Context and challenges
Planning data in England is published by hundreds of local authorities, each using different systems, formats and standards. For users, this makes data difficult to find, hard to compare, and often unreliable. For publishers, the process of contributing data is fragmented and inconsistent.
I worked as a Senior Interaction Designer on the Planning Data platform, helping shape how complex datasets are structured, accessed and understood. The goal was to support better planning decisions by making data more usable, accessible and consistent at a national scale.
Improving usability for planning data publishing
Planning data was fragmented across multiple systems and formats, with no consistent way to publish or access it. Users often struggled to locate relevant datasets, while local authorities faced unclear processes for contributing data.
This created a gap between the availability of data and its actual usability — limiting its value for planning decisions.
- Data spread across multiple platforms and formats
- Inconsistent publishing standards
- High effort to find, interpret and trust datasets
To address this, the service needed to support both sides of the problem: making it easier to publish high-quality data, and easier to access and use it.
My role as Senior Interaction Designer
As a Senior Interaction Designer, I worked across both early concepts and improvements to the live service. My focus was on simplifying complex data interactions and shaping user journeys that worked for both publishers and end users.
I collaborated closely with service design and user research to map journeys, test assumptions and iterate designs based on real user needs.
Design approach
The work focused on two parallel challenges: supporting local authorities in publishing data, and improving how users access and understand that data.
Supporting data publishers
I explored concepts for an engagement platform that would guide local authorities through publishing their data — helping them upload, validate and maintain datasets over time.
This involved designing clear, step-by-step flows that reduced complexity and made expectations explicit, particularly for users who were not data specialists.
Improving the existing platform
Alongside this, I worked on improving the live Planning Data platform by identifying usability issues and iterating on key areas of the experience.
- Simplified navigation and replaced confusing breadcrumb patterns
- Improved search usability based on user research insights
- Aligned interface patterns with the GOV.UK Design System
- Promoted guidance to better support data publishers
Prototypes were built using the GOV.UK Prototype Kit, enabling rapid iteration and testing with users before implementation.
Outcomes and impact
The work improved how planning data is accessed, understood and maintained across the platform.
By simplifying interaction patterns and strengthening information architecture, the service became more consistent, more accessible, and easier to use for both publishers and end users.
These improvements contributed to a more consistent and scalable planning data platform aligned with GOV.UK standards.
I also applied similar government interaction design principles within the HMRC case study.
GOV.UK design approach
The work followed the government interaction design principles, with a strong focus on accessibility, clarity and consistency.
Designs were developed and tested using the GOV.UK Prototype Kit, then refined through usability testing and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
This ensured the service met accessibility standards, aligned with established GOV.UK patterns, and worked effectively for a wide range of users.
What I learned
Designing for data-heavy government services requires balancing accuracy, usability and accessibility. This project strengthened my ability to simplify complex systems into clear, usable journeys while working within the constraints of real-world data and policy.
It also reinforced the importance of designing for both technical and non-technical users — ensuring that data is not just available, but genuinely usable.
Below are a selection of screenshots from the project work and prototype.
