Use and contribute to open standards, common components and patterns

Summary

Use open standards, common components and patterns, and create new ones if there is not one that already meets your needs.

Why it's important

Open standards (opens in new tab) saves money and makes use of best practice.

Using common components, patterns and technology stacks means you don't have to solve problems that've already been solved. By using a component, pattern or stack that's already been assured and extensively tested, you can provide users with a good experience in a cost effective way. It also speeds up delivery and reduces risk.

We encourage teams to develop components and patterns that meet a shared need, it's important to share them so that others can benefit from your work.

How to meet this standard in every phase

You'll be assessed on what you've done to meet this standard at service assessments. However, even if the service you are working on is not being assessed, it's good practice to consider how you'll meet this standard point.

Things to consider:

• teams have reached out to other teams and similar services to consider possible patterns, architecture components (opens in new tab) and tools
• open source tools (opens in new tab) and frameworks have been chosen or considered as the basis for the service components
• using GOV.UK Design System (opens in new tab) common components and patterns
• evidence of a design history to keep track of design decisions, options explored and rationale for choices made
• recording architecture decision records (opens in new tab) to track decisions and rationale
• how to share and encourage use of new and existing design patterns and architecture components within the wider DfE service community

Profession specific guidance

Each DDaT profession in DfE has their own community and guidance.

Architecture

Technical Guidance

Design Manual