Meeting the challenges of collaborating remotelyWebsite and Communications Blog

A Miro boards with digital sticky notes on it

I realised that while the summer got pretty busy for us, there are a few work blog posts that I haven’t cross-posted here yet. So I will drip-feed them here over the next little while.

This first one is from July, where I outlined some of the lessons we have been learning from getting collaborative activities done remotely. This post also highlights some of the work my colleagues have been doing to continue our user experience work despite the challenges presented by the coronavirus outbreak.

This was a follow-up to an earlier blog post, [Meeting the challenges of conducting user research remotely](https://duncanstephen.net/meeting-the-challenges-of-conducting-user-research-remotely-website-and-communications-blog/).

We’re hiring a Senior Content DesignerWebsite and Communications Blog

View of Edinburgh Castle from our office

The University of Edinburgh Website and Communications team is hiring a Senior Content Designer. Come and join my team!

If you’re passionate about using evidence-based approaches to create great content that meets users’ needs, we want to hear from you.

Read the blog post to learn more about the position and how to apply.

Screenshot of the remotely-held UX Glasgow meetup

This week I presented to the UX Glasgow community about our user research into the needs of students and staff working with course materials digitally at the University of Edinburgh. It was my first real experience of presenting to a live audience remotely.

Join our team as a Content DesignerWebsite and Communications Blog

View of Edinburgh Castle from our office

Come and work with our team!

We are looking for three experienced Content Designers to join the University of Edinburgh’s Website and Communications team as we embark on major projects to launch our new web publishing platform and services.

If you’re passionate about using evidence-based approaches to create great content that meets users’ needs, we want to hear from you.

There are three positions available. [Find out more in the blog post](https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/website-communications/join-our-team-as-a-content-designer/). If you have any questions, just get in touch with me.

For my personal view on what it’s like working with the University of Edinburgh, check out my previous blog post: [Why I value working in user experience in higher education](https://duncanstephen.net/why-i-value-working-in-user-experience-in-higher-education/).

People collaborating with sticky notes on a flipchart

[We’re looking for a University of Edinburgh PhD student intern to work with us next year](https://edin.ac/3301QFy). This is an exciting time to join the Website and Communications team, and an opportunity to help us improve high-profile web services like MyEd and the University website. [Take a look](https://edin.ac/3301QFy)!

IxDA Scotland logo

I’ll be speaking at the next IxDA Scotland community meetup about our user research with the [Learn Foundations project](https://duncanstephen.net/tag/learn-foundations/).

> Duncan’s talk will take us through how [the University of Edinburgh’s User Experience Service](https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/user-experience) has undertaken a comprehensive programme of user research supporting a project aimed at improving students’ experience accessing course materials digitally. Find out how they developed a programme of multiple user research methods to understand what students really need.

Time: Wednesday 4 December
Venue: Amazon Development Centre, 2–4 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh

Full details about the IxDA community meetup event

Maybe see you there?

Contextual enquiry with members of staff working with course materials digitallyWebsite and Communications Blog

Staff foam board

As part of our comprehensive programme of user research in support of the Learn Foundations project, the User Experience Service has conducted contextual enquiry to better understand the contexts and needs of staff members working with Learn. This blog post summarises our findings.