Keith Van Norman of the University of Oregon Health Center reviews lessons learned while developing a sexpositive smartphone app for university students. Presented at YTH Live 2014 session "Apps for Sexual Health: Lessons Learned in Development."

1. Things I learned while making the
SexPositive smartphone app
Keith Van Norman
University of Oregon Health Center
April 6-8, 2014
San Francisco, CA
Annual Conference on Youth + Tech + Health

2. Quick Audience Poll
Have an app?
Want an app?
Code apps?
Just curious?

4. 4 things you need to know:
• It’s Free
• It’s Awesome
• “SexPositive” is one word
• You should
download it now

5. About Me
• Graphic Designer for 18 years
• Primarily for publishing companies
• UO Health Center for 4 years
• Marketing
• Graphic Design
• Website Curation (via CMS)
• Problem Solver for 38 years
• Zoey’s Human for 2.5 years
• Apps Developed
before SexPositive: 0

6. My daughter says we need an app!
You’re good with the computers,
make me one!
The one thing I already knew:
Bring me a problem, not the answer

7. The Problem:
Crickets

8. The Answer:
An inclusive, random
“Question Generator”
for student presentations

9. The Process:
What needed to happen?
1. University Approval
2. Generate Content
3. App Development
4. Marketing
Optimally, these things would occur
in order, one after the other

10. Thing I learned #1:
If the app was going to launch in 15 months,
all 4 would have to happen at the same time

11. Thing I learned #2:
There are thousands of resources on a
university campus. These resources are in
silos. Look in every silo.

12. Thing I learned #3:
Identify Stakeholders. Think outside the
chain of command. Customize every pitch.

13. Thing I learned #4:
Pick my battles.

14. Thing I learned #5:
Clearly define content parameters.
Scope Creep is the enemy.

15. Thing I learned #6:
Use a 3rd party editor for consistent style/voice

16. Thing I learned #7:
Every decision counts: I need to get the most
for my audience using the resources I have.
Development Decision #1
Native v. HTML5 v. Hybrid v. ?

17. Thing I learned #8:
Test usability
early and often

18. Thing I learned #9:
Make it easy for users to provide feedback
and plan for at least 2 short-term revisions…
and one long-term revision.

19. Thing I learned #10:
Getting approval for sexual health content on
an IOS app will make you reconsider your
career path.

20. Thing I learned #11:
Create videos using screenshots and mockups
as early as possible. Update along the way.

21. Thing I learned #12:
Own your truth. Know your audience and
don’t feed the trolls.

22. Things I learned as a person:
• It’s OK to giggle and laugh (at one’s
self or a situation). Although my
conversations about sex have become
less awkward over time, nothing
salvages an awkward meeting like
permission to laugh.
• Keep my wife in the loop. It’s one thing
to talk about sex positivity at work and
quite another to talk about it over
dinner at your in-law’s house.
• It isn’t enough to notice my privilege,
I have to leverage it.

23. Keith Van Norman
Health Promotion Marketing Manager
University of Oregon
kvnorman@uoregon.edu
@SexPositiveUO
HealthyUO
sexpositive.uoregon.edu