Bootstrapping UX design in your open source project

@RoyScholten – FOSDEM 2015

Why bother?● Still need convincing?● Usable → Useful → Delightful

Quick Drupal retro● A very big open source project● Content management system● Modular, fexible, extensible

Drupal 6● 2008/2009● 2 full blown lab tests● Nobody made it through all the

tasks● Panic!

Drupal 7● 2008/2011● UX in the spotlight● Community UX team● Hired designers for the bigger

vision

Drupal 8● 2011 – …● More specifc eforts● Tackling harder problems● Codifying patterns, guidelines

Lets bootstrap…● Usability test● Reviews● Build a design culture● Attracting designers

Usability test● Gets you data instead of opinions● Show the pain● Helps prioritize eforts● Sets a baseline. The next test will

show you whether things have improved

Reviews● Ask an interaction) designer to

review the user interface● There are heuristics (Tognazzini,

Nielsen, …)● What are the top support requests?

Design culture● Project lead must champion the

cause● Develop a vision, have principles● Set priorities● Allow for design process to happen

Build a design culture● Adapt tools & processes● Make developers better at design● Show the work● Attract designers

Tools & processes● Tags in the bug tracker● Screenshots!● User centered design process

Developers getting better at design

● Learnability, Efciency & performance, Memorability, Safety, Satisfaction

Show the work● Show the process● Have regular meetings● Document standards, patterns

● drupal.org/ui-standards

Attract designers● You don't need many!● Clear point of entry on your site● Start within your user base● An open source design article on

Smashingmagazine.com might work though!