Stephen Lawrance
He is the designer and builder of the Exercise Tiger Trust website, and is responsible for its ongoing development, updating and presentation of historical research, including the Trust’s Roll of Honour, documentary archive and personal collections.
His career spans the development of digital communications from traditional graphic design and print through the emergence of the World Wide Web, early government online information services, web applications and RFID technology, to his present work applying those skills to historical research and digital preservation.
Exercise Tiger role
Stephen Lawrance’s work with the Exercise Tiger Trust combines historical research with digital curation and technology.
The Trust maintains an online historical resource dedicated to Exercise Tiger, including its Roll of Honour, documentary archive, personal collections, photographs and research material. The organisation’s stated purpose is to research, preserve and make accessible information about the servicemen involved in the April 1944 disaster. Exercise Tiger Trust — About Us
Stephen’s role encompasses several interconnected responsibilities.
Trustee
Stephen Lawrance is a trustee of the Exercise Tiger Trust, contributing to the organisation’s continuing development and its work to preserve the history of Exercise Tiger.
His professional background in design, technology, information management and project development provides a practical dimension to the Trust’s work, particularly in relation to its digital archive and public-facing information resources.
Researcher
Stephen contributes to the Trust’s ongoing historical research into Exercise Tiger, including research into the people, vessels, documents and circumstances surrounding the disaster.
The research involves locating, organising and cross-referencing historical information and helping to make that material accessible through the Trust’s digital archive.
The Trust’s research encompasses official records, contemporary documents, survivor accounts, photographs, personal collections and other historical sources.
Where records contain discrepancies, the Trust’s research approach is to identify and investigate those differences rather than presenting uncertain information as established fact.
Digital curator
Steve acts as a digital curator, helping to determine how historical information is organised and presented online.
Digital curation involves more than simply publishing information. Historical records need to be structured so that individual people, vessels, documents, photographs and events can be related to one another and subsequently updated when additional evidence becomes available.
His work includes the organisation and presentation of:
- Exercise Tiger casualty information;
- the Roll of Honour;
- individual biographies;
- vessel information;
- historical articles;
- official documents and reports;
- photographs;
- personal collections;
- research material;
- and information supplied by relatives and researchers.
Website designer and developer
Stephen designed and built the Exercise Tiger Trust website and continues to develop, maintain and update it.
The website provides the public interface to a substantial body of historical research. Its design therefore needs to accommodate both general visitors looking for information about Exercise Tiger and researchers seeking individual records and documentary material.
His responsibilities include:
- website architecture;
- interface and information design;
- web development;
- content publication;
- historical record presentation;
- document and image presentation;
- website maintenance;
- technical development;
- database-driven information;
- and ongoing website updates.
The result is intended to function not simply as an organisational website but as a digital historical resource and archive.
Archive and database development
Stephen is also responsible for aspects of the development and structure of the Trust’s digital archive and database-driven information resources.
This work involves organising historical data in a way that allows information to be presented consistently and connected across different parts of the website.
For example, an individual serviceman’s record may need to relate to:
- his name and service details;
- his unit;
- his vessel;
- casualty information;
- photographs;
- memorial information;
- historical documents;
- and information supplied by relatives.
The technical structure therefore supports the Trust’s research by allowing individual pieces of evidence and biographical information to be brought together within a coherent digital resource.
Digital preservation and information architecture
Stephen’s Exercise Tiger work sits at the intersection of historical research, digital preservation and information architecture.
His professional career began in graphic design and subsequently developed into web design, digital publishing, information systems and technology solutions. Those skills are now applied to the preservation and presentation of historical information.
Preserving historical information digitally
A historical archive placed online needs to remain useful as information grows.
New documents may be discovered, existing records may require correction, families may provide photographs or personal papers, and researchers may identify previously unknown information.
The Exercise Tiger website has therefore been designed as an evolving resource rather than a static publication.
Stephen’s role includes maintaining the technical framework that allows information to be added, amended and expanded while retaining its relationship to the wider historical record.
Information architecture
Information architecture is particularly important to the Exercise Tiger project because the research encompasses many different types of information.
