Behind the build: Bringing BIT’s EAST Tool to life online

The original cards were a staple in BIT’s behavioural-science workshops, helping policy professionals understand how small changes can make big differences in outcomes. But as BIT’s audiences grew and training went increasingly online, the physical cards couldn’t keep pace. The existing digital version was functional but clunky, and users found it hard to navigate or build a clear mental map of the EAST framework.

That’s where we were brought in: to help transform the experience, and make a complex behavioural-science tool feel seamless, engaging and easy to use.

Designing a digital experience that feels tangible

Our starting point was the spirit of the original cards: tactile, flexible and designed for exploration. We wanted to capture that same sense of discovery online, without losing sight of a tight deadline and a fixed budget.

Working closely with BIT’s learning team, we mapped every interaction around a simple question: how can users grasp and apply key principles as quickly as possible?

This meant stripping away unnecessary complexity, refining the structure and designing a clear, responsive interface where users could move easily between theory and application. Every click, hover and scroll was designed to reinforce the EAST principles — making behaviour change not just something you read about, but something you do.

Adapting on the fly

Midway through development, the project took on a new element. BIT asked for a new feature: the ability for users to add their own applied examples directly onto the cards.

Integrating this functionality without losing clarity or focus became the team’s defining challenge. We re-engineered the interface, streamlined the visual hierarchy and tested quick prototypes to ensure the new feature felt natural within the learning flow.

The result is a tool that not only teaches behavioural principles but invites users to experiment with them — turning passive learning into active application.

Impact and outcome

The new EAST Tool represents a major leap in both usability and design. By simplifying the experience and re-thinking how behavioural insights are presented, we helped BIT create a digital product that policy professionals actually want to use.

The platform now mirrors the ease and playfulness of the physical cards, while making the learning process far more accessible for global audiences.

Early feedback from BIT’s teams and learners has highlighted the improved clarity, intuitive design and overall sense of polish — evidence that thoughtful design can elevate even the most complex learning tools.

Collaboration under constraints

Like many of our projects, this one demanded creativity under pressure. With a fixed budget, a hard deadline and evolving requirements, our cross-disciplinary team worked backwards from launch — iterating quickly, aligning closely with BIT’s priorities and making every design decision count.

The result shows what’s possible when collaboration is clear and the focus stays on user experience: a budget-conscious build that still delivers a premium learning product.

Want to see how thoughtful digital design can bring your research or training tools to life? Get in touch with Soapbox to explore how we can help.