ABOUT THE EVENT:
Over the past 5-10 years, the success of companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook have demonstrated how simple designs and intuitive interactions can help differentiate a company and their offerings. No longer can companies simply add endless features and functions to their products and sites, the overall user experience must be compelling, efficient, elegant, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to use.

When you experience good design, it all seems like common sense - things just work. But designing simple, intuitive experiences isn’t easy. Anyone who has sat down to design an interface to a product or website understands that complexity can add up quickly, and it is a challenge to keep focus on simplicity for the end user.

Fortunately, there is a growing industry focused on interactive user experience (UX) and design that is continually adapting to address these challenges. In this interactive panel, three local UX experts will discuss the foundational principles of the discipline and introduce how individuals and companies can leverage key practices to improve the experience of their products, applications and sites.

First, Michael Hawley, Chief Design Officer at Mad*Pow, will discuss the history and key principles of intuitive and engaging design. He will look at how UX professionals consider key principles from cognitive psychology and human factors, and how the industry has evolved with emerging technology. Next, Kyle Soucy, Founding Principal of Usable Interface will discuss research and usability testing - key techniques for gaining an understanding of the target users and assessing the effectiveness and intuitiveness of a design. Finally, Megan Fields, Experience Architect at PixelMEDIA, will demonstrate and detail best practices for iterative design and prototyping that balance creativity and efficiency in the design process.

We’re looking forward to a lively event. We’re challenging each panelist to keep their presentations to about 15 minutes so we have plenty of time for questions and sharing of experiences.

WHEN:
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Refreshments & Networking: 6-7pm
Presentation: 7pm – 8ish

WHERE:
Idea Greenhouse
8 Jenkins Court
Durham, NH 03824

NOTE: Proceed to 4th Floor - follow signs for Idea Greenhouse
DIRECTIONS: http://www.ideagreenhouse.biz/about/directions
PHONE NUMBER JUST IN CASE: 603-397-0007

NH UPA meetings are ALWAYS open to anyone who is interested in attending. Membership to the UPA is NOT required and the meeting is completely Free!

We look forward to seeing you!

NOTE: Here is a picture of the building and the entrance for your reference: