Search

NSW RFS sought an effective application style guide and visual style guide that could be applied across RFS applications for the future development and retrofitting of existing applications. The ultimate aim of this project was to design a framework that would improve the consistency and learnability of the applications and thereby reduce the stress and frustration associated with using them.

To ensure consistency and streamline the development process, RFS required a set of UI guidelines that developers could use “off the shelf” when starting a new application design. This took the form of a Standards & Guidelines document, a visual style guide, and a set of HTML templates that enable developers to get started quickly and to help ensure a reasonably consistent approach across different applications.

 

The aim was also to provide as consistent a user experience as possible between applications.

 

We worked with RFS stakeholders to identify the user groups, business goals and priorities for their web-based applications. We conducted site visits across NSW RFS districts to understand how RFS officers operate in the field and what their needs were in terms of application support.

 

After analysing the issues and suggestions, we set design goals and then identified a number of common task-flows requiring similar workflow support across different applications. We then defined common page types (e.g. dashboards, search results pages, data-entry forms, etc) and UI patterns (e.g. wizards, tab-panels, tables, etc) that can be combined to form varied user interfaces in support to the above mentioned task-flows.

 

We then developed an extensive style guide containing typical UI objects within the RFS environment. Additionally we developed a look-and-feel for the future applications in the form of a visual style guide, which was bundled with a comprehensive set of HTML/CSS templates.

 

A key foundation piece is now in place for progressing towards a user-centred design approach within the organisation.