Caroline Jarrett
@cjforms.bsky.social
Forms and survey specialist.
Always keen to try to answer your questions about making better forms (and if you must, maybe even those about surveys).
Effortmark.co.uk
Always keen to try to answer your questions about making better forms (and if you must, maybe even those about surveys).
Effortmark.co.uk
Thrilled that there’s a recipe in the Guardian today for a Kringle - much beloved pastry of Racine, Wisconsin where I lived for several months in 1983 and visited regularly for a couple of years after that
www.theguardian.com/food/2025/no...
www.theguardian.com/food/2025/no...
Danish delight: Tim Anderson’s cherry marzipan kringle recipe for Thanksgiving
These iced Danish pastries stuffed with nuts and jam are a speciality of Tim’s hometown of Racine, Wisconsin
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Thrilled that there’s a recipe in the Guardian today for a Kringle - much beloved pastry of Racine, Wisconsin where I lived for several months in 1983 and visited regularly for a couple of years after that
www.theguardian.com/food/2025/no...
www.theguardian.com/food/2025/no...
Reposted by Caroline Jarrett
It's #CarersRightsDay - but over half a million of us unpaid carers have none.
We're more likely to be poverty, and costing the economy over £10bn each year, because we also happen to be self-employed/freelance and so are missing in carer legislation and policy.
www.libdemvoice.org/how-a-simple...
We're more likely to be poverty, and costing the economy over £10bn each year, because we also happen to be self-employed/freelance and so are missing in carer legislation and policy.
www.libdemvoice.org/how-a-simple...
How a simple oversight in legislation is costing the economy over £10bn a year, crippling businesses, and forcing nearly 1m unpaid carers into poverty
At least 1 in 10 of all people in the UK are unpaid carers – but over 10% of these (a growing trend, and estimated to be in the region of 1 million people by 2027) can never be fully recognised, or su...
www.libdemvoice.org
November 20, 2025 at 7:49 AM
It's #CarersRightsDay - but over half a million of us unpaid carers have none.
We're more likely to be poverty, and costing the economy over £10bn each year, because we also happen to be self-employed/freelance and so are missing in carer legislation and policy.
www.libdemvoice.org/how-a-simple...
We're more likely to be poverty, and costing the economy over £10bn each year, because we also happen to be self-employed/freelance and so are missing in carer legislation and policy.
www.libdemvoice.org/how-a-simple...
Reposted by Caroline Jarrett
Absolutely brilliant thread on "two ton murderous ornery bulletproof amphibious assault cows"
Additionally, hippos - despite being massive - have almost no fat on them. All of that impressive bulk is muscle.
2% body fat. Compare that to Elephants, which are around 8-10%, or rhinos, which are 10-20%.
The average human is around 20-40%, for reference.
They're *all* muscle.
2% body fat. Compare that to Elephants, which are around 8-10%, or rhinos, which are 10-20%.
The average human is around 20-40%, for reference.
They're *all* muscle.
November 20, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Absolutely brilliant thread on "two ton murderous ornery bulletproof amphibious assault cows"
Reposted by Caroline Jarrett
Had a couple of conversations with folk recently about the joys of time sheets — and why tracking an individuals work is often / usually a terrible idea, as well being a PITA.
But it reminded me of a practice I've found super useful in the past when I've been forced to do it myself.
1/5
But it reminded me of a practice I've found super useful in the past when I've been forced to do it myself.
1/5
November 19, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Had a couple of conversations with folk recently about the joys of time sheets — and why tracking an individuals work is often / usually a terrible idea, as well being a PITA.
But it reminded me of a practice I've found super useful in the past when I've been forced to do it myself.
1/5
But it reminded me of a practice I've found super useful in the past when I've been forced to do it myself.
1/5
In today’s episode of #FixTheForms, @peterkwells.com lists three different ways (so far) where poor understanding of the range of possible right answers leads to issues
#WrongAnswersOnly
#WrongAnswersOnly
Fun things from chat with solicitor about selling elderly relatives home to pay care home fees:
+ phone-based ID check with leeway:
"hmm, can you also name the other two people with lasting power of attorney and the towns they live in?....OK, you got one town kinda wrong but also close enough"
+ phone-based ID check with leeway:
"hmm, can you also name the other two people with lasting power of attorney and the towns they live in?....OK, you got one town kinda wrong but also close enough"
November 19, 2025 at 6:34 PM
In today’s episode of #FixTheForms, @peterkwells.com lists three different ways (so far) where poor understanding of the range of possible right answers leads to issues
#WrongAnswersOnly
#WrongAnswersOnly
We have had some strange white settling rain in Leighton Buzzard.
