Eriol
Nov 4, 2020
Please welcome Eriol Fox, @EriolDoesDesign Human rights centred and humanitarian designer
Nov 04 to 11 on @imakefoss
Interview: https://t.co/gzxhTUuGzb
@imakefoss is a Twitter rotation curation account. https://t.co/Ah5KPs3Fcv
Nov 4, 2020
Hey folx! I’m stoked to be tweeting about all the open source stuff I do over the next week!
First:
I’ve been ‘doing’ OSS stuff for about 4 years.
I’m a designer (UX and Product design but I dabble in visuals and graphics).
Pronouns are they/them.
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
I currently work most of the time at @openfoodnet looking after the design effort across the open source platform.
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
@OpenFoodNet @EriolDoesDesign I’m getting ready for my PhD starting next year at @UniofNewcastle funded by @nbcdtp looking at How designers engage with and contribute to humanitarian open source software. Supervised by @racheleclarke
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
@OpenFoodNet @EriolDoesDesign @UniofNewcastle @nbcdtp @racheleclarke I also, along with @CourtieBeeds and a team of designers, look after the design effort at https://t.co/OiPU8dVpgD
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
@OpenFoodNet @EriolDoesDesign @UniofNewcastle @nbcdtp @racheleclarke @CourtieBeeds I’m part of @opensrcdesign which means advocacy for the group, being busy on our discourse forum and helping out by organising design-related activities at conferences like @fosdem @openupsummit @AllThingsOpen and @Fossbckstg
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
@opensrcdesign actually has our monthly community meeting tonight at 6pm GMT // 7pm CET join us here: https://t.co/VpJg4LP2bS
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
I used to work at @ushahidi looking after the design effort there along with @justinschrr and one of the (many) cool things we did there was kick off @opendesignis
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
@ushahidi @justinschrr @opendesignis @EriolDoesDesign Ushahidi’s work really allowed me, as a designer, to explore my place in open source software in an environment where asking questions about FOSS was welcomed.
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
I’d also like to acknowledge the recent global elections that have happened. Often our timelines are dominated by the over-represented ‘western’ society. There have been many elections this year.
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
Not to downplay the importance of the US elections but to encourage your interest in elections to be global. This is one of the many things I learned at @ushahidi
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
You can find the continuation of @opendesignis in my forked repo here:https://t.co/UKJBmefcu0
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
I’ve contributed to a number of different projects but most recently @fossresponders @chaossproj @sustainoss @saucedopen @civicrm @hotosm
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
Projects I’d love to contribute to in the future include: @openfoodfacts @StartinBlox @uxboxtool @pa11yorg @chaynHQ and @buttplugio
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
I do many other things that are not strictly FOSS related and more about designers being involved in technology and community engagement like @OpenIDEOLondChp and @simplysecureorg ’s Human Rights Centred Design Group.
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
When I’m not doing things on the internet I like to read, grow plants/food and play video games!
Remember, burnout in FOSS is very real so do things that enrich you outside of OSS contributions!
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
So what has my day looked like today as a designer in OSS?
Let’s get into it!
8am start to the day with a product and design team sync at @openfoodnet.
Talking about our OSS product strategy is important to continue to be part of a thriving OSS.
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
The rest of my work hours included working through a backlog of issues called ‘papercuts’ to see if there is a design need for these issues.
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
Over the last two days I’ve worked through… 50+ issues asking clarification questions about the user needs and making design recommendations (if needed) and ensuring I know these issues inside out before we prioritise for a development cycle.
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
Working through these issues for me as a designer might mean doing:
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UX copywriting
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Clarifying user problem statements
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Creating small UI designs
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Writing logical UX journeys in the UI
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Generally bothering the developers with questions 🙈
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Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
At @OpenFoodNet I work alongside a fantastic team and I’d like to give a special shout out to the other designers there.
Mario: https://t.co/lFspIH3GaN
Sue:https://t.co/wbCzHGr64X
Sanjay @MailTape
There are more OSS designers that I’ve yet to meet!
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
With that, my first day on I make foss!
I can’t wait to talk more about designers in OSS but that’ll wait till tomorrow!
Right now, I have an @opensrcdesign community meeting to get ready for!
See you there: https://t.co/VpJg4LP2bS
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 4, 2020
Curious to know what we talked about in the @opensrcdesign community meeting just now?
