Design Groups New York

AIxUX Virtual Summit 2026

2 half days. Real builds. An exclusive, hands-on virtual summit designed for UX professionals who want to master AI integration in their practice. Become an Agentic Designer—one who doesn't just use AI tools, but shapes systems, orchestrates complexity, and builds with intention. **What makes this summit unique?** * You’ll build something real * Make friends & build partnerships * Find your place in the AI landscape * Shift from passive prompting to deploying specialized agents that automate research, accelerate prototyping, and scale your output. * Explore new perspectives: See how different UX designers use AI tools in their workflow. * Spark career momentum: Grow your network and confidence with an active, ambitious community. **Workshops & Agenda Highlights** * Welcome * Keynote: Designer's New Mandate * Create Your Summit Agent * Trust, Transparency, & Control * Multimodal Futures * Orchestrating Complexities * Building Your Process * And more surprise sessions! **Featured Facilitators** [Danny Setiawan](https://www.linkedin.com/in/dnystwn/), [Suyen Stevenson](https://www.linkedin.com/in/suyenlyn/), [Volkan Unsal](https://www.linkedin.com/in/volkanunsal/) , [Alexis Brochu](https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexisbrochu/), [Renata Rocha](https://www.linkedin.com/in/rerocha/) , [Silvia Balu](https://www.linkedin.com/in/silviabalu/), [Corey Malone](https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreymalone/), [Esther Greenfield Jakar](https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-g-j/) **Ready to shape the future of UX with AI?** Reserve your spot, build your network, and get inspired to level up your impact in the UX and tech community! Get your ticket : [https://uxsupportgroup.com/summit](https://uxsupportgroup.com/summit)

How Service Design Can Help with Deep Wounds & Healing

**Tuesday, May 19th - 6:00-8:00 PM EDT** **Presentation** How Service Design Can Help with Deep Wounds & Healing **Event Description** As the world grows more complex, individuals and organizations are navigating greater uncertainty, rapid change, and increasing emotional strain. Building resilience in this environment requires more than external problem-solving–it calls for deeper personal reflection and attention to mental health. This talk draws from a personal journey through grief and burnout, uncovering parallels between service design methods and therapeutic frameworks. When we face significant life events resulting in trauma to our system, the process of stabilizing and healing can feel unfamiliar, messy, emotional, and difficult to make sense of. But, as service designers, we're uniquely suited to tackle whatever life throws at us. The same skills used to understand systems, map journeys, and navigate ambiguity at work can also support how we process our own experiences alongside a licensed professional. This talk explores how service designers can recognize and engage with therapeutic approaches that mirror their existing toolkit. By asking more informed questions and working with a therapist to apply familiar frameworks in new ways, service designers can better understand their own behavioral patterns, make meaning of their lived experiences, and move through difficult chapters with greater structure, awareness, and support. **About Our Speaker** **Natalie Kuhn** Natalie Kuhn is founder of [Here with the Herd](https://herewiththeherd.com/), offering experiential learning for people with horses as well as Co-Founder of the global retreat company VAYRAH Experience. Previously she was a Senior Director of Design at Capital One, design leader at Meta within Data Privacy, and spent years as a Lead Service Designer at FJORD within Accenture Interactive. Natalie brings almost 20 years in human-centered design and research. She co-ran the SDN New York Chapter for 5 years in which the chapter won an award for innovative events on a global stage, and was accredited by SDN as a Service Design Master back in 2021. **Agenda** * 6:00-6:30PM Meet & mingle over food and drink * 6:30-7:30PM Presentation & Demo * 7:30-8:00PM Discussion & Networking * 8:00PM - ? After-Party **Address** Intuit 51 Astor Place New York, NY 10003 **After-Party**: Cuna Bar The Standard 25 Cooper Sq **Financial Transparency & Scholarships** As a non-profit, we do our best to strike a balance between making our events available to all and ensuring we keep the lights on. For this event, we are charging $10. * If this amount is prohibitive for you to attend this event, please message [Barry](https://www.meetup.com/sdnnyc/members/267573171/) on Meetup and we’ll provide you a scholarship to this event. You can also email us at sdn.newyorkchapter@gmail.com as we may miss messages on this platform. * If you’d like to provide scholarships, please message [Barry](https://www.meetup.com/sdnnyc/members/267573171/) on Meetup and he will follow up with you. See you there :) David, Francesco, Yasmin, Cameron, Lynn, Nicholas, & Barry Photo by:

