Hacktoberfest; Contributing to open source as a designer
I am a Product designer specializing in Accessibility and a technical writer. Currently into machine learning, AI and assistive technology.
What is Hacktoberfest
Quite a few contributors participated in the just concluded hactorberfest. It was a stepping stone for a lot of people looking to contribute to open source, or starting for the first time.
This event happens every year, and each year, people are enthusiastic to learn what it is about and how to participate. Hacktoberfest can not be discussed without the mention of open-source contributions.
Open source contributions involve volunteering to design, implement, document, or generally improve an open source software. Products whose codes are made available to the public to use and modify are called Open source software.
People who are volunteers participating in open-source projects are called open-source contributors.
Some communities actively contribute to projects meant to benefit the public. These communities are called Open source communities.
They help contributors participate in open-source projects. Different open-source communities have different ways they carry out their tasks. These communities include a variety of races and all genders. Open-source communities is interested in diversity, equity and inclusion.
Bearing the explanation of open source contribution in mind, Hacktoberfest is an open source celebration that happens through this October, where open source projects, contributors, and maintainers are celebrated.
This event is organized by Digital Ocean, in collaboration with Github and Twillo.
This event is for everyone and it doesn't matter if you are new to open source contrition or are frequent in making contributions. The festival gives an opportunity for growth.
What Happens at Hactoberfest.
The event has been earlier explained to be a festival for and by open source contributors and communities. In this festival, open source contributions are made with rewards in view.
There are a lot of open source communities who participate in this festival. Problems are brought up with possible solutions. These are carried out by every member of the SDLC.
How to find projects to participate in as a Designer
A lot of designers are relatively new to open source contributions, and may have difficulties with contributions, by extension, participate in the hacktoberfest event.
Some were aided through and through the contributions since they are not yet familiar with using GitHub, making pull requests, repositories or even know what these terminologies mean.
Nevertheless, there are a few steps that can help a designer participate in hacktoberfest.
Go the the official website, and check for events and contributions
Join the official Open source design forum through their website, OSS. There are distinct open source communities to explore, repositories are also posted on the discourse.
Check for communities that are participating in the festival and join their communities. You can do this through the open source design forum
Make research on the product and make pull requests for tasks that are not listed
This is because, most of these communities do not only announce on the community group but on their social as well. Some of these communities are CHAOSS, Open Source Design - Open Source design Africa
- Open a Github account if you do not have one. GitHub is where pool requests and repositories are made or found. On Github you can accept reps and make pool requests
Ways You can contribute to open source as a designer.
- Good first issue: These are beginners friendly open source contributions, for first contributors.
- UI Redesign: interfaces of websites and apps can be worked on, with approval from the team. You can either join the team on the already existing idea or create it as your own design project.
Credit: Grahacaesara
- Create a new repository : Designers can survey the product and make observations of a change of either the UI or the UX There must always be approval from the owners and maintenance.
A github create-a- repository page
- Accessibility: Accessibility designers can work with the team to make sure the website or application is accessible, inclusive and accommodates all users.
- Create logo design: Visual designers and brand identity designers can create logos and a good brand identity either for the first time or as a redesign. Create design style guides
- Conduct User research: UX researchers can join the research team to carry out research, do tests and iterations for a better user experience
- Ux writing: Copies and contents can be improved on.
Credit: Joynels Ogbudu
- Develop Style guides and Design system: Most products use design systems to make the process easier. Designers can participate in designing components and systems.
Credit: Rohmad Khoirudin
- Sponsor open source projects: Making monetary contributions or sponsorship is another way to contribute to open source as a designer.
Why participate in hacktoberfest; Benefits
Participants of hacktoberfest are rewarded by cash prices or publicly recognized. Trees are planted in the honor of their work
It gives room for collaboration and working with other talented designers, members of the team, and learning soft skills like networking and teamwork in the process
The work done can be used to build portfolio and resume, preparing you for other roles in the future
Volunteering brings satisfaction for a lot of people, it’s a bonus when open source softwares used by a lot of people has you as one of the contributors.
Post-hacktoberfest.
Many people possibly worry for not participating in the just concluded hactoberfest. Festival has ended, what next? As mentioned in the beginning paragraph, the festival is usually an introduction and stepping stone for many interested in contributing to open source.
However, this shouldn’t be a one time thing. It should be a learning phase that needs more practice, it should be the beginning of more open source contributions.
More hactoberfests will be celebrated in the future, and it will be a proud moment to participate again while knowing exactly what to do, needing little or no tutoring.
Many products used today that are of great use, started off as open source projects. Some still are, and go through series of iterations and updates by the contributors involved. Why is this information important?
There will always be a need for an open source contribution and a contributor, as long as the world is digital and improvements are made, and open source contributions should not start and stop at festivals. There’s always room for more work.
https://cakebaby.dev/a-beginners-guide-to-open-source-ckdj6r3qo01gtz2s179fz5b9o
