Since Daniel Schutzsmith was young, he’s had a burning desire to make the world a better place. Several decades later, that same desire led him to make a big change in his professional life, leaving a successful commercial practice working as a UX designer to become the digital technology manager at Amnesty International USA.
Now, he oversees all of Amnesty’s UX for its website, microsites, and an upcoming mobile app, helping the organization in its mission to inspire people to act against injustice and to protect human rights around the world. Schutzsmith also regularly travels across the world, giving talks on how other UX designers can use their skills to creative positive social change. We asked him for some of his best advice on taking that first step toward changing the world.
What’s your advice for UX designers who want to use their skills to help others, but don’t know where to start?
Don’t only focus on the big, hairy problems that you want to tackle because it would look good in your portfolio! It’s often the simplest problems that non-profits and other causes really need help with and will move the needle in increasing support or donations.
Start small and consider dedicating part of your week to helping a cause with their user experience. It could be an audit, research, or testing. All can be helpful for a cause with limited resources.
What made you decide to devote your design career to ‘doing good’?
Since I attended my first protest at seven-years-old, I’ve always wanted to use my talents to help causes get the spotlight. The first decade of my career I focused on working with literal rock bands and entertainment media websites, so I wanted to focus my second decade on helping non-profits become the rock stars.
