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Cathy Dutton

@cathydutton.co.uk
1.5K followers 521 following 278 posts

Service Design & Delivery at the Department for Education. CSS enthusiast, Intrinsic Design fan. www.cathydutton.co.uk

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Reposted by Cathy Dutton
Manuel Matuzović @matuzo.at · 17/09/2026
Friends, it's that time of the year: Once again, I'm asking you to help me create another amazing HTMHell Advent Calendar by writing about HTML. The CFP is open until October 3! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com
HTMHell Advent Calendar
Hello, my dear friends of high-quality markup! We're getting closer to the last quarter of 2026, which means that the HTMHell Advent Calendar is getting closer, too. Last year, once again, you contrib...
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 14/08/2026
12 years ago, when I was obsessed with Sass www.sitepoint.com/8-tips-help-...
sitepoint.com
8 Tips to Help You Get the Best out of Sass — SitePoint
Cathy Dutton with a rundown of 8 tips to help you improve the workflow and maintenance of your Sass-based projects.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 11/08/2026
Today’s highlight, something to look forward too :)
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 11/07/2026
That’s the point of the post. Done well they can work, but they need to be structured in a way that makes sense to users. And they need to do more then bring together all the departments content in a new place.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 10/07/2026
😂
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 10/07/2026
I think that’s valid. But it’s all your’e interactions. My issue is when that context is either missed or can’t be delivered. So it’s all the things you might need to do, or might have already done.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 10/07/2026
Worryingly in was 2016 not 18. It feels like yesterday!
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 10/07/2026
Fixed it
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 10/07/2026
Ahh this is what I was trying to quote the line on ‘said no one ever’ has always stuck with me. I thought it was Ben. I will re write that and share the link to this.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 10/07/2026
In a break from my usual Funding service posts, I’ve written about my other portfolio. And one of my favourite things, Portals! The portal trap cathydutton.co.uk/posts/the-po...
cathydutton.co.uk
The portal trap
No one likes portals, one-stop shops, single front doors or gateways, so why are they the go-to solution for so many large organisations?
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 09/07/2026
Get blogging :)
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 11/06/2026
A few people have recommended books by Gregor Hohpe. I will probably read a couple, but I would love some real training.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 11/06/2026
I’m interested in things like domain driven design to split out core capabilities vs more bespoke systems to deliver an entire thing. I’m also interested in how to set up effective delivery and deployment processes. Or anything a service owner from a design background should try to lean.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 11/06/2026
I look after a series of legacy systems and have ideas on how they could have been designed to work as one service instead of 5 systems with multiple dependencies. But I’m no expert in that.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 11/06/2026
There seems to be a few design or UCD for leaders training courses. Does anyone know of any Architecture or technology ones? Not AI though :)
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 29/05/2026
Wrote up what we’ve been up to over the last 12-months trying to run and improve a critical service. Delivering and improving public services under pressure cathydutton.co.uk/posts/delive...
cathydutton.co.uk
Delivering and improving public services under pressure
Public sector organisations are under constant pressure to keep critical services operating while simultaneously transforming the systems that support them.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 26/05/2026
I feel old, and also like I read this last week!
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Reposted by Cathy Dutton
WebDesignMuseum @webdesignmuseum.org · 25/05/2026
Happy 16th Birthday Responsive Web Design! On May 25, 2010, web designer Ethan Marcotte published an article entitled "Responsive Web Design" in the online magazine A List Apart. #WebDesignHistory
Ethan Marcotte's Responsive Web Design article in 2010
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 07/05/2026
Lovely day at #CampDigital with lots of Defra and DfE people.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 30/04/2026
I’m hoping to be there!
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 30/04/2026
Anyone going to Camp Digital next week?
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 29/04/2026
Of to spend the day at one of my teams design sprints - not sure how much use I’ll be, but I’m very excited.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 15/04/2026
No phrase fills me with more dread then ‘work packages’
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 06/04/2026
I got the chair form here - www.debenhams.com/product/furn...
debenhams.com
Orange FurnitureboxUK Centro Velvet Reclining Office Chair | Debenhams
Discover Centro Velvet Reclining Office Chair available to buy online at debenhams.com. Available with quick delivery and easy return options. Shop now!
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 06/04/2026
Desk, chair and lighting now sorted.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 28/03/2026
Nailed it
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 28/03/2026
I wish I’d bought one that was easier to build
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 27/03/2026
Couldn’t just buy a normal bookcase 😂
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 17/03/2026
📢 3 in a week! DfE connect are also looking for a senior service designer to come and help us join up services for Schools. Our mission is to allow Schools to easily access the information they need when they need it. www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi...
civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk
Quick Check Needed
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 13/03/2026
I’m looking for a Programme delivery manager to come and work with me on DfE Connect. We want to bring together multiple services and platforms to give schools access to the information they need, when they need it. Get in touch to find out more www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi...
civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk
Quick Check Needed
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 10/03/2026
We are hiring a senior user researcher to join our insight team. We deliver £80bn a year to education providers. The insight team work across the service sure we make decisions based on evidence and tackle the right problems at the right time. www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi...
civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk
Quick Check Needed
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 24/02/2026
Painting and decorating, but I’m not sure anyone would actually pay me to do that.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 06/02/2026
I’ve had these in the past and really liked them.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 06/02/2026
Both
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 06/02/2026
Desk sorted. Can anyone recommend so desk lighting?
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 31/01/2026
Another stadium ticked off
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 19/01/2026
Good point on language, we could say we learnt MVP was less valuable then we hoped.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 19/01/2026
Has anyone got any examples of services that fail at Private Beta? And how you move on from that? There’s lots on stopping at Discovery and maybe Alpha.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 17/01/2026
Slight train chaos on my way home from #ukgc26. The day was worth the travel though, I always leaving feeling positive about the things we can get done.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 17/01/2026
Of too #ukgc26 on a slightly later train now it’s in Birmingham.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 07/01/2026
Just booked mine £17 instead of £55 :)
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 07/01/2026
Oh good - I also need to book a train
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 07/01/2026
Do I know anyone going to GovCamp in Birmingham?
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 27/11/2025
I have sit now and that has been fine for years, both might be better longer term though.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 27/11/2025
Oh the table top on those stands looks good
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 27/11/2025
Or provide some inspiration with their own home set ups.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 27/11/2025
Can anyone recommend a good home office desk?
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 30/09/2025
Always happy to talk about the Funding Service.
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Reposted by Cathy Dutton
Naomi Turner @naomiturner.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Who do I know in gov digital land currently running a service that they are proud of? You could be product, delivery or service owner. Looking to get some exposure to what good looks like, for a team who are still finding their feet.
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Cathy Dutton @cathydutton.co.uk · 29/09/2025
This is unreal 💙. Couldn’t find a view obstructing pole anywhere.
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