The City of Detroit has a lot of data to share. The challenge is making this data accessible to residents. So, the city partnered with Data Driven Detroit to solve the problem. Together, they formed a user testing group, CUTgroup Detroit, and enlisted the School of Information (UMSI) to contribute the user testing acumen necessary to ensure the voices of Detroit residents would be heard.
The guiding principle of CUTgroup, or Civic User Testing Group, is “if it doesn’t work for you, it doesn’t work.” The tools UMSI students helped test would connect residents to information about school districts, crime, demographics, and property values. This data could inform Detroit residents as they make important decisions about their lives. “CUTgroup is a unique opportunity to talk to people about their daily problems and connect them to solutions,” said UMSI project lead Scott TenBrink.
