UX Akron – UX Akron

UX Akron Online Speakers

UX Akron — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 15:39:40 +0000

Enjoy presentations you missed, or watch one you loved again from our collection of recorded online speakers. All presentations are organized by date and by topic. We’ll be adding to this list, so check back often!

By Date

2026

Feb 2026 – Emily Ogle “Making AI a ‘Good Place’: Usability and Accessibility” https://bit.ly/4qQmkM6

Jan 2026 – Anne Cantera “The ABC’s of Conversation Design” https://bit.ly/4sSB52U

2025

Oct 2025 – Carianne Tuckley “Sexy vs Scrappy Tech: Using IA and AI to Help Real People Do Everyday Things” https://bit.ly/3WUZkie

Sept 2025 – Michele Oliver “Beyond Personas: Designing with Jobs-to-be-Done in Mind” https://bit.ly/3IGrf1Z

July 2025 – Thomas Stokes “Calculating ROI in UX Research: Quantifying the Value of UX to Business Leaders” https://bit.ly/4fbtkik

June 2025 – Sean Van Tyne “Moving from Product-centric to Customer-centric” https://bit.ly/46iG6ci

May 2025 – Dee Sadler “Measuring and Managing Success: For the Individual, Team, and Leadership” https://bit.ly/4kCPMCm

March 2025 – Amit Sathe and Marina Lin “The Experience Scorecard” https://bit.ly/3QOq5lv

2024

June 2024 – Dennis Cheatham “Translating Theory to Designing for Memorable Experiences” https://youtu.be/jwHwc_I-zfU?si=nJW8zyAi68REZd3F

May 2024 – Kelsey Thomson “Augmenting Human Insight: Enhancing Listening in Qualitative Research with AI” https://youtu.be/7vxlfNSyNuU?si=aBv6OBI67iDSts0I

By Topic

Accessibility

Feb 2026 – Emily Ogle “Making AI a ‘Good Place’: Usability and Accessibility” https://bit.ly/4qQmkM6

AI

Feb 2026 – Emily Ogle “Making AI a ‘Good Place’: Usability and Accessibility” https://bit.ly/4qQmkM6

Jan 2026 – Anne Cantera “The ABC’s of Conversation Design” https://bit.ly/4sSB52U

Oct 2025 – Carianne Tuckley “Sexy vs Scrappy Tech: Using IA and AI to Help Real People Do Everyday Things” https://bit.ly/3WUZkie

May 2024 – Kelsey Thomson “Augmenting Human Insight: Enhancing Listening in Qualitative Research with AI” https://youtu.be/7vxlfNSyNuU?si=aBv6OBI67iDSts0I

Business Side of UX

July 2025 – Thomas Stokes “Calculating ROI in UX Research: Quantifying the Value of UX to Business Leaders” https://bit.ly/4fbtkik

June 2025 – Sean Van Tyne “Moving from Product-centric to Customer-centric” https://bit.ly/46iG6ci

May 2025 – Dee Sadler “Measuring and Managing Success: For the Individual, Team, and Leadership” https://bit.ly/4kCPMCm

Conversation Design

Jan 2026 – Anne Cantera “The ABC’s of Conversation Design” https://bit.ly/4sSB52U

Information Architecture

Oct 2025 – Carianne Tuckley “Sexy vs Scrappy Tech: Using IA and AI to Help Real People Do Everyday Things” https://bit.ly/3WUZkie

Personas

Sept 2025 – Michele Oliver “Beyond Personas: Designing with Jobs-to-be-Done in Mind” https://bit.ly/3IGrf1Z

Product Design and Managment

June 2025 – Sean Van Tyne “Moving from Product-centric to Customer-centric” https://bit.ly/46iG6ci

May 2025 – Dee Sadler “Measuring and Managing Success: For the Individual, Team, and Leadership” https://bit.ly/4kCPMCm

March 2025 – Amit Sathe and Marina Lin “The Experience Scorecard” https://bit.ly/3QOq5lv

June 2024 – Dennis Cheatham “Translating Theory to Designing for Memorable Experiences” https://youtu.be/jwHwc_I-zfU?si=nJW8zyAi68REZd3F

Surprise and Delight

June 2024 – Dennis Cheatham “Translating Theory to Designing for Memorable Experiences” https://youtu.be/jwHwc_I-zfU?si=nJW8zyAi68REZd3F

Usability

Feb 2026 – Emily Ogle “Making AI a ‘Good Place’: Usability and Accessibility” https://bit.ly/4qQmkM6

June 2024 – Dennis Cheatham “Translating Theory to Designing for Memorable Experiences” https://youtu.be/jwHwc_I-zfU?si=nJW8zyAi68REZd3F

UX Research

July 2025 – Thomas Stokes “Calculating ROI in UX Research: Quantifying the Value of UX to Business Leaders” https://bit.ly/4fbtkik

March 2025 – Amit Sathe and Marina Lin “The Experience Scorecard” https://bit.ly/3QOq5lv

May 2024 – Kelsey Thomson “Augmenting Human Insight: Enhancing Listening in Qualitative Research with AI” https://youtu.be/7vxlfNSyNuU?si=aBv6OBI67iDSts0I

Don’t see your presentation on this list? Reach out to us via our Contact Form!

