Designing for Digital: Processes and Planning for Powerful Solutions

Our November event is all about the creation of digital offerings that are more than just functional. We’re talking digital products and services that leave us in awe and wondering how we ever lived without them. These are the solutions that get people excited, but designing them for a complex digital world is no simple feat. It’s quickly becoming apparent that the traditional top-down approach to conceptualization and design just isn’t cutting it anymore. Those in the know have realized that creating something AWESOME takes serious strategic planning and user interaction and experience at its core. This means developing digital solutions that are uniquely meaningful and tap into human emotion in an unprecedented way.

Today's modern design thinking and creation is about a deep consideration of how people use and feel about these products and services. This thinking has infiltrated just about all industries but has particularly been felt in the digital landscape. The result? We're seeing everything from interactive mobile devices and wearables, to online services and social networks that not only look great, but were designed with optimal usability and compelling engagement in mind.

We’re excited to announce that we have three digital experts ready to impart their knowledge of digital planning and designing that’s sure to leave you inspired. Join us at Jobspring to hear the different perspectives of industry leaders, Linda, Linn and Laura. Their creativity and forward thinking will change the way you approach all things digital.

Linda Nakanishi, educator and creative director in the interactive design industry, will draw from her unique experiences working for corporations and non-profits to offer insights on interactive, web and print design.

Linn Vizard, UX designer with a background in industrial design, will explore how we can develop meaningful, human interactions in the digital age. Drawing inspiration from her experiences as an industrial designer, she'll discuss the application of its core principles for creating products in a digitally driven society.

Laura Baxter, entrepreneur and established digital consultant, will be speaking to the planning involved for successful digital projects, from stakeholder engagement to usability testing. After 14 years in the industry, she still believes that successful online experiences are produced as a result of combining both logic and creativity.

May we formally introduce our speakers:

Linda Nakanishi

@lnakanishi (https://twitter.com/lnakanishi)

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Linda is an inspiration and Creative Director for ecentricarts inc. (http://www.ecentricarts.com/) She is enthralled by the many disciplines of art and creative design that range from painting, sculpting, crafting, graphic design and interactive multimedia. Her design specialties include: art direction, data visualization (infographics), web/interface design, illustration, branding, and print design, to name a few.

As a well respected instructor for Humber College's Web Design and Interactive Media program, she's motivated by her ability to inspire, improve and move people. Simply put, she likes to make things look great and work well, but more so, make things that matter.

Linn Vizard

@wittster (https://twitter.com/wittster)

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Linn is a passionate User Experience Designer for Usability Matters (http://www.usabilitymatters.com/). She has an in-depth background in: UX design, UI design, service design, experience design, and user centred design. With an amazing grasp of the current and future digital space, she's made the intersection between technology and emotion core to her work.

Her past projects have included collaborative, citizen led city service design at Designing Dublin, digital advertising at CBS Outdoor, as well as mobile and web work for clients such as blogTO, Huffington Post and Sunnybrook. As an expert at putting users at the centre of digital development and design, she knows how to create online experiences that resonate, motivate, and compel.

Laura Baxter

@ellebeeTO (https://twitter.com/@ellebeeTO)

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Laura is the founder of digital consulting firm MitreBox User Experience Design (http://mitreboxuxd.com/). She handles projects from opportunity to execution and is passionate about developing digital media solutions that engage, educate and enable users.

Throughout her career Laura has transformed ideas and opportunities into winning solutions for a host of top-notch brands including; Globaltv, MuchMusic, Astral Radio, YMCA Canada, Lavalife, Toyota, Scotiabank, The College of Family Physicians Canada, Toronto Public Library and World Wildlife Fund.

Special thanks to our partners who help make the evening great:

Our partners

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Digiflare is a digital agency at the forefront of creating engaging connected user experiences. We harness the potential of Web, Mobile, Tablet, Connected TV, Game Consoles, and emerging devices to deliver cutting-edge solutions to our clients. Working with top tier Media and Entertainment brands, we provide strategy, design, development, and systems integration, helping them achieve their vision and extend their reach to their customers. Follow @Digiflare on Twitter (https://twitter.com/digiflare) and visit digiflare.com (http://www.digiflare.com/).

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Jobspring Partners is a professional recruitment and placement agency with operations in Boston (http://jobspringpartners.com/locations/boston), Philadelphia (http://jobspringpartners.com/locations/philadelphia), Washington (http://jobspringpartners.com/locations/washington-dc), New York, (http://jobspringpartners.com/locations/new-york) Chicago (http://jobspringpartners.com/locations/chicago), San Francisco (http://jobspringpartners.com/locations/san-francisco), Silicon Valley (http://jobspringpartners.com/locations/silicon-valley), Los Angeles (http://jobspringpartners.com/locations/los-angeles), Orange County, CA (http://jobspringpartners.com/locations/orange-county), and Toronto, Canada (http://www.jobspringpartners.ca/locations/toronto). We specialize in technology hiring for both permanent and contract positions, and have made over 30,000 successful technology hires since 1989. Follow @JobspringCanada on Twitter (https://twitter.com/JobspringCanada) and visit jobspringpartners.ca (http://www.jobspringpartners.ca/).

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OANDA is an innovator and world leader in online foreign exchange trading and currency services. We have created a powerful trading engine that allows clients around the world to trade quickly and with confidence. We’re proud to have recently been named one of The 10 Non-California Tech Companies You Wished You Worked For (http://www.wired.com/business/2012/11/best-non-california-tech-companies/) by Wired magazine, and we’re growing, so please check out our Recruiting Page (http://jobs.oanda.com/) to see how you can make a difference!

To learn more about OANDA, our website (http://www.oanda.com/) and Forex LabNotes (http://www.oanda.com/corp/forex-lab-notes/) blog are great places to get started. Follow @OANDA on Twitter (https://twitter.com/oanda).

Our supporters

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Chow Productions is a Toronto based company led by a young talented team. Our trio adds a modern, creative twist to capture memorable moments at your corporate or family events. We specialize in photo and video event coverage including creative digital experiences, commercials, and branded media. While bringing you the best event coverage, we continue to expand our talents, making short films and other projects! Connect with @chowproductions on Twitter (https://twitter.com/chowproductions).

SYPA (Stuff You'll Probably Ask)

You: What time do the presentations start?

Us: Doors open at 6:30pm and we begin the talks at 7:00pm. Before and after the talks, there are opportunities for conversations, and the enjoyment of refreshments and hors d'oeuvres.

You: Hors d'oeuvres, you say? Is there dinner?

Us: We always organize food and beverages for everyone, be it sandwiches or hot appetizers. Come hungry.

You: Why the $10 fee?

Us: All monies collected go directly to bringing you a top tier experience with notable speakers each month. Some months we get help with sponsorship and others months we do not, so the small fee balances out over the year and ensures that the events can continue to grow. Food and refreshments are provided each month and vary based on the venue. Your $10 directly goes towards covering the costs of food, drinks, thank you gifts for our speakers, hosting of our web spaces and other costs incurred to run events. We are a non-profit group run by volunteer organizers and we do not make money through this group.