We don't recommend slavish adherence to the e-government guidelines, rather we focus on optimising user-experience for the greatest number. It is a fine balancing act.
This is the cornerstone of Alto's approach to designing websites.
Users need to easily access what they are looking for and achieve their goals. We consider those with disabilities and those with limited access to the internet because of geographical location or financial circumstances.
Technology and design that unnecessarily limits some people's access to the information is discrimination. This is especially relevant to Government websites, which are public property and everyone has a right to access them.
Despite this, the need to use website technologies beyond some users' capability will sometimes arise. The Guidelines recognise this, requiring that in such cases agencies make all reasonable efforts to include people who can't use these technologies by providing accessible alternatives.
"What matters is that agencies should act in the spirit as much as the letter of the Guidelines, committing themselves to avoiding use of exclusive website technologies except as a genuine last resort."
It's with this spirit that Alto approaches the creation of Government websites. That's why each design we create look so different- because they are developed to respond to very different user needs.
New Zealand Government Web Guidelines:
This is the source of the most up-to-date version of the Guidelines.
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See for yourself:
Usability and Information Architecture:
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Governor-General of New Zealand
This website was developed to appeal to all New Zealanders. This had to be reflected in the design, the language and the content. It had to convey a sense of Authority, to reflect the status of the office of the Governor General, as well as being friendly and inviting. |
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Worksite
This is a portal for skills and work. We split the content on this site four ways, to reflect the four distinct ways that the users would want to access the content that worksite covers; people are either looking for skills, looking for work, needing help at work, or looking for staff. We then shaped the content around these activities, allowing people to find relevant information based on their location. It was the first website to use flash banners, which are e-govt compliant. |
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in-transit
This website was designed to have great appeal to youth. It pulls together all the resources that currently exist for Youth who are making a transition from school to work in manner that is consistent and a tone that is appropriate to youth. |
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