UX Design & Accessibility

As a graduate student in the Portland State University course, Research Methods for Technical Writers, I had the opportunity to collaborate with 10 other members of the class to work with our client, Adam McBride-Smith (CPACC, MA in PTW), a consultant for Oregon Health Authority (OHA), to review the usability and accessibility of three OHA websites.

One of the many aspects of this project was creating user personas with the intention of better understanding the various needs and expectations of the users of OHA websites. The user personas were created utilizing data collected during usability testing to capture and communicate user demographics, environment, context of use, goals, motivations, tasks, and values. Creating user personas provides essential insights into designing a website whose functions, features, and overall purpose meet the needs and preferences of real-world users.

When collaborating with interprofessional teams on conference posters, we often work with individuals who are unfamiliar with the poster creation process. Additionally, our lab has a particular style that we like to keep relatively consistent across all our posters. To help streamline the process of designing effective and accessible conference posters and enhance collaboration with professionals outside our lab, I created the "Marriott Lab Guide to Conference Posters." This guide reflects the principles of the "Better Poster" movement, emphasizing clarity, visual engagement, and accessibility. I provide an overview of design best practices, including strategies for balancing visuals, text,  and accessibility standards. This guide serves as an instructional reference to help researchers, lab members, and other collaborators create impactful conference posters that communicate their findings effectively to a broad audience.