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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.