Comments on: FCO’s modest redesign http://puffbox.com/2009/10/26/foreign-office-website-redesign/ Simon Dickson blogs about online news, e-government and the New Politics. Some important people read it. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:55:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Found/interesting: 15 October to 7 November http://puffbox.com/2009/10/26/foreign-office-website-redesign/#comment-2962 Found/interesting: 15 October to 7 November Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:33:42 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=1146#comment-2962 [...] look FCO website – Stephen Hale on the new FCO website and see also FCO’s modest redesign for a healthy [...] [...] look FCO website – Stephen Hale on the new FCO website and see also FCO’s modest redesign for a healthy [...]

]]> By: Matt http://puffbox.com/2009/10/26/foreign-office-website-redesign/#comment-2937 Matt Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:38:00 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=1146#comment-2937 You need to compare the cost of employing whoever it is. It's more - significantly more - than their salary. I'd be pretty surprised if they were civil servants (more likely to be contractors). Also - as mentioned above - it only got redesigned recently @ great expense - only to be thrown away... didn't it ? You need to compare the cost of employing whoever it is. It's more - significantly more - than their salary. I'd be pretty surprised if they were civil servants (more likely to be contractors). Also - as mentioned above - it only got redesigned recently @ great expense - only to be thrown away... didn't it ?

]]> By: Steph Gray http://puffbox.com/2009/10/26/foreign-office-website-redesign/#comment-2935 Steph Gray Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:36:49 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=1146#comment-2935 @Matt, in-house work is not free, I quite agree. But compare the day rates of civil servants and the day rates of agency developers, factor in the diminished risk and hopefully smoother team communication, and it can be pretty damn good value for the taxpayer. Crucially, this depends on the team having the right skills, which I think FCO's probably does on the face of it. And if the team's anything like ours, I suspect a fair bit of the work was done out of pride and passion, in their own time. @Matt, in-house work is not free, I quite agree. But compare the day rates of civil servants and the day rates of agency developers, factor in the diminished risk and hopefully smoother team communication, and it can be pretty damn good value for the taxpayer. Crucially, this depends on the team having the right skills, which I think FCO's probably does on the face of it.

And if the team's anything like ours, I suspect a fair bit of the work was done out of pride and passion, in their own time.

]]> By: Matt http://puffbox.com/2009/10/26/foreign-office-website-redesign/#comment-2933 Matt Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:01:12 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=1146#comment-2933 One of two statements is true: - the last (short lived) redesign was a waste of money. - this redesign is a waste of money. Assuming it's the first, we're talking about a considerable sum I'm sure. That said, it'll take time to fix all the glitches in the new design as it does with any new development. The idea that 'in-house' work is free is ridiculous, as it implies that the people who did it usually sit around doing nothing. One of two statements is true:
- the last (short lived) redesign was a waste of money.
- this redesign is a waste of money.

Assuming it's the first, we're talking about a considerable sum I'm sure. That said, it'll take time to fix all the glitches in the new design as it does with any new development.

The idea that 'in-house' work is free is ridiculous, as it implies that the people who did it usually sit around doing nothing.

]]> By: Whitehall Webby http://puffbox.com/2009/10/26/foreign-office-website-redesign/#comment-2930 Whitehall Webby Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:30:50 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=1146#comment-2930 I know the old mantra of keeping key stuff 'above the fold' is no longer seen as gospel. But the thing that strikes me when I hit the homepage is of the old splash page with 'click to enter our site'. Maybe I'm being a little unfair. I know the old mantra of keeping key stuff 'above the fold' is no longer seen as gospel. But the thing that strikes me when I hit the homepage is of the old splash page with 'click to enter our site'. Maybe I'm being a little unfair.

]]> By: Simon http://puffbox.com/2009/10/26/foreign-office-website-redesign/#comment-2929 Simon Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:22:27 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=1146#comment-2929 Why uncomfortable about Tumblr? Because it's a third-party service with no export facility - and as the T&Cs state, 'Tumblr may change, suspend or discontinue the Services at any time.' I know they all say that, but you have to make a call as to how safe and sustainable you think each third-party service is. And without intending any offence to Tumblr whatsoever, they aren't on the same level as Twitter or Facebook. Why uncomfortable about Tumblr? Because it's a third-party service with no export facility - and as the T&Cs state, 'Tumblr may change, suspend or discontinue the Services at any time.' I know they all say that, but you have to make a call as to how safe and sustainable you think each third-party service is. And without intending any offence to Tumblr whatsoever, they aren't on the same level as Twitter or Facebook.

]]> By: shane dillon http://puffbox.com/2009/10/26/foreign-office-website-redesign/#comment-2928 shane dillon Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:09:25 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=1146#comment-2928 Steph, read your comment with some interest. I agree with you about Posterous and Tumblr they have potential for internal audiences. The FCO uses Posterous for internal audiences to support our staff who are involved with our Twitter presence. Posterous provides a quick and easy way to post content about how each use Twitter. Essentially we are trying to build a community using Posterous to share knowledge about Twitter. Like Tumblr, Posterous is easy to use and I see no problem with either being used. As for the idea that a "a major department of state" should not being using Tumblr, not sure quite why we would not. Equally that could apply to any web tool. Basically my personal view is that the size, prestige or title of a government department should not come into it whether you use or do not use a web tool. As for the FCO blog platform, I will let the content speak for itself, for example a great blog post from the UK ambassador to Eygpt, Dominic Asquith http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/asquithenglish/entry/marwa_el_sherbini As for the website, Steph thanks for the encouraging comments. Steph, read your comment with some interest. I agree with you about Posterous and Tumblr they have potential for internal audiences. The FCO uses Posterous for internal audiences to support our staff who are involved with our Twitter presence. Posterous provides a quick and easy way to post content about how each use Twitter. Essentially we are trying to build a community using Posterous to share knowledge about Twitter. Like Tumblr, Posterous is easy to use and I see no problem with either being used. As for the idea that a "a major department of state" should not being using Tumblr, not sure quite why we would not. Equally that could apply to any web tool. Basically my personal view is that the size, prestige or title of a government department should not come into it whether you use or do not use a web tool.

As for the FCO blog platform, I will let the content speak for itself, for example a great blog post from the UK ambassador to Eygpt, Dominic Asquith

http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/roller/asquithenglish/entry/marwa_el_sherbini

As for the website, Steph thanks for the encouraging comments.

]]> By: Steph Gray http://puffbox.com/2009/10/26/foreign-office-website-redesign/#comment-2927 Steph Gray Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:40:43 +0000 http://puffbox.com/?p=1146#comment-2927 Blimey, you're hard to please, Simon! I think Tumblr (and Posterous, for that matter) has a lot of potential in govt for internal audiences who don't quite have the patience to master Wordpress and don't need quite the functionality. This phase of work is an impressive effort by anyone's standards, surely (especially given the scope of the sites involved). The fact it was done in house is the icing on the cake. Blimey, you're hard to please, Simon!

I think Tumblr (and Posterous, for that matter) has a lot of potential in govt for internal audiences who don't quite have the patience to master Wordpress and don't need quite the functionality.

This phase of work is an impressive effort by anyone's standards, surely (especially given the scope of the sites involved). The fact it was done in house is the icing on the cake.

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