The website needs to allow users to move between subjects such as:
- individuals;
- units;
- vessels;
- dates;
- locations;
- documents;
- photographs;
- historical events;
- and research articles.
Stephen’s experience in information design and web development informs the way this material is structured and presented.
His approach combines the principles of clear visual communication with structured information, allowing historical material to be understood by general readers while remaining useful to relatives and researchers.
Stephen’s contribution includes researching, curating, structuring and presenting historical information, as well as designing, building and maintaining the website through which that material is made available.
His work involves the continuing organisation and publication of information concerning:
- the servicemen involved in Exercise Tiger;
- casualties and individual biographies;
- landing ships and other vessels;
- official documents and reports;
- photographs;
- personal collections;
- historical research;
- survivor information;
- and material contributed by relatives and researchers.
The website is therefore both a memorial resource and an evolving digital archive.
Designer and builder of the Exercise Tiger website
Stephen designed and built the Exercise Tiger Trust website and continues to act as its website developer, designer and updater.
The site has been developed to accommodate a substantial body of historical information rather than functioning simply as a conventional organisational website.
This requires information to be organised so that individual people, vessels, documents and historical events can be connected and accessed by researchers, relatives and members of the public.
Stephen’s professional experience in information design, web design, web development and digital publishing has been applied directly to this work.
His responsibilities include:
- website design and construction;
- information architecture;
- presentation of historical research;
- publication and updating of content;
- digital presentation of archival material;
- development of individual historical records;
- integration of photographs and documents;
- website maintenance;
- and continuing technical development.
This work complements the Trust’s historical research by providing a practical means of preserving and presenting that research online.
Graphic design and early professional career
Stephen began his professional career in graphic design and visual communication, developing experience in the conception and successful development of new products, promotions, incentives and communications for a wide range of commercial and institutional clients.
During the 1980s and 1990s, his work included projects for organisations including:
- Milk Marketing Board;
- Mobil Oil;
- HarperCollins;
- Pearson;
- Haymarket;
- Mirror Group;
- Associated Newspapers;
- Vauxhall;
- Volkswagen;
- Scottish Provident;
- and Prudential.
His work during this period was not limited to conventional corporate design. He was also involved in projects associated with major sporting events and public-facing communications, including British athletics, international sailing, golf, cricket and tennis.
He also undertook work, connected with prominent music artists, thanks to Neil Storey, including U2, Simple Minds, Big Audio Dynamite and Nigel Kennedy.
This period established the combination of creative thinking, commercial awareness and project management that subsequently became central to his work in web design and digital development.
Design studio founder, partner and director
Stephen has also worked at senior level within the design industry, including as a design studio founder, partner and director.
His responsibilities have included developing creative concepts, managing client relationships, directing creative projects and overseeing projects from initial idea through to production and implementation.
This experience has given him a practical understanding of both sides of design work: the creative development of an idea and the management and technical delivery required to turn that idea into a functioning product or communication system.
His client work has included organisations in both the United Kingdom and United States, as well as government, industry and sporting organisations.
From print to the World Wide Web
From the late 1990s onwards, Stephen’s professional work increasingly incorporated web design, website construction and technology solutions alongside traditional graphic design.
His work during this period included:
- project management;
- graphic design;
- design for print;
- website design;
- website construction;
- web-based information systems;
- technology solutions;
- and consultancy.
This period coincided with the rapid expansion of the World Wide Web and the movement of organisations from traditional printed communications towards online information services.
Stephen’s background in graphic design provided a foundation for developing websites that combined visual communication with structured information and usability.
UK government online services
An important part of Steve’s web-development career was his involvement in the development of the UK government’s early online information services.
Between 1994 and 2002, he was a member of a development team involved in the creation and development of the UK government’s web information presence, including the UKOnline web information portal.
His role involved creative and project-development work within a period when government information was beginning to move from printed publications and traditional communication channels into online public services.
UKOnline subsequently formed part of the evolution of UK government digital services, with government online information later developing through services including Directgov and, subsequently, GOV.UK.
