Martha Edwards

Service designer and researcher in government

WORK EXPERIENCE

Service Design Lead – Government of British Columbia

2021-present

I’m currently leading the human-centred design team on  the BC Government’s primary cloud hosting platform as a service (PaaS), including overseeing all service design and research activities. I’m also the community manager for the BC Government design community. 

Notable work:

• PaaS Roadmap consultations
• BC Gov design community

Senior Design Researcher on loan – Canadian Digital Service

2019-2021

I lead complex research and contributed design expertise across Canada’s federal government. I also facilitate events for the Design Research Community of Practice. Notable products:

• RCMP Report a Cybercrime
• GC Notify 

Senior UX Researcher – Government Digital Service, UK Government

2016-2019

I lead complex research across large programme areas. I also supervised and mentored several users researchers and was an active contributor to the cross-government research community and the gov.uk service manual and blogs.

Notable products:

• EU Exit business preparedness
• Case study: Gov.uk Verify (with a focus on benefits claimants and those with low digital literacy)

UX Researcher – Cabinet Office Digital, UK Government

2014-2016

Provided user research and design to support several products within our portfolio, translating user needs into practical design changes, and guiding teams through the GDS service assessment process. 

Notable products:

• Case study: Nominate someone for an honour or award
• Case Study: Apply for and manage social impact bond funding

Digital Advisor, Content – The City of Calgary

2010 to 2014

Provided user research, testing + content consultation to 27 departments. I was a key team member in the Calgary.ca website redesign project, which was awarded Best in Class (Interactive Media Award) and Excellence in Public Service (GTEC Awards.) 

Content Contributor & Editor – Huffington Post Media Group/aol

2006-2014

I provided regular editorial contributor to various lifestyle websites, plus two years as a managing editor for a high-profile lifestyle site with 15 writers.

Senior Web Editor  – WorldWeb Technologies 

2004 to 2007

Writing and editing content and imaging for a large travel website, including scheduling and planning feature articles.

EDUCATION

BA – Bachelor of Arts (English and psychology) – University of Calgary

 
Certificate in Graphic and Digital Design – Shillington College 

Nielsen Norman Group UX Certification Course

UK Government UCD training: Courses in user research, design and prototyping, assessor training, agile teams and methodologies