Join Us for World Information Architecture Day 2026

UX Akron — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 15:55:00 +0000

Photo by Jessica Collura Gardner from World IA Day 2025.

Save Your Spot for World IA Day

World IA Day 2026 will take place in Akron on Friday, March 6th, 2026.

Breakfast and lunch are included, as well as breaks and opportunities for networking with the local tech & design community.

We’re planning a full day of speakers and activities — check back here for the schedule of events. This year’s global theme is Designing for Meaning. Learn more about the global event at worldiaday.org.

Registration is open

Seats are filling fast for WIAD26: Register now and save your spot!

Location

Goodyear Heights Lodge – West Room
2077 Newton Street
Akron, OH 44305

Directions to the lodge:
Take I-76 east and exit at Gilchrist Road. Turn west (left) and go one block to State Route 91, (Canton Road). Go north (right) on Canton Road approximately 1⁄2 mile (second light) to Newton Street. Turn west (left) on Newton Street and go
approximately 1⁄2 mile to the park entrance on the right.

Schedule

9:45 AM to 4:00 PM on Friday, March 6th, 2026.

9:45 – 10:15 – Registration and Breakfast
10:15 – 10:30 – Welcome/Announcements

10:30 – 11:00 – Selena Bryant

Taxonomy as the Human Anchor in AI Systems

11:00 – 11:15 – Break

11:15 – 11:45 – Stephen Morrissey

Designing Your Design Process

11:45 – 12:00 – Break

12:00 – 12:30 – Anne Guzzi

From Rows to Relationships: How Graph Thinking Expands UX Possibilities

12:30 – 1:45 – Lunch

1:45 – 2:00 – Announcements/Giveaways

2:00 – 3:00 – RJ Thompson

The Architecture of Belonging: How a Small Community Designs for Meaning

3:00 – 3:15 Break

3:15 – 3:45 – James Warnken

How Individuals and Organizations Are Using AI To Unlock Accessibility

Speakers and Presentations

Selena Bryant on Taxonomy as the Human Anchor in AI Systems

As AI systems generate, classify, and connect information at unprecedented speed, the primary challenge for information architects is no longer scale; it is accuracy and meaning. How do we ensure AI-driven systems remain reliable, understandable, and grounded in human context? In this landscape, taxonomy serves as a critical semantic layer connecting organizational goals, machine interpretation, and real user experience.

This presentation will explore how core taxonomy principles, controlled vocabulary, hierarchical structure, and governance can be intentionally applied within AI-enabled information architectures. Drawing on Indeed’s UK labor market taxonomy initiative, it will examine how taxonomy has evolved from a static classification system into a dynamic semantic framework that supports large language models and automated classification.

Anne Guzzi on From Rows to Relationships: How Graph Thinking Expands UX Possibilities

Information isn’t flat, and its structure doesn’t have to be either! Taxonomies and ontologies use graph databases to represent information as concepts, relationships, classes, and associated metadata. In contrast to the constraints of traditional relational tables, information graphs introduce a lot of flexibility downstream, giving UX professionals new opportunities to design richer navigation and more intuitive user experiences.

As a recent product manager of taxonomy, ontology, and master data at Nike, Anne will draw on examples from both everyday and large enterprise business systems to explore how graph databases can store and centralize meaning. Anne will also discuss the current state of the industry, the challenges organizations face as they incorporate AI, and practical ways that UX and IA practitioners can apply graph thinking to create systems that are both flexible and meaningful.

Stephen Morrisey on Designing Your Design Process

Chaos should not be a pillar of the creative experience. Regardless of your team’s size, you want to replicate success and avoid making mistakes twice.

Documented processes allow us to do that and more. In this talk Stephen will discuss what he learned throughout his professional career to create processes that consistently produce the results you want.

RJ Thompson on The Architecture of Belonging: How a Small Community Designs for Meaning

How can information architecture transform a town? This talk explores how Bellevue Forward, a nonprofit in Bellevue, Pennsylvania, uses intentional design, storytelling, and inclusive communication systems to connect people, promote local businesses, and build community identity. By structuring information around shared values and lived experiences, Bellevue Forward demonstrates how IA can foster belonging, guide action, and empower civic engagement, even in the smallest of places. These lessons are highly transferable to communities throughout Ohio and beyond.

From digital marketing and community websites to social media, economic development campaigns, and inclusive public events, Bellevue Forward’s approach shows how small towns can use IA to make information approachable, relevant, and actionable.

James Warnken on How Individuals and Organizations Are Using AI To Unlock Accessibility

James will demonstrate some of the ways individuals and organizations are leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to unlock new layers and levels of accessibility. Let’s explore the user side of AI and how it can convert inaccessible materials into accessible alternatives.