Check out the meeting notes on our discourse forum here: https://t.co/W2vA4uPCLx
#OpenScience #OSS #OpenSourceDesign
- Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 5, 2020
Phew what a day folks. Ready to hear about another day in the life of a designer in FOSS? The day started at 09.00 with a design circle sync. This is a biweekly meeting that is open to everyonein our OSS community to join design or not.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
Our biweekly design circle gives us a chance, as designers to share what problems we are working on across the OSS project. From User Research interviews to new feature UI and UX to discovery work with the community to keep up with issues and processes.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
The OSS designers are spread across various timezones so not everyone can make the one synchronous meeting so we make sure to take notes and post these to anyone that might be interested.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
Design can often be considered a ✨ mysterious function of technology ✨ and in all my design roles across OSS part of what I do is trying to open up what design does, how and why. So that the wider OSS team and community can be included.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
Documenting what you’re doing as a designer is a good first step to making design shift towards more of an open source friendly model.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
Opening up your files and processes with written ‘What I’ve done… comments’ or even recording short videos and screen recordings can be super helpful.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
I then had a meeting with my PhD cohort! I’m really excited to be doing funded research into how designers work on humanitarian OSS. Eventually, I’ll be continuing the @opendesignis work through my PhD so can’t wait!
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
One of the key aspects of my PhD research for how designers can participate in humanitarian OSS project will be how to include designers at a global scale in OSS.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
Being able to support folks in under-represented majorities, across countries and communities that are under-served and under-included is very important.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign When you’re working on an OSS that has a global use, you need design input that is also global (of course!) looking at how my PhD research and funding enables involvement for communities like @oscafrica is key to how design in OSS moves forward.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
Lunchtime rolled around and I had planned a call with one of our product managers at #OpenFoodNetwork
We talked about how we can best involve our community in an approval and feedback process for design work in the OSS tool.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
Our OSS community is made up of a mixture of techies, product folks, researchers, designer, support people, people that look after instances of our software and our users!
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
Our instance managers and users are usually food producers who sell their food (and other goods) through our OSS platform. Our OSS is deeply tied with how our community maintain their livelihood. It’s critical they are involved in our OSS processes.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
However, feedback on design can get subjective quickly! though our community members are also our users, we must be careful to remember they don’t represent the entirety of our user base.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
So including their voices alongside the other voice that aren’t well represented in our OSS community (but still use and need us) is critical. This takes time, effort and careful consideration of their time for feedback.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
We’re getting towards a place where our process of community involvement in design for our OSS is giving us the kind of feedback we need to ensure we’re building and improving the OSS in the ways that matter but we’re still testing and refining this.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
I don’t see much information out there for product managers and designers in OSS on how best to work in a space like OSS where there can be variations and differences in community models.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
In the commercial world, these processes are relatively well established and followed but often don’t have the intensity of community involvement that OSS does.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
This makes me think of something that @joshsimmons mentioned at #stateofthesource earlier this year about how OSS becomes sustainable by inviting in and being welcoming of all aspects of OSS, not just the code!
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
Hearing support from folks like Josh, doing awesome work for the future of #OSS is one of the things that keeps me working hard towards better design representation and opportunities in OSS! 💖
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 5, 2020
So, you open-sourcerers out there, talk about design! ask questions! let us in the design world know you’re thinking about us and how we work and want to involve us more!
Invite us, welcome us and we will be there with buckets of enthusiasm.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 6, 2020
Today was my reading day so I don’t do much ‘active’ OSS contribution work on Friday but I did get a request for access to one of design files in Figma from an OSS FE developer so I thought it’d be a good time to talk design tooling!
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 6, 2020
Tooling is a relatively complicated topic in the design OSS community and there are broadly two schools of thought:
1 - Open Source Design should be made in open source software (like GIMP, Inkscape or UXBox)
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 6, 2020
2 - Open Source Design can be made in any software including proprietary and commercial software but should be as open as possible e.g. an open file format like .svg.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 6, 2020
I came from design into OSS (as opposed to OSS into design) I was, and still am much more comfortable working with the tools and software I learned in order to get me stable work.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 6, 2020
Adobe, Sketch, Figma etc. It’s still the case that most roles in design need you to use one (or all) of these.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 6, 2020
It’s fantastic that there is FOSS design tooling and plugins, enhancements and new design OSS is being made that aims for feature parity with commercial tools but many designers are not ready to make the transition from commercial to OSS yet.
