On January 23, our QA Manager, Jim Peers, was a panelist for “Testing Trends 2024”, an event hosted by the yvrTesting Meetup community.

Jim, along with panelists Snehal Lohar, Karen Nakagawa, and moderated by Mike Hrycyk, had an interactive discussion about what trends are new for this year, and what past trends are showing a resurgence.

Topics included:

• Accessibility in BC: Is this the year when it becomes important?
• AI and Machine Learning: What’s going to happen with these and testing this year? What are you going to do?
• DevOps: Is it going to evolve this year? Where are the improvements going to come from?
• Security: Will life change for your average tester with regards to security?
• Automation: What’s the new tool that everyone’s going to talk about this year?
• Project methodology: Any big changes coming? Will it ever change?
• Training: What topics are on your radar this year?

Want to learn more about how we do quality assurance testing at OXD? Read our insight on A Day in the Life of a QA Engineer at OXD.

Informed by robust user research, our ongoing work simplifies park discovery and improves trip planning. New features like city search and location radius filters demonstrate the team's dedication to continuous improvement and user-centred design.

Check out the full story, and future project updates, on the Digital Gov BC blog. Our continued collaboration with the BC Parks team marks a significant step towards making British Columbia's natural treasures more accessible to everyone.

The FortisBC.com site underwent a redesign in 2019 which included improvements in adhering to accessibility standards. Since then, some new functionality and a lot of additional content has been added to the site. So, it was time for a thorough accessibility review. In a bid to align with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA standards, OXD worked with FortisBC to help remove barriers and promote digital accessibility for people with disabilities.

Website accessibility is a crucial aspect of ensuring that the internet is a platform that caters to all users, irrespective of their physical or cognitive abilities. By making their digital content more accessible, FortisBC aims to reach a wider audience, foster inclusivity, and reduce the risk of potential lawsuits or litigation associated with non-compliance.

OXD’s primary objective was to determine whether the current FortisBC.com website adheres to the accessibility requirements laid out in the WCAG 2.1 AA standards. We did a full site review that involved manual testing, applying accessibility testing tools, and using screen readers. We also conducted a content review that examined reading grade levels, the use of abbreviations, and jargon within their content management system.

OXD delivered a comprehensive report to FortisBC with the findings from our review, recommendations for improvements, and estimates for potential fixes. With this information, FortisBC is equipped with the right data and insights to make informed decisions, reduce risk, and shape the future direction for their website. FortisBC is committed to fostering a more accessible digital environment, and this initiative marks a significant step towards achieving that goal.

We're excited to announce that we've received the Great Place To Work® in Canada certification for companies with under 100 employees. We’re super proud of this recognition, reserved exclusively for organizations that offer the most positive employee experience.

And, no surprises here, this certification was only made possible thanks to our amazing team, who bring their A-game to work every day. We're so grateful for their passion, dedication, and all-around awesomeness; they are the reason OXD is a great place to work.

The Great Place to Work® Model^© defines a great workplace as one where “employees trust the people they work for, have pride in the work they do, and enjoy the people with whom they work”.   

Visit our careers page to learn more about working at OXD.

On October 20, 2023, OXD welcomed 20 students into our creative space, situated in the heart of Gastown, as part of the Design Professionals of Canada’s (DesCan) 2023 Launch! Student Conference. Students from the University of the Fraser Valley, BCIT, Capilano University IDEA School of Design program, Emily Carr University of Art + Design Communication Design Essentials program, Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Wilson School of Design, and newcomers to Canada looking to get into the industry attended the event. This initiative was aimed at supporting and empowering the next generation of designers. The office tour provided a quick overview of how an end-to-end design and technology agency operates.

During the tour, students were able to ask several OXD designers questions about the processes, techniques, and collaborative efforts that drive innovation and creativity in the industry.

Deborah MacKenzie, Senior UX Designer at OXD commented, "They were a wonderfully enthusiastic group of students whose interests spanned a lot of different areas under the umbrella of design."

The DesCan Launch! Student Conference, spanning two days, aimed to provide emerging designers with essential knowledge and skills to kickstart their design careers. Beyond the studio tours, students had access to immersive learning experiences, career guidance, and portfolio reviews from industry experts.

OXD is dedicated to supporting and inspiring the next generation of designers.