On 10 August, we gathered in Boduan in Gwynedd to attend the National Eisteddfod of Wales. We set-up camp in the Welsh Government tent in Maes D. It was a busy day promoting our ambitions for Welsh public services, meeting many of our strategic stakeholders, and our highlight was hosting a book launch event at noon. 

The book

At the 2022 National Eisteddfod of Wales, we worked with other Welsh public sector bodies to research how Welsh speakers used Welsh language services.  

The research found that Welsh public services used unnatural sounding Welsh and that, often, the Welsh content was not dependable. Since then, there has been a lot of work to explore how we can improve the design of bilingual services that promote and ease the use of Welsh and treat those who speak it equally with those who speak English. Trio writing was born as a methodology for designing and creating bilingual content.  

Trio writing is when 3 people work together to create bilingual content. The 3 roles are usually a subject-matter expert, content designer, and translator. Sometimes a user researcher replaces the subject-matter expert.  

The Trio Writing book is a community effort. It has involved people across the private and public sector and the book is a way to bring some of these voices together. It is the brilliant minds from across Wales that have got us here.  

We have published the print version of the book (get your copy of ‘Trio Writing’ from the Lulu bookstore). We will be publishing a free e-book version soon! 

The event 

Creating user-friendly bilingual digital public services - that was the talking point at our event held at the Welsh Government’s stand at the Eisteddfod. 

During our book launch event, there were over 50 people in the room, including members of the public and even people standing outside the tent to listen! The event was delivered in Welsh with a simultaneous translator for any Welsh learners wanting to listen in. 

Here is a quick run-through of the event: 

  • Jeremy Evas (Head of Prosiect 50, Welsh Government) kicked off the event with a warm welcome to the crowd and set the scene for the event. 

  • Jeremy Miles MS (Minister for Education and Welsh Language, Welsh Government) outlined the strategic need for better bilingual services in Wales.  

  • Osian Jones (Senior Content Designer, Centre for Digital Public Services) shared our journey at CDPS and an overview of the trio writing methodology – he even gave a sneak peek to some of the content in the book.  

  • We did a quick interactive demonstration of trio writing with audience participation. 

  • Heledd Quaeck and Manon Williams (Natural Resources Wales) participated in a fireside chat-style Q&A with Osian as a trio writing case study. This was followed by audience questions chaired by Jeremy Evas.

  • Sharon Gilburd (Chair, Centre for Digital Public Services) closed the event with special thanks to all the organisations who have helped us to get to this position. 

The people 

We were able to catch up with the media and other organisations on the Maes during the day.  

Highlights include: 

  • Leader of Plaid Cymru, Rhun Ap Iorwerth MS, attending our event 

  • Catching up with Efa Gruffudd Jones, Welsh Language Commissioner 

  • Meeting Derek Walker, The Future Generations Commissioner for Wales 

  • Pre-event chats with the Minister for Welsh Language and Education 

  • Members of the public interested in the concept of trio writing 

Being a user-centred organisation, it was as much about meeting “real people” as the professional networking. Whenever there was time, the team were working to support user research recruitment – they were out with iPads to talk to people attending the Eisteddfod and encourage sign ups to our research panel. 

What’s next 

In the next few weeks, the book will be available on multiple distribution networks and available as a free ebook.  

In the coming weeks, we will be working hard to continue to find opportunities to promote plain language and work with more teams to use the practical tools and techniques in the book. 

We hope to return to the Eisteddfod in 2024 with more Welsh services being accessible, inclusive and easy to access, in English and Welsh. 

Read our guide: How to do trio writing.