Scaling Accessibility with Design Systems

This event will be online on [YouTube](https://youtu.be/_4k16DgOUMA) and in-person (New York City). **The speaker and live stream starts at 7:30 pm ET**. In-person attendees may arrive as early as 7 pm ET. If arriving late, please leave a comment on this page and someone will come down ASAP. **Description** Twenty million New Yorkers. Forty-five agencies. Tens of thousands of web pages, forms, and applications. What does it take to scale accessibility across an entire state? Jesse Gardner leads the Design System and Accessibility teams for the State of New York. He'll share what his teams have learned about scaling accessibility: resources and education to grow team maturity over time, manual accessibility reviews as a service, and a shared design infrastructure with built-in accessibility. He'll spend most of the talk on the design system. It's already helping teams scale accessible design, and it's increasingly serving as a foundation for accessibility in AI-assisted code-generation. This talk is for the full A11yNYC community: engineers, designers, advocates, content strategists, lawyers, librarians, researchers, and anyone who wants to understand where accessibility is headed in the next few years. Topics include: * Why a design system is one of the highest-leverage accessibility investments any organization can make * A live, plain-language demonstration of how AI tools interact with this kind of shared guidance (you don't need knowledge to follow along) * Why AI tools often produce inaccessible work, and what it looks like when you give them clear instructions and accessible building blocks * Honest lessons from coordinating accessibility work across the state * Practical advice for any accessibility program, no matter the size or budget Attendees will gain: * A real-world perspective from large-scale government services * Practical examples for scaling accessibility beyond "just work harder" * Guidance for harnessing AI to ensure accessible output **Presenter bio** [Jesse Gardner](https://www.linkedin.com/in/plasticmind/) is Director of Accessibility and Design Systems at the New York State Office of Information Technology Services, where he leads two teams serving more than 45 state agencies and 20 million New Yorkers. He built the New York State Design System from scratch and led the state's response to the DOJ Title II accessibility compliance deadline (recently extended to April 2027). Before joining the public sector, Jesse spent more than two decades in software engineering and design leadership. He speaks regularly on the intersection of design systems, accessibility, and AI (most recently at Into Design Systems 2026) and writes at plasticmind.com. He lives in upstate New York with his wife and four kids. **Accessibility** The presentation will have human captions [CC], not automatic captions. For ASL preferred speakers, learn about the [Aira ASL App](https://aira.io/aira-asl-app/), and download it before the event. For the Blind and Low Vision community, learn about the [Aira Explorer App](https://aira.io/aira-explorer-app/) and download it before the event. To access the online webinar for audio description, use the A11yNYC Access Offer to call, or simply inform your Visual Interpreter that you'd like that offer applied when you connect. For additional accessibility requirements, please email meryl@equalentry.com **two weeks** **before** the event. **Livestream** [YouTube link](https://youtu.be/_4k16DgOUMA) Provided by Internet Society Accessibility SIG. **Location details** The event is on the 4th floor. Everyone must be accompanied to the event on the 4th floor. Because everyone needs to be escorted, please arrive early or on time. When you enter the ground floor, a representative from A11yNYC will be there to provide elevator access. The building is near several transit stops: 6 train * Spring Street (non-accessible stop): 100 feet * Canal Street (accessible stop): 0.4 miles B/D/F/M * Broadway-Lafayette St., 0.2 miles NQRW trains * Prince Street (non-accessible stop): 0.2 miles * Canal Street (accessible stop): 0.3 miles M1 / M55 Bus lines * Broadway/Spring Street stop: 500 feet Cabs and rideshares can let passengers out right near the building entrance **Important note** Google Maps currently incorrectly pins the location around the corner on Crosby Street. The entrance is not on Crosby. The entrance is on Spring Street, inside the Marc Jacobs International building. It is roughly halfway between Crosby and Lafayette, almost directly across Spring Street from the Chipotle restaurant. **Traveling to the event?** We recommend [Hotel on Rivington](https://www.hotelonrivington.com/) or [Crosby Street Hotel](https://www.firmdalehotels.com/hotels/crosby-street-hotel). **Accreditation** All A11yNYC meetups are pre-approved for IAAP Continuing Accessibility Education Credits (CAEC). **Sponsors** Thanks to [Aira](https://aira.io/), [AKQA](https://www.akqa.com/), [Deque](https://www.deque.com/), [Evinced](https://www.evinced.com/), [Equal Entry](https://equalentry.com/), and [Fable](https://makeitfable.com/) for sponsoring. Want to be a sponsor? Contact meryl@equalentry.com

