Open Source Design

Overview of typical tools used in open source projects:
https://opensourcedesign.net/resources/tools-and-code/

#opensourcedesign

Why one should be familiar with projects and their structure – Rather than joining some project that has design tasks, join one that you are or want to get familiar with
https://opensourcedesign.net/resources/why-know-projects-and-their-structure/

#guide #opensource #UX

»Typical Tasks in Open Source Design«

https://opensourcedesign.net/resources/scenarios-for-usability/

#opensource #UX #guide

We have a new website:
https://opensourcedesign.net/

TODAY!!!

Join us for our monthly get together where we talk about all things Open Source Design. Everyone is welcome.

These monthly meetings happen as a voice/video call using Jitsi at meet.jit.si/opensourcedesign.

Date: Every First Wednesday
Time: 19:00-20:00 (CEST Berlin Time)
Location: Online

What research projects would be people working in design and open source be interested in? (Please comment here or on our discourse!) //jd

https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/research-projects-this-community-would-be-interested-in/4411

#opensource #design #research

"What should OSD to focus on and have an impact in?"

https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/what-should-open-source-design-focus-on-in-the-future/4407

#community #opensourcedesign #opensource

A photo from Open Source Design devroom for 2026's FOSDEM!
Had fantastic time running the devroom for another year with some fantastic speakers, audience and folks willing to chip in and help make the room great.

We also finally took an updated photo of the devroom (this was towards the end of the day and not at all the busiest the room got which was at capacity for most of the talks!)

Watch the videos on each talk page here:
https://fosdem.org/2026/schedule/track/design/

#oss #fosdem #opensourcedesign #ossdesign

Maybe the first paper on open source software and usability:

"Usability and open-source software development", D.M. Nichols, K.Thomson and S.A.Yeates, 2001: https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2331812.2331822

#research #opensource #opensourcedesign

Discourse thread: "What are patterns of rejection of design input/contributions in open source projects?":
https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/4395

#opensourcedesign

Open Source Design has some small funds to pay someone who has experience in helping OSS projects/communities build out effective governance work.

Please check our job posting here:

https://opensourcedesign.net/jobs/jobs/2026-03-31-open-source-design-governance-research-and-documentation-project

"Open Source Design: Governance research and documentation project"

https://opensourcedesign.net/jobs/jobs/2026-03-31-open-source-design-governance-research-and-documentation-project

#job #design #governance #opensource

"Difficulties of design in open source" (discourse thread)

https://discourse.opensourcedesign.net/t/difficulties-of-design-in-open-source/787

#opensourcedesign #UX #opensource

RE: @inkscape@mastodon.art

»I would love to see the Pen Tool allow for even simpler node editing, perhaps utilizing different mouse buttons for faster workflows, similar to the experience in Illustrator. I also think a more intuitive system for modifying page sizes and artboards would be a great addition.«

FOSS Backstage Design is a decicated design day connected to the wider FOSS Backstage conference.

Open Source Design has been long time supporters of FOSS Backstage platforming design OSS and we're helping to fundraise to recover the costs of recording the design talks and ensuring that they stay available for years to come online!

https://opensourcedesign.net/design/open/source/2026/03/31/foss-backstage-donation-support.html

https://opencollective.com/opensourcedesign/projects/foss-backstage-design

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrl7aRQ25HU&list=PLq-odUc2x7i-ZpO0FvWOCb5BzoyQOEZoT

#oss #foss #ossdesign #fossbackstage

Join us for our monthly get together where we talk about all things Open Source Design. Everyone is welcome.

These monthly meetings happen as a voice/video call using Jitsi at meet.jit.si/opensourcedesign.

To see what we talked about in previous meetings, check out the “Monthly call” category on the forum.

Date & Location

Date: Every First Wednesday
Time: 19:00-20:00 (Berlin Time)
Location: Online

If you are interested in research in design in open source projects see the list of publications at

https://github.com/victoria-bondarchuk/List-of-Academic-Research-on-Usability-in-FOSS

and the literature review at https://user-project.superbloom.design/process/literature-review/

#opensourcedesign #UX #opensource #research

Imani Joy, designer at @Mastodon@mastodon.social – A Solo Designer’s Survival Guide to the Fediverse at FOSS Backstage Design (@fossdesign@floss.social)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNxpTvbTy54

#opensource #opensourcedesign #UX

Designing in @penpot@fosstodon.org and @excalidraw@mastodon.social for @Blender@mastodon.social at @fossdesign@floss.social

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P37fv8BXlaY

#UX #opensource #blender #opensourcedesign

RE: @doctormo@floss.social

"Rotate mode by second click" is a rather standard interaction in graphics applications, but it is not very discoverable.

If you are a developer working with designers in open source projects:
What did you learn about design from them and what would you like designers would know about development?

#opensourcedesign #development

If you are a designer in open source: What do you wish you learned earlier about being a designer in open source? //jd

#opensourcedesign #design

@fossdesign@floss.social 3rd round:

1. fdroid testing: Was done!
2. Balancing newcomers and powerusers

• What are the effects of breaking workflows
• is it about giving up control?
• Are core values are followed?

1. Resources on opensourcedesign.net

• Highlighting projects that care for design(ers)
• What exactly do you want to work on?
• https://contribute.design/ and design.md

1. Being early adopters

• It might be rough at the beginning but what is done enables others to build upon

@fossdesign@floss.social second round barcamp:

Onboarding design newcomers:

• by manual and/or by shift in community mindset?
• sharing knowledge of context is hard
• have relevant, non-essential tasks to start with

Low Telemetry research:

• review tutorials, social media etc.
• qualitative research
• which data would actually be needed which not?

community decision making

• communication about design
• vote by community on community suggestions
• balance specialization vs. involvement by everyone

Some highlights from the first round of #barcamp sessions at @fossdesign@floss.social:

1) dealing with AI contributions:
- AI removes frictions from some tasks (and not from others)
- Think "Community over Code"

2) "Design team of one"
- Use an existing interface guideline.
- Remove distinction between bugs and features
- Grow your documentation based on peer's questions

3) Communicate with devs
- Demonstrate design craft
- Know enough about code to judge if an idea is possible
- Make allies among devs

"It turns out that preferences have a cost. Of course, some preferences also have important benefits - and can be crucial interface features. But each one has a price, and you have to carefully consider its value."

https://ometer.com/preferences.html

#UX #opensource

I want to collect examples of usability improvements in open source projects for opensourcedesign.net: improvements in labels/microcopy, better layouts of dialogs or new features which improved usability.

Do you know of good examples that are small and easy to understand?

(It is not hard to find examples in general, but they often need depper domain knowledge, are focussed on new functionality more than on improvement of usability) //jd

#opensource #design #documentation

"Myth #13: Icons enhance usability"
https://uxmyths.com/post/715009009/myth-icons-enhance-usability
#UX #Usability