Monthnote: March 2025

* side note, I wrote this in March but once had issues with publishing *

March was busy and fun, but mostly busy. I worked on interesting things and had little time to look up. Here’s a look at how my spring has started:

What happened

• I've been wrapping up a phase of a big piece of work I've been doing for BC Vital Statistics Agency, so I did a lot of presentations, slide decks, report writing and visual making, as well as a couple of workshops and interviews to help fill in information. I spent quite a bit of time in their offices as well, since it's a team that needs to be in person for almost all of their work. This was the bulk of my month at work.
• I've also started working on bringing a human element / journey to some policy-related work around health data.
• I ran a design call to share learnings from our recent School of Good Services training we had in February.
• I spoke at SD in Gov, then wrote a followup post on LinkedIn that went a bit viral.
• I helped organize some leaving drinks for Charlotte, a colleague from another team who I've worked with on a few things– she is moving back to the UK and will be missed.
• As usual, I made a few new connections and attended or presented at a few network meetings.
• I finally got around to an IT update I'd been avoiding, because it meant re-imaging my mac and moving, backing up or deleting 3 years worth of files.
• I took some time off: 5 days for a little skiing minibreak with my children and my brother's family (my body still hurts.) Having time off really helped me re-set at work, like closing one chapter and starting a new one, even though it was only a handful of days off.
• And perhaps the most exiciting part: I was featured in one of Tash Willcocks' illustrations!! Such an honour and a highlight for me.

What went well

• The work this month was super interesting. It was fascinating learning about Vital Statistics and the processes that go into foundational documents/ID so I've been feeling really excited about the opportunities. The people I've worked with from that area have been so generous with their time, appreciative of my efforts and also so open to seeing the problems and the potential for change which is honestly pretty rare lately (it shouldn't be rare but alas.)
• I enjoyed seeing people IRL, in work and personal life.
• My SD in Gov talk went really well. I was proud of it and got some really nice feedback as well.

What was challenging

• I worked quite hard this month, perhaps too hard as I felt quite stretched, and I had very little breathing room for things like writing, training and general admin. This kind of workload is not sustainable so I'm grateful I had some time off to reset it.
• I cried at work, about work, which is thankfully rare. I was treated poorly in a group setting, by someone in a position of power, for something that wasn't totally my responsibility. However, it was an excellent learning moment for me that will shape how I organize work and show up in the future so for that I am very grateful.
• The federal Canadian election was called so hello again election anxiety, my old foe
• I tried learning to crochet and wtaf, I do not get it at all. Perhaps I have the wrong wool.

What I read and saved this month

I actually didn't read a lot about design or government this month, it was too busy! But I did come across a few great reads that I want to highlight.

First - Tash Willcocks was on Service Design Show and the whole episode was excellent. Then she followed up with this blog post and illustration.

Creative conflict… curiosity didn’t kill the cat.

To be honest I think curiosity probably cured the cat, gave it nine lives and a solid sense of sexy cat like purpose. Lets talk creative…

MediumTash Willcocks

Some more great reads:

Care, as resistance, by design

Care is an evidence-based leadership practice with a gritty edge of ferocious perseverance.

MediumSylvie Abookire

Improving HealthLink BC’s website for everyone’s needs – Province of British Columbia

Making digital service delivery easier for public service employees.

Digital Government – Making digital service delivery easier for public service employees.HLBC Digital Experience

The Role of Service Design in 2025

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.

Geraint Edwards

Breaking Down Silos - Enhancing Digital Delivery for ESFA’s Funding Service

How we’re reshaping Digital teams to improve collaboration, flexibility, and whole service delivery.

cathydutton.co.ukCathy DuttonProfile logo - Cathy DuttonCD

Reading, watching, listening

I read five books in March. Two highlights: The Horse by Willy Vlautin and The Dutch House by Ann Patchett.

Like everyone else, I watched Adolescence and it alarmed the heck out of me. I also finished Severance season 2 and Apple Cider Vinegar, and kept up with White Lotus.

I've been on the hunt for more life story-based podcasts so I delved into a few of the Guardian Long Read episodes. I really enjoyed this one: How one man spent 34 years in prison after setting fire to a pair of curtains.