flirt, date, commit: injecting design into an open source project
DESCRIPTION
"I can't code, I can't contribute." Designer misperception of participating in Open Source.TRANSCRIPT
I can’t code,I can’t contribute.”Designer misperception of participating in OS
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open source solutions
enterprise ready
200,000
1,000
Many OS projects may not need interface design.... but they need Design.
our evolution as designers=more engineering savvy
But where are the designers?
Learned Helplessness
Injecting Designinto an Open Source project
Case study
results TBD until Beta 2 release, community adoption
Juhan Sonin26.Jun.08
Business
Technical
Design
We need a data collection service
Current system was brittle, aging prototype, required lots of engineering TLC to update
More customers asking for the service because of the design and perceived business impact
from scratch
open source survey enginevibrant communityactively developed
LimeSurvey
worldwide users
total downloads
downloads/day
SF rank
languages
years since birth
current version.7
>1,000,000
218,000
400
100
36
4
1
May 08
Carsten Schmitz
Translators
Code contributors in 2007
mainstay developers
Corporate staff on dev + design
Prospective business partner
Global PL
40
17
5
2
1
Submitted patches + updates to Mule, Apache, CAS, Simile Timeline, JBOSS, etc
Never run an OS project from scratch or for any rev
We’re OS n00bz
Started from scratch of an existing service
ProsArchitectural visionCode + design control
ConsPHP (vs real languages a la Ruby)Core developers take longer to jump onto the project
futzing with 1.x issues, requires learning, new framework, etc
LimeSurvey2
Design process is not new.Just leveraging good design practices.
Prototype like crazyDesign for intermediates firstWork closely with stakeholders, users, and engineers
Just a few tweaks to the Design practice...
Design process =transparent and open to all
Openness = SUPER for feedback, community by-inInformation evolves quicklyDemocratizes knowledge management
design plans, ideas, prototypes on public sitefeatures, desirements, inspiration on wikiflickrdesign.limesurvey.org
Educate1st: core team and2nd: community
Just like dealing with clients/customers, Design often doesn't sell itself
Competitor analysis, what is Great design = must be part of the pitch
1-on-1 sessions with key developers + stakeholders
Interface design tenets
Style guides (upcoming for Beta 1)
Lead discussions, fight for design with the right stakeholdersco-lead discussions in dev sessionsprogress reports + ideas in forumembrace questions from dev team
replies viewsInterface design threads
Install threads
35,000 views
7,500 views
DataLet data screamReality Bites
FeedbackPrototype like crazyPixel PerfectBitch! Loud and oftenEat your own dog foodDate your users
LayoutGrid itType less + less typeColor carefully
InteractionWhat interface?Repeat customers ROCKDeja vu all over again
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INTERFACE DESIGN TENETS
Community engagement = 50% of your time
Engineers want their products to succeed + community clamors for great Design
Seed design in a project and designers + engineers + companies will join
Usability consultant on month 2, second QA/usability consultant on month 44x new engineers on ls2 (not part of ls 1.x development)Companies will notice good design and lock on (Harvard, Dexterra, US Gov)
Educate community - especially entire dev team - about good design
prototype, prototype, prototypeset guidelines, offer helpembrace your biggest critics
Lessons so far
Open development process (current mantra of OS)
Open design processpost often to public site highlighting design progress respond to forum questions FASTpublic feature request list + what we're implementing
Open business processall funding sources and accounting publicbusiness plan on public wikistill some resistance... tide is turning
Lessons so far
Case study will include:Metrics that show the design is successfulSurveys that show the design ROCKSHow to prove successData++ every quarter through 2009
LimeSurvey 2 TR1August 7, 2008
Special thanks to
Michael MacasekBrian O’NeillCarsten SchmitzBrian StaatsLimeSurvey International Dev Team
Paul KroftMike NosalHarry Sleeper
Flirt, Date, Commit
300 seconds to contribute a CSS cleanup...commit code
1800 seconds and clean up js...commit code
3600 seconds and clean up one, small aspect of visual design
...commit graphics and code
Engage with dev teamUsability reviewUser surveysFixes for key featuresUse the OS service at your company
Lead, evangelize, promoteCommit rightsBe a leader in the community, not just a contributor
...this is how design prospers
