MiUPA Events

Accessibility Conference

Thursday, September 30, 2010, 9:00am to 5pm

University of Michigan Union, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Join us for a full-day online conference with experts on web accessibility, presented by Environments for Humans. Learn strategies for universal design, mobile accessibility, how people with disabilities access the web, accessibility testing and more.

With the generous support and partnership from the University of Michigan Office of Institutional Equity and an anonymous sponsor, we will host the Environments for Humans Accessibility Summit at no cost for those who attend.

Speaker Schedule (tentative)

Location

University of Michigan Union (map)
Wolverine Room
530 S. State Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1308

Cost and Registration

There is no cost to attend the conference. but registration is required. Attendees can register online via Guestlist.

Additional Information

  • Arrive before 9:00am since the session begins promptly.
  • The online conference will be presented via the Internet via Adobe Connect and will be viewed via a projector.
  • Attendees don’t need to bring their laptops, except for note taking.
  • The conference room will only have wireless Internet available to those with University of Michigan access.

While the conference is free, those attending will need to arrange for their own lunch (one-hour lunch break). Lunch is available from several restaurants in the Michigan Union as well as local Ann Arbor restaurants within walking distance.

Questions? Email events {at} miupa dot org.

Internet User Experience 2010 Conference

July 24- 29, 2010

Ann Arbor, MI

The MIUPA is proud to co-sponsor the 6th annual Internet User Experience conference. This conference has grown every year and has now captured international attention. Come and participate as world-reknowned speakers and trainers cover aspects of web site design and strategy, including usability, marketing, branding, social media, mobile web, and more. Tutorials will be offered on usability testing, storyboarding, focus groups, personas, accessibility, and more.
Here are a few highlights:

Holistic Usability: Making Stone Soup for Stakeholders and Clients

Tuesday June 22, 2010, 6pm to 8pm

Quicken Loans in Livonia, Michigan

What things do you create that allow people to make connections and share experiences?

As UX professionals, we are often the champion of the end-user. Whether an IA, an IXD, or a usability specialist, our main goal is to create good experiences surrounding products.

But our products are more than just interfaces, designs, software, or widgets; they are reports, personas, presentations, recommendations, and a myriad of other deliverables that we created for the people who commissioned our work: clients and stakeholders.

The UX skills we employ every day in creating positive and memorable experiences for the end-user can be used on business stakeholders, software engineers, and clients of our services in order to:

  • increase investment
  • decrease productivity blocking
  • increase efficient information sharing, and ultimately
  • improve the end-user experience

Through the concepts of holism and corporate culture, this talk will present case studies that examine how UX techniques, methods, skills, and deliverables can be repurposed to create good experiences for all people who come into contact with our work. (Christina’s talk is based on a workshop given at the 2010 UPA Conference in Munich, Germany in May 2010.)

Christina York is Manager of the User Experience Design group at ITHAKA, a not-for-profit organization that provides ways of finding and accessing scholarly information online in the creation of new knowledge. She is passionate about all things usable, useful, and meaningful.

Christina has worked in the UX field for more than eight years and still loves what she does every day. Her favourite things are the UX community, horror films, beer, and Deeeetroit Basketball. Find Christina on Twitter (@UXtina) and in local brew pubs in Ann Arbor.

Location

Quicken Loans
Puerto Rico Room – Third Floor
20255 Victor Parkway
Livonia, MI 48152 (map)
Website

Cost

$5, Current students
$10, Michigan Usability Professionals’ Association members
$20, All others

Register online at Guestlist so we can ensure we have enough refreshments to go around. We’ll also take payment (cash or check) at the door. Questions? Email events {at} miupa dot org.

Schedule

6:00pm, Networking and food
6:45pm, Announcements
7:00pm, Program begins

State of Michigan User Experience Awareness Day

Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 1:00 – 4:00 PM

Michigan State Police Training Academy Auditorium, Lansing

As part of our mission to promote usability in the state of Michigan, the Michigan Chapter of the Usability Professionals Association (MiUPA) is pleased to host the State of Michigan User Experience Awareness Day

This event is being held in conjunction with the State of Michigan Department of Technology Management & Budget (DTMB), and is primarily focused on supporting usability efforts throughout the state government.

When

Wednesday, May 26, 2010, 1:00 – 4:00 PM

Where (Please note location change)

Michigan State Police Training Academy Auditorium
7426 N Canal Rd
Dimondale, MI 48821-5001

map

There is limited seating available for the afternoon session, which runs from 1:00 – 4:00 PM

Afternoon agenda:

User Centered Design methods you can use today.

