Dean Barker

The (New) Golden Rules of Web Design (Phoenix, AZ USA)

Come join the Arizona Usability Professionals Association (AZUPA) for a special World Usability Day event on Thursday, November 12th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.. Dr. Theo Mandel will present “The (New) Golden Rules of Web Design” and provide a recap of his recent experience as a keynote speaker at the User eXperience Russia conference in Moscow and UPA Europe 2009.

Global World Usability Day event sponsors include the Usability Professionals’ Association (http://www.upassoc.org). The local event is sponsored by the Art Institute of Phoenix (www.artinstitutes.edu/phoenix) and the Arizona Usability Professionals Association chapter (AZUPA) (http://arizonaupa.blogspot.com/).

** Admission is FREE, but space is limited.**

** Food and Drink Provided **

Agenda
6:00 pm Arrival and networking
6:30 pm Brief AZUPA business meeting
7:00 pm Presentation
8:00 pm Adjourn

Location, Map, and Directions
The Art Institute of Phoenix
Cafe/Dining Room
2233 West Dunlap Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona

www.artinstitutes.edu/phoenix/AboutUs/Map_Directions.aspx

Speaker Bio
Theo Mandel, Ph.D. is the Director of Site Design and Usability at CoolHotNot.com as well as Founder and Principal Consultant at Interface Design and Development, LLC in Scottsdale, Arizona. Theo is an international specialist in the design, development, education and usability testing of PC and Web software. Dr. Mandel designs technology- and business-based Web sites, Web applications and PC applications that are user-centered, task-oriented, enjoyable and usable.

He is the author of a number of publications and books, including The Elements of User Interface Design (John Wiley & Sons). His first book was The GUI-OOUI War: The Designer’s Guide to Human-Computer Interfaces (John Wiley & Sons, 1994). He was also part of the Architecture team that wrote Object-Oriented Interface Design: IBM Common User Access Guidelines (QUE, 1999). Dr. Mandel received his Master’s degree and Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from theUniversity of Colorado, Boulder. Theo is an invited keynote speaker at the User eXperience Russia 2009 conference in Moscow in October. Theo is also the Vice President of the Arizona Chapter of the UPA.

About Word Usability Day
What is World Usability Day? It’s about making our world work better.

It’s about “Making Life Easy” and user friendly. Technology today is too hard to use. A cell phone should be as easy to access as a doorknob. In order to humanize a world that uses technology as an infrastructure for education, healthcare, transportation, government, communication, entertainment, work and other areas, we must develop these technologies in a way that serves people first…

World Usability Day was founded in 2005 as an initiative of the Usability Professionals’ Association to ensure that services and products important to human life are easier to access and simpler to use. Each year, on the second Thursday of November, over 200 events are organized in over 43 countries around the world to raise awareness for the general public, and train professionals in the tools and issues central to good usability research, development and practice.

For more information: http://www.worldusabilityday.org/

Posted in Calendar | Local meeting | Phoenix, AZ, USA | UPA
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UPA 2009 Conference Recap (Phoenix, AZ USA)

Arizona UPA Meeting - Thursday, June 18, 2009

Please join us for the Arizona Usability Professionals Association (AZUPA) Chapter meeting on Thursday, June 18. AZUPA President Miguel Almarez will present a summary of this year’s International UPA conference. Miguel’s presentation will include industry updates, best-practices, and other insights from his experience this week in Portland, OR ( http://www.usabilityprofessionals.org/conference/2009/ ). The conference theme this year is Bringing Usability to Life: Making everyday things better. Other chapter meeting attendees will also be welcome to informally share their experiences from the UPA conference. In addition, you’ll learn about the UPA and meet local colleagues who share a passion for all things related to creating compelling user experiences.

Speaker Bio

Miguel Almarez is currently the User Experience Project Manager for Choice Hotels International and President of the Arizona UPA. He holds a B.S. from Arizona State University and a MBA from Western International University.

Meeting Location

The Art Institute of Phoenix2233 West Dunlap AvenuePhoenix, Arizona

Note: The meeting will be in room 456

Map: www.artinstitutes.edu/phoenix/AboutUs/Map_Directions.aspx

Agenda
6:00 pm Arrival, networking and light snacks
6:30 pm Brief business meeting
7:00 pm Presentation - Invited Speaker
8:00 pm Adjourn

This is a free event. You do not need to be a member to attend. Feel free to come and check us out!!!