Signs of Creative Minds: "Arts" and Sign: HOST NEEDED!

UX Happy Hour irl (open to all levels)

######## You need to bring a physical Government Issued ID to be allowed to stay. It's the Law. ######## Whether you're a seasoned UX pro, just breaking into the field, or simply curious about design — this is your invite to pull up a chair and join the conversation. UX Happy Hour is a laid-back, no-agenda gathering where designers, researchers, product thinkers, and anyone design-curious can connect over drinks in a low-pressure setting. No slides. No networking theater. **Why attend:** • Meet new connection in organic way • Get feedback and fresh perspectives on your work (i.e. portfolio) or advice for your career • Stay sharp on what's happening in UX, AI, product, and tech right now • Meet potential collaborators, mentors, or future coworkers • Cheap drinks ($5 Guinness) **What to expect:** • Warm, welcoming crowd across all experience levels • Candid conversations about design, careers, tools, and everything in between • A great chill bar in the East Village to do it all in **Where to find us:** We're usually tucked in by the ATM at the back of Mona's. If you're not sure where we are, just ask the bartender — they know us! Come solo, bring a friend, or drag a coworker along. The more the merrier. Interested in sponsoring this event? Reach out to Danny (one of the organizers) for our sponsorship rate card.

NEW HOST NEEDED: Sign & Sing -- Fridays W72nd 4:30 PM

Introduction to UX Speed

In this short workshop, Sergey Chernyshev will discuss **why the Speed of User Experience matters** and how to determine if your site is fast or slow. He will talk about web performance metrics in general and introduce Core Web Vitals - a set of metrics most commonly used to measure UX Speed. Sergey will then show a few most common problems causing slowdowns, and how to fix them. Don’t miss out on making your web experience speedier and better! [Sergey Chernyshev](https://www.sergeychernyshev.com/) ([@sergeyche.dev](https://bsky.app/profile/sergeyche.dev)) is a web technologist with passion for web performance and open source. He works as a **Web Performance Engineer** on **Observatory** team at [Cloudflare](https://www.cloudflare.com/) and is a lead organizer of this meetup group. Sergey is a **Google Developer Expert** in Web Technologies, specializing in **Web Performance** and sometimes speaks at local New York events and global conferences. We will have **food and drinks** and as always, we are going to have **geekaways** with **geeky prizes** provided by our sponsors. **Agenda:** 6:00PM - Arrive at the venue, meet other members 6:15PM - Event starts 6:30PM - **Introduction to UX Speed** (Sergey Chernyshev) 7:15PM - Q&A 7:45PM - "Books and Stuff" geekaways 8:00PM - Open Discussion, Networking Make sure to **fill out your legal name** and **bring your ID** to show at security desk. Please make sure to allow for additional time to go through security downstairs and be prepared to put all your electronics through security screening. Then take **G elevator to 64th** floor and transfer to the second bank and **take elevator to 88th floor**. Interested in speaking at a NY Web Performance event in the future? Fill out our [speaker application](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHyWHSWntTLEu_6pq500PhrrAjyyyVZsH92_eFK-SLMUJD5Q/viewform), or reach out to your organizers with any questions!