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 6, 2020
Personal opinion time!
I think that right now, increasing consistent design contributions to FOSS that is sustainable is more important what software those contributions are made in.
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 6, 2020
The truth is unless you learned an existing OSS design tool early on or it operates/function very much like our commercial software it’s unlikely designers will swap out their existing tools for OSS ones.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 6, 2020
I can’t wait for the day there’s an OSS design tool that can be used in my paid work (and my OSS work) without this risk that I might not be able to do what I need to do to keep that paid work.
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 6, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign The responsibility will be on organisations hiring junior designers to move away from a ‘must be proficient in X software’ so that designers who want to explore FOSS tools can do so without risk.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 6, 2020
Same with design education moving away from teaching students how to use design software that was (are?) monopolies in our industry!
Start to offer alternatives to designers on how the create their visual design work with the history of these orgs!
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 6, 2020
Phew! we haven’t even gotten to the topic of how we as designers participate in FOSS when our tools don’t always allow for processes like versioning, branching and collaboration as easily as some coding tools!
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 6, 2020
For those of you looking to support designers in their journey through OSS, keep in mind the massive cultural, professional and process shift it is to consider a more FOSS approach to design, be curious, ask questions and offer support!
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 9, 2020
Happy Monday!
Right, burnout in OSS. Let’s get into it!
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 9, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign What burns me out:
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Being an under-represented function (design) in OSS.
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Being an under-represented gender in OSS.
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Being under-represented as an impaired person in OSS (I have a long term illness).
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 9, 2020
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Not being valued as part of OSS (imposter syndrome why???)
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Knowing how ‘optional’ it is to my overall design career. As in, it doesn’t often give me benefits in career shifts or promotions.
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 9, 2020
Design in OSS is a lonely, lonely place if you like and want the company of other designers.
There are very few of us connecting as a community as well as doing the design work needed/wanted in the OSS projects we’re part of.
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 9, 2020
Re. ‘If you like and want other designers as company’
Designers are coming out of a culture of competitiveness and into one that prefers collaboration over competition. But old habits disappear with difficulty…
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 9, 2020
In the freelance and contract world, designers (like other functions) are played off each other.
Who can offer ‘What think I want’ for X value.
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 9, 2020
Replace X for, Cheapest, most, my preference, least resistance, the most influence over etc. (this happens in other professions too!)
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 9, 2020
And this culture can (not always) soak into the other design work you do, hackathons, professional teams and then of course OSS too!
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 9, 2020
Trying to promote an open and collaborative way of doing design is…tricky…when designers have been taught to ‘craft their genius idea’ it becomes harder to open that up to other designers, of all experiences to be part of an OSS like workflow.
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 9, 2020
Another factor is that many designers outside of well-funded corporations and agencies work solo or in very small teams and simply through lack of opportunity to collaborate, they are more experienced with solo and ‘closed’ working.
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 9, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign The answer isn’t ‘just push designers and their work together!’ that’s a quick way to get a design response which just smooshed together.
Real magic happens when there is a co-creation culture grown between designers. OSS would benefit hugely from this!
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 9, 2020
Because when there’s a great co-creation culture between designers, they are able to do great design facilitation for the wider contributors and users and really create a space that is multi-stakeholder inclusive! #TheOSSDesignDream
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 9, 2020
There’s plenty of folks that talk about being under-represented in OSS and I recommend: https://t.co/ynUkgdTwyN
I might talk about my marginalised identity if we get time here this week! but for now, we’ll talk about dreaded #ImposterSyndrome 😱
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 9, 2020
There’s always more to do in OSS there’s not a well defined ‘end’ for many projects and as a function (design) which doesn’t have a large community of contributors, I often feel the pressure to contribute more and advocate more.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 9, 2020
Though I know design is an under-invested function in OS, prioritisation of code building in OSS will be consistent until we shift OSS culture to a user-centred, design informed approach at large.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 9, 2020
But we need more designers to help with that! argh! 🐔 meet 🥚.
🤦🤦🤦
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 9, 2020
So this is where many of the designers in OSS doing the advocacy work are critical! They’re laying the pathway for more designers to enter and sustain design within OSS!
