Service design,
built to ship.
I'm Ryan Short, a principal service designer with twenty years helping governments and enterprises improve how they deliver digital services. Research, journey mapping, prototyping, accessibility, and shipping the thing.
Now. Available for senior service design and digital transformation engagements, with a preference for Government of Canada and provincial work.
Three recent engagements. Discovery research, accessibility, and an AI-native product built end-to-end.
Government of Alberta, Ministry of Education Discovery Research
Multi-audience discovery research that informed the digital transformation of LearnAlberta.ca and the ministry's broader service strategy.
Read the case studyNSERC & SSHRC, Accessibility & Portal Redesign
WCAG 2.1 AA compliance across two federal research councils, plus wireframes and standards that now guide ongoing digital work.
Read the case studyAucti, AI-Native Nonprofit Auction Platform
A complete product built solo: design system, three audiences, AI as infrastructure rather than feature. Live demo at aucti.ca/demo.
Read the case studyA short version. The longer version is on the About page.
Good services start with understanding real user needs, not assumptions. I bring rigorous qualitative research, interviews, workshops, journey mapping, and translate findings into design that decision-makers can act on.
Accessibility built in from day one is far cheaper than retrofitting later. I lead WCAG audits, define standards, and partner with development teams so compliance becomes a pattern, not a phase.
I'm comfortable facilitating with executives and rolling up my sleeves on wireframes the same week. The best service work needs both, and I've spent enough years doing each to move between them without friction.