Filling The UX Need: Finding The Talent (And The Opportunities) In The User Experience Industry
Posted: May 1, 2023 Filed under: events Leave a comment
The user experience industry continues to explode in importance, yet finding the right talent – and opportunities – is still a challenge.
This month, we’ve invited a panel of industry professionals who will explore ideas on how to attract new talent as well as how those interested in User Experience can find opportunities in this fast-evolving field. We’ll dig into topics like: ever-shifting UX job titles & responsibilities, managing expectations from employers (and applicants) during interviews, and more!
Space is limited for this in-person event so don’t forget to grab your ticket!
Richmond Design Group connects, inspires, celebrates, and amplifies the designers of today and tomorrow in the Richmond area.
Mock Interviews For Job Seeking UX Professionals
Posted: March 16, 2023 Filed under: events Comments Off on Mock Interviews For Job Seeking UX Professionals
An evening of fast-paced fun and practice for job seekers and those who want to polish their interviewing skills.
Are you a job seeker looking to improve your interviewing skills? Or perhaps you want to polish your skills and prepare for your next job opportunity? Join us for an evening of fast-paced fun and practice to help you ace your next interview at Shift Retail Labs on VCU campus!
Our event will feature a series of mock interviews, where you’ll have a chance to practice answering common interview questions and receive feedback on your performance. You’ll have the opportunity to walk your interviewer through work in your portfolio or on your resume. The evening’s activities are designed to help you think on your feet, showcase your strengths, and overcome any interview jitters.
Led by your fearless industry professionals from the Richmond Design Group, this event is the perfect opportunity to get hands-on practice in a supportive and engaging environment. You’ll leave with a better understanding of your strengths and opportunities as an interviewee, and actionable tips to help you improve your performance in future interviews.
Whether you’re a recent graduate, a seasoned professional, or somewhere in between, this event is open to anyone who wants to build their confidence and ace their next job interview. Don’t miss this chance to have fun, learn, and connect with other job seekers in a dynamic and supportive environment!
Space in this hands-on, interactive workshop is extremely limited. Reserve your spot today before there are no spots left!
02.25.23: In-person workshop – Practicing Service Design at the Science Museum of Virginia
Posted: February 12, 2023 Filed under: events Comments Off on 02.25.23: In-person workshop – Practicing Service Design at the Science Museum of Virginia
Richmond Design Group connects, inspires, celebrates, and amplifies the designers of today and tomorrow in the Richmond area.
In-person Workshop
Get out your lab coats and dust off your clipboards! This month, we’re inviting you along with us to conduct a heuristic analysis of the service experience at the Science Museum of Virginia.
Heuristics offer fast, practical ways to solve problems or make decisions. As UX professionals, we use heuristic evaluations to systematically determine a design’s or a product’s usability. But how might your digital skills play out in the real world? And what does this have to do with the Science Museum of Virginia? Meet up with us at the museum and find out!
We’ll start at 1pm, talking about heuristic analysis and how to map it to a brick and mortar experience. Then we’ll set you loose in the museum with some thought starters – you can work on your own or with a group to discover what’s working well and where some experience gaps might exist. After our review, we’ll come back together to discuss our findings and recommendations. Finally, we’ll cap off the afternoon with a social meet & greet down the street at River City Roll.
Note: Reserving a space in the workshop is free, but gaining entry to the Science Museum is not.
Space in this hands-on, interactive workshop is extremely limited. Don’t forget to reserve your spot (free on Eventbrite) and purchase your Science Museum ticket for entry ($16 per person, with discounts for educators, or free for museum members)
RSVP so we know you’ll be there, then purchase admission to the Science Museum for Feb 25, 2023
10.28.22: Panel Discussion – Can Teamwork Really Make the Dream Work?
Posted: October 26, 2022 Filed under: events Comments Off on 10.28.22: Panel Discussion – Can Teamwork Really Make the Dream Work?
Richmond Design Group connects, inspires, celebrates, and amplifies the designers of today and tomorrow in the Richmond area.
