Summary
New York State recently released COVID Alert NY, a mobile contact tracing app that will alert the user if they come into close contact with someone else who later tests positive for the virus. Hear the designers of the app talk about their experience collaborating remotely across three time zones on this high stakes project. What processes and tools were helpful when designing an app that needed to explain a complex concept to the state's 19.4 million residents in a way that would be universally understood, accessible, and available in 13 languages? View the session recording
Key Insights
-
•
Climate change has profound effects on urban health, particularly for marginalized communities.
-
•
Urban heat islands increase vulnerability to heat-related illnesses and mortality.
-
•
Air quality is deteriorating due to climate change, leading to respiratory issues among city residents.
-
•
Cities must prioritize green spaces as a way to combat rising temperatures and improve mental health.
-
•
Infrastructure designed with climate resilience can reduce health risks associated with extreme weather events.
-
•
Interventions can include improving public transportation and enhancing energy efficiency in buildings.
-
•
Community engagement is key in developing effective climate adaptation strategies.
-
•
Collaboration between various sectors amplifies the impact of health initiatives in urban areas.
-
•
Investment in renewable energy sources is crucial for protecting urban health.
-
•
Education and awareness about the health effects of climate change are essential for community empowerment.
Notable Quotes
"Climate change is not just an environmental issue; it's a public health crisis."
"We can't afford to ignore the people most affected by urban heat."
"Every degree rise in temperature correlates with increased health issues."
"Our cities are at a tipping point, and we need actionable, sustainable solutions."
"Green spaces are not just aesthetic; they are essential for the health of urban populations."
"Infrastructure must evolve to accommodate the realities of climate change."
"It's not just about survival; it's about creating livable cities."
"Health equity must be at the forefront of climate adaptation strategies."
"The time for talk has passed; we need immediate action and collaboration."
"Resilience is built through community engagement and innovative thinking."
More Videos
"I wish I had had a better understanding of how many non-UX people know so little about UX practices."
Brad Peters Anne MamaghaniShort Take #1: UX/Product Lessons from Your Industry Peers
December 6, 2022
"Rituals symbolize community identity and shared values, helping scale human-centered habits across boundaries."
Lona MooreScaling Design Beyond Designers
June 11, 2021
"AI delivers signals, not hard truths. They’re dream machines designed to imagine what could happen next."
Josh Clark Veronika KindredSentient Design, AI, and the Radically Adaptive Experience (1st of 3 seminars)
January 15, 2025
"If we can’t provide research as a service at scale, we need to make sure the teams are equipped to do it on their own."
Erin May Roberta Dombrowski Laura Oxenfeld Brooke HintonDistributed, Democratized, Decentralized: Finding a Research Model to Support Your Org
March 10, 2022
"There were moments like long kind of awkward pauses where the model was processing, and sometimes it actually spoke over participants."
Tara TresselInvestigating qualitative depth of AI-moderated interviews
March 10, 2026
"We absolutely need feedback loops so engineers and designers can influence the design system and keep it relevant."
Charles Lee Jennie YipBuilding a New Home for the Atlassian Design System
October 22, 2020
"Personalization is not just a trend; it’s a necessity."
Kristin SkinnerFive Years of DesignOps
September 29, 2021
"But what’s the so what? Get to the point and don’t make me wait."
Megan BlockerGetting to the “So What?”: How Management Consulting Practices Can Transform Your Approach to Research
March 26, 2024
"Service delivery is led by frontline staff who tend to have the least amount of power in the system."
Shanti Mathew Natalie Sims Natalia RadywylCivic Design at Scale: Introducing the Public Policy Layer Cake
December 9, 2021