But the fun doesn’t stop there; let’s also explore how organizations are leveraging AI to explore brand new solutions that provide a more seamless, accessible experience for everyone, especially users with disabilities who use assistive technology.

Be a sponsor

World IA Day is an annual event under the World Information Architecture Association.

It’s a one-day global celebration with locations all over the world, and serves to:

Build and connect a global community of IA advocates and practitioners
Promote the role of IA in different fields
Provide resources for learning and professional development
Engage IA academics and professionals in research and development

Sponsorships are a great way to communicate your organization’s value and attract visibility to your brand, products, or services.

Interested in sponsoring WIAD 2026? Visit our Sponsors Page to explore opportunities, or use our Contact Us form to connect with UX Akron. We’re happy to reply promptly and answer any questions you might have.

Be a Volunteer

Want to help out on the day of the event? Let us know you’d like to volunteer.

Let’s Stay in Touch

Stay up to date about upcoming events and what’s new in UX for Northeast Ohio by subscribing to our monthly newsletter.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

World Usability Day 2025

UX Akron — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 14:46:48 +0000

The 20th Anniversary of World Usability Day is coming up Thursday, November 13, 2025! Join us in Akron to hear from a variety of speakers about this year’s theme: Emerging Technologies and Human Experience.

Date: Thursday November 13, 2025

Location: BluTique Hotel, 1 S Main St, Akron, OH 44308

Event hours: 9:30 am to 4:00 pm

Reach out to volunteer!

Looking to get involved? We’d love your help with organizing, promoting, or operations during the event!

Volunteer for World Usability Day via our Contact form

Agenda

9:30 – 10:00: Registration & Breakfast

10:15 – 11:15: Designing with your Customers: Using Co-Creation and Continuous Discovery to Design and Build an Internal Tool – Shelby Muter

11:15 – 11:45: Trust-Centered Service Design for Complex, Risky Systems – Christina Burnett

11:45 – 12:00: Break

12:00 – 12:30: Using Ancient Wisdom to Solve Modern Problems: How Stoic Philosophy Can Help Designers – Stephen Morrissey

12:30 – 1:45: Lunch

1:45 – 2:00: Announcements & Giveaways

2:00 – 2:30: An Exploration of Assistive Technology, AI and UX – Erin Byrne

2:30 – 3:30: Designing an Employer Portal: Best Practices and Lessons Learned – Tarun Seth

About The Presentations

Christina Burnett on Trust-Centered Service Design for Complex, Risky Systems

Users won’t adopt something they don’t trust. Emerging technologies like AI promise powerful efficiencies, but designing for trust and sustainable user adoption can be harder than the technology itself.

This talk will share a framework for designing credibility across complex, high-stakes systems. I’ll draw upon real-world lessons from critical government systems and show how ignoring trust leads to user rejection, even when the technology meets all the requirements, and how you can design for both innovation and user acceptance.

Erin Byrne on An Exploration of Assistive Technology, AI and UX

Erin will talk about her long experience with assistive technology and how it has made positive and lasting impacts in her life, both personally and professionally. She will also discuss how her exploration of AI tools have improved certain aspects of accessibility in general.
Technology topics include:

– Screen Readers, (JAWS and Voiceover for IOS)
– Braille notetakers like the Braille Sense 6.
– Rayban Metaglasses
– AI tools

Speaking as a person who is blind, there are more opportunities and possibilities today for individuals like me because of these technologies.

Stephen Morrissey on Using Ancient Wisdom to Solve Modern Problems: How Stoic Philosophy Can Help Designers

Lessons from over 2,000 years ago may seem obsolete. Yet, if that knowledge has stood the test of time, why dismiss it? Stoic philosophy was studied by notable figures such as George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, Tom Brady, and Steve Jobs.

So how can designers and researchers benefit from these teachings? I will delve into several key concepts taught by the Stoics and discuss how they can help us flourish in these uncertain times.

Shelby Muter on Designing with your Customers: Using Co-Creation and Continuous Discovery to Design and Build an Internal Tool

Shelby will share a case study highlighting her and the team’s approach to embracing co-creation and continuous discovery to design, build, and implement an internal dashboard from scratch.

Takeaways:
– Case study showcasing how a small but impactful team embraced a continuous discovery and co-creation mindset and approach.
– Framework and tips on how to facilitate your own continuous discovery sessions with multidisciplinary teams right away.
– Advice for designers on how to leave their ego behind and open themselves up to co-designing with diverse roles and non-design teams.

Tarun Seth on Designing an Employer Portal: Best Practices and Lessons Learned

In this talk, we’ll explore what it means to be a true Swiss Knife in today’s dynamic UX landscape—versatile, resilient, and ready for anything. While specialization has its place, survival and growth often demand adaptability.

Through the lens of real-world challenges, we’ll discuss how cultivating a broad skill set—spanning UX, development, AI, and beyond—can empower you to thrive in uncertain environments.