Panel Discussion
This month, we’ve invited a panel of teammates from Simple Thread to share their knowledge as they discover, define, design, and develop digital experiences for their clients. Learn all the secrets of how this close-knit team works together from Research to Deployment on a variety of B2B and B2C projects. We’ll dig into things like: managing client expectations, keeping your assets organized, handoff from team to team and agency to client, and more!
Space is limited so don’t forget to grab your ticket!
Panelists
Stacey Warthen, Principal UX Designer, Simple Thread
Bio: Stacey has been crafting effective and intuitive experiences as a UX designer for 10+ years, working with a variety of clients and business verticals, from startups to enterprise businesses. She is particularly passionate about user research and creating inclusive, collaborative environments in the design and tech world.
Derek Heilmann, Senior UI/UX Designer, Simple Thread
Bio: Derek is a VCU grad with over 10 years of design experience at a variety of agencies and companies. He’s been working at Simple Thread for the last 4 years as the senior UI/UX designer managing design systems, interfaces and the overall user experience on a wide range of both B2B and B2C products.
Austin Carr, Senior Software Engineer, Simple Thread
Bio: 50% Designer, 50% Developer, 100% Hunk. Austin has worked professionally for 9 years making everything from library marketing websites to cyber security web apps. He loves harnessing the web to create delightful experiences that make people’s lives easier.
Coming 10.11.22: Social Hour at Ardent Craft Ales
Posted: September 30, 2022 Filed under: events Comments Off on Coming 10.11.22: Social Hour at Ardent Craft Ales
Hey you! Richmond Design Group is officially back in session! Our first in-person meetup of the year takes place October 11 at Ardent Craft Ales from 5-7pm. Reconnect with old friends and make some new ones as we get together for this informal meet & greet social.
Get to know our Board for 2022-23, and join us as we kick off a season of programs to connect, inspire, celebrate, and amplify the designers of today and tomorrow in the Richmond area. Don’t forget to grab a ticket!
Meet our new board members for 2021-22!
Posted: August 18, 2021 Filed under: general Comments Off on Meet our new board members for 2021-22!Welcoming our new RUX officers and supporting members
Officers
- President: Shannon Leahy
- Vice President: Lisa D. Dance
- Secretary: Megan McCalester
- Treasurer: Katie Moriarty
Supporting Members
- Lawrence Altaffer
- Phoebe Atkins
- Pollie Barden
- Chris Birkmeyer
- Samira Creel
- Christina Dick
- Tyrone Frye
- Erin Hurley-Brown
- Carl Joseph
- Ashley Moody
- Lauren Pleveich
- Laura Smith
- James “Sully” Sullivan
A hearty thank you
We give our heartfelt thanks for our outgoing officers and supporting members: Scott Childs, Sam Poulin, and Heather Schaefer.
And, a big shout-out to our community and those who attend our events and keep in touch!
Get to know the new board
Check out their bios and see you soon at our fall events!
Shannon Leahy (she, her)
Position: President
Fun fact: I’m a dual citizen of the US and Australia.
Why I joined the board: I’m grateful to all the people who helped me find my way into content design and UX, and I want to pay it forward by helping others learn something new or connect with others.
Lisa D. Dance (she, her)
Position: Vice President
Fun fact: My path to user experience started when I was 9 years old…
Megan McCalester (she, her)
Position: Secretary
Fun fact: I have lost over 100lbs.
Why I joined the board: I joined the board to make a difference within the Richmond UX community. I discovered my passion for ux late within my career and I wish I had events and a group of passionate people give insights and support out when I was discovering my path.
Katie Moriarty (she, her)
Position: Treasurer
Fun fact: I have a furbaby that keeps me on my toes. His name is Maverick and yes, he’s a Maverick! 🙂
Why I joined the board: I am passionate about increasing the visibility of design as a career opportunity to both students and career switchers. When I was presented with the opportunity to move into design, I did not realize the growth opportunities with it and now I’m very thankful I took that move!
