Covering the technologies, techniques and strategies you need to build the best possible web sites and applications. Sample user experience sessions:

• Designing Interaction in the Age of Ajax, full-day seminar by Donna Spencer
• Designing our way through data, keynote by Jeffrey Veen
• Interaction design case studies by Daniel Burka
• From disordered to managed usability in an Agile environment by Teale Shapcott
• Informing experience architecture with quantitative insights by Hurol Inan

See south08.webdirections.org for more information.

Speaker: Patrick Kennedy
There is much confusion and ignorance regarding information architecture
(IA) and it’s place in web design. Many developers, like their design
counterparts, are operating under misconceptions, hearsay and indeed
disinformation. Because of this, many feel threatened by some ‘usability
guy’ telling them what to do.
http://www.webdu.com.au/go/session/demystifying-information-architecture

Speaker: Lisa Herrod
We’ll look at some practical tools, tips and tricks that designers and
developers can integrate into their typical work flow. Whatever your role is
on the team, there’s a place for you in usability! And if it’s a job you’d
prefer to leave for a professional consultant, the presentation will give
you a better understanding of some of the fundamental techniques we use.
http://www.webdu.com.au/go/session/usability-for-designers-and-developers

Discount evaluation techniques and how to conduct usability
tests. In this one day interactive workshop, learn valuable usability
evaluation and testing methods that you can use to evaluate your
organisation’s Internet and Intranet site, web applications and software.
This course will explore the difference between expert reviews and usability
testing and which is better to use and when. We will cover when to usability
test, what to test and how to test.
URL: http://www.peakusability.com.au/training/evaluation-and-testing.html

Introduction to User Centred Design tools and techniques. As a
result of attending this one day course, participants will have a good
understanding of the value and importance of user centred design and have
the basic skills, knowledge and tools to apply the user centred design
approach to developing usable Internet sites, Intranet sites or web
applications within their own organisation.
URL: http://www.peakusability.com.au/training/web-usability.html

IA-Peers gathering is set for Wednesday 14th May

What: good gossip, better beer, best company
When: Wednesday, May 14th, 7pm-9pm
Where: Woolloomooloo Hotel, the courtyard
Who: Anyone interested in Information Architecture
RSVP: Eric Scheid <eric@ironclad.com.au> 0402 404 733

Max Design presents: Website user experience and CSS workshop: designing for usability, building for the future
A hands-on workshop with user experience expert, Donna Maurer, and CSS expert, Russ Weakley.

Over two full days you will build detailed websites layouts from the ground up - starting with page layout, navigation and form design; and ending with clean markup and elegant styling using XHTML/CSS.

Day 1: Planning and designing the user experience
Donna Maurer

On day one you will plan and design a website - focusing on the user experience: designing the navigation, page layout and forms.

You will:

• learn techniques to understand your users, and prepare user scenarios
• understand your content with content analysis methods
• create an effective and usable site structure (information architecture)
• design a range of navigation methods
• create page layouts for content, home, index and special pages
• design simple forms

For each step, Donna will outline the fundamentals and show examples from small and large website projects. But most of the time will be hands-on - you work on your own project, ask questions and discuss with the group.

Day 2: Building beautiful sites using CSS
Russ Weakley

On day two you will build your website from the ground up - starting with structural markup, adding accessible markup and then styling your layout using CSS.

You will learn:

• how to create well structured, accessible markup
• the basics of CSS including rule sets, selectors, shorthand rules, inheritance and the cascade.
• how to structure efficient CSS files
• how to create a full CSS layout from a flat graphic mockup
• how to deal with browser issues including specific browsers such as IE5, IE6 and IE7.
• how to create a resolution dependent layout
• how to create CSS for printing and hand held devices

Who should attend?

Web managers, web designers, web developers and bloggers who:

• are interested in designing user-focused websites
• have a basic understanding of CSS and want to learn more

To be successful, information management initiatives must quickly become valuable to the business, delivering tangible and visible benefits. This can be challenging in complex organisational environments with many hurdles to overcome.

Cairo Walker shares her on-the-ground experience working with some of Australasia’s most prominent private and public sector organisation’s information management strategies, plans and initiatives.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Cairo share her thoughts and insights on making information management work.

Event Details:
Time: 9.00am to 5.00pm
Date: Wednesday, 2 April 2008
Location: Mercure Hotel, Sydney

For more information and to register, go to
www.steptwo.com.au/seminars/080402/

About the presenter

Cairo Walker is a senior consultant at Step Two, and has worked with many organisations in both the public and private sector, in a consulting and mentoring roles.

Cairo’s expertise has seen her deliver keynote speeches and workshops across Asia-Pacific and consult to global organizations such as Dyno Nobel (USA, Canada, Australia), Caltex, McKesson (USA, Asia-Pacific), Fonterra (global in over 50 countries) and many others. In addition to these global companies Cairo has an impressive local track record designing successful enterprise-wide initiatives and mentoring companies through implementation within Australia.

Cairo is the author of many articles on information management, collaboration and intranets and runs the Enterprise Content Management post-graduate subject at the University of Technology, Sydney.

In this one-day workshop, Patrick Kennedy will present the fundamentals of information architecture (IA), the core methodology for organising and designing websites and intranets.

Key skills such as card sorting will be taught, and this workshop is designed to build in-house information architecture skills. A must for all web or intranet teams.

Please note, this is a introductory workshop designed to build core skills, and is not suitable for intermediate or experienced practitioners.

Event Details:
Time: 9.00am to 5.00pm
Date: Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Location: Mercure Hotel, Sydney

For more information and to register, go to
www.steptwo.com.au/seminars/080409/

About the presenter

Patrick Kennedy is a senior consultant in Step Two Designs, and has over ten years of experience in the digital media and web industry. He has in-depth expertise in best practice web design and development, usability, information architecture, user research and strategy.

Patrick has provided user-experience consultancy for many public and private sector organisations both in Australia and the United Kingdom. Patrick will draw examples from real-world projects to give insight into addressing common challenges and issues. This practical approach will ensure that all participants gain information that can be used back in the workplace.

Patrick holds a nationally recognised training qualification (Certificate IV in Assessment and Training), and is steadily bringing this workshop to all corners of Australia.

The Sydney chapter of the Usability Professionals’ Association is having their February meeting at the Clarendon Hotel on Wednesday, 6 February.

Location: Clarendon Hotel, 156 Devonshire Street, Surry Hills (Ph) 9319 6881

We are committed to holding UPA Sydney events that are highly engaging and useful experiences. However, we can’t readily meet your needs and expectations without understanding what they are. Therefore, we’re practicing what we preach and doing some upfront user analysis. Please join us as we kick-start the new year with a brainstorm of ideas for topics, speakers/facilitators, formats and meeting locations that you would find interesting, fun and worthwhile. Help us understand what your ideal UPA Sydney event would be.

As promised, a round of drinks and a few nibblies will be provided to help get the creative juices flowing. If you can’t make it on the evening, please send your ideas to info@upasydney.org before then and we’ll be sure to add them to the list.

Hope to see you there!

See UPA Sydney for more information.