Talk on UX opportunities in the civic space, along with some personal history of how I got here. Delivered at You in UX, 5/9/2014.

1. Using Your Powers for Good
As a Career
Cyd Harrell
UX Evangelist, Code for America
May 9, 2014

2. thank you for coming!!

3. 1975 2014
Civic
UX

6. http://www.huge-inc.com

15. http://www.clikfocus.com

21. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
before after

22. Code for America

23. 1975 2014
Civic
UX

24. 1975 2014
Civic
UX
publishing
1994

25. 1975 2014
Civic
UX
publishing
1994
the
web
1996

26. 1975 2014
Civic
UXpublishing
1994 1998
financial
services
the
web
1996

28. 1975 2014
Civic
UXpublishing
1994 1998
financial
services
poetry
on the side
the
web
1996

29. financial
services
poetry
on the side
UX Mantra:
it’s only money - it’s not like it’s love or art or human lives
or something.

30. 1975 2014
Civic
UXpublishing
1994 1998
financial
services
poetry
on the side
2006
ux
consulting
the
web

31. ux
consulting
UX Mantra:
get the right people or go home.

32. 1975 2014
Civic
UXpublishing
1994 1998
financial
services
poetry
on the side
2006
ux
consulting
OMG
parenthood
2004
the
web

33. 1975 2014
Civic
UXpublishing
1994 1998
financial
services
poetry
on the side
2006
ux
consulting
OMG
parenthood
2004 2011
the
web

34. 1975 2014
Civic
UXpublishing
1994 1998
financial
services
poetry
on the side
2006
ux
consulting
OMG
parenthood
2004 2011
the
web

35. 2006
ux
consulting
OMG
parenthood
2004
2011

36. @cydharrell: thanks, we'll look into it, your ticket number is xxxxxx
Photo
by
Flickr
user
Michael
Fraley

37. Code for America Fellows
conducted 440 interviews in
the month of February
2011

38. Code for America Fellows
conducted 440 interviews in
the month of February
That’s awesome; how many were with end users?
2011

40. mentoring

42. "You changed the way we relate to parents"
--Superintendent Carol Johnson

43. 2012

44. 2012

45. 2006
ux
consulting
OMG
parenthood
2004
2011 2012
no more
ux
consulting
firm

46. mentoring
Dear Code for America,
I don’t know if things are at this stage
yet, but if you would ever consider
hiring a senior UX person, I’d love to
be first in line.
Sincerely,
Cyd

47. teaching
Dear Jay Nath*,
How are things going with your civic
innovation work? Could you use any
help on design thinking or research?
Sincerely,
Cyd
*Chief Innovation Officer for San Francisco

48. pro bono
work
Dear Dana Chisnell*,
I hear you are doing more research on
elections. Could you use some skilled
help?
Sincerely,
Cyd
*awesome civic designer. you should attend her talk on 5/16

50. Tiny but mighty

51. A real job
Dear Code for America,
I’d like to officially apply for the
position of Fellowship Program
Manager. My resume is enclosed.
Sincerely,
Cyd

52. A real job
Dear Cyd,
Sorry but not this time.
Sincerely,
Code for America

53. volunteering

54. 2011 2012
no more
ux
consulting
firm

55. 2011 2012
no more
ux
consulting
firm

56. Please join us
at the
Hackathon
this weekend!

57. Please join us
at the
Hackathon
this weekend!
raise hands:
yes or no?

58. hackathons
Dear CityCamp SF,
Hi! Um, please don’t laugh at me or
throw me out. I have fun skills to
share.
Sincerely,
Cyd

59. hackathons
Dear Cyd,
Hi! OMG, you can help us do what?
Sweet, please stay! Can you bring
some friends next time?
Sincerely,
Civic Hackers

62. Hackathon Pro Tips
1. Be up front about your abilities -
people don’t care if you can’t code

63. Hackathon Pro Tips
2. If you’re the only designer, don’t join a team -
offer to mentor everyone instead.

64. Hackathon Pro Tips
3. The engineers started these things -
adjust your process to fit in.

65. www.codeforamerica.org/brigade

66. What are you doing May 31st?
www.hackforchange.org/events
You’re
definitely
invited!

67. volunteering

69. To assist in its efforts to explore potential uses of Application
Program Interfaces (APIs), the U.S. Department of Education
(Department) requests information regarding the use of APIs in
the context of higher education data and student aid programs
and processes at the Department. We invite ideas, information,
and feedback from all interested parties for the purpose of
making data and processes in higher education and student aid
more open and accessible to students and families, in the most
secure manner, as they make an investment in postsecondary
education.

70. We want to improve the experience of discovering and applying
for college financial aid programs. Please send us your ideas.
translation

71. We want to improve the experience of discovering and applying
for college financial aid programs. Please send us your ideas.
translation
By the way, you should all do this. Comments are due to apirfi@ed.gov by June 2.

72. A real job
Dear Cyd,
We’re still not sure we need UX in
house, but we could use some
research. How about a 6-month
contract?
Sincerely,
Code for America

73. A real job
Dear Code for America,
YES
Sincerely,
Cyd

74. 1975 2014
Civic
UXpublishing
1994 1998
financial
services
poetry
on the side
2006
ux
consulting
OMG
parenthood
2004 2011
the
web
permanent
ux role

75. Cris Cristina
2013 Fellow

76. Alex Pandel
2012 Fellow

77. Marc Hebert
2013 Fellow

78. www.codeforamerica.org/apply

79. Thanks for listening
Please, join us!