Press Releases

Usability Conference Focuses on Diversity of Roles Involved in User Experience

(Bloomingdale, IL:August 28, 2007) – The Usability Professionals’ Association (UPA) is pleased to announce its 2008 International Conference “The Many Faces of User Experience: Usability through Holistic Practice.”
The conference will take place at the beautiful Inner Harbor of Baltimore, Maryland, June 16-20, 2008.

Usability professionals ask the question “What makes something usable?” The UPA’s 2008 International Conference will ask a related question: “Who makes things usable?” With a world full of complex technology, consumers are demanding products and services that are more usable.  Organizations are learning that it takes many different skill sets and roles to create user-friendly products and services that consumers want. 

Designers, psychologists, marketing specialists, technologists, business analysts, information architects, and technical writers are just a few of the roles that bring valuable perspectives to creating good user
experiences. Alain Robillard-Bastien, UPA 2008 Conference Co-chair, observes: "There is a core usability discipline, of course, but usability is multidisciplinary by nature.”  He said “Usability requires creating the
proper synergy between all the roles in the design process. This conference will explore all of the roles that can contribute to better usable products.”  The UPA welcomes people from every User Experience (UX)
role to join “traditional” usability professionals at the 2008 International Conference.

Janice James, founder of the Usability Professionals’ Association noted that “Usability professionals have encouraged other fields to become proponents for easier to use products and services.” James said “The 2008 UPA Conference is an opportunity for individuals from all fields to collaborate and share methods and new ideas for accomplishing a common goal.” 
 
The UPA 2008 International Conference will offer interactive presentations and workshops featuring the latest research and methodologies for making things user-friendly. UX professionals from around the world are invited to share their ideas and experiences with fellow practitioners at this year’s UPA conference by submitting proposals for presentations, panels, papers, tutorials, and workshops. Proposals will be accepted beginning September 1, 2007 at www.upa2008.org

New for 2008
The new Managing User Experience track is focused on User Experience (UX) leadership and current trends in UX management. Special challenges such as the need to strategically position UX within organizations and the many skill sets required by mature UX teams make this track especially valuable to managers and consultants.

A special one-day track in e-Government usability will be offered this year only. Building a more responsive and connected government involves the creation of web sites and electronic services for the public and
businesses. The e-Government track at UPA 2008 will be of particular interest to professionals working for government agencies or on government contracts.

The Experienced Practitioners Track is another relatively new and popular addition to the conference. Introduced at the 2006 conference, the program is targeted at seasoned professionals, sold out in its first two years, and is expected to be in high demand again in 2008.
 
More Information
Eva Gaumond, UPA 2008 Conference Publicity Chair publicity2008@usabilityprofessionals.org  

UPA 2008 Website:   http://www.upa2008.org 

The Usability Professionals' Association (UPA) is an international, non-profit, professional association with more than 2,200 members around the world. Since 1991, the UPA has served user experience professionals through local chapters, international and local events, publications, and special projects.  UPA members are specialists in designing and evaluating products to be efficient, effective, and enjoyable.  They lead the creation of international product standards and promote the value of usability practices in industry, government, and education.

The UPA has over 35 local chapters around the world including chapters in Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, South America, and the Middle East. The UPA also founded World Usability Day in 2005, which is observed each year.  In 2006, thousands of people celebrated World Usability Day by focusing on usability and design at hundreds of local events in 40 different countries.

 

For more information, contact:

The Usability Professionals' Association
email: office@upassoc.org
web: www.usabilityprofessionals.org

 

UPA Europe 2008:  www.usabilityprofessionals.org/conference/europe2008

Torino World Design Capital: www.torinoworlddesigncapital.it/portale/en/