Lawrence Altaffer (he, him)
Position: Supporting Member
Fun fact: I once blew myself up with gunpowder. It got better.
Why I joined the board: I joined to be a part of the local UX community, to learn from others, and to share my unique background with others.
Phoebe Atkins (she, her)
Position: Supporting Member
Fun fact: I was a Forensic Scientist and an English teacher in Spain before becoming a Product Designer
Why I joined the board: I became a supporting member to help cultivate an active and vibrant design community in RVA. As a career changer myself, I’m particularly passionate about helping aspiring designers get started in the field.
Pollie Barden (she, her)
Position: Supporting Member
Fun fact: Completed half-marathon at Virginia Beach at beginning of 21st Century
Why I joined the board: There is so much potential in the Richmond UX/Design community. I want to be a part of bring us all together to learn and achieve great things together.
Chris Birkmeyer (he, him)
Position: Supporting Member
Fun fact: While growing up, I have moved to 5 different states and 7 different cities.
Why I joined the board: I would like to share my experience and insights with the community. I also want to help educate the community on UX, as it is a passion of mine.
Tyrone Frye (he, him)
Position: Supporting Member
Fun fact: I conquered my fear of diving/sinking by jumping from a big rock into the Mediterranean.
Why I joined the board: I joined the board because I wanted to entrench myself into the RVA Design ecosystem. I had also been to a few events and was interested in how I could give back and be involved. I knew that there was a mentorship program in the works and that is something that greatly interests me since I’ve been around mentorship programs a lot in recent years. I even revamped and ran one for nearly a year until COVID happened.
Carl Joseph (he, him)
Position: Supporting Member
Fun fact: I have recently kicked off a new platform for RVA neighbors, small organizations and businesses to share about the impacts they are making in the city. It’s called On Behalf Of | Richmond.
Why I joined the board: I realized there’s a need for community and access to learning about design in the city of Richmond. I joined the board and I’m now supporting to to help fill needs where diverse perspectives can promote problems solving at a greater scale.
Ashley Moody (she, her)
Position: Supporting Member
Fun fact: I love reading (primarily contemporary fiction by POC).
Why I joined the board: To be more involved in the community especially around diversity.
Lauren Pleveich (she, her)
Position: Supporting Member
Fun fact: I have a 15×20 foot food forest taking up the entirety of my tiny backyard in Church Hill.
Why I joined the board: I want to understand how we can integrate with the broader Richmond community in positive ways. How do we dismantle the “tale of two Richmonds?”
Laura Smith (she, her)
Position: Supporting Member
Fun fact: I’ve been riding motorcycles for 25 years. I can also wiggle my ears. Sometimes I do both of these things at the same time.
Why I joined the board: I really enjoy being a connector in the community. I love when I can connect people to other people, resources, or knowledge. Anything that helps someone develop a more meaningful relationship with the world around them.
James “Sully” Sullivan (he, him)
Position: Supporting Member
Fun fact: In the summer of 2018, I taught myself some basic woodworking skills and now a lot of my furniture in my living room is stuff I’ve built.
Why I joined the board: I’m really passionate about design and helping others navigate the crazy world of being a professional designer. The job itself can be tough but getting into a good job is even tougher. I want to provide any and all insight I can to designers in RVA.
UX Camp RVA – Oct 26
Posted: September 9, 2019 Filed under: conferences, events, panel discussion, presentations, training | Tags: content strategy, design, design thinking, front-end development, IXD, Product Design, Product Strategy, UX 1 CommentSAVE THE DATE + CALL FOR SPEAKERS!
Richmond UX and Ladies who UX are combining forces to bring you a new event.
What is it?
This is an event where local designers come together and share their experiences to help each other become better together. The goal is to have designers of different experience levels come together and teach and learn from each other in 6 open sessions throughout the morning.
Who can attend?
Any of the talented designers in Richmond who have a concept for a talk, workshop, panel discussion or any other type of session that can help other designers get better. Come share your experiences with the community! Anyone who wants to learn more about UX, Design Thinking, IXD, Product or Design Strategy, Content Strategy, Front-End Development should attend.
