This month we are returning to Phoenix Group with not one, not two, but three fantastic speakers! Spot the early door time! It's going to be a packed evening.
We are delighted to be invited to share the evening with Sophie, Hilary, and Lauren, who will lead discussions on using design tokens, and the importance of communities of practice, and give real-life examples of storytelling to engage stakeholders and implement inclusive designs.
The plan of the evening
5:30 - Doors open
6:00 - Communities of practice (Hilary Brownlie)
6:45 - Break
7:05 - Introduction to Design Tokens (Sophie Powell-Hall)
7:30 - Storytelling and stakeholders (Lauren Fraser)
8:00 - Pub
Communities of practice (Hilary Brownlie)
In our day jobs, we are part of a team, project, or department. Or you may be a freelancer, 'team-of-one', or consultant.
What makes a Community of Practice' different from most organisational structures and why should you care? Together we will explore what makes an effective community and the range of people needed.
I will share what I have learned from others smarter than me. And my experience of communities and why I keep returning to them.
Introduction to Design Tokens (Sophie Powell-Hall)
A beginner-friendly dive into design tokens and how they can bring consistency and efficiency to design systems.
Sophie will share insights and lessons learned from implementing design tokens into Phoenix’s multi-brand product.
Storytelling and stakeholders (Lauren Fraser)
Ever felt invisible, invalidated or excluded? Ever been the ‘edge case’ who was ‘out of scope’?
The products we design can shape people’s stories for better or worse. And when frameworks and figures fail to convince our stakeholders to implement inclusive designs, our stories can be both memorable and compelling.
Lauren will share 3 stories from her own life of times when she’s been excluded through design. She’ll connect each story to relevant frameworks, figures and UX design best practice. We’ll reflect on our experience sharing stories with stakeholders, and Lauren will throw down a storytelling challenge.
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About the speakers
Sophie Powell-Hall is a Senior UX Designer at Phoenix Group, Tutor and Accessibility Advocate
Sophie is a Senior UX Designer at Phoenix Group. She is passionate about digital accessibility and the world of design systems. With a background in visual design, she brings a storytelling approach to UX. Sophie also tutors on the UX Design Masters at the University of Edinburgh. You'll often find her collaborating with her very opinionated cat, Bubs.
Hilary Brownlie is the Head of UX & Design at Phoenix Group
Hilary has been working in user experience and design for over a decade, mostly in the public sector. Most recently, as Head User Experience and Shared Services for the Phoenix Group. She has a love of fonts and maps and really does think robots are the future (so is making friends with them now).
Lauren Fraser is the Lead UX Designer at Phoenix Group
Lauren’s been UXing for 8 years, which has included a stint at a start-up, a scale-up, and a tech giant. She’s currently a UX Design Lead at the Phoenix Group. She enjoys gardening, painting, Italian, and walks with her dog (who is often mistaken for a horse). Expect a slightly Aussie twang.
