Content design Guides, templates and articles
Guides, templates and articles about content design, government communications, digital experience with a few case studies thrown in for fun.
The DTA AI impact assessment tool: what content teams should do now
The DTA AI impact assessment tool now applies to any government content team using AI to draft or edit. Run it as a self-audit before procurement or audit does.
Content audit metrics: the five measures that get executive sign-off
Content audit metrics that get executive sign-off: relevance, accuracy, accessibility, traffic, and decision-readiness, scored on one cover page they will read.
How to write alt text for (Australian government) websites
How to write alt text for Australian government websites: when an image actually needs it, how to describe its purpose, and who should own it in your workflows.
Evaluation reports need a content design layer
Content design for evaluation reports turns a 90-page PDF into a four-page decision-ready brief, so the people who hold the budget actually act on the findings.
How to brief AI for content: the three layers of context it needs
Generic AI content is a briefing failure, not a model failure. How to brief AI for content using the three layers of context it genuinely needs to get it right.
How to write for the web for Australian government: a practical guide for content teams
A practical guide to writing for the web for Australian government. Seven steps, from defining the user task to publishing a page that works.
Year 7 reading level isn't a target. It's a constraint that should change how you write everything.
The Style Manual sets the year 7 reading level for Australian government content. Most agencies miss this target because they edit the words, not the structure.
PDF/UA (ISO 14289) is the standard for accessible PDFs. Most government PDFs do not meet it.
PDF/UA (ISO 14289) is the international standard for accessible PDFs. Most Australian government PDFs do not meet it. The fix is governance, not better tooling.
AS ISO 24495 plain language is now an Australian Standard. Use it as a governance lever.
AS ISO 24495.1:2024 makes plain language a citable Australian Standard. Use it in your content governance framework, your next tender, or in your audit reports.
What 'boring' content actually is, and why it's the right answer for government
Boring content isn't dull. It's predictable, calm and trustworthy. For government, regulated and high-stakes audiences, that's a feature.
Content review checklist
A content review checklist for Australian government websites covering plain language, accessibility, structure, and governance. Adapt and use.
The first conversation in content design is not about content
Stakeholders are attached to their content. In government content design, the first move is always the conversation, not the rewrite. Here's the right sequence.
How to make the business case for content design in government
Most content design proposals in Australian government fail to get funded because they argue for quality. Here's how to frame the case using cost and compliance