#ixd14

Me at IxD14

Back in February, I gave a talk at Interaction14 in Amsterdam. It was my first talk at an international conference (or any conference, for that matter), which was a rather scary proposition. With 200 or so people in the audience, I went up there and did my thing. The response was electric, and now there are about 50 more sets of Think Bigger, Make Better scattered throughout the world. The experience has left me feeling really excited about where the work can go, and also pretty jazzed about public speaking.

Thanks so much to the IxD14 crew, those who supported me throughout thesis and while I wrote this talk, and to everyone who was in the audience. TBMB has been such a rewarding project, one I’ll continue to work on for a long time. 

Here's the blurb for the talk:

Individual perspectives can keep us from understanding others. Using gender as a lens, we can uncover fascinating differences in the ways we use language and storytelling to communicate, as well as distinctive modes of approaching technology.

In this talk, learn how understanding different modes of interacting with the world can provide us with a framework to uncover new ideas, better empathize with users, and build stronger relationships between teams at work.

In the first week of February (ironically also the first week of my new internship) I got the chance to volunteer at Interaction14, a conference organized by the Interaction Design Association. This international conference was being organized right here, in our very own Amsterdam.

I felt like the luckiest bastard to be able to be there. The conference lasted 3 days, of which I spent two days helping out here and there. Interaction14 wasn't the first conference I got to peek in on, in fact I have been lucky enough to spend a few hours at The Next Web conference in '13 en '12. But when I stood there, amongst all these interaction designers, I caught myself feeling right at home.

All the attendee's, speakers and visitors alike, we're incredibly polite. A teacher of mine said to me: 

"Good interaction design can't be seen or pointed out. If it does it's work well, you won't even notice it. I think that's what makes Interaction Designers particularly humble people."

Although I wouldn't necessarily agree that interaction designers don't like to humble-brag from time to time (who doesn't really?) I think he was onto something. Where a conversation at a more commercial conference tends to get cut short as soon as they figure out you aren't worth much (being a student), every conversation at ixd14 was much more social. The people were friendly and interested. People would ask, without feigned interest "What are you working on?" and I found myself engaging effortlessly and enthusiastically with all manners of professionals.

I'd like to share with you what stood out for me at this particular conference. Although it might have lacked a bit in the tips and tricks about tackling work problems, there was plenty to take away from the talks that I got to see.

Situational Design

( @mryash on situational design )

This was a commonly recurring theme during the conference. Many speakers urged the community to step away from designing for screen sizes. Screen sizes do not dictate context in any way. Using a mobile phone does not mean you are running around frantically and if you stil assume so, you are missing out on some valuable opportunities. 

Use the device and it's tools to help you understand the situation your user might find themselves in and design for that. 

Pair Design

Mr. Noessel from the Cooper Institute gave us a little look in how they pair up designers to get the best out of both worlds. They pair a visual and analytical designer who compliment each others assets.

( @chrisnoessel about Pair Design )

This particular talk rang a bell in my head since during my internship I'll be working together with another intern. One thing he mentioned towards the ending of his talk was how certain techniques can also be used for designers who are not necessarily working together. Although we each have our own project and need to operate individually if we're hoping to graduate this year, we are planning on helping each other out where we can. Two pairs of eyes see more than one after all. He mentioned approaching another designer and agreeing to partner up. Every morning you'll spend 15 minutes giving advice to your partner in crime, every afternoon you'll be receiving it back about your own project.

Always keeping the feedback method in mind : Compliments first, questions second, critique last. Together you can accomplish more than alone. A fresh look can be invaluable when you are wrestling with a problem after all. I fully intend to use this approach with my 'intern-partner'.

Inspiration

The organizers of Interaction 14 invited several speakers that provided inspirational talks. Designers that shared their experience but also speakers from adjacent fields. Take for instance the amazing talk by Bernard Lahousse stating that food = interaction. He shared with us how the food world is constantly challenging itself to create a fuller experience by inviting all or specific senses.