For accuracy, Stephen’s experience is best described as involvement in the development of the UK government’s early online information services and UKOnline, rather than stating that he personally built today’s GOV.UK platform. The distinction reflects the evolution of UK government digital services over the intervening years.
His involvement nevertheless places his professional web experience within the early development of large-scale public-sector online information services.
Government and industry consultancy
Stephen has also worked as a consultant to government committees and industry, including work involving competent authorities and senior-level organisations associated with the United Nations and European Union.
His consultancy work has involved the application of design, information technology and communication principles to organisational and industry requirements.
Clients and organisations associated with this work have included:
- Danish Bacon and Meat Council;
- SITPRO;
- CCTA, subsequently associated with the Office of Government Commerce (OGC);
- and Sport for Television.
His experience therefore extends beyond conventional design consultancy into projects involving government, industry, information systems and technology.
Technology solutions and RFID
One area of Steve’s technology work has involved the development of RFID and tagging solutions.
He was involved in the development of early RFID solutions in the early to mid 2000’s and was responsible for the conception and definition of a perishable supply-chain RFID tagging solution, designed to combine physical product identification with web-based information.
The concept involved integrating RFID tags and other tagging products with a web application, providing a means of tracking perishable products through a supply chain.
The work illustrates Stephen’s broader interest in combining physical-world identification technologies with digital information systems.
His role was particularly concerned with the conception and definition of the solution: identifying how the technology could be applied to a practical supply-chain problem and how information captured by tagging technologies could be connected to a web-based system.
The concept subsequently became associated with implementation work by SAVI Technology.
This aspect of Stephen’s career is significant because it demonstrates experience in systems thinking beyond conventional graphic and web design: identifying a business or operational requirement and developing a technology concept capable of connecting physical objects, identification technologies, information and software.
Educational publishing and digital resources
Stephen has also been involved in the development and implementation of online and printed educational publishing resources.
This has included work for Great War Literature Publishing in the UK and Sixfinger LLC in the USA.
These projects combined editorial material with graphic design, print production and online presentation.
The experience is particularly relevant to Stephen’s subsequent work with the Exercise Tiger Trust, where historical research similarly needs to be transformed into accessible printed and digital information.
His work across educational publishing has required attention to:
- editorial structure;
- information hierarchy;
- typography;
- print production;
- digital presentation;
- website architecture;
- and the accessibility of information to non-specialist readers.
Major sporting events and cycling
Stephen’s design portfolio also includes work for major sporting events.
His experience includes design services associated with:
- two UK Tour de France Grand Départs;
- the Kellogg’s Tour of Britain professional cycling races;
- city-centre professional cycling races;
- British athletics;
- international sailing;
- golf;
- cricket;
- tennis;
- and television-related sporting projects.
His work associated with professional cycling has involved the visual and information requirements of public sporting events, where design must operate across different media and environments.
The experience has included event communications and design work intended for large public audiences.
Sport for Television
Stephen’s work has also included design and project involvement with Sport for Television, including projects associated with televised and major sporting events such as:
- the Tour of Ireland;
- Track Cycling World Cup Classics;
- and Track Cycling World Championships.
These projects added broadcast and event environments to his wider experience of graphic and information design.
Professional skills
Stephen’s career has developed around a combination of ideas and innovation, creative project management, design, technology and information systems.
His professional skills include:
Ideas and innovation
Developing concepts for new products, communications, information systems and technology applications, from initial idea through to definition and implementation.
Creative project management
Managing and developing creative projects, coordinating design, production, technology and client requirements.
Graphic design
Extensive experience of print, typography, visual communication, corporate communications and production processes.
Web design and development
Designing and constructing websites and web-based information systems, together with continuing website management and content development.
Government online information
Experience as a key member of a development team involved in the UK government’s UKOnline web information portal during the formative years of government web services.
Educational publishing
Development and implementation of online and printed educational publishing resources for Great War Literature Publishing in the UK and Sixfinger LLC in the USA.
RFID and technology
Experience in early RFID solutions and the conception and definition of RFID-based supply-chain systems incorporating web applications.