You’ll be encouraged to embrace risk, build a strong support system, and develop a persona that’s both deeply skilled and widely capable. Because when you can only carry one tool into the unknown, you want to be the one that can do it all!

UX Akron Recognized As Best of Tech by Greater Cleveland Partnership

UX Akron — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 21:49:00 +0000

Photo by Michael Collier, originally posted on greatercle.com

Last month, UX Akron was honored at Greater Cleveland Partnership’s Annual Best of Tech Awards as a leading Tech Community Group / Ecosystem Amplifier.

Partnership representatives said, “We’re thrilled to recognize UX Akron as one of Greater Cleveland’s 2025 Best of Tech! You’re part of a remarkable group of 108 innovators helping shape the future of our region’s tech economy.“

Nearly 300 tech leaders from the Greater Cleveland area gathered at the Great Lakes Science Center for the ceremony.

Learn more about this year’s event, see photos and a list of all the honorees at Greater Cleveland Partnership’s website.

Volunteer Leadership Opportunity: UX Akron is Seeking New Board Members

UX Akron — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 17:51:50 +0000

UX Akron is more than a calendar of events: we’re a thriving community where professionals, students, and enthusiasts connect to learn, grow, and explore the many pathways of user experience.

As a nonprofit 501(c)(3), our mission is simple but powerful: to share knowledge, create networking opportunities, and increase awareness of the benefits of UX in organizations and as a career.

This year, we’re excited to open up two board member positions. If you’re looking for a way to deepen your involvement in the UX community, build your leadership skills, and help shape the future of UX in Northeast Ohio, we’d love to hear from you.

Why Serve on the UX Akron Board?

Serving as a UX Akron board member is more than a volunteer opportunity — it’s a chance to expand your world. You’ll connect directly with colleagues across Northeast Ohio and beyond, “talk shop” with practitioners in the field, and explore the wide range of UX careers and pathways people have taken.

Board service also offers room for personal and professional growth. Whether you’re an established professional or just starting out, you’ll gain leadership experience, build your network, and give back to a community that’s passionate about making digital experiences better for everyone. You’ll have a hand in shaping the future of UX right here in our region!

What You’ll Do

As a general board member, you’ll support and promote UX Akron events throughout the year. This includes:

Attending board meetings and UX Akron events (in-person and online)
Helping with projects like fundraising, speaker outreach, and communications
Assisting with social media and content marketing efforts
Pitching in with event planning details, from scouting locations to coordinating logistics
These are volunteer roles

Who We’re Looking For

A great UX Akron board member is someone who shows up, pitches in, and is excited to learn and grow alongside others. You might be a seasoned UX practitioner, a student, or somewhere in between. What matters most is reliability, curiosity, and a passion for people and for UX.

We’re especially looking for new board members who can bring skills and experience in:

Fundraising (our top priority)
Social media and content marketing
Event planning and coordination

Other qualities that make for a strong fit:

Willingness to attend most board meetings and events
Active on social media. Ready to like, share, and spread the word
Comfortable reaching out to new people and building connections
Confident with Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Strong follow-through and commitment to tasks
Openness to learning new things

What You’ll Be Part Of

Our programming is at the heart of what we do. As a board member, you’ll help bring it to life.

Every year, UX Akron hosts two signature events: World Information Architecture Day and World Usability Day. These are full-day conferences featuring speakers and workshops from Ohio and surrounding states. They provide rich opportunities to learn, network, and be inspired.

We also host three to four in-person social events with other tech-related groups each year. These gatherings are fun, collaborative, and a chance to learn from disciplines that intersect with UX.

Throughout the year, we offer online speaker sessions on topics spanning UX design, strategy, research, AI topics, UX writing, and more.

Making an Impact

The energy and impact of UX Akron is best seen through our events. Recently, we partnered with PMI NEO and Together Digital for a lively, well-received gathering. Attendees shared how much they enjoyed the event and how meaningful it was to bring different professional communities together.

Moments like these are possible because of the dedication of our board members. With your help, we can continue creating these collaborative events!

Looking Ahead

The future of UX Akron is bright, and we want you to be part of it. Over the next few years, we plan to:

Grow our membership and broaden the diversity of speakers and events
Expand cross-collaborations with other professional groups
Connect with schools to help promote UX as a viable career path
Collaborate with local employers to connect talent with opportunities

By joining the board now, you’ll help shape this next chapter of UX Akron.

How to Apply

To apply, visit our About Us page.

Use the form at the bottom of the page to indicate your interest in this role. You can also connect with us by email. A board member will connect with you to schedule an interview.

Photos from World IA Day 2025

UX Akron — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 21:03:31 +0000

About

World IA Day Akron took place on March 7, 2025 at the Blu-tique Hotel in Downtown Akron, OH. Learn more about the presenters and event details here.

Thanks to all our presenters and attendees. We had great discussions and learned so much from each other! It’s great to be in community.

Special thanks to photographer Jessica Collura Gardner for capturing this event.

