to break it down, so I asked an AI. I liked the answer, read below
gonna try verify myself with Companies House using the Gov verify - wish me luck! Vaguely remember it working smoothly last time #govdesign
September 10, 2025 at 10:36 PM
gonna try verify myself with Companies House using the Gov verify - wish me luck! Vaguely remember it working smoothly last time #govdesign
I'm spotting a recurring theme of inexperienced user researchers working in government. Often given impractical expectations from their managers along with severe lack of context.
Also a theme of URs being disinterested and bored but usability testing.
Also a theme of URs being disinterested and bored but usability testing.
August 29, 2025 at 9:58 PM
I'm spotting a recurring theme of inexperienced user researchers working in government. Often given impractical expectations from their managers along with severe lack of context.
Also a theme of URs being disinterested and bored but usability testing.
Also a theme of URs being disinterested and bored but usability testing.
TIL that bank cheque I had sitting in a drawer for months well turns out it can be scanned on my bank app
August 26, 2025 at 3:52 PM
TIL that bank cheque I had sitting in a drawer for months well turns out it can be scanned on my bank app
Creating efficient well designed case management systems drives down delivery costs, as the UK gov Home Office is learning. See this paragraph from an explanation why asylum processing is so slow
August 20, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Creating efficient well designed case management systems drives down delivery costs, as the UK gov Home Office is learning. See this paragraph from an explanation why asylum processing is so slow
Found these beautifully crafted "badges" down the back of my Fitbit app and now I'm thinking how many hours were spent crafting them but for what benefit. Do lots of adults honestly collect gamification badges in health apps?
Feels like a waste of a designers time, nice portfolio piece though.
Feels like a waste of a designers time, nice portfolio piece though.
August 3, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Found these beautifully crafted "badges" down the back of my Fitbit app and now I'm thinking how many hours were spent crafting them but for what benefit. Do lots of adults honestly collect gamification badges in health apps?
Feels like a waste of a designers time, nice portfolio piece though.
Feels like a waste of a designers time, nice portfolio piece though.
In DWP's office at Caxton House. Dropped down to the cafeteria for quick lunch only to find this book sat on the table. Was heartwarming and re-energising to read the chapter about inclusive content design. That's been a little bit of a battleground lately.
July 26, 2025 at 7:35 AM
In DWP's office at Caxton House. Dropped down to the cafeteria for quick lunch only to find this book sat on the table. Was heartwarming and re-energising to read the chapter about inclusive content design. That's been a little bit of a battleground lately.
An AI microphone on your wrist that listens to everything you say. This exists already as a product. Holey moley
July 17, 2025 at 8:22 AM
An AI microphone on your wrist that listens to everything you say. This exists already as a product. Holey moley
Returning to the office means I get to work in a turret with views of Westminster abbey and big Ben
July 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Returning to the office means I get to work in a turret with views of Westminster abbey and big Ben
Reposted by Paul O'Neill
Hey @designthinking.lol please remove yourself from my brain.
June 16, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Hey @designthinking.lol please remove yourself from my brain.
Hygiene factors in delivering UCD. "Hygiene factors do not give positive satisfaction or lead to higher motivation, though dissatisfaction results from their absence. The term "hygiene" is used as extrinsic to the work itself, and include aspects such as company policies, supervisory practices etc"
June 25, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Hygiene factors in delivering UCD. "Hygiene factors do not give positive satisfaction or lead to higher motivation, though dissatisfaction results from their absence. The term "hygiene" is used as extrinsic to the work itself, and include aspects such as company policies, supervisory practices etc"
Doing a straw poll of friends and family lots don't even know about the NHS app and what you can do on it. Manage your children's health records for example
www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/nhs-...
www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/nhs-...
Manage health services for others - NHS App help and support
You can add people to your NHS App to manage health services for others.
www.nhs.uk
June 17, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Doing a straw poll of friends and family lots don't even know about the NHS app and what you can do on it. Manage your children's health records for example
www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/nhs-...
www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/nhs-...
Been thinking a lot lately about how GDS really need to rewrite the discovery section of the service manual. Also add more supporting content around brownfield site projects and internal services.
June 10, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Been thinking a lot lately about how GDS really need to rewrite the discovery section of the service manual. Also add more supporting content around brownfield site projects and internal services.
Trying to pay fine (PCN) for entering a yellow box. Got this screen click pay, greeted with "The PCN listed are not payable". I'd missed the extremely small checkbox of one PCN to pay in a table design.
May 9, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Trying to pay fine (PCN) for entering a yellow box. Got this screen click pay, greeted with "The PCN listed are not payable". I'd missed the extremely small checkbox of one PCN to pay in a table design.
I just read "For recruiters - Focus on finding "full stack humans" who can work across multiple domains from high-level strategy to detailed implementation, as they require fewer handoffs and dramatically increase shipping velocity." #unicorns
April 20, 2025 at 8:42 AM
I just read "For recruiters - Focus on finding "full stack humans" who can work across multiple domains from high-level strategy to detailed implementation, as they require fewer handoffs and dramatically increase shipping velocity." #unicorns
"the problem with the internet is that it shows everyone on earth what they're missing" David Friedberg
April 14, 2025 at 5:46 PM
"the problem with the internet is that it shows everyone on earth what they're missing" David Friedberg
Doing discovery while in delivery means asking naive questions. Reminds me when you take non-footy person along to a match. Loada questions, you've to take time to explain offside, phases of play, etc etc Patient stakeholders take this time to explain but many many don't. Discovery before please.
March 20, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Doing discovery while in delivery means asking naive questions. Reminds me when you take non-footy person along to a match. Loada questions, you've to take time to explain offside, phases of play, etc etc Patient stakeholders take this time to explain but many many don't. Discovery before please.