{originally written August 16th, 2007}

Whew!?! When I arrived at UX Week 2007 it was my intention to keep copious notes and to keep up with current entries of the ideas, inspirations and new concepts presented. The intention was there, the follow through was lacking but, not due to effort. Well, perhaps a bit. The truth is that many presentations were very engaging and I often found myself thinking in real-time how to apply the ideas, inspirations and new concepts to the projects currently on my plate. At times just keeping up with notes was a challenge. By the time lunch was served on the second day, the needle was approaching full and I simply wanted to stop and pull my thoughts together. But, what would I miss? 

As it turns out, attending UX Week not only gave me the opportunity to get out of my office - it helped validate the work I have and continue to do as a user experience professional. Attending also gave me the opportunity to question the methods I currently use and identify small tweaks to improve it. Now to figure out how to put ideas into action without disrupting the process currently in place too much. The task now is to flip back through my pages of notes and look for ways to re-calibrate. The value of UX Week is only proven when changes sparked by attending affect the way I interact with those around me. The key concepts I take away from the experience is:

1. The role of UX practitioner relies more on being a "facilitator". To help others involved in the process/project understand the value of creating a good user experience.

 2. Design has the power to make a difference. There appeared to be an unintentional sub-theme to the conference that I only realized after connecting the dots between the presentations given by Deborah Adler (ClearRX), Lisa Strausfeld (One Laptop Per Child) and Adaptive Paths discussion of the Charmr project. Each project was inspired by recognizing a problem directly impacting the lives of those it was created for and only through the the power of Design was a solution arrived at.  It would be easy to say this defines all projects, but if  not for flaws with existing solutions - the work completed would not have such an overwhelming impact on improving the quality of life for those they were designed for. Very inspiring.

3.  In a crowded marketplace, differentiation leads to survival. For a project to be successful it is important to understand the objectives of task and effort. To first define the approach and be able to show results which validate the objectives. For me, approach is the method in which the group of individuals with unique talents come together to deliver a solution. To obtain differentiation - know your audience, know the benefits your product provides and know your competition. As a person leading the UX effort for the Evangelism Network, I understand that while our sites focus on technology the experience we create should not require those visiting them to understand them.  Differentiation for me is the unexpected features that are are contextual, relative and always one step ahead of the user visiting the site. This may seem trivial, but in a eco-system that can overwhelm users with features, the recognition of why the experience is created and for whom should not be overlooked.

Of course, a conference that presents such a large amount of information can not be without its flaws. UX Week is very academic in nature and, while it is a major reason for my attendance, it lacks any guidance on how to how to talk with/influence business decision makers. I also found there to be a lot of talk about usability practices that seems to be outdated and difficult to feasibly put into practice. Most surprisingly, I found the lack of discussion about current issues related to trends on the web and how to leverage them as possible elements worth exploring. Specifically, the ever growing impact of social networking practices and personalization that users are starting to expect.

Being UX consultants, Adaptive Path shares many stories related to past engagements with little advice on the details of how we as creative professionals fit into the larger picture of developing a project. The details of working with other members of an extended team including developers and how to address concerns related to technology decisions and limitations. To be clear, I do not come to hear talks on specific technology platforms, applications or languages. However, I would like to hear advice on what technology pitfalls to avoid  and how to better prepare myself for the workflow that happens between developers and designers. This is especially useful information to have as projects continue to grow in both size and complexity. 

Being a designer who works at Microsoft I realize the potential conflict in my previous statement and attend UX Week for personal growth, as well as, the opportunity to be in the company of other creative professionals. I value the relationships established with many of the AP folks, find great inspiration in the approach they take with clients and the work they produce. I also recognize the extreme tension in having Microsoft as a major sponsor of not only UX Week but other related AP events and workshops. While not directly involved in the sponsorship effort, I felt the providing of the lounge, software and admission to the Remix Boston events for all attendee's by Microsoft was approached as if a sell-out to "the man". In my opinion (and that of other Microsoft representatives) comments made while on stage were condescending, short sided and an unprofessional way to treat a major sponsor. Enough about that. 

I skipped the last day of the conference which is highlighted by "field trips"  to a couple selected DC museums for the opportunity jump on a train to New York City. I have been looking forward to my own "field trip" for almost as long as UX Week. As I write, the Manhattan skyline is starting to appear out my window. Over the next few days (weeks) I will continue to dig into my notes with the intention of publishing more thoughts and some notes. UX Week was though provoking, enlightening, informative and a good user experience overall. I return to my office refreshed and with a new perspective on how to improve my approach to the projects I am responsible for delivering.