Author: Emma Horrell
UX Manager Learning, Teaching and Web ServicesI was lucky to be invited to speak at DrupalCon, the annual European conference for Drupal. I delivered several sessions and attended others to learn more about advancements in Drupal.
Drupal is the open-source content management system used to power EdWeb and other important University digital systems. I’ve contributed UX knowledge to Drupal for several years and am involved in shaping Drupal CMS – Drupal’s new low-code product aimed at non-developers.
Since February 2024, we’ve trained more than 90 publishers in content design and have experimented with the ways we upskill University staff in content design techniques, to support them to produce good-quality, compliant online content that meets web visitors’ needs.
Try with users before you buy? Exploring possibilities and potential for aligning UX and procurement
UX techniques tend to be more successful the earlier they are applied. Striving for a more proactive UX Service strategy, I have been considering the practicalities of incorporating user-centred approaches at the point of software purchase.
The first UCISA UX in Higher Education conference happened in September 2024. Reflecting on the day, there was much to take in and share, both as a UX practitioner and as lead of the team planning the conference.
UX24 was a big achievement – the first UCISA UX in Higher Education (HE) conference, sold-out to an audience of 80, and a personal career highlight. A few months after the event, I reflect on my experience leading the organising committee.
On 13 November the UX Service team attended the second Scottish Web Folk event hosted by the Web Services team at the University of Dundee. The conference included a day of sessions on varied web-related topics, with something for everyone in the team to take away.
I valued the opportunity to hear from and speak with other Drupal enthusiasts from Scotland and beyond when the University hosted DrupalCamp Scotland, a one-day event on 25 October 2024 organised by the local Drupal Association.
Earlier this year, I had the privilege of recruiting more Web Content Design Assistants to the UX Service to assist the move to EdWeb2. As we near the end of the migration project, it is timely to reflect on how this team has evolved, what they have achieved and what’s next.
In March 2024, the annual UCISA leadership conference came to Edinburgh. I pitched a talk about UX and change management which was accepted, giving me the opportunity to attend the three-day event.
