User research
Research methodologies and tools to help understand user needs and build better products.
Suggested reading:
- Unlocking AI’s potential for social movements, in which Jie (Jason) Lian argues, "Building effective channels for the interaction between AI developers and activist communities is critical for innovating social mobilization and strengthening civil society."
FabRiders
Since 2012, FabRiders has been at the forefront of building, refining, and iterating participatory and network-centric practices to empower social change movements & initiatives.
Framework for Meaningful Engagement
The updated FME 2.0 offers very practical suggestions on how to engage civil society and affected communities in AI development to support platforms and AI developers in creating rights-based products...
OneTeamGov Canada Pattern Library
The OneTeamGov Canada Pattern Library is a curated set of design, service and policy patterns and tools to help government teams across Canada deliver services.
Draftlab
Creative project design for social good champions through appropriate technology that strengthens human systems.
Facebook Community Forums on AI
We partnered with Stanford’s Deliberative Democracy Lab and the Behavioral Insights Team on a Community Forum to discuss the principles that can be reflected in generative AI chatbots – and today, we’...
Framework for Conducting National Dialogues on Frontier Technologies
A key question is: who gets a say in the direction AI and other frontier technologies go?
Generative Agent Simulations of 1,000 People
Stanford + DeepMind study that used LLMs to simulate people with AI agents based on a 2-hour interview
Participant Advisory Council
Learn how to bolster your user research and design more effective services by forming a participant advisory council.
Fable
Fable is digital accessibility, powered by people with disabilities
PLATO Testing
Changing our world by building a stronger, more inclusive technology workforce
CivicSpace (New America)
CivicSpace focuses on building better feedback loops between residents and policymakers to build policies that improve racial and economic equity in Illinois.
User Research Library
A library of local-gov focused research in the UK
A Beginner’s Guide to Finding User Needs: A Practical Guide to User Research Methods
A free/libre book about UX research with qualitative methods on user motivations, activities, and problems, by Jan Dittrich
Data Driven Detroit CUTGroup
We are looking for a diverse group of residents in the city of Detroit to participate in the testing of civic apps/websites! Sign up for the Civic User Testing Group (CUTGroup) now and tell your frien...
UserTesting OneWorld
UserTesting is pleased to offer free and discounted customer experience research services to qualifying charitable organizations through the OneWorld program.
IncluCity Calgary
Calgary's First Inclusive Usability Testing Service
Secure Usability and Accessibility Lab at Open Tech Fund
OTF’s Secure Usability and Accessibility Lab offers secure usability and user-interface assistance to Internet freedom and digital security tools to help them recognise and solve usability challenges...
Design Insight Group
Where technologists and communities work together to explore and build new solutions for New Yorkers
The CUTgroup book
Civic User Testing Group as a New Model for UX Testing, Digital Skills Development, and Community Engagement in Civic Tech By Daniel X. O’Neil and the Smart Ch…
Community Based Monitoring
Community-based monitoring (CBM) allows civil society to gather and analyse information from the service users’ points of view
OKTHANKS
Okthanks is an independent organization providing research and product design services for open source technology. We unite with a mission to leverage technology for social good.
Gathering Residents to Improve Technology (GRIT)
Inclusive User Experience Research, Design, and Testing
Design for America
Design for America is an idea incubator, a motivated community, and a way of approaching complicated challenges. DFA shapes the next generation of social innovators.