The people behind the project
Behind Unum
Unum was started by Adrian Vaughan to explore whether websites can be simpler to build, easier to understand and more reliable over time.
His experience spans web development, user experience, accessibility, software testing and quality assurance, and cyber security. Working across these areas has shown him how decisions made in one part of a website can create consequences elsewhere.
Unum brings those perspectives together to ask how we might build websites that remain understandable, accessible, secure and maintainable as they develop.
Experience that shaped the idea
Website development is only one part of a website’s life.
People need to understand and use what has been built. Accessibility needs to be considered while decisions are being made. Testing needs to find more than technical errors. Security needs to be part of the foundation. The website also needs to remain manageable after its initial release.
Working across these different areas has influenced the questions behind Unum. How are websites built? How do people use them? How are they tested? What helps them remain accessible and secure? What makes them easier to understand and maintain over time?
Unum is an attempt to explore those questions together instead of treating them as separate concerns.
Built with other perspectives
Unum began with Adrian’s experience, but it should not be shaped by one person’s assumptions.
Input is being sought from experienced people across design, development, operations, testing, accessibility and security. Bringing different perspectives in early helps challenge assumptions and uncover problems before they become part of the architecture.
The aim is not to make every decision by consensus. It is to make sure important ideas are questioned, tested and improved before the project becomes difficult to change.
Connect
You can learn more about Adrian’s wider work and experience through LinkedIn.