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 9, 2020
As designers actively participating in OSS contributions, we also have to, more often than not, define our own terms of engagement. How to contribute, when, in what ways/processes. It’s not just about the design outputs.
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 9, 2020
I spend a lot of time doing my best to build and shift culture, nurture and empower other designers, offer support, advice, design critique, create and maintain teams and facilitate the blending of design into OSS which is a lot!
phew. 🐝
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 9, 2020
This is why it’s so important to view all design contributions as meaningful ones.
There’s a culture shift here and it takes guts to move against established norms.
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 9, 2020
Thank your designers, give them a break and support their work both visual outputs and otherwise!
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 9, 2020
What other ways can non-designers support designers who are at risk of burnout in OSS:
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Better defined terms of engagement in OSS.
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Not just relying on one or two OSS designers, build a team, a community.
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Allow exploration.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 9, 2020
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Be flexible with the ‘rules’ of OSS
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Don’t gate-keep OSS based off of assumed knowledge, skills, tech, culture.
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Participate in design when you can and are invited.
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Be ready and willing to be invited!
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 9, 2020
annnnnd finally…
- Give kudos, sing praises, offer support, sponsor and show that $.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 10, 2020
Because today I’ve been onboarding new design OSS contributors and doing shared design file hygiene, let’s talk about getting an OSS project set up for design contributions and good first design issues!
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 10, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign So there are several things that you can get set up and prep for when preparing for design contributions for your OSS.
Take a good look at your readme, wikis and documentation in general.
Where does it mention design?
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 10, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign If the answer is that it doesn’t mention design, that’s your first ‘to do’ on the get ready for designers checklist!
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 10, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign Designers are becoming more able to search common places like Github and Gitlab for projects to contribute to. Either the search processes or direct links to your OSS repos from other sources.
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 10, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign Make sure you mention design, preferably in the top-level readme doc and if you have individual contributor docs, make a design section or a design specific contribution doc.
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 10, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign This makes it really easy for designers to find a quick reference to the need for their skills early on. For those designers less familiar with poking through repos, the readme is hardest to miss!
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 10, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign Even if you simply have a heading ‘Design Contribution’ and a sentence like ‘We’re looking for support with design and working on exactly what that is! get in touch with us to help out’
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 10, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign A clear communication channel for the designers to reach out to is key, these designer contributors might not yet be proficient with OSS project structure to sift through issues, look for labels and comment so a more ‘hands-on’ approach is needed.
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 10, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign If you can be more detailed with what you’re looking for from designers, fantastic! put that in the docs along with…
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 10, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign …
- Your labelling system.
- Team/contributor structure.
- Access to any existing design assets (logos, UI, frameworks etc.)
- Access to any existing product or user research
- Your expectations of designers.
- Any plans on how design gets implemented.
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 10, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign Other great things to do include:
- Onboarding calls with designers.
- Buddy-systems with designers.
- Clear project briefs.
- Links to guides for markdown, issue creation and other OSS repo hygiene your project follows
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 10, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign Design contributions are going to need information gathering and feedback. It’s rare, a designer can arrive at a project (OSS or not)and work on an issue without background information and goals.
Think of these like your design acceptance criteria!
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 10, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign So thinking about how, as an OSS project, you will provide information and feedback when it’s needed is critical.
How design then reaches a ‘completed’ state is important.
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 10, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign You might find design tasks get scope creep often, especially if you’re figuring out how you want to do design in your OSS.
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 10, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign If you don’t have specific ideas on what things you need design help on, well! that’s what we’re going into now!
There are lots of great ways to include designers in the process of discovering what your OSS needs help on.
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 10, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign In fact, one of the best ways to include designers that do ‘UX research’ is with ‘good first design issues’ which focus on insight, research, discovery and needs finding.
-Eriol @EriolDoesDesign
Nov 10, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign To close out today, I’m linking a virtual whiteboard that I often use in my workshops I give around Design in OSS:
With 4 suggestions of ‘good first design issues’ when you’re not sure what you want to start with.
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign
Nov 10, 2020
@EriolDoesDesign Oh! one last comment!
If you are ready for a design contribution but not sure where to find designers?
Head over to the jobs posting on @opensrcdesign and submit a project you want design support on!
-Eriol @erioldoesdesign