E is for Enshittification

The Evans Hunt team and I have shared a talk about enshittification on three occasions now — first at UX Camp in Calgary (a friendly group of UX professionals), then under the bright lights at SocialWest (a much larger audience of digital marketing professionals and clients), and finally at ProductBC (a tech-oriented community of builders).

At each stage of this journey, the reception has been incredible. The impact of enshittification is something that so many of us are seeing and feeling right now. I've been grateful to have had the opportunity to represent the team and help explain this troubling trend from a UX, Product, and Technology standpoint.

This talk has found product-market fit.

So our team got to talking. How might we dial things up a level?

Some suggested that maybe we should write a book — but enshittification is Cory Doctorow's term, and writing a non-fiction book didn't feel authentic to who we are as a team of designers and builders (plus he's written his own book now).

…but what about a children's book? Well, now you're talking.

• We have the writing and design talent in-house.

• It would match the tone of the light-hearted but irreverent talk.

• The juxtaposition (playful children's book vs industry-shaping topic) would be impossible to ignore.

So we've decided to do it. The book is called E is for Enshittification.

Here are a few teasers.

I'm beyond excited for this — it's a rare opportunity to lead a discussion about our values as a tech professionals.

We hope to complete the writing and illustration soon, and have priced out printing as well. The intention isn't to make a profit, just spark conversation.

At Evans Hunt, our UX & Product team strives to work as a strategic partner for our clients. We get all up in their business, and work with them over the long term to build products and services that solve meaningful problems. We're upfront in our belief that user-centred thinking is essential to long term success, and not shy when it comes to having the hard conversations.

If this is something that resonates with you, I'd love to hear from you.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch.

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Credits

Direction: Andrew Turnbull
Copy: Monique Germain
Illustrations: Britny Samuelson