Photos from World INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE DAY 2025 in AKron

Stay in the loop

Stay up to date about upcoming events and what’s new in UX for Northeast Ohio by subscribing to our monthly newsletter.

Newsletter Sign Up

Join us for World Information Architecture Day

UX Akron — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 23:02:38 +0000

WOrld IA DAY in Akron is Friday March 7, 2025

Join us for WIAD25 for Friday, March 7th at the Blu-tique Hotel at 1 S. Main St. in downtown Akron, Ohio. Breakfast and lunch are included, as well as breaks and opportunities for networking with the local tech & design community.

We’re planning a full day of speakers and activities — check back here for the schedule of events. This year’s global theme is the Challenges of Change. Learn more about the global event at worliaday.org.

An accessible, covered parking deck is located next to the library at 40 S. High Street and has an access corridor along the west wall that leads directly out to Main St.

AGENDA

10:00 – 10:15 – Check in, Continental Breakfast

10:15 – 10:30 – Welcome, opening remarks

10:30 – 11:30 – UX at a Crossroads – Joshua Randall

11:30 – 12:00 – Co-Creation Workshops: What Role Do They Play in Effective Design? – Richard Douglass

12:00 – 12:15 – BREAK

12:15 – 12:45 – Protection by Design – Ben Woods

12:45 – 1:15 – AI or IA? – Marc Majers

1:15 – 1:45 – LUNCH

1:45 – 2:00 – GIVEAWAYS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

2:00 – 3:00 – Untangling Supply Chain Systems – Nick Dauchot

3:00 – 3:30 – Beyond Design: Positioning UX as a Business Solution in Times of Change – Alina Bengert-Lombardi

3:30 – 3:45 – BREAK

3:45 – 4:15 – Affecting Change in Your Organization: Five Methods I Use to Change the Minds of Business Leaders About Digital Accessibility – Stephen Morrisey

4:15 – 4:45 – The Only Constant Is Change: How to Thrive in an Ever-Evolving Product World – Kim Kastner

ABOUT THE PRESENTATIONS

Joshua Randall on “UX At A Crossroads”

User Experience stands at a crossroads: will we live up to our potential to design a better world? or will we be co-opted by “product management” or another business buzzword?

Looking backwards, this talk will show how UX has repeatedly failed to create a better world, drawing on industry data from Nielsen Norman Group, Baymard, MeasuringU, WebAIM, and others.

Looking forwards, this talk will argue that UX must resist hype, say no more often and collaborate less often (you read that right), and become a true profession — in order to be able to design a better world.

Richard Douglass on “Co-Creation Workshops: What Role Do They Play in Effective Design?”

Co-creation workshops are becoming more prevalent in the product lifecycle. Typically, they are employed early on in the discovery process. Attendees will learn more about Co-Creation workshops: what they are, who is involved, what outputs/deliverables to expect, and how they can best use them.

Ben Woods on “Protection by Design”

The world continues to change, and so do the demands of UX professionals. 20 years ago, we wanted to ‘make things easier’ for the user. Then in as a ‘product’ and ‘agile’ mindset took hold, we turned to the idea of ‘delighting the user’. Today, in the shadow of anxiety around Artificial Intelligence, abuses of personal data, and rising rivalries between corporations, criminal enterprises, and nation-states, we are called to new purpose – ‘protect the user’.

Marc Majers on “AI or IA?”

Discover how Artificial intelligence (AI) is having a big effect on information architecture (IA) by influencing how information is organized, accessed, and utilized. Learn how to use AI to improve the user experience and make content easier to find.

Nick Dauchot on “Untangling Supply Chain Systems”

Supply chains are complex systems that are constantly impacted by internal and external forces, and are, in effect, a complex information architecture beast to tame. This session will dive into the weeds about designing for supply chain, its people and metrics, with real world examples from designing for a company delivering medical around the world. Outcomes from this session will include an understanding of designing for supply chain control tower usability, lessons and risks associated with supply chain design in complex organizational structures, and the need for co-design in supply chain related projects.

Alina Bengert-Lombardi on “Beyond Design: Positioning UX as a Business Solution in Times of Change”

Change is inevitable—layoffs, mergers, and reorganizations are part of today’s business landscape. In this talk, I’ll share insights and practical guidelines on how to position UX as a business-critical function rather than a design luxury. By reframing UX in terms of business impact, you can strengthen its role during times of uncertainty and ensure it remains a key part of strategic decision-making.

Stephen Morrisey on “Affecting Change in Your Organization: Five methods I use to change the minds of business leaders About digital accessibility”

UX professionals strive to positively impact their organizations. Yet we must realize that our projects are just one of many priorities leadership must contend with. How can you best champion your cause?

Few undertakings are as difficult and frustrating as our desire to integrate accessibility into our digital products. In this talk I discuss five methods I have used to persuade organizations, along with my results and lessons learned.