Digital platforms
Experience across multiple computing platforms, including Apple, PC and Linux.
Design and web applications
Experience using a broad range of design, web applications, programming languages and development tools.
Print and production
Extensive knowledge of print processes, graphic production, design workflows and the practical requirements of taking creative work from concept through to finished production.
From designer to digital curator
Stephen’s career represents a progression from graphic design and print through early web development and technology solutions to digital historical curation.
The common thread throughout these disciplines is the organisation and communication of information.
In commercial design, this meant communicating products, brands and services.
In government web development, it meant helping to organise public information for online audiences.
In technology projects, it meant connecting physical products and identification technologies with digital information.
In educational publishing, it meant structuring information for students and readers.
With the Exercise Tiger Trust, the same skills are applied to historical research: finding, organising, presenting and preserving information so that it can be understood and accessed by future generations.
Exercise Tiger and digital preservation
Stephen’s role with the Exercise Tiger Trust brings together his professional experience and his historical research interests.
The Trust’s research involves a substantial quantity of information relating to servicemen, vessels, documents, photographs, official reports, survivor accounts and personal collections.
Presenting this information online requires a combination of historical sensitivity and technical knowledge.
As researcher, curator, trustee, designer, website builder and updater, Stephen contributes to both sides of that process.
He helps ensure that historical material can be:
- organised;
- connected;
- searched;
- presented clearly;
- updated when new evidence emerges;
- and preserved as part of a continuing digital archive.
The Trust’s stated approach recognises that Exercise Tiger research remains an ongoing process and that new documentary and family evidence can contribute to the historical record.
A career connecting design, technology and history
Stephen Lawrance’s professional career has encompassed several distinct but interconnected fields:
Graphic design — commercial, corporate, publishing, sporting and public-facing communications.
Design leadership — founder, partner and director of design studios.
Web design and development — websites, online information services and digital publishing.r, partner and director of design studios.
Technology innovation — RFID, tagging and web-based information systems.
Consultancy — government committees, industry organisations and international bodies.
Sporting events — Tour de France Grand Départs, Tour of Britain, professional cycling, athletics, sailing, golf, cricket and tennis.
Educational publishing — printed and online resources for UK and US publishers.
Historical research and curation — Exercise Tiger research, archival material, casualty information and digital preservation.
These experiences provide the professional foundation for his current work with the Exercise Tiger Trust.
Selected experience
- Exercise Tiger Trust: researcher, curator, trustee, website designer, website builder and website updater.
- Graphic design: professional graphic designer with extensive experience across print, publishing, corporate communications and events.
- Design leadership: design studio founder, partner and director.
- UK government: member of a development team involved in UKOnline and the UK government’s early web information services, 1994–2002.
- Technology: early RFID development and conception of an RFID-enabled perishable supply-chain tracking solution incorporating a web application.
- Government and industry consultancy: consultant to government committees and industry organisations, including work involving competent authorities and organisations associated with the UN and EU.
- Educational publishing: development of printed and online resources for Great War Literature Publishing and Sixfinger LLC.
- Sport: design and project work associated with two UK Tour de France Grand Départs, the Kellogg’s Tour of Britain, professional cycling, British athletics, international sailing, golf, cricket and tennis.
- Broadcast sport: projects associated with Sport for Television, including the Tour of Ireland, Track Cycling World Cup Classics and Track Cycling World Championships.
- International clients: design and technology work for clients in the UK and United States.
Continuing work with the Exercise Tiger Trust
Stephen continues to develop and update the Exercise Tiger Trust website as a living historical resource.
His ongoing work combines the disciplines that have characterised his professional career — research, graphic design, information architecture, technology, web development, project management and digital communication — with the Trust’s objective of preserving the history and individual identities of those involved in Exercise Tiger.
For the Trust, digital preservation is not simply a matter of keeping a website online. It involves creating a structure in which historical information can be added, corrected, cross-referenced and made accessible as research continues.
Stephen’s contribution is to provide that structure while continuing to participate in the research and curation of the material it contains.