Intro to Web Graphics - From Pixels to Interactive 3D

**Note: You must be RSVP'd (not on the waitlist) for [the main meetup event](https://www.meetup.com/new-york-code-coffee/events/314399818/) to attend this session.** Dive into the future of the web and learn to build immersive, high-performance 3D environments using the industry-standard Three.js library. This hands-on workshop takes you from raw pixels to interactive scenes, empowering you to create stunning visual experiences that run directly in any modern browser. You can either bring your laptop or share with a new friend!

Marking the 15th Global Accessibility Awareness Day

**NOTE:** This will be a [ticketed in-person event](https://events.humanitix.com/15th-gaad-nyc), hosted by GAAD Foundation in partnership with A11yNYC. To register, visit [https://events.humanitix.com/15th-gaad-nyc](https://events.humanitix.com/15th-gaad-nyc). The Meetup platform will not be used to register for this event. *Each individual who plans to attend must complete their own registration.* **Description** The GAAD Foundation invites you to join us to celebrate the 15th Global Accessibility Awareness Day #GAAD. It is also the fifth anniversary of the GAAD Foundation. Co-hosted with the A11yNYC Meetup. Anna Thielke, GAAD Foundation Executive Secretary and Treasurer, and Mindy Morgan, GAAD Foundation Board Member Emeritus, will be live in New York to celebrate these two milestones. There will be snacks, drinks, networking, and brief remarks from several speakers. **Accessibility** Event accessibility details and instructions to request additional accommodations can be found on the registration page: [https://events.humanitix.com/15th-gaad-nyc](https://events.humanitix.com/15th-gaad-nyc) .

3DNY - WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, LUCKY JACK'S

**3DNY - WEDNESDAY MAY 20 2026** **\*\*FREE DRINKS FOR FIRST 100 ATTENDEES\*\*** **Brought to you by Chaos** **WHAT:** 3DNY is a Networking community for the Architectural Visualization & Visual Effects industries, with speakers and time to chat, enjoy & have a drink with old & new friends in the industry. We explore related topics in animation, VR/AR/XR, AI, game design, metaverse technologies, traditional architecture, real estate trends, and excellence in interior design. We look forward to seeing you again - or to having you join us! We meet the 3rd Wednesday of every other month :) **WHERE:** Lucky Jack's 129 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002 Downstairs, basement bar **WHEN:** Wednesday, May 20, 2026 7 pm - 9 pm, or later **WHO: Presentations featuring.....** **RICARDO ELOY** Marketing & Community Manager Chaos **JAMES TRALIE** Creative Director & Senior Producer NASA **MATEUSZ GAWAD** Visual Artist & Creative Technologist Jacobs **______** **See you there!** **Need something?** Reach out to the team below for questions! Mengyi Fan: [myf@shoparc.com](mailto:myf@shoparc.com) Kitae Kim: [kitae@foveate.com](kitae@foveate.com) Derek Chan: [derek@redleafny.com](mailto:derek@redleafny.com)

[In-person] Meet for SPEED

Join up for an opportunity to work together on optimizing our sites. Have a site you'd like us to analyze? Add it here - [https://bit.ly/meet4speed-submit](https://bit.ly/meet4speed-submit) You can benefit even if you can't edit your site right now - we will be happy to share the knowledge. We'll all learn how to see what's slow and how to make it fast! Here is what you can learn: * Identify optimization opportunities using WebPageTest and Chrome DevTools * Become a master in reading the network waterfall. * Understand the most of the performance flame chart. * Learn the latest trends in measuring site speed. To be able to attend our events, you will need to show your ID at the security desk. Please make sure to provide your full name if your name on Meetup platform doesn't match your ID.

