Becoming a designer for humanitarian technology and open source software.

Becoming a designer for humanitarian technology and open source software. Design Journey Humanitarian design Open Source Design https://bit.ly/SCA-design @erioldoesdesign

Hi, I’m Eriol. (ehh-roll) I’m a human rights centred designer. Lead designer at Open Food Network. PhD student researching Humanitarian OSS + Design. 10 years in digital product design & UX. 7 years in humanitarian sector 2 years in (FL)OSS. @erioldoesdesign

From artist to designer. I started out focusing on art in school…. …but I also loved computers and what they could do. @erioldoesdesign

@erioldoesdesign

From artist to designer. When I started to move towards design I got strong signals from the design community that I ‘was not welcome’ because I had not studied design. @erioldoesdesign

How exclusionary! This will be hard! Can I be a designer if I didn’t study it? Where do I start to find my place in design? @erioldoesdesign Will everyone in the community be like this? Who will help me? How can I get a job in design? Will I ever be ‘good?’

I’ll do it anyway! @erioldoesdesign

I looked to my community work for opportunities. I created two projects around mapping that helped me build my design skills. @erioldoesdesign

From I can be an artist to and a designer if I want! Design is no longer a place where only people who have studied design in school and university can thrive. @erioldoesdesign

Community helped me get where I wanted to be with my career. @erioldoesdesign

People from varied backgrounds/subjects make amazing designers! @erioldoesdesign

Psychology. Writing/English. Social Science. Science. Teaching. Art. Engineering/Computing. Marketing. Journalism. @erioldoesdesign

Design still has problems with competition vs community and supporting each other but it’s changing rapidly. @erioldoesdesign

The four key skills/ attitudes I think designers need to thrive are… @erioldoesdesign

Curiosity about people. 2.Listening skills. 3.Desire to solve problems. 4.Communication skills. @erioldoesdesign

Everything else will come with time and practice. @erioldoesdesign

Software. Team work. Research skills. Intervi techniques. Vector SVG. Layout. Grid system Print. Logos. Design systems. UI. accessibilit SASS. CSS. HTML. Wireframing. Prototyping. Personas. Design Ops. Service Design. Branding. Kerning. White Space. Minimalism. Maximalism. Data Visualisation. Infographics UX Design. Motion Graphics. Sound Design. Immersion. Gamification. User Journey. Personas. Documentation. Info Architechture @erioldoesdesign

Humanitarian Design? Mixing my love of community development and design. @erioldoesdesign

@erioldoesdesign

It is possible to work on projects for good as a designer. But it’s deeply challenging as a person. @erioldoesdesign

@erioldoesdesign

User journey maps A typical design activity used to better understand what people are doing over a period of time that your trying to solve a problem for. @erioldoesdesign

@erioldoesdesign

Human rights needs designers. Understanding the problems faced by those in difficult and dangerous situations is key to solving those problems well. Designs work with the people affected to understand and communicate the needs and guide solutions. @erioldoesdesign

Designers are human. When working with humanitarian, ‘for good’ projects understand that the rule of self-care applies. You can only design well for others if you, and your company/organisation are taking care of and supporting you. @erioldoesdesign

Open Source Design How I found a new community. @erioldoesdesign

@erioldoesdesign

Final Advice. @erioldoesdesign

Get Paid. @erioldoesdesign

Get paid what your worth and you are worth more than you think you are. Including all y’all juniors, interns and students. Get paid! @erioldoesdesign

@erioldoesdesign