Context: we’ve lived here for 40 years and this is the earliest in November we’ve ever had snow so far as we can recall
Context: we’ve lived here for 40 years and this is the earliest in November we’ve ever had snow so far as we can recall
November 19, 2025 at 8:51 AM
We have had some strange white settling rain in Leighton Buzzard.
Context: we’ve lived here for 40 years and this is the earliest in November we’ve ever had snow so far as we can recall
Context: we’ve lived here for 40 years and this is the earliest in November we’ve ever had snow so far as we can recall
Reposted by Caroline Jarrett
Labour: YOU MUST INTEGRATE
Also Labour: we might kick you out in a couple years so don't get to comfy yeah
Also Labour: we might kick you out in a couple years so don't get to comfy yeah
November 17, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Labour: YOU MUST INTEGRATE
Also Labour: we might kick you out in a couple years so don't get to comfy yeah
Also Labour: we might kick you out in a couple years so don't get to comfy yeah
In today's episode of #FixTheForms, I was happy that my minimal grasp of French was good enough to start the process of registering for the French ProConnect service.
Sadly, stuck when I had to get a SIRET code - only available to French organisations. Ah well.
www.proconnect.gouv.fr
Sadly, stuck when I had to get a SIRET code - only available to French organisations. Ah well.
www.proconnect.gouv.fr
ProConnect
www.proconnect.gouv.fr
November 17, 2025 at 12:12 PM
In today's episode of #FixTheForms, I was happy that my minimal grasp of French was good enough to start the process of registering for the French ProConnect service.
Sadly, stuck when I had to get a SIRET code - only available to French organisations. Ah well.
www.proconnect.gouv.fr
Sadly, stuck when I had to get a SIRET code - only available to French organisations. Ah well.
www.proconnect.gouv.fr
Reposted by Caroline Jarrett
"The question is whether spare time released really translates into frontline care. Or, does it actually provide capacity that’s consumed by more admin?"
I get frustrated by the press release culture around time savings from AI tools. I couldn't resist responding to a recent one about Microsoft Copilot in the NHS. There's still a missing step of being able to reimagine the future of work with technology benholliday.com/2025/10/23/4...
43 minutes per staff member per day
Looking at the latest NHS framing of time savings from investment in AI, and the continued need to better reimagine how we work with technology.
benholliday.com
November 15, 2025 at 10:41 AM
"The question is whether spare time released really translates into frontline care. Or, does it actually provide capacity that’s consumed by more admin?"
Repost of my review of Shuman and Presser "Questions and answers in attitude surveys", lightly updated today
tl;dr - read my review to avoid having to read the whole book
tips on open questions, don't know options, and more
www.effortmark.co.uk/review-quest...
tl;dr - read my review to avoid having to read the whole book
tips on open questions, don't know options, and more
www.effortmark.co.uk/review-quest...
Book review: Questions and answers in attitude surveys - Effortmark
Start with open questions and test a lot; Consider 'don't know'; Used balanced questions; ask for stength of opinion as well as direction of opinion.
www.effortmark.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Repost of my review of Shuman and Presser "Questions and answers in attitude surveys", lightly updated today
tl;dr - read my review to avoid having to read the whole book
tips on open questions, don't know options, and more
www.effortmark.co.uk/review-quest...
tl;dr - read my review to avoid having to read the whole book
tips on open questions, don't know options, and more
www.effortmark.co.uk/review-quest...
Reposted by Caroline Jarrett
Last week I shared my 3 laws of form design.
Here’s a breakdown of the first law which is perfectly captured by a question one of my subscribers asked me:
“How can we bring joy to people who use enterprise applications for 40 hours a week?”
Here’s a breakdown of the first law which is perfectly captured by a question one of my subscribers asked me:
“How can we bring joy to people who use enterprise applications for 40 hours a week?”
November 12, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Last week I shared my 3 laws of form design.
Here’s a breakdown of the first law which is perfectly captured by a question one of my subscribers asked me:
“How can we bring joy to people who use enterprise applications for 40 hours a week?”
Here’s a breakdown of the first law which is perfectly captured by a question one of my subscribers asked me:
“How can we bring joy to people who use enterprise applications for 40 hours a week?”
Reposted by Caroline Jarrett
Just scrap BBC News 24 or whatever they call it now, restore the World Service COMPLETELY - we have lost way too much soft power - and allow anyone anywhere in the world to buy a TV License which allows them complete access to iPlayer for a year.
And that also solves the financial constraints.
And that also solves the financial constraints.