  • Method Discussions
    • User Profiles and Personas
    • User Requirements vs. Technical Requirements and the Separation of Designer / Programmer roles
    • Web Evaluation Lite
    • Writing for the Web
  • Open Discussion
  • Next Steps

There is no fee for this event, thanks to our generous sponsors:

Reservations will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please send reservation requests to president@miupa.org

Social Networking with Lou Rosenfeld

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

The Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti

Lou Rosenfeld, one of the fathers of information architecture, is in town, and this is your chance to rub elbows with him and your fellow usability, IA, and UX professionals!

Lou Rosenfeld is teaching two day long workshops in Ann Arbor on March 30th and 31st. On Tuesday, March 30th, starting at 7pm, the Michigan UPA will host a networking function at the Corner Brewery brewpub in Ypsilanti. This is your chance to network and have fun with your colleagues. There will be a cash bar, and Michigan UPA will provide snacks. There will be book giveaways, and Lou Rosenfeld will be available for book-signing.

This event is brought to you by MIUPA, and co-sponsored by Ypsilanti Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and Rosenfeld Media.

When

Tuesday, March 30, 7 PM – 9 PM
Lou Rosenfeld will only be there until 9PM, but feel free to stay and enjoy the Corner Brewery after that!

Where

Corner Brewery
720 Norris St
Ypsilanti, MI 48198
Map

Cost

Registration is $5. Please register at online registration service Guestlist.
Book giveaways will be based on registrations.

What Makes an Effective User Experience Professional and Team: The UX Practitioner Perspectives

February 23, 2010, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

West Hall, Room 411 (aka “Ehrlicher Room”), University of Michigan

The Michigan chapters of UPA and CHI (currently in formation), in conjunction with the University of Michigan School of Information Career Development Office and Student CHI Chapter, invite you to a very special evening networking and panel session. Five industry UX practitioners will give short position presentations on the skills that make a successful practitioner and team. This will be followed by panel and audience Q&A discussion,and then a networking reception. Come to network, learn, and position/reposition yourself for success in this exciting field.

LEARN what user experience industry professionals are saying about what it takes to succeed in the field.  Make sure you are developing the skills and competencies that will grow your effectiveness, currency, and marketability.

When

Tuesday February 23rd, 2010 7:00 – 9:00PM

Where

West Hall, Room 411 (aka “Ehrlicher Room”), University of Michigan

1085 South University Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1107

Cost

Free – University of Michigan School of Information full-time students and faculty
$5 – Other current students
$10 – Michigan Usability Professionals’ Association or Michigan Computer Human Interaction members
$15 – All others

Register online so we can ensure we have enough refreshments to go around. We’ll also take payment (cash or check) at the door. Questions? Email events {at} miupa dot org.

Schedule

6:45 PM, Registration opens

7:00 PM, Announcements

7:10 PM, Program begins

8:25-9:00 PM, Networking

Panelists

Mike Beasley

User Experiologist, Pure Visibility, Inc.

Dan Cooney

User Experience Consultant

Lija Hogan

Usability Team Lead, ForeSee Results

Sumanth Muthyala

Senior User Experience Engineer, Compuware Corporation

Michael Wuergler

Human Factors Engineer, OnStar by GM

This panel will be moderated by Dave Mitropoulos-Rundus (aka ‘the Jerry Springer of panel moderators’ and a staunch supporter of the ‘Brawls for Better Brains Society’)

UX and Agile

a panel discussion on User Experience in an Agile Environment

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Organic, Bloomfield Hills

Practicing user experience as part of an agile project can be challenging. How do we provide for a consistent user experience across the entire product when the development is broken up into short iterations? How do we perform typical user experience design tasks like user research, persona development, user testing, or UI design in an agile environment?
Bring your questions. This panel of experts will discuss best practices they have discovered.

When

Thursday, January 28, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Where

Organic
2600 S. Telegraph
Suite 100
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303
(Enter off Franklin Road)
Map

Cost

$5 for Full-time Students (ID must be presented)

$10 for MIUPA and MOCHI members

$20 All others

RSVP

Seating is limited, so please RSVP at Upcoming.org to ensure entrance to this event. You can also send an RSVP to events@miupa.org

Schedule

6:00 PM Registration, networking, and pizza

6:45 PM Announcements

7:00 PM Program

Panelists

Helene Gidley
Owner of Agile PM consulting firm HSG Consulting LLC and founder of Agile Groupies, A2 based Agile User Group

Carissa Demetris
Owner, Circle D Design

Josie Scott
Senior User Researcher, TechSmith

Serena Rosenhan
User Experience Specialist, ProQuest

John Rivard
Information Architect, Assistant Vice President, Comerica Bank

Moderator

Anthony Viviano
Senior Experience Architect at Organic Detroit

Live Social Networking 2009

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti

The Michigan UPA invites you to an evening of networking and fun on Tuesday, December 8th at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti. This is your chance to skip the speaker and enjoy the company of fellow usability professionals.

