Project Overview
The ABS Stats mobile app, commissioned by the Australian Government’s peak statistics body, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, gives users easy access to official statistical data across a broad range of key areas. For statistics geeks, anybody from the career politician to the dinner party know-it-all, the app gives invaluable access to the latest information. Ansible’s redesign and relaunch of the venerable mobile app stands out among government mobile apps as a new benchmark in lean, modern and user centric development.
Project Commissioner
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Project Creator
Team
Ansible Media Team SYD
Ansible Design Team BNE
Ansible Dev Team ADE
Project Brief
The ABS had a legacy iOS application in the market, and enlisted Ansible to incorporate feedback and develop a more streamlined and accessible application with new features and an enhanced user experience.
The ABS is Australia’s national statistical agency, providing trusted official statistics on a wide range of economic, social, population and environmental matters of importance to Australia. The ABS engaged us to develop and release a brand new Android and iOS app featuring easy access to a wide range of official statistics, initially wrapped up in a slick, contemporary ‘material design’ for Android, and later released with a contemporary native iOS user interface. Other improvements were made under the hood to ensure ABS can continue to improve and refine the user experience.
Project Need
Upon release of the initial Android app, Michael Beahan, the ABS’ Program Manager of Dissemination said of the app, “the Android app embraces a new, user-friendly design, making it easy and convenient for users to engage with our statistics on the go.”
The ABS were keen to give their Android user base something more than a “clunky iOS port or website wrapper” like so many other government apps. Our approach ensured that the organisation would become proud custodians of an appropriately scoped and diligently crafted mobile app. We focused heavily on refining the information design to balance rich and informative detail with a minimal aesthetic. Displaying large amounts of alphanumeric data on a small mobile screen can be challenging at the best of times, yet our design process has resulted in the brand new apps featuring easy access to a full range of official statistics, to the delight of real world users and critics alike.
User Experience
Taking the opportunity to redesign the app from the ground up, we decided to focus on the user first and foremost, following pure ‘material design’ principals and allowing the largely text-based content to really shine. The app design adheres to accessibility standards, featuring a clean layout coupled with intuitive gestural control, and within moments of launching the app, the user may delve into a wealth of ABS data including the following:
Key Economic Indicators – Australia’s key economic indicators at their fingertips, updated as soon as new data becomes available with a notification sent straight to device. Data such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and other key indicators are displayed based on user preferences.
Census Data – View and compare 2011 Census characteristics relating to people, families, and dwellings, for both postal areas and Commonwealth Electoral Divisions.
Population Clock – Quickly find out the current population projection for Australia – updated in real time.
Project Marketing
The apps have seen amazing reviews from the press and app users especially for its great use of material design.
Ausdroid says of the Android app, “…The ABS app is now available to download for free from Google Play and at this stage there’s every reason to, it’s literally one of the best apps we’ve seen from the Australian Government. Well done ABS…”
Project Privacy
As an Australian Government agency, the ABS comply with obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 and handle personal information in strict accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles. With a wealth of experience in government and enterprise application development, Ansible were able to ensure a secure framework to handle the data and protect the privacy of users.
Government Services
Government is being transformed as tech solutions are developed and implemented to either replace or complement previous methods of service delivery. Whether it's providing the public with current and up to date critical information, enabling compliance, offering community support or increased engagement tech solutions are providing greater accessibility to government resources.
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