Regional Fedora Hubs: Location-Based User Connection
Executive Summary
As an interaction designer and UX researcher on the Regional Fedora Hubs project, I tackled the complex challenge of designing a system to collect, store, and utilize location information for connecting open-source contributors. The project aimed to enhance community engagement by allowing users to find nearby Fedora community members and events.
Through methodical user research, interaction design, and usability testing, I identified key challenges in location data handling and relationship visualization. My iterative design process revealed that locations are a far more complex problem than initially assumed, leading to refined solutions that balanced user privacy with community-building functionality.
The project resulted in an improved interface for location collection and display, along with valuable insights about relationship indicators that directly informed the platform's development. My work demonstrated that simplifying complex technical challenges into intuitive interfaces requires careful attention to users' mental models and needs.
The Challenge
Fedora's open-source community thrives on collaboration, but geographic distribution can limit engagement. Without effective tools to connect nearby contributors, the community risked low retention of new contributors who were unable to connect with the community in a lasting way, as well as limited attendance at events and meetups.
The Fedora community faced several challenges when looking to connect with others in their geographic region:
Incomplete location data: Many users had partial or no location information in their Fedora Account System (FAS) profiles
Privacy concerns: Users needed control over how much location data they shared
Complex relationship visualization: It wasn't clear how to represent relationships between community members to facilitate meaningful connections
Technical feasibility: Location data handling is inherently complex with multiple layers (country, region, city, etc.)
Methodology
Interaction Design Process
I employed a systematic design methodology to address the location interface challenges:
Understanding the Problem Space:
Participated in team brainstorming sessions to identify requirements
Created flowcharts to map user journeys based on different location data scenarios
Developed handwritten sketches to explore initial concepts
Challenge Identification:
Discovered critical assumptions about location handling that needed reconsideration
Recognized that the technical implementation was more complex than expected
Collaborated with developers to ensure technical feasibility
Evolution of the location-related interface based on feedback
Example flowchart mapping user journeys
Early concept sketches exploring different approaches to location data.
Iterative Design:
Created Balsamiq mockups to visualize different location collection interfaces
Conducted stakeholder reviews with the Fedora UX lead and development team
Refined designs based on feedback, particularly focusing on the tension between granularity and privacy
Final map-based location visualization balancing precision and privacy
Usability Testing
After creating interactive prototypes, I conducted usability testing to validate the design decisions:
Testing Preparation:
Identified and prioritized key tasks based on frequency and impact
Developed realistic scenarios for participants (e.g., finding Fedora community members while traveling)
Created a testing protocol with clear task descriptions
Testing Execution:
Conducted multiple testing sessions with participants
Made early adjustments to testing protocols after initial sessions
Improved testing fidelity by replacing screenshot-based elements with Balsamiq components
Analysis:
Transcribed testing sessions and organized findings in a spreadsheet
Collaborated with the UX lead to brainstorm solutions for identified issues
Focused analysis on relationship indicators as a critical finding from testing
Annotated usability testing prototype for finding people nearby
Findings & Solutions
Key Findings
Technical Insights:
Demonstrated that location handling requires careful consideration of privacy, accuracy, and usability
Revealed that showing relationships between users requires multiple dimensions beyond simple "friendship"
Design Evolution:
Initial mockups assumed location data was a solved problem
Final designs acknowledged complexity while maintaining user-friendly interfaces
Provided map-based visualization that balanced privacy with usability
Testing Revelations:
Users struggled to determine who to contact without relationship context
Participants needed signals about others' willingness to help or meet newcomers
Location alone was insufficient for meaningful connection decisions
Solution
The final design solution included:
Simplified Location Collection:
Focused on city and country rather than street-level information
Provided map-based visualization showing approximate locations
Incorporated privacy controls allowing users to determine how specific their location appeared
Relationship Indicators:
Identified the complexity of representing relationships between community members
Explored multiple relationship types (team membership, communication frequency, mutual connections)
Designed indicators for users interested in meeting or helping others
Exploration of relationship indicators to help users decide who to contact
Conceptual exploration of availability indicators to reduce barriers to connection
Outcomes & Learnings
The project delivered several valuable outcomes:
Improved User Experience:
Created an intuitive interface for location information despite underlying complexity
Provided clear visual indicators of approximate location without compromising privacy
Identified relationship visualization as a critical next area for exploration
Project Contributions:
Documented design decisions and rationales in Pagure tickets
Produced comprehensive analysis of usability testing findings
Created reusable design patterns for location handling in open-source projects
Personal Development:
Deepened understanding of location-based interface challenges
Strengthened skills in usability testing methodology and analysis
Enhanced collaboration with technical teams on complex implementation issues
Conclusion
This project demonstrated my ability to take a complex technical challenge—location data management—and transform it into an intuitive user experience. By employing methodical interaction design processes and rigorous usability testing, I created solutions that balanced technical constraints with user needs.
The insights gained about relationship visualization continue to inform the Fedora Hubs platform development. Most importantly, the project highlighted that effective user experience design must challenge assumptions and address the nuanced ways people understand their relationships with others in a digital community.