New Update: The Ypsilanti Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (Thank you Mary Zucchero) will be providing a number of tasty appetizers throughout this event as their way of welcoming the Michigan UPA and the announcement of next year’s Internet User Experience 2010 conference.

Also, the Michigan UPA will be raffling off a copy of IUE2009 Conference Proceedings along with IUE2010 T-Shirts.

The Corner Brewery is located in Ypsilanti, near historic Depot Town. There is abundant parking, great drinks, and great atmosphere. This is a free event and a great opportunity to catch up with other people in the field and meet new people. We hope to see you there!

When

Tuesday, December 8, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Where

Corner Brewery
720 Norris St
Ypsilanti, MI 48198

Map

Cost

Free admission! And now, free appetizers! (except for any drinks or additional food that you choose to order)

Registration deadline extended! Michigan UPA Live Usability Event at Michigan World Usability Day 2009

The registration deadline has been extended to by Monday, November 9, 2009. Please register at http://usability.msu.edu/conf/2009/

The Michigan UPA will be presenting a live usability experience with the Michigan Chapter of the Usability Professionals’ Association from 3:00 – 3:30pm on November 12, using everyday clocks and focusing on button types, display technologies, and product features. We will present our findings at the end of the conference.

We need volunteers and participants! Please contact events@miupa.org to sign up as a volunteer.

World Usability Day event information:

You are invited to Michigan World Usability Day 2009, hosted by the Michigan State University Usability & Accessibility Center.

When:

Thursday, November 12, 2009

9:00-5:00

Where:

Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, East Lansing

Event Description

This year’s theme is Designing for Sustainable Communities, and the event will feature a special session on accessibility in the global knowledge economy, talks from the Ford Motor Company, Comerica Bank, and Oakland County eGovernment, an Assistive Technology Expo, a workshop on WCAG 2.0, and more!

Please register at http://usability.msu.edu/conf/2009/ by Monday, November 9, 2009.

Participants are given a choice of two exciting events in the morning. An Assistive Technology Expo will present an opportunity to observe real-world usage of text-to- speech software and other assistive technologies with Steve Pollo (Mee, Inc.) and Al Puzzuoli (Information Technologist, Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, MSU). The WCAG 2.0 Workshop will educate attendees on the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and how they apply in a Web 2.0 world, presented by Mike Elledge and Graham Pierce (Assistant Director and User Experience Researcher, Usability & Accessibility Center, MSU), and Carl Bussema and Carl Raymond (Information Technologists, University Outreach and Engagement, MSU). Tours of the Usability & Accessibility Center will be available after the morning events, and will be followed by lunch.

The afternoon will begin with a special session on Contemporary Issues of IT in the Sustainable Global Knowledge Economy, moderated by Dr. Rex LaMore (Director, Center for Community & Economic Development, MSU). George Boersma (Director, Office of Technology Partnerships, Michigan Department of Information Technology), will discuss current federal initiatives that will extend broadband infrastructure into under-served and rural areas. Kirk Riley (Executive Director, Information Technology Empowerment Center, MSU), will discuss the work of the Information Technology Empowerment Center (ITEC) in increasing the technology skills of Lansing area residents. Sharron Rush (Executive Director, Knowbility) will discuss how IT accessibility allows individuals with disabilities to more fully participate in the modern world, and Dr. Mark Wilson (Associate Director, School of Planning, Design & Construction, MSU) will explain the global knowledge economy and how each of the topics presented fits in. After the talks, the presenters will be engaged in a panel discussion, and the audience will be invited to ask questions. Later in the afternoon, Shane Schulze (HV Battery Engineer, Ford Motor Company) will present on the topic of hybrid car usability, Salina Washington (Oakland County eGovernment) and Dr. Constantinos Coursaris (Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media, MSU) will discuss eGovernment Services for a Sustainable County, and John Rivard (Comerica Bank) will speak about virtual forms delivery.

Start a UX Movement at Your Company

Strategies and tactics for starting and fueling a user-centered movement inside your company.

Wednesday, October 28, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

ProQuest, Ann Arbor

Selling user experience for internal corporate systems–where overall user experience standards are often lower than external-facing systems–can be an incredibly difficult challenge. Brian will showcase strategies and tactics to help start and keep a user-centered movement inside your company. Brian spent several years developing Web-based applications and then employing user experience methods with internal systems while successfully evangelizing user experience at Pfizer, Inc.

Brian Phelps has been designing and researching systems for more than 10 years, with over 8 years of experience in user-centered design techniques, including usability testing, heuristic evaluation, user interface design and development, field usability studies, and contextual inquiry. Among the products and services Brian has evaluated as a consultant at Tec-Ed are consumer-oriented wireless phone websites, an in-home wireless hardware product, Web-based educational systems, a volunteer organization’s website, e-commerce workflow, virtual desktops, a test authoring system, and alternative Web-based survey designs. His clients include Campbell-Ewald, McAfee, ETR Associates, VMware, Nextivity, McGraw-Hill, Seagate, Chrysler, IEEE, RightNow Technologies, The American Academy of Ophthalmology, and Monarch Teaching Technologies. Prior to joining Tec-Ed, Brian was a user experience researcher, designer, and evangelist at Pfizer, Inc. where he designed Web-based applications and acted as the user experience lead for more than 15 projects.