Kim Kastner on “The Only Constant Is Change: How to Thrive in an Ever-Evolving Product World”

Product roles are never static. From shifting business priorities and changing stakeholder expectations to new methodologies, emerging technologies, and the unpredictability of the job market, nothing stays the same for long. This reality can feel exciting at times but overwhelming or even disheartening at others.

And change isn’t just happening in product roles—it’s happening in how we design experiences and solve problems. For designers, this means continually re-evaluating decisions, iterating on solutions, and balancing evolving user needs with shifting business priorities.

In this talk, we’ll explore how to embrace change as a competitive advantage and build the adaptability required to succeed in a product career.

Be a sponsor

World IA Day is an annual event under the World Information Architecture Association.

It’s a one-day global celebration with locations all over the world, and serves to:

Build and connect a global community of IA advocates and practitioners
Promote the role of IA in different fields
Provide resources for learning and professional development
Engage IA academics and professionals in research and development

Sponsorships are a great way to communicate your organization’s value and attract visibility to your brand, products, or services.

Interested in sponsoring WIAD 2024? Visit our Sponsors Page to explore opportunities, or use our Contact Us form to connect with UX Akron. We’re happy to reply promptly and answer any questions you might have.

BE A VOLUNTEER

Want to help out on the day of the event? Let us know you’d like to volunteer.

Let’s Stay in Touch

Stay up to date about upcoming events and what’s new in UX for Northeast Ohio by subscribing to our monthly newsletter.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

World Usability Day 2024

UX Akron — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 19:29:36 +0000

Register today for World Usability Day 2024

Hear from UX Professionals from throughout Northeast Ohio speak about Designing For A Better World.

When: Thursday, November 14th, 2024 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Where: Akron-Summit County Main Library – 60 S. High Street in Akron, OH

Registration is free, includes breakfast and lunch, and is open now!

Interested in Volunteering?

Want to help out on the day of the event? We’d love the extra hands! Let us know you’d like to volunteer.

Speaker Lineup:

Jennifer Homentosky on UX and the Vision Impaired User

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferlbeard

Jennifer will discuss the importance of UX to the vision impaired community from printed materials, to apps, and more.

Shawn Kenney on Solving traffic issues through Human-Centered Design

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnkenney

We talk about “wicked” and “big hairy problems” all the time as designers. But are there limits to this? For my masters degree program in UX at the Maryland Institute College of Art, I wanted to see if I could understand why drivers were regularly driving left of center on my street in Cleveland, and if HCD could provide a solution.

Tasha Markovich on Why Product Teams Including UX should care about Telemetry Data!

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashamarkovich

Tasha will speak about: What is product telemetry? Why is it important to product teams and UX? How it can be used to bring growth to your organization?

Felesia McDonald on AI and UX design: The Role of AI in UX Design

https://www.linkedin.com/in/felesiamcdonald

AI is becoming an essential tool in UX design, allowing designers to create more personalized, efficient, and innovative user experiences. By understanding the basics of AI and its practical applications, UX designers can leverage these technologies to improve their design processes and stay competitive in the evolving field of user experience.

Stephen Morrissey on Improving Your Research Skills by Increasing Your Empathy

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbmorrissey

A wonderful byproduct of UX research is the empathy for your user’s situation. Yet there are many ways to continue to boost your empathy. The most amazing thing is that with greater empathy for a people group, you can ask better research questions, further driving the quality of your design decisions. Yet what if we could continue to gain empathy while not at work? In this presentation I will walk through the methods I have tried and which had the largest impacts on my research skills and insights.

Jeff Rodgers on Writing Great Alt+Text

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jroda11y

Missing or incorrect alt text is one of the top accessibility issues found on websites, according to WebAIM. It is also one of the easiest to fix! This presentation will explain why alt text is essential for web accessibility, how it works with assistive technologies like screen readers, and how to write effective alternative text for the seven types of images classified by the W3C. This includes informative images, decorative images, and complex images such as graphs, charts, and maps. By the end of this session, you will have a clear understanding of how to create alt text that is both concise and descriptive, ensuring your website is accessible to all users.

This presentation is tailored to developers, content creators, and accessibility advocates seeking to ensure compliance with WCAG 2.2 and provide an inclusive digital experience for all users.

Holly Sander on Color Conscious: Making Digital Spaces Accessible

https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-murphy-sander

Holly will dive into what colorblindness is, why it should be considered when designing, and strategies for designing with colorblind users in mind. I’ll share real stories, best practices, and some tools to test colors. You’ll discover that considering colorblindness in your visuals isn’t just about tackling an obstacle—it’s about offering inclusive and superior experiences to all our users.

LaToya Smith on A New Dimension: Exploring Accessibility in Creative Content

https://www.linkedin.com/in/latoya-v-smith

A thought-provoking discussion on how we can make the world of comics and graphic novels more inclusive and accessible to everyone. In this talk, we’ll delve into the benefits of introducing braille, large print, and alt text to these beloved forms of storytelling.

