Upcoming Event
Wednesday, May 16 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Topic: Understanding the Nature of (Design) Resistance
Location: The Atom Group, Portsmouth, NH
Welcome to the New Hampshire UPA
The New Hampshire Chapter of the Usability Professionals' Association (UPA) provides networking and professional development opportunities for usability professionals, information architects, interaction designers, and other user experience professionals and students in the Seacoast and Southern NH regions. Our mission is to foster the growth of the local usability community and to provide an environment for members to exchange information on tips, tools, methodologies, and technologies related to usability.
Monthly Meetings
NH UPA meets every month in various locations around the Seacoast and Southern NH regions. We work hard to rotate event locations to try and make it possible for all members to attend a meeting. Our meetings include invited speakers, group discussions, workshops, demonstrations, local studio tours, and social gatherings. NH UPA meetings and events are ALWAYS open to anyone who is interested in attending. Membership to the UPA is NOT required.
Join our Mailing List on Yahoo! Groups
Joining our mailing list ensures you will receive timely information and reminders of our events and activities. This mailing list is also the best way to communicate with other NH UPA members. We invite all group members to post their experiences, challenges, job opportunities, and other UX related conversation to the group.
UPA Publications:
The Journal of Usability Studies (JUS)
Our "Design Slam" Experience
In March 2009, we tried a “Design Slam” format to our meeting where attendees teamed up to help solve the design problems of a local not-for-profit.
Design Slam Lessons Learned (.pdf)
Next Meeting Details
Understanding the Nature of (Design) Resistance
To learn more and register, please go to:
http://nhupamay2012.eventbrite.com/
Although it's rarely stated directly, design as a profession is a consulting business. While we are responsible for producing work, we still seek final approval elsewhere. This fundamental understanding is important because our business, and ultimately the most difficult part of our job, is the business of influencing others.
It is natural for us to think that if we present our designs clearly and logically, provide data to support our decisions, and truly have the client’s best interests at heart, that we will get the buy-in and support that we are seeking. We often believe this because we are not paying enough attention to the affective level of our interactions with others until we begin to run into resistance.
Given that designers are agents of change, resistance is a predictable and natural part of our profession. The key to understanding resistance is to realize that it is an emotional reaction against the process of change, of being helped, or having to face up to difficult organizational problems. This talk will help designers
- Gain an in-depth understanding of the nature of influence and resistance
- Know how to identify resistance
- Provide hands-on, immediately applicable techniques for managing resistance.
ABOUT OUR SPEAKER
Alla Zollers is a passionate and innovative user experience researcher. Over the last six years, she has worked as a user experience consultant for agencies, startups, and software companies.
ABOUT OUR SPONSOR
The Atom Group (TAG) is a web development company based in Portsmouth, NH. Our team of digital artisans are deeply passionate about work, our clients, and our partners, and it shows. It shows in our finished products, in our team spirit, and on the faces of those with whom we work. TAG Consulting helps clients think through the complexities of the evolving internet -- everything from desktop to mobile applications. We evaluate your business requirements and determine the technologies that will best address issues to help your business grow and prosper. http://www.theatomgroup.com
WHEN:
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Refreshments & Networking: 6-7pm
Presentation: 7pm – 8ish
WHERE:
The Atom Group
125 Brewery Lane, #6
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Please RSVP at: http://nhupamay2012.eventbrite.com/
NH UPA meetings are ALWAYS open to anyone who is interested in attending. Membership to the UPA is NOT required.
Hope to see you there!