When

Wednesday, October 28, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Where

ProQuest
789 E Eisenhower Pkwy
Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Map

Cost

$5 for Full-time Students (ID must be presented)

$10 for MIUPA and MOCHI members

$20 All others

RSVP

Seating is limited, so please RSVP at Upcoming.org to ensure entrance to this event. You can also send an RSVP to events@miupa.org

Schedule

6:00 PM Registration, networking, and pizza

6:45 PM Announcements

7:00 PM Program

Press Release:
ProQuest Hosts Michigan Usability Professionals’ Association Workshop

ANN ARBOR, Mich., October 28, 2009 – ProQuest, an information and technology company, will host the Michigan Chapter of the International Usability Professional’s Association’s (MIUPA) “Start a UX Movement at Your Company” workshop at its Ann Arbor, Michigan headquarters on Wednesday, October 28. The workshop brings together a group of interface designers, usability engineers, information architects, students, and other information professionals to network and learn from Tec-Ed consultant and usability expert Brian Phelps. The session will showcase strategies and tactics for starting and fueling a user-centered movement inside an organization.

“ProQuest is proud to be a cornerstone in Michigan’s continuing development in high-tech and information industries, said Bipin Patel, ProQuest’s Chief Information Officer. “Our R&D and User Experience teams have been recognized worldwide for their innovations. We’re very pleased to provide a venue for knowledge sharing, and I’m confident that we’ll all be inspired by the user-driven information technology found within our own community.”

The workshop will help participants conquer a common corporate dilemma: lower internal user experience standards for internal corporate systems than in external-facing systems. Mr. Phelps will showcase strategies and tactics to help start and then maintain a user-centered movement inside organizations. He has been designing and researching systems for more than 10 years, with eight years of experience in user-centered design techniques, including usability testing, heuristic evaluation, user interface design and development, field usability studies, and contextual inquiry. As a Tec-Ed consultant, Mr. Phelps has evaluated consumer-oriented wireless phone websites, an in-home wireless hardware product, Web-based educational systems, a volunteer organization’s website, e-commerce workflow, virtual desktops, a test authoring system, and alternative Web-based survey designs. His clients include Campbell-Ewald, McAfee, ETR Associates, VMware, Nextivity, McGraw-Hill, Seagate, Chrysler, IEEE, RightNow Technologies, The American Academy of Ophthalmology, and Monarch Teaching Technologies. Prior to joining Tec-Ed, Brian was a user experience researcher, designer, and evangelist at Pfizer, Inc. where he designed Web-based applications and acted as the user experience lead for more than 15 projects.

The “Start a UX Movement at Your Company” workshop will be held Wednesday, October 28, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM, at ProQuest’s Ann Arbor headquarters. The session is $5 for Full-time Students (ID must be presented) $10 for MIUPA and MOCHI members $20 for all others. All proceeds go to MIUPA.

For more information, visit http://miupa.org/

Seating is limited, so please RSVP at Upcoming.org to ensure entrance to this event. You can also send an RSVP to events@miupa.org

ProQuest is best known for the creation of information tools and technologies that support research around the world in schools, libraries, universities and businesses. Last month, the company was ranked by InformationWeek magazine among the top 30 U.S. firms for innovative use of business technology. It was also honored with the 2007 Red Hat Innovation Award for Increased Return on Investment.

About ProQuest
ProQuest creates specialized information resources and technologies that propel successful research, discovery, and lifelong learning. A global leader in serving libraries of all types, ProQuest offers the expertise of such respected brands as Chadwyck-Healey™, UMI®, SIRS®, and eLibrary®. With Serials Solutions®, Ulrich’s™, RefWorks®, COS™, Dialog® and now Bowker® part of the ProQuest brand family, the company supports the breadth of the information community with innovative discovery solutions that power the business of books and the best in research experience.

More than a content provider or aggregator, ProQuest is an information partner, creating indispensable research solutions that connect people and information. Through innovative, user-centered discovery technology, ProQuest offers billions of pages of global content that includes historical newspapers, dissertations, and uniquely relevant resources for researchers of any age and sophistication—including content not likely to be digitized by others. Inspired by its customers and their end users, ProQuest is working toward a future that blends information accessibility with community to further enhance learning and encourage lifelong enrichment.

For more information, visit www.proquest.com or the ProQuest parent company website, www.cambridgeinformationgroup.com.