Discover how working closely with members of the disabled community can lead to innovative solutions that enhance the user experience for all readers. Learn about real-world examples and success stories that demonstrate the positive impact of accessibility on both creators and audiences. Explore the benefits of making comics accessible, from expanding the audience to fostering greater empathy and understanding.

Whether you’re a comic book enthusiast, a designer, or simply interested in creating a more inclusive world, this talk will provide valuable insights and inspire you to take action.

James Warnken on Exploring Accessibility Throughout The Product Lifecycle

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameswarnken/

James’ presentation will highlight the importance of accessibility throughout the entire product lifecycle (planning, research, design, development, QA, maintenance/update), not just once the product is launched.

Agenda

10:00-10:20 – Check in
10:20-10:30 – Welcome and announcements
10:30-11:00 – Improving Your Research Skills by Increasing Your Empathy – Stephen Morrisey
11:00-11:15 – UX and the Vision Impaired User – Jennifer Homentosky
11:15-11:45 – AI and UX design: The Role of AI in UX Design – Felesia McDonald
11:45-12:00 Noon – Break
12:00-12:30 – Color Conscious: Making Digital Spaces Accessible – Holly Sander
12:30-1:00 – Exploring Accessibility Throughout The Product Lifecycle – James Warnken
1:00-1:45 – Lunch
1:45-2:00 – Solving traffic issues through HCD – Shawn Kenney
2:00-2:30 – Writing Great Alt+Text – Jeff Rodgers
2:30-2:45 – Break/Announcements/Giveaways
2:45-3:15 – Why Product Teams Including UX should care about Telemetry Data! – Tasha Markovich
3:15-3:45 – A New Dimension: Exploring Accessibility in Creative Content – LaToya Smith
3:45-4:00 – Wrap-up and closing remarks.

Join us for World Usability Day 2023

UX Akron — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 20:27:40 +0000

Join us IN PERSON for World Usability Day – Thursday, November 9th, 2023 at Progressive Insurance.

Meet other UX Professionals from throughout Northeast Ohio at World Usability Day 2023. This year’s theme is Collaboration and Cooperation.

When: Thursday, November 9th, 2023 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Where: Progressive Insurance – 6300 Wilson Mills Rd · Mayfield, OH

Breakfast and lunch is included at this FREE event (but a suggested donation of $30 is appreciated! You can donate to our PayPal account here. UX Akron is a 501 (c) 3.)

Speaker Lineup

Nick Dauchot: Lessons Learned As A UX Researcher in Futuristic Retail Experiences

Nick Dauchot is a Lead Designer at Grand Studio, with a specialty in User Research, Experience Design, and Information Architecture. He strives to design products that people love. His process and methods are supported by a formal education in User Experience Design, Psychology, and Media Arts. He prides himself on unlocking user and business value through the adaptability and rigor of my process, and my ability to work collaboratively and independently.

Richard Douglass: Where Do UX and Accessibility Meet?

Richard is a User Experience Consultant. For over 20 years, he has helped create engaging experiences for companies such as IBM, Razorfish, and PwC. He has worked on various projects: Intranet, Extranet, .com, Mobile, and Enterprise and Development software. In addition, Richard has experience with multiple methodologies, including co-creation and strategy workshops, usability testing, interaction design, and persona development. In addition, he has led workshops at conferences in China, New Zealand, and the United States.

Marty Gage: The Aesthetics of “Easy to Use”

Marty is the co-author of User Experience Research: Discover what customers really want. The book is a fully illustrated, step-by-step guide to getting the first step in design thinking right every time. The content is grounded in 30 years of hands-on experience at the fuzzy front end. It was written for the Savannah College of Art and Design to support a certification in user experience research.

Marty is the VP of User Experience Research at the human experience firm, Lextant. He leads a team that defines peoples’ desired experiences in a way that is actionable for all functions in an organization. His work has produced business value for numerous Fortune 500 companies.

Keith Instone: Advances in UX Research & Practice

Keith is a user experience researcher, practitioner, and consultant. He got his start researching user interfaces in the 80s and was one of the first to hop on the web usability bandwagon in the mid 90s. He helped establish information architecture as a “thing” at the turn of the century and then spent a decade at IBM. As a UX consultant, he is focused on helping a variety of organizations (from startups to corporations to educational institutions) start, grow, and mature their user experience practice through apprenticeship, coaching, and mentoring.

Keith is also active in organizing and speaking at numerous global and local events including Global Accessibility Awareness Day, World Usability Day, World Information Architecture Day, the International Industrial Design 24-hour conference, and 24 Hours of UX. He chairs the User Experience Roundtable for OhioX.

(Keith is also hosting Game Night on Nov. 8… details at the end of this post)

Shannon Kelly : UX Synergy: Strategies For Effective Cross-team Collaboration

Shannon Kelly is a senior UX strategist at OverDrive in Cleveland, OH. A neuro-divergent data geek, she prides herself on being a UX unicorn with a wide range of experience, having worked in digital marketing and product development teams over the last 18+ years. Shannon is passionate about creating great user experiences and sharing the importance of using research to improve products and services.

