Civic Services Built Accessible From The First Pixel
Portside Civic
Portside reimagines what a local government website could be: simple, welcoming and built for everyone. Most council sites make residents dig through menus and jargon just to pay a bill or report a problem. We designed Portside around the tasks people actually come to do, so they can find what they need in a few clicks, on any device. Accessibility was built in from the very first sketch, not added at the end. The result is a service that works for older residents, people with disabilities and anyone in a hurry.
Civic & Government Digital Services · UX/UI Design · Accessibility
The idea
Residents don't visit a council website to browse. They come to get something done. Portside asks: what if every common task was quick, clear and stress-free?
Our approach
We started with the most common reasons people visit and put them front and centre. Clear language replaces government jargon, and every page leads somewhere useful, so no one hits a dead end.
Designed for everyone
Strong contrast, readable text, clear labels and full keyboard navigation mean the site works for people using screen readers, magnifiers or just a phone in bright sunlight. For a public service, accessibility isn't a feature. It's the job.
The look and feel
Calm, trustworthy and modern, without the cold, bureaucratic feel of most government sites. Residents should feel the council is on their side.
What we'd do next
We'd test key tasks with residents of different ages and abilities, run a formal accessibility audit and measure how many people complete tasks online instead of calling or visiting in person.
