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OXD

@oxd.bsky.social
39 followers 54 following 101 posts

We design and build accessible, reliable, and impactful government services

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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Sovereignty is a claim, not a thing. That idea, from the late Canadian political scientist Peter Russell, was one of the most useful @gordonr.ca found in a year of reading about #DigitalSovereignty. His latest shares a plain way to make sense of any sovereignty claim: oxd.com/insights/my-...
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Security says no. Delivery says hurry up. This tension isn't new, but it matters more now. #Cybersecurity incidents are no longer rare, and the consequences for operations and reputation are real. Our article shares how to shift #security from blocker to business enabler. oxd.com/insights/fro...
OXD illustration of two people sitting at a table talking with a computer and a mobile phone
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
OXD and ThoughtFarmer (sister companies, same home team) had a blast at our annual baseball outing. We watched the Vancouver Canadians take on Spokane from our own section at Nat Bailey Stadium, with two solid hours of all-you-can-eat ballpark classics. The event was a ... home run!
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Happy work anniversaries to Ayumi (5 years), Dylan (6 years), Leon (2 years), and Steve (24 years)! We're grateful for everything they bring to the team, year after year. #WorkCulture #WorkAnniversary
Congratulations to OXD folks celebrating work anniversaries this September!
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
A new #government #digital service that‘s technically sound, passes every security requirement, and integrates with existing systems. But 18 months later, it‘s barely used. Recognize the pattern? The project addressed feasibility, but skipped two critical questions. Find out: oxd.com/insights/bal...
Venn diagram of green, blue, pink with a star shape in the centre
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
“How much will AI reduce my project budget and timeline?“ The answer is “it depends.” Our latest article explores which activities and projects #AI is best at expediting, and where new costs emerge around prompting, analysis, and validation. oxd.com/insights/the...
OXD illustration of a mallet above holes with dollar signs popping up like the novelty game "whack-a-mole"
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
We spent a rewarding afternoon with A Loving Spoonful, a not-for-profit providing nutritious meals to people living with HIV across Vancouver. The program reduces barriers to food security and supports their quality of life. We packaged 841 meals! Not bad for a small crew. Visit alovingspoonful.org
OXD UX/SD and Marketing teams standing in front of the A Loving Spoonful's banner outside their office in Vancouver.OXD smiling staff in the warehouse of A Loving Spoonful portioning meals.
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
This month we're celebrating work anniversaries for Mandy, 2 years; James, 5 years (11 if you count his earlier time at OXD!); Chanel, 9 years; Foley, 11 years; and Dominik, 13 years at OXD. Here's to the creativity and expertise you share with us every day. #WorkAnniversary #OXD
Congratulations to OXD folks celebrating work anniversaries this August!
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
AI is now deciding who gets a loan, who gets hired, who qualifies for a service. When one of those decisions is challenged, who’s responsible for explaining how it was made and by whom? Most systems can’t answer that, so we set out to build the record that’s missing. labs.oxd.com/experiments/...
OXD labs with a hand selecting a green circle from a row of shapes
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Canada’s #AI strategy asks Canadians to trust AI, then learn it, adopt it, and benefit. “Trust” appears throughout. “Whether we should” essentially never. Trust first, as if we owe the technology our trust before it's earned it. Read why @gordonr.ca thinks that's backwards: oxd.com/insights/can...
oxd.com
Canada’s AI strategy asks for trust it hasn’t earned | oxd.com
Canada's AI strategy asks Canadians to trust AI before adopting it. Gord Ross argues trust is earned through service design—not demanded by policy.
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Gastown Grand Prix rolled through our neighbourhood again, and we had the best seats in the house with our own office windows. Hosting a watch party every year is our tradition, but it was extra special getting to cheer on Jen from our sister company ThoughtFarmer, who was out there racing!
OXD employees and family looking out the Gastown office windows at the Grand Prix cyclists.
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
"Some services we use by choice, others by circumstance.” Our people at OXD imagine the journeys of others, then bring them to life through service design. With the service shoe on the other foot, @gordonr.ca comes to reflect on his own unexpected healthcare journey: oxd.com/insights/fiv...
Woman sitting in a health clinic setting waiting with a clock behind her.
