There’s an anecdote I love from the now-retired Reply All podcast, it starts with a problem-solving question that I invite you to try now: Let's say you are just sitting down at home for a really delicious hamburger/cheeseburger/veggie burger and fries for dinner, and you
I have been grappling with my identity as a technologist committed to inclusive applications, responsible technology, and cultural competency in this increasingly destabilized world. That isn’t to say that my commitment to either has wavered, but rather, as a current job-seeker in an over-crowded market, I’m scared. As
It's been a while since I've had the chance to write. Since my last piece, we got a dog. His name is Edger Allen Poe, it’s what they called him at the shelter, and what he answers to. It's very fitting– his 50lb
Inclusive Products
In the early 2000s, I took a not-so-obvious leap from Human Factors engineering in tech to Social Work. For me, it wasn't just a career change; it was answering a call that I had been feeling for a long while to help others and my community more directly.
Life
CW: talk of mortality, partner illness, potential loss, mental health This piece is a bit of a departure from my first tech content posts. One of my goals for this blog is to create a space to discuss the realities of real life. You can't design inclusive technology
My daughter started the 1st grade today. Of course, there were all of the usual feelings – hers and mine – fear, trepidation, excitement, curiosity. I cannot wait to hear how her day went! Every year, while she still lets me, I take her picture on the first (and last) day of
Inclusive Products
In my previous article, I introduced the concept of the Narcissus Trap in technology development - a phenomenon where tech professionals inadvertently create products that reflect their own experiences and biases, often neglecting the needs of diverse user groups. Today, I want to share a story about what happened to
Inclusive Products
Welcome to the first installment of what I hope will be an ongoing larger discussion on inclusivity in product design and development. (Edit: part 2 is up!) Mindful Product Development in Public Interest Technology As I reflect on my journey in public interest technology, I'm struck by the
About
Imagine a world where technology truly serves everyone. Hi, I'm Jessica Want. For over 20 years, my journey to human-centered design and product innovation has been diverse — from growing up as the child of immigrants in Brooklyn through a stint in social work to leading digital transformation at