kellective/Lowering-barrier-to-entry

## Lowering-barrier-to-entry
Brain dump after some inspirating conversations at Kiwi Foo camp regarding getting more people to contribute to Open Source Software (and Open Edu resources etc).

Lowering the barrier to entry for non programmers. Other ways to contribute? UX skills, design skills, event running, fund raising.

Non coding contributions to OSS / Open Edu / Open...things

Open Source / Open Society conferene is happenign soon.

I’m thinking of running a session that might have 2 parts to it

software that needs UI/UX and other skills. How can you (software devs and product ppl) create criteria to enable (or encourage) contribution from ‘non back end programmers’. im talking mainly how do we (community) help lower the barrier of entry for a range of contribution to open source products.
designers/front enders - do you have the skills and desire to contribute, what are the challenges, how can we/someone help facilitate you to become involved

Im also thinking of making a list: reaching out to software maintainers that would like UI/UX help and hooking them up with those that have the skills and desire to contribute.

the problem is that there will be some hand holding that needs to happen. So Nick (PS) made a suggestion of a ‘buddy system’ where you can pair with a dev.

another idea is to write up guidelines for interacting, some case studies (like Ask Away and Loomio) resources for what works, what are the difficulties, i think the difficult part is getting MAINTAINERS on board however if they reach out and ask for UI work then they already know the benefit etc. i don’t want to preach to those who don’t get the value of design. I want ppl like LadyNerd who is specifically  asking for help and categorising her github tickets like ‘Needs Design’ ‘Needs UX’
	Brain dump after some inspirating conversations at Kiwi Foo camp regarding getting more people to contribute to Open Source Software (and Open Edu resources etc).

	Lowering the barrier to entry for non programmers. Other ways to contribute? UX skills, design skills, event running, fund raising.

	Non coding contributions to OSS / Open Edu / Open...things

	Open Source / Open Society conferene is happenign soon.

	I’m thinking of running a session that might have 2 parts to it

	software that needs UI/UX and other skills. How can you (software devs and product ppl) create criteria to enable (or encourage) contribution from ‘non back end programmers’. im talking mainly how do we (community) help lower the barrier of entry for a range of contribution to open source products.
	designers/front enders - do you have the skills and desire to contribute, what are the challenges, how can we/someone help facilitate you to become involved

	Im also thinking of making a list: reaching out to software maintainers that would like UI/UX help and hooking them up with those that have the skills and desire to contribute.

	the problem is that there will be some hand holding that needs to happen. So Nick (PS) made a suggestion of a ‘buddy system’ where you can pair with a dev.

	another idea is to write up guidelines for interacting, some case studies (like Ask Away and Loomio) resources for what works, what are the difficulties, i think the difficult part is getting MAINTAINERS on board however if they reach out and ask for UI work then they already know the benefit etc. i don’t want to preach to those who don’t get the value of design. I want ppl like LadyNerd who is specifically asking for help and categorising her github tickets like ‘Needs Design’ ‘Needs UX’