Other Writing
Below is a selection of past writing of mine, mostly from my professional life:
Code for America
As Associate Director for Human-Centered Government at Code for America, I was leading efforts to support public servants with resources and training on the organization’s principles and practices for how government can and should serve the public in the digital age.
Why Government Websites Often Struggle to Meet People’s Needs
Fixing “Clunky” Approaches to Government Software Development
GovLoop
In 2023 I was selected as a Featured Contributor for GovLoop, writing a series of 12 posts providing tips on how public servants can incorporate human-centered design and related principles into their work. Some highlights:
Use ‘Journey Maps’ to Understand and Improve People’s Interactions with Public Services
To Help the Public, Give Your Own Staff Better Digital Tools
Combined Applications Can Help Bring a Human-Centered Approach to Public Services
When the ‘Wrong’ Words Can Help People Find the Right Services
Testing Different Versions of Language can Improve Your Communications
Sunlight / What Works Cities
At the Sunlight Foundation, I worked on the What Works Cities initiative, which helped local governments better use data. My team focused on open data and human-centered design.
Learn how to incorporate user testing into open data projects
Critical questions on ‘smart city’ tech: Continuing a conversation from Code for America 2019
Our new Roadmap to Informed Communities offers tools for community-centered open data
Introducing a new one-stop shop for writing open data policy
See all 17 posts here.