November 9, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Just scrap BBC News 24 or whatever they call it now, restore the World Service COMPLETELY - we have lost way too much soft power - and allow anyone anywhere in the world to buy a TV License which allows them complete access to iPlayer for a year.
And that also solves the financial constraints.
And that also solves the financial constraints.
I can heartily recommend working with @juliaallum.bsky.social
There’s something available for everyone, starting from very reasonably priced cards through to her creating something that’s bespoke and precisely right, such as the “live and live differently” macaws
juliaallum.co.uk/product/live...
There’s something available for everyone, starting from very reasonably priced cards through to her creating something that’s bespoke and precisely right, such as the “live and live differently” macaws
juliaallum.co.uk/product/live...
November 9, 2025 at 8:25 PM
I can heartily recommend working with @juliaallum.bsky.social
There’s something available for everyone, starting from very reasonably priced cards through to her creating something that’s bespoke and precisely right, such as the “live and live differently” macaws
juliaallum.co.uk/product/live...
There’s something available for everyone, starting from very reasonably priced cards through to her creating something that’s bespoke and precisely right, such as the “live and live differently” macaws
juliaallum.co.uk/product/live...
Reposted by Caroline Jarrett
I’m really looking forward to a chance to listen to this episode. “Design for real life” is a favourite book - I’ve bought dozens to give away, and now I don’t have to because Eric Meyer and Sara Wachter-Boettcher made it free to read:
abookdeparts-dfrl.netlify.app
abookdeparts-dfrl.netlify.app
Design for Real Life
abookdeparts-dfrl.netlify.app
November 7, 2025 at 8:41 AM
I’m really looking forward to a chance to listen to this episode. “Design for real life” is a favourite book - I’ve bought dozens to give away, and now I don’t have to because Eric Meyer and Sara Wachter-Boettcher made it free to read:
abookdeparts-dfrl.netlify.app
abookdeparts-dfrl.netlify.app
Reposted by Caroline Jarrett
To round off series 2 I have got the MOTHER of all guests for you: Speaker, coach, author of Technically Wrong and Design for real life, Sara Wachter-Boettcher.
In this episode, Sara and I talk a lot about burnout…
Apple: apple.co/47rrJTk
RSS: bit.ly/43gtLkB
In this episode, Sara and I talk a lot about burnout…
Apple: apple.co/47rrJTk
RSS: bit.ly/43gtLkB
Design Systems and burnout with Sara Wachter-Boettcher
Podcast Episode · Systems of Harm · 06/11/2025 · 53m
apple.co
November 7, 2025 at 6:55 AM
To round off series 2 I have got the MOTHER of all guests for you: Speaker, coach, author of Technically Wrong and Design for real life, Sara Wachter-Boettcher.
In this episode, Sara and I talk a lot about burnout…
Apple: apple.co/47rrJTk
RSS: bit.ly/43gtLkB
In this episode, Sara and I talk a lot about burnout…
Apple: apple.co/47rrJTk
RSS: bit.ly/43gtLkB
Reposted by Caroline Jarrett
“But that’s a lot of clicks”
I hear this from stakeholders (and even UI/UX designers) quite regularly when I share flows with multiple steps.
But here’s the truth:
Users don’t care about clicks, as long as each click takes them logically towards their goal.
The real problem is...
I hear this from stakeholders (and even UI/UX designers) quite regularly when I share flows with multiple steps.
But here’s the truth:
Users don’t care about clicks, as long as each click takes them logically towards their goal.
The real problem is...
November 6, 2025 at 12:15 PM
“But that’s a lot of clicks”
I hear this from stakeholders (and even UI/UX designers) quite regularly when I share flows with multiple steps.
But here’s the truth:
Users don’t care about clicks, as long as each click takes them logically towards their goal.
The real problem is...
I hear this from stakeholders (and even UI/UX designers) quite regularly when I share flows with multiple steps.
But here’s the truth:
Users don’t care about clicks, as long as each click takes them logically towards their goal.
The real problem is...
Very pleased that I've won a ticket to #ukgc26, especially as this time it will be in Birmingham
#BrummieByMarriage
#BrummieByMarriage
November 3, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Very pleased that I've won a ticket to #ukgc26, especially as this time it will be in Birmingham
#BrummieByMarriage
#BrummieByMarriage
Am watching #GameOfWool but not sure whether I can cope with a gentle, individual, reflective activity being turned into a sort of team working time stressed nightmare
November 2, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Am watching #GameOfWool but not sure whether I can cope with a gentle, individual, reflective activity being turned into a sort of team working time stressed nightmare
Reposted by Caroline Jarrett
I've written about the work we have done to make the NHS Design System fit for the future and to support the NHS 10-year plan to move from analogue to digital.