When and where is it?
This is a half day crowdsourced event at VCU Brandcenter on Saturday, October 26th from 9AM-12PM.
The cost is $20
Proceeds will benefit a local charity.
World IA Day Recap
Posted: March 8, 2019 Filed under: events Comments Off on World IA Day RecapThank you all who came out to join us for World IA at VCU Brandcenter. The topic of the day was “Design for Difference” and we definitely got some difference in perspective and experiences that were shared. It was an amazing day full of thought-provoking speakers and panelists. As usual, we also had some lively discussion and got lot’s of divergent views and opinions on the table.
Kim Rees blew our minds from the outset talking about the influence of Data, Machine Learning and AI on design.
Our panel discussion, moderated by Erin White brought up some great points about the potential implications of not considering a diverse audience when you are designing.
Thanks again to Lisa Dance, Laura Turner Reid, and Scott Nixon for such a great discussion.
After lunch, we resumed with a really insightful look into designing a clinical research trial in Africa by Meghna Murali. Learning how to iterate a study around cultural norms very different than yours.
Then Samantha Willis introduced us to #UnmaskingRVA and how we need to continue to unmask the pervasive prejudices that color our perspectives.
Then Zach Bryant helped us to consider both sides of a perspective when making our design decisions.
Finally, our closing keynote speaker Heather Winkle inspired us with her journey of achieving a deeper level of personal and professional fulfillment by “zooming out” to help take stock of where she was and where she wanted to be.
World IA Day in RVA!
Posted: January 30, 2019 Filed under: events Comments Off on World IA Day in RVA!It’s official! Richmond VA is going to be a host city for World IA Day in 2019.
- What is World IA Day? It is a one-day, global festival of all things IA (Information Architecture), UX, Interaction Design, Design Strategy, User Research and related disciplines. Host cities around the world all have events on the same day.
- When is it? Saturday, February 23 from 9-4:30 PM
- Where will it be? It will be hosted at the VCU Brandcenter
103 S Jefferson St, Richmond, VA 23284 - Who should come?: Anyone interested in learning how design can change the world.
- Is there a theme?: Design for Difference.
From their website:
“As designers, we are responsible for creating worlds of experiences, environments, services, and systems that impact millions of people – with lasting impacts. While we don’t have a Hippocratic Oath, it’s important for us to follow a similar goal to “do good” and “do not harm.” It is our responsibility as IA’s to consider the consequences and impact our design decisions have on humanity and society as a whole.
Research is a foundational step in the design process. It ensures that we understand and account for diverse user needs within communities, both in our own domains and globally.”
Learn more here: (https://www.worldiaday.org/2019)
Speakers and Panelists:
Kim Rees – Head of Data Experience Design, Capital One
Samantha Willis – Freelance Journalist
Zach Bryant – Creative Director, Journey Group
Meghna Murali – Clinical Research Coordinator, Children’s National Health System
Andrew Levasseur – Experience Design Chair, VCU Brandcenter
Lisa Dance – UX Analyst, Genworth
Laura Turner Reid – User Research Director, ICF Olson
Scott Nixon – Manager of AI Systems Design, Capital One
Erin White – Head of Digital Engagement, VCU Libraries
Heather Winkle – VP of Card Design, Capital One
Tickets:
Go to our event page to register and save your spot!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/world-ia-day-design-for-difference-tickets-54659873152
Partners:
Our Sponsors:
January Lightning Talks!
Posted: January 28, 2019 Filed under: events Comments Off on January Lightning Talks!Thanks to everyone who came out to ICF Next last week for our January Lightning Talks with Ladies That UX and RVA Content Strategy. We saw some incredible speakers with great topics that challenged the way we approach our design solutions now and in the future.
Also a special thanks to our Sponsor Vitamin T for providing food and to ICF Next for hosting in their new office in downtown RVA.
We’ll see you all next month for World IA Day at VCU Brandcenter.