( @foodpairing with his talk food = interaction)

Paulo Malabuyo shared with us all the bad design advice he's received over the years and his suggestions on making that advice better.

(Bad Design Advice by @wildchicken)

Anneli Olsen entertained us by telling us how cats are júst like users. They consider themselves to be the center of the world they live in. They are selfish, they are self-centered and we love them. She also reminded us that as a designer, we can, and should, get inspiration from just about anywhere.

(@anneli_olsen with 'Important things I learned about User Experience Design from my cat')

And so much more that I didn't get to capture on photo or even see with my own eyes. Inspiration was abundant at Interaction14. If not through the speakers, then through the challenges which ran throughout the weekend. Attempting to solve real world problems in record time. 

Mindfullness

There were a lot of bright minds at interaction 14 and as designers we tend to work hard, work harder and work the hardest. Sometimes that means our health can be put on the back burner and before you know it a little problem turned into a big one. Irene Au invited us to look at how our body's influence our minds rather than the other way around and taught us some tricks for clearing up your head when you need it. Infusing your brain with that touch of random creativity you are looking for during a brainstorming session where you've hit a wall, or replenishing your energy when you are feeling stressed. 

In conclusion

Interaction 14 reminded me once again of why I wanted to be a designer and what tugged me towards interaction design years ago, before I started my bachelor. The ability and the drive to want to make the world a better place, if ever so slightly. These brilliant people, sharing those spaces with me for a few days, were actually doing that! And they didn't mind talking to me about it either!

Although it makes me a bit insecure in my own inability. It also makes me hope, that one day I'll be that bright and that driven and that I too will be able to design something that'll make someone's day a bit easier or more pleasant. 

I really caught the bug with this conference! I do so hope that one day I'll get to attend similar conferences. Perhaps even as a professional? I can only hope! :)

( proof that I was actually there )

An interesting thing happened about halfway through the 72-hour challenge, I kept wanting to look for more and more data, then my partner in crime and one of our mentors told me to STEP -- AWAY -- FROM -- THE -- RESEARCH!

After years of writing academic papers and Model UN conferences on international development and health issues, research was my crutch. Don't let it be yours!

Early on in non-design school land, we're taught to do lots of research and then go ahead and write. Then we get to interaction and UX design, where once again, research is key, but of a slightly different flavor. I'm the first person to give research the hard sell. But sometimes you just have to stop, even if you know you don't have all the information you need, and dive in head first and start sketching, concepting, thinking, sticky noting, whatever you do to come up with ideas.

If you do spend time generating these ideas and feel stuck, there are two things to try next.

Option 1: Find someone to co-design with you and talk it out. Almost no designers succeed at working alone. One of Leah Buley's suggested strategies in UX Team of One is that you can use more people than other designers to help talk through your ideas. Find allies around you, even if that's your roommate, one of your parents (Hi Dad! Thanks for your ideas for this thing!) or a colleague from an entirely different department. Don't be shy-I've found people are often so curious to peer into our world they are happy to lend you their brain for 15 minutes.

Option 2: Reassess your research plan. What kind of research have you done? What kind have you not done? What can you do with the resources you have and time before your deadline? Remember that research can be qualitative, quantitative, first hand ("primary") or second-hand ("proxy"). Maybe you've done one of those types but could use some help from another? Maybe you missed a key user group and now your realizing you need to talk to those people too?

We have a couple of new people at the Open Coop and will post more about them in our next note, for now everything that has been going on the last four weeks.

The Open Coop was featured in the year report of Rabobank Nederland with an interview of Christian Ernsten and Joost Janmaat.

The Volkskrant published a spread on the 'Renaissance of Amsterdam-North', with in-depth reporting on the Open Coop and and interview of Thijs Middeldorp.

Peter Robinett

Last week Peter got started on his work with Beamer and visited former collaborators Graphic Surgery in their studio.

On Thursday he participated in Tony’s OBA Fietssafari at the TonTon Club. He also continued to investigate the internet situation in the Poortgebouw.

