Week #122 at the Digital Service: Notes for 26–30 August 2024

Week 122 was thoughtful. Martin joined a session on defensive democracy and how public servants can protect and uphold the Basic Law if the far-right gets into government. He did some practical work and some thought work linked to the principle of ‘Open by Default’. Martin also saw some accessibility formats developing a life of their own.

Week #119 at the Digital Service: Notes for 5–9 August 2024

Photograph: Sandra Pieper

Martin joined his second session as a member of the Digital Council of the Minister for Infrastructure and Digital of the State of Saxony-Anhalt. He learnt more about the state’s challenges and leverage points. Martin saw another justice service launch, gave an inspirational service design talk and worked with the small Service Standard team on objectives, metrics and a first internal draft of a new version.

Week #117 at the Digital Service: Notes for 22–26 July 2024

In week 117 at Digital Service, Martin started promoting new content design roles for 2 service areas, participated in a workshop on a more disability-inclusive recruitment process, and supported further accessibility work. The media have picked up his work on updating the German Service Standard.

Week #116 at the Digital Service: Notes for 15–19 July 2024

The UK government’s former Head of User Research and Analysis at GDS, Stephanie Marsh (centre), together with colleagues from Springer Nature in the office of Digital Service

Week 116 at Digital Service was short for Martin as he only returned from holidays on Friday. He welcomed a former GDS colleague to the office. He also started reflecting on a book on managing people he started reading this week.

Week #113 at the Digital Service: Notes for 24–28 June 2024

In week 113, Martin spoke at the CityLAB Summer Conference and participated in a panel discussion on future operating and business models for public services at the Zukunftskongress. He also co-led a lunch & learn session on metrics and how we measure service transformation impact.

Week #112 at the Digital Service: Notes for 24–28 June 2024

Another dense week 112 included a design and user research offsite, a world café session on the citizen-centred welfare state, a meet-and-greet with tech entrepreneurs, an exchange with a former digital minister and co-founder of the US Digital Service, and a pub quiz.