LET'S GO ON A PRIVATE TOUR OF THE NEUE GALERIE

# 🏛️ **New York City Art, Film, Museum, Social Club** ## ✨ *Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele & The Vienna Secession – A Private Docent-Led Experience* **Neue Galerie New York \| Saturday\, May 23 \| 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM** Arrival time is no later than 10:45am please. ## 🌟 Event Description Join us for a truly special and **intimate cultural experience** at the **Neue Galerie New York**, one of the city’s most refined and distinctive museums, dedicated to early 20th-century German and Austrian art and design. For this visit, we will enjoy a **private, docent-led tour**, offering a deeper and more meaningful exploration of the museum’s extraordinary collection. *** ## 🎨 *The Vienna Secession & Its Masters* At the heart of our visit is the groundbreaking artistic movement known as the **Vienna Secession**, which redefined art at the turn of the 20th century. Led by artists such as **Gustav Klimt** and **Egon Schiele**, this movement broke away from traditional academic styles and embraced bold new forms of expression—combining beauty, symbolism, and psychological depth. During our guided experience, we will explore: * Klimt’s iconic works, including his richly ornamented and luminous compositions * Schiele’s striking and emotionally charged portraits * The broader artistic and cultural context of Vienna during this transformative period Our docent will provide insight into the **historical background, artistic techniques, and meaning behind these works**, bringing the collection to life in a way that goes far beyond a self-guided visit. *** ## 👥 Our Experience This will be a **private group tour (limited attendance)**, creating a more engaging and personal experience for all participants. Together, we will enjoy: * A **guided exploration** of the museum’s highlights * Deeper understanding of the art and artists * A relaxed, thoughtful group atmosphere *** ## 🗓️ Event Details * **Date:** Saturday, May 23, 2026 * **Meeting Time:** 10:45 AM * **Tour Time:** 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM * **Location:** Neue Galerie New York 1048 Fifth Avenue (at 86th Street) *** ## 💲 Cost ### ✨ **Special Group Rate: $40 per person** This private, docent-led experience is being offered at a **significantly reduced rate** for our group. ### 📊 Cost Breakdown (for transparency) * Private guided tour (group fee): **$350** * Museum admission: **$28 per person × 10 members = $280** * **Total cost: $630** When divided among 10 members: * **$630 ÷ 10 = $63 per person** ### 🎁 Your Member Rate To make this experience more accessible, I am personally **subsidizing $23 per person**, bringing your final cost to: 👉 **$40 per person** *** ### ✅ What’s Included * Full museum admission * A **private docent-led tour** **Note:** You do **not** need to purchase a separate museum ticket—everything is included in the $40 event cost. *** ### 🔗 Payment A payment link is provided on this event page for the **$40 fee**. *** ## ⚠️ Arrival & Museum Guidelines To ensure a smooth and enjoyable visit, please take note of the following: * **Please arrive by 10:45 AM**, as our tour will begin promptly at 11:00 AM * Upon arrival, we will check in as a group and proceed through a brief security screening before meeting our docent ### 🎒 Personal Items * Backpacks, large bags, umbrellas, and food are **not permitted in the galleries** * Complimentary coat check is available for these items * **No liquids are allowed inside the museum** (empty water bottles may be checked) ## ⚠️ Important Notes * Attendance will be **limited to ensure a high-quality experience** * Please arrive on time, as the tour will begin promptly * This is an **intimate, guided experience**, and we will remain together as a group throughout the tour *** ## 💬 Why This Event Is Special This is not simply a museum visit—it is a **curated cultural experience** that offers rare access to expert insight within one of New York’s most elegant settings. With a private docent guiding us through the masterpieces of Klimt, Schiele, and the Vienna Secession, this promises to be a **refined, enriching, and memorable morning**. ## 📵 Photography Policy Please note that **photography is not permitted anywhere inside the Neue Galerie**. This is a strict museum policy, and all members are expected to fully comply. We appreciate your understanding in helping to respect the museum’s guidelines and preserve the experience for all visitors. ## 🍽️ Optional Post-Tour Lunch at Café Sabarsky Following our tour, members are invited to continue the experience with an optional lunch at the museum’s renowned: ### *Café Sabarsky* Located within the Neue Galerie, Café Sabarsky is widely regarded as one of the most authentic Viennese cafés in New York City, offering a beautifully recreated early 20th-century atmosphere that perfectly complements the art we will have just experienced. Members may choose to enjoy: * Traditional Viennese dishes * Coffee and pastries * A relaxed and elegant setting for conversation This is a wonderful opportunity to: * Extend the cultural experience * Reflect on the exhibition * Enjoy time together in a classic European café setting Participation is entirely optional, and seating will be based on availability.