DUS architects

The team of studio Drift, Luuk van Laake, Rombout Frieling and DUS is shortlisted for the competition for the lightconcept of the famous ‘KapellBrücke’ and was sightseeing for inspiration.

Partizan Publik

Partizan Publik was invited to design the campaign to get out the vote for the upcoming municipal elections in Amsterdam.

February 24th, at 20:00, Partizan Publik presents STAAKT. 

A theatrical lecture on the February 1941 strike, the biggest civil uprising against the Nazi occupation during the Second World War, that started in Amsterdam. 

A day later, Amsterdam commemorates the February Strike at the statue of the Dokwerker: Jonas Daniel Meijerplein, 16:45.

Bite.me

Read the latest news about StreetDinners which just launched 5 x streetdinners on 4en5mei.Amsterdam !

Topika

Alexander co-organised This happened IXD14, an evening about the stories behind interaction design projects. 

Marie de Vos - STBY – talked about improving travelers’ experience of train platforms.

Christian Eckert & Andreas Wegner - icon incar – talked about designing a next-generation automotive interface.

Pieter Jan Pieters – OWOW – talked about The Social Project

Luna Maurer – Studio Moniker – talked about the ever-growing animation film Your Line or Mine

Sujata

Her work was included in the W-CA Contemporary Landscape exhibition, in Worcester City Gallery & Museum, Worcester, UK, with the theme 'contemporary photographic responses to Landscape. The works in the collection are far more critical and context driven than simply a reflection of either a rural or urban landscape. They are as much about the interior as the exterior, they are environmentally political, they are socially political and they raise notions of identity.'

http://www.sujata.nl/contemporary-landcape-photography-group-exhibition-worcester-uk/

She has been messing around with the laser cutter at protospace aan het ij to engrave photos on wood. It started as a demo/experiment with some guys (Yp & Daan) that were volunteering there, That has probably prepared her enough for making open coop signage in the near future :)

Last but not least one of her 'scapes' is hanging in Pussy Galore! 

The last four weeks left little time for me to reflect, this quick post sums up what was going on.

I really enjoyed organising This happened IXD14 together with Ianus and Pieter. It was an experimental edition with more seats for the audience and two speakers from Germany that were visiting for the conference. We had a splendid evening with a good balance of speakers and a really great atmosphere.

Marie de Vos - STBY – talked about improving travelers’ experience of train platforms.

Christian Eckert & Andreas Wegner - icon incar – talked about designing a next-generation automotive interface.

Pieter Jan Pieters – OWOW – talked about The Social Project

Luna Maurer – Studio Moniker – talked about the ever-growing animation film Your Line or Mine

Following the conference program on Saturday I can conclude that my tolerance for the average academic or "professional" keynote delivery is really low since I started organising This happened. The format of 10 minutes presentation and 10 m in Q&A is a lot more entertaining in my opinion. Then again the conversation with Scott McLoud stood out for me and was really enjoyable.

Visiting the Stedelijk I tried out Moniker's "Your line or mine" and watched people using the installation for a while and it is incredible to see how much engagement they generate with this setup.

Newsmememachine

More stakeholder meetings in Hilversum, this time with the Tegenlicht editors at the VPRO

Design and user stories 

Benchmarking and testing

Research 2nd screen applications

Skinvision

Finalised scenario prototypes for in depth interviews with health practitioners.

Testing and deploying the iPhone app with a complete archive re-design.

(A recap, the final day)

The final day of the conference offered probably my favorite talk of the whole event. Arlene Birt spoke on The Visual [Emotional] Vocabulary of Sustainability. I know I keep relating everything back to thesis, but it's on my mind, and this talk specifically really gets at the heart of what I've been thinking about since our Thesis I course in our first year. The concern was about certain words (environmentalism, sustainability, green design, climate change) and how they've essentially become negative words in the minds of most people. They remind people of punishment and shame. Arlene called it emotional baggage, and that shame just equals shutdown, which is the opposite of what people working in this field want to happen.