London Borough of Waltham Forest
An extended digital engagement spanning around 15 websites and online services, combining UX/UI, front-end development and Agile delivery across a diverse range of council services and initiatives.
Introduction
My work with the London Borough of Waltham Forest developed into a substantial programme of digital projects covering around 15 websites and online services. Rather than a single assignment, the engagement involved working across different council departments, initiatives and audiences, each presenting its own objectives and digital challenges.
The projects ranged from major public-facing initiatives such as London Borough of Culture and Walthamstow Wetlands to specialist services, community programmes, property, procurement and other council activities. My role brought together UX/UI, front-end development and Agile ways of working, providing the opportunity to apply a consistent user-centred approach while adapting each solution to the particular needs of the service and its users.
A Programme Rather Than a Single Website
My work with the London Borough of Waltham Forest was unusual in both its breadth and variety. Over the course of the engagement, I worked on around 15 websites and digital projects supporting different council services, initiatives and partnerships.
These included projects covering culture, weddings and ceremonies, legal services, nature and conservation, fostering, community programmes, procurement, property and investment. Each had its own audience and objectives, so the challenge was not to impose a single solution but to develop an appropriate digital experience for each service.
Different Audiences, Different Digital Experiences
The diversity of the programme can be seen in projects such as London Borough of Culture, Marry Me London, Eastern Legal Partnership and Walthamstow Wetlands.
Although all were connected with the same local authority, their requirements could hardly have been more different. A cultural programme needed to engage and encourage participation; a wedding service needed to inspire; a legal partnership needed clarity and professional credibility; while Walthamstow Wetlands needed to combine visitor information with the character of a major urban nature reserve.
Other projects across the programme included services and initiatives such as Fostering, Suntrap, The Hub, Connecting Communities, PS Procure, Servicestore, Shared Ownership, Invest and 60 Bricks.
Combining UX/UI, Development and Agile Delivery
My role across the programme brought together UX/UI, front-end development and Agile ways of working. It involved understanding requirements, considering the needs of different users and working with stakeholders and delivery teams to turn those requirements into practical digital solutions.
Working across numerous projects within the same organisation also provided continuity. Knowledge gained from one project could inform another, while still allowing each service to develop an identity and user experience appropriate to its particular purpose.
The Value of a Long-Term Digital Engagement
The Waltham Forest programme became much more than a collection of individual website projects. It demonstrated the value of developing an understanding of an organisation over time: its people, processes, audiences and the different ways digital services can support its objectives.
That experience continues to influence my approach to digital consultancy today. Effective digital delivery starts by understanding the problem and the people involved, before deciding how design, content and technology should be used to solve it.
Explore Selected Waltham Forest Projects
Four projects from the wider programme are explored in greater detail in my professional portfolio:
London Borough of Culture · Marry Me London · Eastern Legal Partnership · Walthamstow Wetlands
Each provides a different example of the breadth of my work with the London Borough of Waltham Forest. Explore these and my other projects on the Mike Speight portfolio.