The education prototype
Findings from the first round of user research with the initial prototype found that:
- participants expected to see government providing this content and considered GOV.UK to be a trusted source of information,
- showing typically low values in the air quality forecast (which itself covers a large area) sometimes didn’t correlate with a participant’s own experience, undermining any initial trustworthiness,
- users were keen to know more; what air quality means for them and their family and what practical actions they could take,
- participants didn’t think in terms of local/regional/national; they started with their own area of interest and moved on to other areas from there,
- the option to get local information drew attention away from any other content on the homepage, including links to guidance.
If we consider each prototype iteration to have a particular theme, the initial prototype focused on presentation, collating and providing structure around existing data sources.
Leading with an air-quality forecast – backed up with information about particular pollutants – proved problematic as this information lacked context.
For this iteration we focused on education, combining user’s interest in their local area with editorialised and localised content about air quality.
Spheres of influence
Air quality is influenced by varying factors at different levels. Consider the following:
- for an individual, existing health conditions can be agrevated by increased levels of air pollution. Age and your daily activities may also be factors in the degree air quality is an issue.
- in the home, poor ventilation and indoor pollutants such as mould or mildew may be a factor.
- on the street, your proximity to busy roads, nearby industrial polluters and localised activity like wood burning can be factors.
- within a neighbourhood, prevailing weather conditions dictate the level of air pollution, and the type of area (urban, suburban or rural) can dictate which pollutants are more common.
- within a local authority area, interventions that have been implemented or are being considered will have an impact.
- finally, regional and national policy decisions will dictate the overall strategy for improving air quality.
Design
We started with a page of guidance driven by the above model:
However, this was a lot of information to show on one page. Might it be possible to split the information up into sections?
We arrived at a direction where the story of air quality in a particular area could be told:
- A description of the sources of pollution (with content shown dictated by the type of area shown) that could provide context for information shown on later pages,
- The measured air quality right now, and what it the forecast over the next 5 days,
- If the given postcode is in a smoke control area,
- How air pollution is being monitored and managed by the local authority,
- How the local authority is trying to improve air quality
- What has been the outcome of these interventions.
Screenshots
