Writing
Open Design Workshop At COSCUP 2023: Understanding Internet Shutdowns And How Design Can Improve Tools
An article written to summarise a workshop that myself and Abhishek Sharma gave at COSCUP 2023 that centred around internet shutdowns and the OSS technology that fights censorship circumvention from a Taiwan context.
Six Key Tenets For Open Source Designers
An article co-written by Abhishek Sharma and myself after a talk we gave at COSCUP 2023. This talk gave overviews of our key learnings and resources over the years of practicing design in OSS.
The Secret Life Of Open Source Designers
An article to launch the findings document from a research study where designers wrote diary studies for 10-16 weeks.
Human Rights Centered Design: Respecting The Privacy And Security Of Users While Still Sharing User Insights Among Practitioners
An article co-written by JosƩ RenƩ GutiƩrrez and myself post RightsCon 2023 discussion around how to share design research insight on high risk users in a privacy and security respecting way.
Launching USER: Findings And Recommendations For Scientific And Research Open Source
An article co-written by Susan Kennedy, Katie WIlson and myself about how we approached a deep investigative project into how design and usability is done in science and research open source software.
Threats, Tests, And Trust: Designing For Mobile Surveillance Monitor
An article co-written by Katie Wilson, Susan Kennedy and myself about our combined UX, UI and design research work for an OSS tool that helps people when they are at risk of surveillance due to their activist and journalist activities.
Learnings From OTF Shutdowns Getdown Gathering 2022
An article co-written by ngoc trieu, other colleagues and myself about how we engaged with different OSS tool teams at a convening and took them through design exercises to help understand users better.
Making Design More Open: FOSS Backstage 2023
An article co-written by ngoc trieu and myself about the open source design workshop we gave at FOSS Backstage in 2023.
A Devās Guide To Design In Open Source Software
An article co-written by Kelsey Smith and myself as we worked on the Adoptable/USABLE Tools project together at Superbloom.
2021-2022 in conferences and workshops
You can find a round up of conferences that Eriol participated in 2021 - 2022 on LinkedIn.
2020 in conferences and workshops
You can find a round up of conferences that Eriol participated in 2020 on LinkedIn.
The State of Responsible IoT 2019 report.
After speaking at the Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences in Spring 2019 they invited me to participate in a publication about the state of responsible technology looking at surveillance capitalism and specifically, the effects that can have on human rights technology and democracy.
2019 in conferences and workshops
My most widely known and requested talk is āDiverse representations in design and awkward conversations with colleaguesā but quickly gaining bookings are my talks on Designing tech tools for crisis & natural disaster relief in developed and developing countries and Open Source Design with OSS.
Conducting research in the emergency services and disaster response sector ā Exercising empathy and understanding in context.
With any sensitive occupation (especially in crisis response and emergency services) Thereās a real risk to the research subject in terms of their career safety, mental health and emotional health. These folks could really be risking their livelihood to offer you ānon-text bookā answers to your questions and on the extreme side could be under non-disclosure agreements around specific incidents.
Can experiencing and understanding abuse and trauma make me a good user experience designer?
Can experiencing and understanding abuse and trauma make me a good user experience designer? recur frequently for me ever since sliding into the āprimary roleā of a UX designer over the last 5 years of my design career.
LGBTQ+ folk are internally mapping all day, every day.ā
Then we come to a large map of the centre of the city of Bristol and when this idea that when weāre outside our homes, we map all day, every day. āIs there anywhere you feel you can be your full self and donāt have to hide? Is there anywhere you avoid?ā.
Revisiting: āIn-house design is not a dirty wordā
There was a perception both from non-in-housers that in-house designers are less creative, less worthy of note or worked on projects or with brands that ādidnāt excite other designersā. This perception I found, was then also internalised by in-house designers.
Career reflection: What Iām most proud of
Work is a huge part of my life, I adore the work I do and I know Iām happiest when my design and research skills are being put to good use in solving real-world problems for users/people. However, I asked myself this question:āWhat are the things that Iāve done that Iām most proud of?ā.
Improving the UX of carers of those with terminal cancer
Being told you have cancer is tough on everyone involved, patient, carer and friends. Discovering that your diagnosis is terminal can be devastating. I hope to mitigate and reduce confusion for carers while caring for a dying loved one, and after theyāve passed away.
How to Interview designers
Iāve had approximately 16 interviews in my chosen field. Iāve interviewed around 20 or so graduates and juniors for various roles Iāve managed or been connected with. These experiences have left me with strong feelings on what a design related interview should entail whether Iām giving them, or going to them.
Speaking at a SWUX Panel
SWUX is a monthly meet up in Bristol where people who work in and around UX get together and listen to speakers on the subject. I was asked to join a panel of speakers to give my perspective on pertinent UX topics like interaction design, research, psychology, building a UX career and the future of the UX industry.
Relocating for a new job: An exercise in your ability to predict the future.
I recently left my job at Confused.com of which I had been there for 3 years and 8 months. I was looking for a new job for around 4 months prior to me leaving. I was in a unique position where I was willing and able to consider jobs all over the country and internationally.
What makes a good In-house design team - Tips #1 to #10
Most of my design career has been spent in-house, and by in-house I mean working as the sole designer or with a team of designers and digital professionals. Iāve compiled 10 key points from my years in the field that can apply to in-house design teams and those that manage or work with them.
6 things a UX designer does not want to hear
Here are 3 things that break my heart when i hear clients say. The difficulties of being a user/human centred designer in commercial, profit making tech.
Reasons to be Creative 2014
Eriol spoke at Reasons to be Creative with āThe pitch title āIn-house design is not a dirty word. 6 pros, 3 cons.