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
We're #hiring an Agile #ProjectManager / ScrumMaster! This is a delivery leadership role in all the best ways. You'll blend #agile coaching and delivery leadership, and be embedded in complex, multi-collaborator government projects. Have a deep command of Scrum? Apply now: oxd.com/careers/agil...
We're Hiring! Agile Project Manager / ScrumMaster. Apply at OXD.com/careers
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
OXD and sister company ThoughtFarmer turned 30, and we threw a party to celebrate! Along with great food, rooftop vibes, and epic karaoke, @darrengibbons.bsky.social and @gordonr shared 9 lessons they‘d tell their 1996 selves. Read the lessons and see photos from the night: oxd.com/blog/2026/06...
Photo of Gordon Ross and Darren Gibbons from OXD and ThoughtFarmer (formerly OpenRoad) celebrating 30 years. They have their glasses raised to cheers to the next 30 years.
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
AI coding risk isn’t about who can ship. It's about what stops happening when building gets cheap. The expensive way used to force the planning. The cheap way doesn't. Read our article to see what it can cost you later: oxd.com/insights/whe...
OXD illustration of a single brown bunny standing out against a repeating pattern of grey bunnies, representing speed and proliferation
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
We're hiring a shared Director of HR to build the people infrastructure for our next stage. OXD and ThoughtFarmer are two companies that share history, leadership, and culture. Are you a senior HR leader with 8 yrs of progressive experience and 3+ yrs in a leadership role? Apply now: oxd.com/careers
We're hiring! Director of Human Resources. Apply at OXD.com/careers
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Vibe coding is getting a lot of attention, but how does it hold up in practice? Our developers ran Lovable through six real builds across different complexity levels to find out. Read our findings on OXD Labs: labs.oxd.com/experiments/... #vibecoding #ai #lovable
Image of a laptop with hands typing and the symbol for code in the colours of Lovable purple and read and pink with the OXD Labs logo.
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Can AI modernize your legacy system? The honest answer: Not alone. Modernization is a disciplined, human-centred effort—AI can be in the loop, not in the driver's seat. Learn why the "auto-modernize" button doesn't exist, and what a pragmatic path looks like: oxd.com/insights/why... #AI #Tech
*Photo is AI-generated from the original OXD illustration shown in the article of a woman with one foot on a block reaching towards floating shapes
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Sometimes the way we define a problem is the problem. Frame Creation is a method for stepping back and reframing challenges so you can find approaches you might have otherwise missed. Learn more about the method and use our free worksheet to try it out: oxd.com/insights/how... #DesignThinking
OXD illustration of picture frames in varying sizes and ornateness to represent the idea of frame creation
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
Testing when there’s no single correct answer? Generative AI breaks the one assumption every QA process is built on. Our QA team on what comes next, and why the real work starts before anyone writes a test. Read the article: oxd.com/insights/sof... #AI #GenerativeAI #QAtesting
OXD illustration representing the concept of generative AI and QA testing of a bunch of patterned dots with random dots in varying sizes with arrows
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
Automated accessibility scans find issues. They don't explain them. We wanted to know whether #AI could fill that gap. Not by replacing the tester, but by coaching them through the process in real time. Read the experiment on OXD Labs: labs.oxd.com/experiments/... #QATesting #Accessibility
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Happy work anniversaries to Duncan (4 years), Kallie (9 years), Joey (11 years), and Lawrence (27 years) with OXD. That kind of longevity doesn't happen by accident—it's the result of a culture where people are trusted, challenged, and genuinely valued. Congrats!
Congratulations to OXD folks celebrating work anniversaries this May!
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
The draw is compelling: an AI agent capable of generating UI that actually matches your mockups. But the problem is clear: design style guides are written for humans, not agents. We built a tool to bridge that. Read the experiment on OXD Labs: labs.oxd.com/experiments/... #OXDLabs #AI #GovTech
OXD design of two hands reaching to connect in black and white with coloured OXD brand shapes with OXD Labs logo in bottom right.
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
There’s something AI can’t get right about design. Our latest article is a candid conversation with OXD Art Director James Byun on taste, judgment, and what it actually takes to know if AI-assisted work is good enough. Read the conversation: oxd.com/insights/the...
