Learn how to explore, understand, and contribute to an open-source health tech platform even if you’re new to UX and open source.
Open-source platforms are a goldmine for UX designers looking to build real-world portfolio projects, gain experience, and contribute to meaningful products. One of the most exciting options in Health Tech is OpenMRS—an open-source platform powering electronic medical records (EMRs) in developing countries.
If you’ve ever wondered how to start contributing to a big open-source project as a UX designer, this guide will walk you through the process, step by step.
Why OpenMRS?
OpenMRS is not just another health tech platform—it’s a global community that builds EMR applications and tools used in hospitals, clinics, and health programs around the world.
The platform includes:
**Core backend (OpenMRS Platform): **The foundation powering all EMR applications and modules.
Front-end applications: OpenMRS 3.0 (O3) Reference Application: Next-generation UI built for usability, speed, and modularity.
OpenMRS 2.x Reference Application: Legacy frontend still widely used.
Distributions: Pre-packaged solutions like Bahmni, UgandaEMR+ O3, and KenyaEMR O3, designed for different country-specific healthcare workflows.
Modular apps: Tools for registration, appointments, clinical documentation, billing, stock management, reporting, and form building.
This ecosystem makes OpenMRS an excellent playground for UX designers who want to contribute to meaningful, impactful projects while building their portfolios.
Step 1: Explore the Website and Community
Start by visiting the OpenMRS website: [(https://openmrs.org)]From the homepage, you can explore: Products such as Learn about EMR features, technology stack, and product roadmap.
Community: Find out about events, calls, and different ways to get involved.
Roles and onboarding: Designers, developers, healthcare providers, and researchers can follow clear onboarding steps.
You can also explore success stories like UgandaEMR+ O3 in their blog: [(https://openmrs.org/blog)]
Pro tip: Keep a document with all useful links and resources. It will save you time when revisiting the platform later.
Step 2: Explore Documentation for UX Tasks
OpenMRS has extensive documentation that can help you identify UX contribution opportunities:
OpenMRS Design Documentation As a UX designer, you can:
Conduct usability studies on documentation to see if new contributors understand it easily. Suggest improvements to the UX lead or project maintainer. Work on content creation, like writing blog posts or creating YouTube tutorials.
The documentation also includes design systems, Figma files, Zeplin handoffs, demo applications, and past research, giving you everything you need to start contributing.
Step 3: Explore GitHub
Even as a designer, understanding GitHub basics is essential. It helps you:
- Track project progress
- Understand development workflows
- Identify pain points in the product
Visit the OpenMRS GitHub: [https://github.com/openmrs]
Here’s how you can get started:
Read the README.md of a repository, such as openmrs-distro-referenceapplication, to understand the project.
Check Pull Requests to find tasks: Pull Requests Open tasks are available for contribution. Closed tasks are already resolved.
Comment on a PR if you want to participate and you’ll be subscribed to notifications for updates.
Pro tip: Look for issues labeled “good first issue”—these are beginner-friendly tasks perfect for your first contributions.
Step 4: Identify UX Contribution Opportunities
UX designers can contribute in many ways:
- Improving documentation usability
- Conducting usability studies
- Proposing design improvements for apps or modules
- Creating content for the community, such as videos, blogs, or tutorials
- Reviewing UI components and workflows in O3 or RefApp
Once you start contributing, don’t forget to share your work on LinkedIn or in your portfolio—it’s a great way to showcase real-world impact.
Step 5: Applications You Can Explore
OpenMRS is a rich ecosystem with multiple applications and distributions, including: O3 Reference Application: Modern frontend for end-to-end workflows, OpenMRS 2.x Reference Application: Legacy UI still in use Bahmni, UgandaEMR+ O3, KenyaEMR O3: Pre-packaged distributions for hospitals and clinics
Modules for:
- Registration & Appointments
- Clinical Documentation & Diagnosis Tracking
- Billing & Stock Management
- Reporting & Data Exports
- Form Builder & Cohort Builder
Each of these applications offers opportunities for UX research, UI improvements, and content contributions.
Final Thoughts
Starting as a UX designer in open source might feel overwhelming at first—but platforms like OpenMRS make it approachable. By exploring the website, documentation, GitHub, and community, you can find tasks that match your skills and gradually build a strong portfolio with real-world impact.
Remember: start small, participate in community calls, and document your contributions. With consistency, you’ll not only learn a lot but also make meaningful contributions to a global health platform.
If you found this guide useful, follow me for more tips on contributing to open-source projects as a UX designer!
I am also creating the videos for the UX designer. You can learn from there too. Here is my chanel link: youtube.com/@designux1428/videos?sub_confirmation=1
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