Posted in Calendar | Local meeting | Phoenix, AZ, USA | UPA
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IxDA Meetup (Phoenix, AZ, USA)

The 2nd meetup for IxDA Phoenix is this Tuesday, May 12th at Gangplank from 6-9pm. Spread the word and bring a friend!

Time: May 12, 2009 from 6pm to 9pm
Location: Gangplank
Street: 325 East Elliot Road Suite 34
City/Town: Chandler
Website or Map: http://www.gangplankhq.com

IxDA Phoenix utilizes a hands-on approach and will include ideation and discussion. Anyone with an interest in Interaction Design / Usability is welcome, from novice to the experienced professional. Prepare to get your “hands dirty” and exercise your brain all while networking and having a blast!

Visit IxDA Phoenix at: http://ixdaphoenix.ning.com

Posted in Calendar | IxDA | Local meeting | Phoenix, AZ, USA
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First-Ever Arizona UPA Meeting (Phoenix, AZ, USA)

Please join us for the first-ever Arizona Usability Professionals Association (UPA) Chapter meeting on Thursday, April 30. Dean T. Barker, Director of User-Centered Design at Sage Software, will speak on integrating user-centered design into various software processes.

Dean will explain why software projects fail and how user-centered design (UCD) can be used to improve and optimize your product development methodology. He will present a structured approach to tailoring and integrating UCD into the software development process. In this presentation you will also learn about the critical gaps in your software development methodology, how to unify design and development, how to express UCD in the “language” of your methodology, how to promote usability activities within development, and how to make UCD a routine part of your software processes regardless of whether you’re using waterfall, agile methods, the Rational Unified Process (RUP), or other methodologies.

You’ll also learn about the UPA and meet local colleagues who share a passion for all things related to creating compelling user experiences.

Speaker Bio
Dean T. Barker is the Director of User Centered Design and User Assistance for Global CRM Solutions at Sage Software. He has over fifteen years of experience in design and software product development. He has been a co-editor and author of ISO standards for Software Quality and is co-author of the book Designing Effective Speech User Interfaces. Mr. Barker has a B.A. in Business Management and Communication and a M.S. in Software Engineering from the University of Minnesota.

Meeting Location
The Art Institute of Phoenix
2233 West Dunlap Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona

Note: The meeting will be in room 456

Map: www.artinstitutes.edu/phoenix/AboutUs/Map_Directions.aspx

Agenda
6:00 pm Arrival, networking and snacks
6:30 pm Brief business meeting
7:00 pm Presentation - Invited Speaker
8:00 pm Adjourn

This is a free event, but space is limited. Walk-in attendees are certainly welcome, but please RSVP to info@arizonaupa.org so that we can ensure we provide the appropriate accommodations.

You do not need to be a UPA member to attend. Feel free to come and check us out!!! We look forward to meeting you.

http://arizonaupa.blogspot.com/

Posted in Calendar | Local meeting | Phoenix, AZ, USA | UPA
Tags: Arizona-UPA
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Arizona UPA Meeting - April 30th

Announcement from the Arizona UPA Chapter

http://www.arizonaupa.blogspot.com/

Hello everyone,

Well as you may have noticed, we missed our March meeting date. For that I apologize. Despite our challenges, the “transition team” has had meetings and made great strides in formalizing our local chapter of the UPA. Thanks to everyone for their effort.

So where does that leave us now? Well, now we are at the point when I ask that you “save the date” - April 30th, 2009 because that is when we will have our first full chapter meeting.

Although we are currently working to finalize the meeting location and topic of discussion, we do know that this meeting will be free to all who want to attend. So, please feel free to invite your friends and colleagues. Stay tuned for more details.

Thanks,
Miguel

Contact us via e-mail at:
info@arizonaupa.org

Posted in Phoenix, AZ, USA | UPA
Tags: AZ | Phoenix, AZ, USA | USA
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Ignite Phoenix #4 (Tempe, AZ, USA)

Announcing Ignite Phoenix #4

When:Tuesday, June 16th
Time: 6:00 - 9:00pm
Where: Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway

Ignite Phoenix is an information exchange aimed at fostering and inspiring Phoenix’s creative community. Presenters get 5 minutes and 20 slides to talk about anything they are passionate about. Send in your presentation or just show up and have a fun time.