OXD tracing and illustration of the Mona Lisa painting in a frame  repeated 3 times on an angle
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
What separates good #software from great software? Bugs, security gaps, and accessibility issues are expensive to fix after launch—and are avoidable. Our free 30-min webinar shows how #QA testing helps you ship better products, reduce risk, and save future costs. Watch now: youtu.be/jZg0H8o3vqM?...
youtu.be
OXD Webinar - QA Matters
YouTube video by OXD
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
Spring has sprung, and so have the celebrations—April has the most work anniversaries of the year! Congratulations to Diego, Jane, Meghan, Min, Deb, Jacqueline, and Dave on their work anniversaries. Thank you for the unique strengths and dedication you bring to OXD every day. #WorkAnniversary #OXD
Congratulations to OXD folks celebrating work anniversaries this April! in blue circles with OXD shapes in the background.
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Introducing OXD Labs, where we experiment with emerging technologies and design practices to explore what's possible in government technology. Think of it as our sketchpad for ideas that don’t always fit into client work, but shape how we think about the future. Explore the experiments: labs.oxd.com
OXD Labs in repeating white text on a black background
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 25/03/2026
Work hard, skate harder. OXD and our sister company ThoughtFarmer took over the Rolla Skate Club for a combined team event and we have no regrets. Even those of us with a few wobbles and tumbles! #TeamOXD #OXDCulture
Group photo of OXD and ThoughtFarmer employees at Rolla Skate Club in Vancouver
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
AI can read your codebase faster than any human team. But the knowledge that lives in people's heads? That's a different problem. Our latest article explains what most modernization projects miss. Find out what’s missing: oxd.com/insights/kno... #LegacyModernization #GovTech #AI
OXD illustration of three people with speech bubbles representing the knowledge that lives in the heads of senior developers and staff.
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
We're celebrating three work anniversaries in March! Justin 11 years, Astrid 4 years, and Jason 3 years—we're grateful for everything you bring to the team. #WorkAnniversary #OXD #TeamOXD
Congratulations to OXD folks celebrating work anniversaries in March
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Working as a unified team for over two years, OXD and DriveBC staff built collaborative capability alongside a resilient platform. Now the team is equipped to handle what comes next—independently. Learn more about the DriveBC legacy system modernization: oxd.com/work/buildin...
Image of a mobile screen and a browser screen showing the DriveBC.ca website and mapping.
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
The 2026 Vancouver Service Jam is March 13–15! We're proud to sponsor again and mentor participants tackling real-world challenges. Join Jammers worldwide for 48 hours of rapid prototyping and human-centred design. Head to our site to learn more and to sign up: oxd.com/blog/2026/02... See you there
This is an image that says "We're excited to return as a sponsor for the Vancouver Service Jam March 13-15 2026"
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Our latest article explores a paradox: #AI is automating the entry-level work that traditionally taught #developers judgment and systems thinking. Junior tech roles in Canada are down 25% from five yrs ago. Are we undermining our expertise pipeline? Read Steve's take: oxd.com/insights/ai-...
oxd.com
AI is reshaping entry into software development | oxd.com
There's a paradox facing the software industry: we're automating away the entry-level work that builds expertise, but what replaces it?
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 13/02/2026
When you need to alert citizens about a bear sighting, speed matters. At the BC Government's hackathon (fun ‘90s theme!), we built an AI writing assistant prototype that could help staff create clear, on-brand communications without the usual revision cycles. Check it out: oxd.com/blog/2026/01...
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
We’re celebrating Julie, our People Operations Manager, this month. She’s been putting our people first for 12 years! Thanks for your dedication to making OXD a great place to work. #WorkAnniversary #WorkCulture #OXD
Congratulations to OXD folks celebrating work anniversaries this February!
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
The most successful #digital projects balance what users need, what we can build, and what orgs can sustain. When all 3 get attention from the start, the results are transformative. Skip even one, and projects struggle. Learn how to get this balance right: oxd.com/insights/bal... #ServiceDesign
oxd.com
Balancing desirability, feasibility, and viability in public service design | oxd.com
The reality of Agile service design, especially in the public sector, is about navigating continuous tension between these three lenses.
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
Security says no. Delivery says hurry up. This tension costs more than you think—and it's not a people problem. Our Director of #SoftwareDevelopment shares why security-delivery friction happens and how orgs are shifting #security from blocker to business enabler: oxd.com/insights/fro...
oxd.com
From blockers to enablers: rethinking the role of security in delivery | oxd.com
Security says no. Delivery says hurry up. Meanwhile, releases stall, frustration builds, and both teams feel like they’re losing. Our Director of Software Development, Steve Ly, says there’s a better ...
