... User Experience in Federal Government
Caronne Carruthers-Taylor
Presented at BarCamp2, Canberra
28 March 2009

2
Watashi (Me)
User experience aficionado based in Canberra
Several large government departments
More than 15 years as an UX professional,
interaction designer, UCD specialist, web mgr,
& business analyst
Care about improving the experience for users
Champion users’ needs when the pressures of
a project impose competing priorities
Passionately communicate and engage with a
broad range of stakeholders

Acknowledgement
www.wearewhatwedo.org.au
How can you change the world?
We Are What We Do is a new kind of movement inspiring people to
change the world one small action at a time.
Their philosophy is simple:
small actions x lots of people = big change

Acknowledgement
http://www.365act.com/index.html
365 ways to change the world

What is UX / UCD?
UX = User Experience
... overarching experience
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_experience
UCD = User-Centred Design
... multi-stage design process with actual users
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User-centered_design

Action 1: Mouth to mouth –
the Kiss of Life
Give designs a kiss at
the beginning that
they’ll remember for
the rest of the project
[understand users &
their context]
Small changes can have
big effects
Resuscitate designs
using UCD

Action 2: Read a story
– capture imagination
When you tell a user’s story, it’s because they know
something you don’t.
You’ll all be richer for the experience
Communicate – the art of
storytelling in UCD

Action 3: Smile and smile back
Half as many muscles to
smile – make others and
yourself feel twice as good
[in design collaboration,
workshops & presentations]
Smile and be positive
Show passion about
improving user experience !!

Action 4: Have a bath with someone
Have fun [get in, try to make a difference]
But ... get out before everything becomes wrinkled !!
Muck in, get involved,
be committed
Carefully select
activities & projects that
will make a difference
If not, mitigate risks
or get out

Action 5: Spend time with someone
in a different environment
Talk to old people – they know cool stuff
[actual, real users]
Talk to young people – they know cool stuff
[project team & key stakeholders]

Action 6: Learn one good joke
Laughing tones your
stomach, lowers your
blood pressure, and makes
you healthier. It’s
scientifically proven
Communicate effectively!
Interpersonal skills,
humour and tact are vital
to design collaboration

Action 7: Share your change
It’s a match made in heaven – like ham and eggs.
If we all share our discoveries, the world would be a lot
better off
Educate & engage!
Mentor & share!
Communication is crucial

13
Thank you
Caronne Carruthers-Taylor
caronnect@gmail.com
twitter: @caronne
www.linkin.com/in/caronne
www.slideshare.net/caronne