Felesia McDonald and Ben Woods: Is UX Being Diluted?

Felesia McDonald is a Digital User Experience Manager at Sherwin Williams. Her UX career began in journalism as an Interactive Graphic Artist at the Plain Dealer. After obtaining her MS in UX Design from Kent State University (KSU) in 2014, she worked as a User Research Consultant for the Eaton Corporation, and later at OEConnection as a UX Designer. She is also an adjunct instructor at KSU and loves to mentor the next generation of UX designers.

Outside of her UX work, Felesia is passionate about teaching coding and leadership programs for young girls and women.

D. Ben Woods is an internationally recognized expert on design and its value to business. He has presented and conducted training and workshops for organizations throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Ben’s experience spans web, mobile, custom software, and ecommerce; his industry experience ranges from manufacturing, to retail, life sciences, and financial services. He has partnered with clients ranging from small startups to some of the largest companies in the world, including General Electric, Dell, Pfizer, Rio Tinto, and Fidelity Investments.

Ben earned his MS in Information Architecture and Knowledge Management at Kent State University and is a graduate of the Executive MBA program at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management.

Paul Sherman: UX Past, Present, Future

With over 20 years of experience in user experience research and design, Paul is a seasoned professional who can deliver high-quality results for complex and innovative products and services. As the founder and principal consultant of ShermanUX, he has collaborated with major clients such as Microsoft, Verizon, Dell, and more, providing them with comprehensive user research, UX strategy, and UX/UI design services.

His latest work has focused on discovering how people make use of generative AI in the workplace, leading user experience research for a SaaS contract intelligence platform that incorporates ML/AI and integrates into multiple external systems. He has also designed new-to-world features incorporating generative AI, infusing design thinking and agile discovery methods into the organization, and leading user interviews and usability assessments for high-risk / high-reward features.

Christina Turner: Building A Coalition Through Conversation: Interviews for Stakeholder Alignment

Christina Turner is a Product Marketing Designer at Bloomfire, a B2B Knowledge Management SaaS company. A UXD student at Kent State University, Christina also serves on the Board for UX Akron. Additionally, she is conducting extensive stakeholder interviews for an NSF-funded, cooperatively owned, regional Smart City information Portal scheduled to launch in 2024.

Christina’s background in fine art and library science informs her work mapping information, assessing and communicating value, and helping people find what they’re looking for.

James Warnken, CPACC: Accessibility and Usability; Where They Align and How They Differ

James is a 24-year-old, visually impaired/legally blind online accessibility specialist with expertise in search engine optimization and data analytics. For the past 5 years, working in marketing and online accessibility, James has realized that his greatest value add is connecting organizations looking to become digitally accessible with his expansive network of industry-leading service providers.

James is particularly passionate about supporting non-profit organizations in their journey of website accessibility and aspires to join forces with a global tech company that he hopes will sponsor him in these community engagement efforts. With his lived experience with progressive vision loss that typically leads to blindness, James has been proactive in learning braille, using a white cane for mobility, sourcing adaptive technologies which gives him a unique user perspective while designing websites, social media campaigns, and other online experiences.

Also, join us the night before for UX Game Night hosted by Keith Instone of Dexterity UX!

Wednesday, November 8th 6-9 at Melt Bar & Grilled 6700 Rockside Rd in Independence.

More information, including the impressive game line up, can be found here:

https://dexterityux.com/ux-game-night/

We look forward to seeing you in November!

UX Akron Seeks New Board Member: Secretary Role

UX Akron — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 20:02:20 +0000

Interested in volunteering?

UX Akron is excited to recruit a new board member to serve in the role of Secretary. This is a volunteer position.

About The Role
The Secretary provides administrative and clerical support to the Board. The Secretary ensures that the Board is informed and that its activities are well documented for the use of Board members.

Application Deadline: Feb 28, 2022

How to Apply
Visit our About Us page and use the form at the bottom to indicate your interest in this role. You can also connect with us via uxakronteam@gmail.com. A board member will connect with you to schedule an interview.

Responsibilities And Expectations

Resides in the Akron/Cleveland, Ohio area. Able to attend in-person events.
Serves on the UX Akron Board of Directors.
Keeps copies of the organization’s bylaws and the Board’s policy statements.
Notifies Board members of meetings.
Keeps a record of Board attendance and makes sure that there is a quorum at Board meetings.
Keeps accurate minutes of meetings and records all motions and decisions of meetings.
Records all corrections to minutes.
Keeps copies of minutes of both Board and committee meetings.
Distributes copies of Board minutes and actions to the Board promptly after meetings.
Conducts and keeps records of all Board correspondence.
Regularly attends Board meetings.
Regularly attends UX Akron events.
Supports the mission of UX Akron.
Assists with additional projects and responsibilities as deemed necessary by the Board.

Application deadline is Feb 28, 2022.