We are excited to announce that Ignite Phoenix will be returning to the gorgeous Tempe Center for the Arts for our fourth event on Tuesday, June 16th. The overwhelming turnout for Ignite #3 in February forced us to alter our plans, as we needed a venue that could hold 400+ people. Thanks to support from the City of Tempe and some generous sponsors, we will be in the TCA’s gorgeous 600 seat theater!

We are also going to be working with Young Collectors to help expand the range of talks submitted for Ignite. If you know of a group or organization whose members might like to participate, let us know!

RSVP/More Info: http://www.ignite-phoenix.org/2009/03/26/announcing-ignite-phoenix-4-june-16th-at-the-tempe-center-for-the-arts/

Posted in Calendar | Local meeting | Phoenix, AZ, USA
Tags: ignite
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IxDA Phoenix Meetup (Chandler, AZ, USA)

Time: May 12, 2009 from 6pm to 9pm
Location: Gangplank
Street: 325 East Elliot Road Suite 34
City/Town: Chandler
Website or Map: http://www.gangplankhq.com
Event Type: professional, meetup
Organized By: IxDA Phoenix

IxDA Phoenix utilizes a hands-on approach and will include ideation and discussion. Anyone with an interest in Interaction Design / Usability is welcome, from novice to the experienced professional. Prepare to get your “hands dirty” and exercise your brain all while networking and having a blast!

More Info and RSVP: http://ixdaphoenix.ning.com/events/ixda-phoenix-meetup

Posted in Calendar | IxDA | Local meeting | Phoenix, AZ, USA
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EXPOSED: A Design Research Exchange (Tempe, AZ, USA)

EXPOSED: A Design Research Exchange

Dates: March 6-7
Location: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Price: $100 for students, $200 IDSA/Academia,  $250 professionals

Description:
What mysteries lie beneath the surface of Design Research practice? What catalyzing forces will shift future paradigms of Design Research?

Exposed: a Design Research Exchange will be an event dedicated to exploring these questions through a highly interactive agenda including workshops, moderated sessions, speakers and participant-generated content.

Seasoned professionals to aspiring students are invited to join in this exploration of the current state and future of design research while filling their toolboxes, making contacts, and traversing disciplinary boundaries.

Join Exposed participants from organizations such as Intel, Smart Design, Herman Miller, frog design, Gravity Tank, Brooks Stevens Inc, Adaptive Path, Flamingo International, ReD Associates, Arizona State University, Lextant, Intel and CCA!

For more info: http://www.exposed09.com/

Posted in Calendar | Conference | IDSA | Phoenix, AZ, USA
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IxDA Phoenix Innaugural Meeting (AZ, USA)

IxDA Phoenix, A Local Group for the Interaction Design Community of Phoenix, announces theirInnauguaral Meeting.

Date: Tuesday, March 10 2009
Time: 6pm - 9pm
Location: Gangplank HQ, Chandler, AZ
Purpose: Working Session, Ideation, Discuss and find solutions for challenges within Interaction Design.

Anyone with an interest in Interaction Design / Usability is welcome, from novice to the experienced professional. Attendees are encouraged to bring topics of interest to discuss such as challenges they are facing, an interesting solution they have found, or a new trend they want to explore.

For more info: http://ixdaphoenix.ning.com/

Posted in Calendar | IxDA | Phoenix, AZ, USA | Planning meeting
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Ignite Phoenix #3 (Phoenix, AZ, US)

Ignite Phoenix #3 is coming up soon!

When: Wednesday, February 25th
Time: 6:00 - 9:00pm
Where: Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway

“Ignite Phoenix is an information exchange aimed at fostering and inspiring Phoenix’s creative community. Presenters get 5 minutes and 20 slides to talk about anything they are passionate about. Send in your presentation or just show up and have a fun time.” (http://www.ignite-phoenix.org/about/)

Submissions accepted until 5:00pm on February 6th, 2009.
http://www.ignite-phoenix.org/submissions/

Posted in Calendar | Emergent | Phoenix, AZ, USA
Tags: ignite
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