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
When we mapped an organization's #tech ecosystem, tools weren't the problem—they revealed process gaps. Forcing consolidation rarely works. Instead, we helped teams discover pain points themselves, leading to selective standardization that worked with culture, not against it: oxd.com/insights/tec...
oxd.com
Tech wags the dog | oxd.com
Technical problems are rarely just technical. Mapping 247 digital tools for an organization uncovered that successful change means working with organizational culture, not against it.
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Starting 2026 with gratitude! We’re celebrating nine years with Charles on our Software Development team. His technical expertise is fundamental to our work. Thank you for everything you bring to the team—here's to the year ahead!
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Happy New Year! We're grateful to kick off #2026 alongside our staff and the teams we're working with—the ones tackling real problems, doing the hard work, and figuring it out together. Looking forward to more of that this year: #collaboration, problem-solving, and building things that last.
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Thanks for another year of collaboration with our clients, staff, and community. As 2025 winds down, we've created a seasonal #playlist to help you do the same—cozy classics and feel-good favourites. Enjoy! ideas.oxd.com/en-ca/oxd-pl... Designed and animated by Kaitie from our Marketing team 🙌
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
Closing out 2025 with two great work anniversaries. Congratulations to Wil on 12 years and Kaitie on 11 years at OXD. Thanks for your hard work and contributions to making OXD a great place to work. 🎉
Congratulations to OXD folks celebrating work anniversaries this December!
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 05/12/2025
Big thanks to Dave and Ben for being the faces (and #moustaches) of our #Movember campaign. Between individual donations from staff and company matching from OXD and @thoughtfarmer, we raised $2540. These funds support mental health, suicide prevention, and cancer research. Thanks for showing up!
Photo of Dave and his moustache from OXD on left top and Ben and his moustache from ThoughtFarmer on bottom right
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Feeling stuck in reactive problem-solving mode? Our latest article explores #FrameCreation —a practical method for breaking through problem-solving patterns by reframing challenges. Learn how shifting perspectives can unlock new approaches to complex problems. Read more: oxd.com/insights/how...
oxd.com
How Frame Creation can inspire innovation | oxd.com
We share a practical framework for breaking through reactive problem-solving patterns in complex public sector organizations.
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Celebrating some stellar humans today! Happy #WorkAnniversaries to Amanda with 4 years, Lisa at 5 years, Winnie celebrating a decade, and Sara with 14 years at #OXD! Your contributions make a real difference, and we're lucky to work alongside you. Here's to more years together! #WorkCulture
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
#GenerativeAI is changing how #developers build. Instead of controlling every variable, they now manage boundaries and engineer for uncertainty. How do you make #AI systems reliable when outcomes vary? Read insights from our team about building for the generative age: oxd.com/insights/sof...
oxd.com
Software for the generative age: Building around non-deterministic systems | oxd.com
Our Director of Software Development interviews one of our Developers about the practical realities of building around non-deterministic systems.
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Puppy yoga with the #OXD and ThoughtFarmer crew last night. The puppies were a vibe! We attempted yoga, they attempted to steal our hearts. They won. 🐶🧘‍♀️ Thanks to the Pups Yoga team for a memorable event! #PuppyYoga #Schnauzer #PupsYogaVancouver
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Emerging tech like AI and augmented reality are transforming how we interact with digital systems and environments. From visualizing furniture in your space to helping citizens navigate complex online processes, thoughtful design makes technology accessible to all. Learn more: worldusabilityday.org
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
Movember is here! Meet Dave on Day 1 (right). He had to shave OFF his existing #Mo to start fresh for the cause—now that's dedication! #Movember raises funds for prostate and testicular cancers, mental health, and suicide prevention. Visit: movember.com/t/mo-oxdtf to support our team's efforts.
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OXD @oxd.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
Big news! OXD is officially certified as a Great Place to Work® in Canada AND named Best Workplaces™ in BC for 2025—our third year in a row! Huge thanks to our incredible team, it's their authenticity and feedback that helps make #OXD one of Canada's best tech workplaces: oxd.com/blog/2025/11...
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