Red Badger partners with RIBA to modernise member services and build AI-assisted engineering capability

The engagement combines hands-on delivery with coaching, helping RIBA develop a modern digital service while building skills and working practices the team can apply across its wider technology estate.

The partnership supports an initiative within the transformed digital experience strand of RIBA’s wider House of Architecture programme. RIBA’s House of Architecture programme opens up architecture to all, bringing together digital transformation, the revitalisation of its London headquarters at 66 Portland Place and a new home for its world-class architectural collection.

Building capability through practical delivery

RIBA’s internal engineering team supports a broad range of digital services and legacy technology. Maintaining those systems has often left limited time to introduce new tools or improve delivery practices.

Modernising the member directory provides an opportunity to address both challenges. Red Badger is working alongside the team to understand the existing application, develop its replacement and introduce AI into the product development process.

The approach starts with sound engineering practices, clear documentation and human oversight. AI is being used to support activities from understanding the legacy application to exploring designs and developing software, with coaching tailored to the team’s needs.

This will leave RIBA with both a modern service and the capability to continue improving its digital estate, reducing reliance on knowledge held by individuals and creating a foundation for more sustainable delivery.

We understand that small teams supporting complex legacy technology estates need practical ways to do more. Our work with RIBA brings delivery and coaching together, helping the team apply AI to a real project while building the engineering practices and internal capability for future efficiency gains. We want the value of this partnership to continue well beyond the member directory setting up RIBA to exploit the opportunities of agentic-assisted engineering.

Director of Public Sector at Red Badger Dan Cook

The work we have done with Red Badger has resulted in time savings at each pipeline stage from the initial screen mock ups through to the hosting deploy. It's really made us think laterally and creatively about how we work, end to end what would have been months is now weeks. And what's great about the partnership model is the flexibility, we can dial up or down the engagement depending on if we want a light guiding hand or a more watch and learn approach.

Interim Technology Director at RIBA Aaron Woods

Supporting RIBA’s digital ambitions

As the work progresses, the focus is on helping RIBA’s team build confidence, improve shared understanding of its services and establish repeatable practices for AI-assisted development.

The partnership illustrates how organisations with small technology teams can use a focused modernisation project to develop the capabilities needed for longer-term change.