Being a Designer in an Architecture-First Environment

About how designers can thrive in technically driven environments. Explores the relationship between UX and digital architecture, and how understanding systems, standards, and constraints can actually expand what’s possible in design. The focus would be on curiosity, collaboration, and bridging the gap between design and technical teams.

Main takeaways:
Attendees will learn to see technical architecture as part of the design craft, not a constraint and they’ll gain a clearer understanding of how architectural decisions shape user experience, service delivery, and sustainability. Hopefully folks will walk away with greater confidence to collaborate and advocate for design in technical environments!

Sarah Dunn is a Senior Service Designer in the public sector, working on identity, digital credentials, and access to government services. She navigates complex systems and helps teams turn ambiguity into usable outcomes.

She’s interested in how design, technology, and systems shape what’s possible and how design decisions play out at scale. Sarah enjoys asking curious questions, untangling messy problems, and helping teams build better things together.