...and Why is it Essential to Open Source? From the Linode + elementary meetup in Philly, Nov 2015. Cassidy introduces the idea of User Experience (UX), tackles common myths as to what “UX” means, and helps define it by what it's not. He then shifts to look at UX in action and how it is treated across different industries, including the general open source ecosystem. He then dives into why UX is essential to open source projects in the current technology landscape and lastly, offers some practical advice for open source projects seeking to ingrain UX into their workflow. Cassidy James Blaede is a open source UX architect who cofounded elementary LLC., the company behind elementary OS. He also works as a front-end web developer at Ubuntu computer manufacturer System76. He is passionate about open source and enabling the use of technology via simplicity, usability, and beauty. Slides available at https://goo.gl/vEImLk