“Her quest had taken her all over the world, to many different charity digital experts and agencies. But she still hadn’t found what she was looking for.”
The Catalyst (part funded by Comic Relief) has launched a new resource to help charity workers learn about digital design. It’s a fable called ‘The Charity Worker and the Digital Service Designer’. It follows one young charity worker’s yearning quest to learn about digital service design.
“Charity workers need to embrace digital design skills. It’s no longer OK to simply have an idea for a new service then pilot it. Better tools and techniques are available. They aren’t secret and we really should use them.”
Instead of creating a toolkit or best practice guide the team decided to use an allegorical tale to teach the same principles and methods (or ‘secrets’ in Fable language). The story can be read over lunch or an evening. It entertains through a traditional quest narrative, including mysterious figures and secrets that are progressively revealed through the heroine’s journey.
“A fun and accessible story that beautifully conveys the secrets of designing digital services. Great if you’re new to charity digital.”
Megan Griffith-Gray, Director of Strategy & Transformation, NCVO
“A rich, accessible and very practical guide to user-centred design in the charity sector.”
Penny Yewers, Senior Advisor: Social Tech, Comic Relief
Author Joe Roberson said: “This story is about people, not technical stuff. Our heroine is desperate to learn but can’t find anyone to teach her. So she goes on a journey with the mysterious digital wizard. Revelations abound and she learns the three secrets of digital service design, which she brings back as gifts to share with others.”
The tale is a 30 minute evening or lunchtime read for any charity worker interested in how digital can improve their services and projects. It’s not about becoming a designer, but about learning the skills to apply to your own work.
