Onboarding Designers into Open Source Projects
Session Abstract
Open source thrives on developer contributions, but integrating designers can be challenging. This talk uses CHAOSS as a case study, exploring onboarding best practices & challenges. I’ll be sharing actionable strategies for bridging design & development in open source, empowering designers to contribute meaningfully & enhance UX.
Session Description
This talk explores successful strategies used by the CHAOSS Africa design team to create an inclusive and productive environment for designers in open source. We will examine the specific challenges faced when integrating designers into a community primarily driven by developers, such as differing workflows, communication styles, and contribution processes.
At the heart of our approach is a unified design language. We will detail how we collaboratively developed this design language, which served as the foundation for streamlined onboarding and consistent contributions. Practical examples will illustrate its implementation, showcasing how it facilitated clear communication, reduced design inconsistencies, and empowered designers of varying skill levels to contribute effectively.
This session is relevant for anyone involved in open source, including project maintainers, developers, and designers looking to contribute. Attendees will gain actionable insights into:
– Creating a welcoming and inclusive onboarding process for designers in open source.
– Developing and implementing a unified design language within a distributed team.
– Fostering effective collaboration between designers and developers.
– Enhancing the overall user experience of open-source projects through intentional design.