Read more and be part of this change: digital.nhs.uk/blog/design-...
Read more and be part of this change: digital.nhs.uk/blog/design-...
Making the NHS design system fit for the future - NHS England Digital
Tero Väänänen explains why the NHS design system exists and why it plays an important role in fulfilling the 10-year health plan. He also describes recent changes to the frontend code behind the desig...
digital.nhs.uk
October 31, 2025 at 10:58 AM
I've written about the work we have done to make the NHS Design System fit for the future and to support the NHS 10-year plan to move from analogue to digital.
Read more and be part of this change: digital.nhs.uk/blog/design-...
Read more and be part of this change: digital.nhs.uk/blog/design-...
Reposted by Caroline Jarrett
BBC running a film this morning about the widening availability of the morning after pill (EHC). In the commentary the voiceover says ' the morning after pill needs to be taken within five days of an unwanted pregnancy'. They should say after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. 1/4
October 29, 2025 at 9:50 AM
BBC running a film this morning about the widening availability of the morning after pill (EHC). In the commentary the voiceover says ' the morning after pill needs to be taken within five days of an unwanted pregnancy'. They should say after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. 1/4
Reposted by Caroline Jarrett
A little something I wrote on the language of digital in Wales for @transform.wales
transform.wales/blog/2025/pr...
transform.wales/blog/2025/pr...
We learned the language of digital. Now it’s time to learn the practice.
I’ve spent most of my career helping teams move from talking about user-centred design (UCD) to actually doing it, often as part of digital transformation programmes. And one thing I’ve learned is thi...
transform.wales
October 29, 2025 at 9:51 AM
A little something I wrote on the language of digital in Wales for @transform.wales
transform.wales/blog/2025/pr...
transform.wales/blog/2025/pr...
Today’s episode of #FixTheForms has @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social, cut off from digital by dodgy train WiFi, musing on the proposed UK digital identity scheme and why designing mainly for affluent people with good connectivity is a bad idea
Anyway, here are my thoughts on why there is no such thing as a universal digital service www.careful.industries/blog/2025-10...
There’s no such thing as a universal digital service — Careful Industries
In a world where Meta has more users than most countries have residents, it seems odd to say that digital services aren’t universal – but universal services need to work for everyone, not just for peo...
www.careful.industries
October 29, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Today’s episode of #FixTheForms has @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social, cut off from digital by dodgy train WiFi, musing on the proposed UK digital identity scheme and why designing mainly for affluent people with good connectivity is a bad idea
In today's episode of #FixTheForms, a surprising twist on my series of workshops on #ErrorRates and #DataQuality. I thought I wrapped them up at #SDinGOV in Edinburgh, but no! Catch an online version at Virtual SDinGOV in March 26.
virtual.sdingov.net
virtual.sdingov.net
Service Design in Government
virtual.sdingov.net
October 28, 2025 at 11:52 AM
In today's episode of #FixTheForms, a surprising twist on my series of workshops on #ErrorRates and #DataQuality. I thought I wrapped them up at #SDinGOV in Edinburgh, but no! Catch an online version at Virtual SDinGOV in March 26.
virtual.sdingov.net
virtual.sdingov.net
Reposted by Caroline Jarrett
New blogpost on @elife.bsky.social's new Replication study type deevybee.blogspot.com/2025/10/prob.... tldr = I think it's doomed.
#Replication #Publishing #Reproducibility
#Replication #Publishing #Reproducibility
Problems with ELife's new article type: Replication studies
I was interested to receive an email from eLife last week, telling me that "As part of our commitment to open science, scientific rigour ...
deevybee.blogspot.com
October 27, 2025 at 9:33 AM
New blogpost on @elife.bsky.social's new Replication study type deevybee.blogspot.com/2025/10/prob.... tldr = I think it's doomed.
#Replication #Publishing #Reproducibility
#Replication #Publishing #Reproducibility
As a resident of Bedfordshire who had to travel to Luton and to Milton Keynes for emergency GP appointments this year, it’s sadly unsurprising to me that our area has the worst GP to patient ratio in England
There is large variation in the number of patients per #GP across England. 👩⚕️
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB has the highest number of patients per GP (2,664) when accounting for local population need.
Explore more on our staffing tracker: buff.ly/Xu3buxR
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB has the highest number of patients per GP (2,664) when accounting for local population need.
Explore more on our staffing tracker: buff.ly/Xu3buxR
October 27, 2025 at 12:23 PM
As a resident of Bedfordshire who had to travel to Luton and to Milton Keynes for emergency GP appointments this year, it’s sadly unsurprising to me that our area has the worst GP to patient ratio in England