World Usability Day

World Usability Day has finally come to LA and usability problems are running rampant all over the city! This is no time to nap or sit back and think. As usability professionals we envision a world free of usability problems, and we constantly strive to make the world a more usable place. On World Usability Day, let’s take things up a notch, shall we?

About World Usability Day
An international event established in 2005 by the Usability Professionals’ Association to ensure that the services and products important to life are easier to access and simpler to use. The 2009 celebration included 150+ events in 40+ countries. 2010’s theme is focused on creating greater awareness for design, products and services that improve and facilitate communication.
More info at worldusabilityday.org (https://www.worldusabilityday.org/)

This year’s theme:
Communication

Your Mission (Should You Choose To Accept It)
In preparation for World Usability Day, we at Los Angeles UPA challenge you to get out there starting now and be a usability hero in your own way. Observe, record and concoct ingenious solutions. We’re here to spur you on, support and inspire you. If you’re not sure of a solution, point out the problem anyway!

Go Solo or Collaborate
Strike out on your own or, better yet, get your colleagues, friends and neighbors involved in hunting down and solving usability problems. A group exercise is a great way to spread the word about usability in your organization!

How It Works/What to Do
The steps below give a quick overview of recommendations to help you on your way to World Usability Day greatness. Download our Inspiration doc (https://files.meetup.com/1365395/World%20Usability%20Day%20Instructions%20%26%20Inspiration.doc) or Group Activity Kit (https://files.meetup.com/1365395/WUD%20Group%20Exercise%20Kit.doc) for additional ideas and recommendations on how to approach the process, and tools to help you enlist co-workers.

Step 1:
Starting today, examine the products and experiences around you and take note of usability problems.

Step 2:
Capture usability problems. This can be a simple snapshot, napkin sketch or as complex as a detailed diagram – your choice.

Step 3: (Extra Credit)
Devise and document solutions for the usability problem(s) you encounter. Again, keep it simple or go all out – it’s up to you.

Step 4:
Post your problems and solutions by November 9 to our Facebook wall (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Los-Angeles-UPA/164460343571697) for the community to see or send them to LosAngelesUPA@gmail.com

Step 5:
Your usability problems and solutions will be shared in person at UPA LA’s World Usability Day event on November 11th. Join us in celebrating a more usable world!

Our Sponsor

Primitive Spark
Primitive Spark is an interactive agency inspired by humans. The name illustrates our view that the most meaningful innovations emerge from an understanding of basic human needs.
Learn more at our website (https://www.primitivespark.com)