The world’s a mess. The number of problems we face and the technology involved, grows exponentially from year to year. Yet our job is to make it all work.From a UX design perspective, addressing these issues can seem like a game of “Whack a Mole,” where new issues pop up as soon as one is solved. It doesn’t have to be that way. What if we tried a proactive approach to encourage the right choices? We could build the pathways that allow other positive actions to take place. Through this strategy we create foundations for future growth that will have a positive effect on not just the tech systems we use but the world around us.

This year’s series,“Using UX for Good: Building a Better World”, will explore practical ways we can do this through the voices of visionary thinkers and designers who have already planted the seeds for growth. These innovative approaches to change can inspire us to take action while we expand the potential of our daily work. With this Speaker Series we celebrate the change-makers among us and look to them for inspiration as we solve the problems we face and create pathways that will expand, rather than contract, our future.

Please note: CHIFOO wants to make sure that each meeting is a great experience for everyone. If you need an accommodation to help you better enjoy CHIFOO meetings and events please let our CHIFOO Programs Chair know how we can help a few days prior to CHIFOO event.

2020 Speakers and Events

Participating in Public:
Municipal Software for Online Dialogue and Decision-making
May 6, 2020

We’ll consider how design can facilitate consensus rather than division. Let’s explore this together and build the practices and software to support democracy ...
Read More

Life & Death Design: What Life-Saving Tech Can Teach Everyday Designers
 June 3, 2020

Katie Swindler, UX Strategist, Manager | Allstate Insurance Company @madamautonomous Stress changes the human brain, enhancing some abilities and degrading others. In some of the most dangerous industries, creators of life-saving products have discovered how to leverage brain science and smart design to harness good instincts while reducing panic and ...
Read More

CHIFOO Video Meeting Details

Join us for our monthly CHIFOO meeting! Our next meeting this month at your own home in Portland ...
Read More

UX Writing & Microcopy:
How Small Words Make A Big Difference
Jan 8, 2020

In this talk, we will walk through how UX Writing & Microcopy can (and will) transform writing within business organizations, trades and arts work, and application design to reduce stress and provide guidance for all people from every walk of life ...
Read More

Calm Technology:
Designing for the Next Generation of Devices
Feb 5, 2020

How can you design technology that becomes a part of a user’s life and not a distraction from it? You’ll learn how to design products that work well, launch well, are easy to support, easy to use, and remain unobtrusive ...
Read More

Democracy is a Design Problem

March 4, 2020

Design directly affects every person in the nation. Join Dana as she explores the design of our democracy and how to make better design decisions that do not have as many unintended consequences for our democracy ...
Read More

The Long Nose of Innovation

April 1, 2020

Using examples from the Buxton-Microsoft Collection, the argument is made that knowing our history is as important to UX designers as it is to architects, musicians or any other creative discipline ...
Read More