Content Strategy Critique

We are pleased as punch to be partnering with the Content Strategy Seattle Meetup for a joint Content Strategy Critique.

Emily Warn of Two Pens will lead a Content Strategy Critique session, presenting a case study on how Zappo’s successfully uses social media content. Misty Weaver will follow with a critique of ModCloth. The evening will be a great opportunity to learn more about content strategy, SEO, content delivery and User Experience. We’re leaving plenty of time for you to share your expertise during a group discussion. Plus, we get to look at some really fun content.

This crossover event is a great opportunity to learn more about content strategy, SEO, content delivery and User Experience as well as share your expertise in a group discussion.

About Two Pens

Two Pens provides content strategy and writes social media content for both large and mid-size businesses. Our creative services include blogging, social network posting, tweeting, branding, naming and design. We’ve trained hundreds of employees at Microsoft, Nordstrom, Costco, AT&T Mobile, and Starbucks in blogging and social media writing skills.

About Emily Warn

Emily Warn works both sides of the aisle. She is a content strategist for high-profile websites, and is also a poet and writer. She is the founding editor of Webby Award-winning poetryfoundation.org and was the editor-in-chief of Microsoft.com. Most recently, she was the managing editor of the Microsoft Office Blogs, helping develop a blogging platform for the launch of the new Office 2013.

Sit up Straight! - How Wearable Technology can Support Healthy Living

We are proud to partner with our industrial design friends at IDSA NW for this event.

About the talk

Have you ever wanted to send a hug from far away, automatically track your daily activity, or have your clothing correct your posture? What if your insulin delivery went from being a plastic shot in your pocket to a beautiful ring on your finger? How ubiquitous can pervasive technology really be? We will look at the rapidly changing future of wearable technology where health and wellness companies are early adopters.

Wearable technology syncs with daily life so that we don’t simply think about our health when something hurts, but rather utilize the ever present technology to get and stay healthy. Notoriously unattractive medical devices are being slowly re-engineered into desirable artifacts to carry with pride. Janna will bring a working prototype and samples to interact with and discuss. With 20 years of experience in apparel and health related design, as well as 10 years working in technology, Janna brings a unique perspective of how these two seemingly disparate materials can continue to merge to create the ultimate user experience.

Janna Kimel

Currently the Senior User Experience Researcher (say that 10 times fast) at Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield, Janna C. Kimel has been practicing design and design research since 1991. In the 1990’s Janna could be found in theatrical costume shops and running a business making adaptive apparel for people with special needs. With the turn of the century she became fascinated with technology and how it could be combined with her favorite material, textiles. Janna has woven together a career stitching seemingly disparate disciplines together. As the principal of a small consultancy, third brain studio, llc, she had the opportunity to partner with innovative agencies such as Ziba, IDEO, Lunar, and health care companies including EnteroMedics, Providence, and our very own Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. In addition, Janna spent several years working with Intel’s Digital Health Group where she was part of the team who brought you the Intel Health Guide 6000. She has published and presented on motivation, behavior change, user research and wearable technology. She is a ramblin’ wreck with a master’s degree in industrial design from Georgia Tech.

This event is a collaboration between IDSA Northwest and IxDA Seattle. Follow @idsanw and @ixdaseattle

SAVE THE DATE: Microinteractions: Designing with Details with Dan Saffer

We are proud to partner with ASIS&T, IA/UX Meetup, CS Meetup and Puget Sound SIGCHI for this event.

About the talk

The difference between a good product and a great one are its details: the microinteractions that make up the small moments inside and around features. How do you turn on mute on your phone? How do you know you have a new email message? How can you change a setting? All these little moments—which are typically not on any feature list and often ignored—can change a product from one that is tolerated to one that’s beloved. This talk provides a new way of thinking about designing digital products: as a series of microinteractions that are essential to bringing personality and delight to applications and devices. We’ll delve into the structure of microinteractions—Triggers, Rules, Feedback, and Loops—and talk about why you should: Bring The Data Forward, Don’t Start From Zero, Use What is Often Overlooked, and Long Loops.

Schmooze in Belltown: IxDA + AIGA Mixer

Join us at Belltown Pub! Our friends at AIGA have invited us to their monthly mixer, Schmooze. AIGA is a great and positive force in the Seattle design community offering a wide range of social and educational programming year round. Learn more about AIGA Seattle.

So join us as we get together to swap ideas, vent about impossible deadlines, share inspiration, and have a laugh. No reservation needed, no cover charge but must be 21 and attendees are responsible for their own tabs. Belltown Pub has a pool table, foosball, and will offer our group happy hour deals until 8. It’s sure to be a great time!

This event is a collaboration between IxDA and AIGA Seattle. Follow @aigaseattle and @ixdaseattle.

May Event

Doors open at 6:30pm. Drinks and light snacks will be provided.

About the talk

Over a year ago, a team at Microsoft interviewed design thought leaders from Method, School of Visual Arts, Doblin, Nokia, Microsoft, Arduino, Kicker Studio, Twitter, Method, Malmö University, Stamen and frog design to understand perspectives on emerging themes in interaction design. It’s an exciting time for interaction design with work in such areas as The Internet of Things, Screens Everywhere, More Natural Interfaces, Augmenting our Abilities, Building Living Systems, Adaptive Environments, When Machines Can See, and Disrupt Everything. Albert Shum and Corrina Black will share some of these interviews and discuss how these emerging themes will shape our world.

Albert Shum

Albert Shum directs the Windows Phone Design team at Microsoft. The team consists of interaction, visual, motion, industrial and brand designers along with user researchers & design program managers working in an open studio. The team collaborates with engineering & business partners to create integrated mobile experiences for consumers. Prior to Microsoft, Albert led the convergence of sports & technology efforts at Nike resulting with the digital Nike+ experience. Albert has a Master’s of Product Design from the Stanford University, a Bachelor of Science Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, and the General Management Program from Harvard Business School. In his spare time, Albert is usually found riding his bike, hanging with his family and trying to perfect his cooking.

Corrina Black

Corrina Black is a Sr. Design Lead on the Windows Phone Design team at Microsoft. She leads design for Entertainment, Camera, Productivity, and App experiences. When she first joined the team, she led the Studio effort to enhance the Windows Phone app ecosystem by helping designers and developers learn how to create well-designed third-party app experiences for Windows Phone. Previously, she contributed to the developer experience for Microsoft platforms including Silverlight, Windows Phone, Windows 8, and XBOX. She studied Computer Science at the University of Washington and has practiced interaction design for 15 years. Born and raised in the Seattle area, she enjoys the beauty and variety of outdoor activities it has to offer from snowboarding, hiking, running, to boating. She also enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as meeting new people. Feel free to reach out to her on twitter, @corrinab

This event is a collaboration between IxDA and AIGA Seattle. Follow @aigaseattle and @ixdaseattle

Event graphics by Alex Schoner