Moin,

OpenUsability (www.openusability.org) is an initiative that brings Open Source Software development and usability together. We have been working with them in the past and I am happy to be able to announce today that OpenUsability is going to sponsor students projects, somewhat similar to the Google Summer of Code, and that GIMP has been chosen as the first project. This is somewhat like a beta test, more such student projects are supposed to follow later this year.

In case someone wonders about the financial aspect of this. The student gets paid $700 USD if he/she accomplishes the project goals. This money will be paid from sponsors and I have agreed that in case that sponsorship will not be sufficient, we will contribute from the money that has been donated for the GIMP project. I hope that everyone agrees that this puts the money to good use.

I will be sending the official announcement in a separate mail and I would like to also announce this on the website. Perhaps someone can take the time and turn the announcement text into a webpage on gimp.org that we can link from the frontpage?

Sven

OpenUsability Sponsored Student Projects

OpenUsability (www.openusability.org) is an initiative that brings Open Source Software (OSS) development and usability together. This symbiosis is beneficial for both sides: Developers can make difficult user interface (UI) decisions together with usability specialists, while usability specialists can explore and further develop their skills in real-world projects without the pressure of a commercial market.

Likewise, OpenUsability's mentored student projects are an excellent way for usability, user-interface design, and interaction design students to gain experience in the interdisciplinary and collaborative development of user interface solutions in international software projects. During a three-month cooperation, you will closely work together with experienced professionals and get insights in to their way of work. An involvement of 20 hours per week is expected.

Depending on your location, you will be invited to a kickoff-meeting with the development team, the interaction architect, usability specialist and user support. Otherwise the collaboration will take place via the established channels of OSS development - email, IRC, VoIP, and etc.

OpenUsability student projects are sponsored with $700USD.The sponsorship will be paid after the successful accomplishment of the student project goals.

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Project Opening: GIMP

This project offers the opportunity to work as an Associate Interaction Architect, and to shape the user interface of the next generation of the GNU Image Manipulation Program (www.gimp.org).

You will be working with Peter Sikking, principal interaction architect at M+MI Works (www.mmiworks.net). Activities include methodically performing a full expert evaluation and analysis of the software, being fully involved in every decision, and performing the bulk of the project work. You will have a great opportunity to learn the ropes in interaction architecture in a project that matters.

There is the opportunity to give your role a stronger usability component by being involved with the workplace observation project that is integrated with this project. Also there is the opportunity at the end of this first phase to stay on board and to play a strong part in the design phase that follows.

Requirements

Interaction architects need to see from the user point of view, know what makes user interfaces tick, have a mathematical eye for the beauty of the simplest solution, a sense for clean layouts and know what can be developed in practice. GIMP is an international project, so you need to be able to communicate and write in English.

There are no specific degree requirements and welcome students from all backgrounds including [insert some sample courses] with the previous experience. No program will provide so much information to perfectly match all requirements, and encourage you to apply. GIMP or Photoshop experience is not required, infact if you have extensive GIMP or Photoshop experience then this project might be not for you.

We know there are no standard university diplomas for interaction architects. So we know you had to define your education yourself, and may not perfectly match all our requirements. Don’t be deterred.

How To Apply

To participate in this project, send your application to students@openusability.org.

Please send us a short CV or (in PDF), a couple of paragraphs about why you want to be an interaction architect, some of your past experiences which have shaped your current skills, and what you expect from this profession in the future.