Design the Future: UX in the Age of AI

Join SoCal UX Designers and Orange County AI for an insightful evening exploring how AI is shaping the future of UX/UI design and research!

Whether you're a UX designer, researcher, product manager, developer, or just curious about the intersection of artificial intelligence and design, this event is your chance to learn, ask questions, and get hands-on experience with cutting-edge AI tools like Replit and Lovable.

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✅ What to Expect:

Designer Panel Discussion (moderated by AI expert Kai Cheng and UX researcher Melissa Murphy)
Hear directly from experienced designers and/or researchers, Yinyin Wen, Rinki Mukherjee, Alex Rodriguez, and Sean Maguire as they share their insights and real-world experiences integrating AI into their workflows. We'll cover industry impact, workflow transformations, tools, and future opportunities. See bios below!

Audience Q&A
Ask your burning questions about how AI is redefining roles, processes, and skills in UX and UI.

Interactive AI-Design Workshop
Join us for a demo and short interactive workshop using cutting-edge prompt to prototype tools, led by Rinki Mukherjee. Remember to bring a laptop to participate!

Networking & Mingling
Ample time to connect, network, and exchange ideas with fellow designers, researchers, and AI enthusiasts from the local OC community.

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🗓️ Schedule (subject to minor changes):

6:00 PM – Doors Open / Mingling & Check-in

6:30 PM – Welcome & Intros (official panel starts at 6:45)

6:45 – 7:30 PM – Panel Discussion (moderated by Kai and Melissa)

7:30 – 7:45 PM – Audience Q&A

7:45 – 8:15 PM – Interactive AI Design Tool Workshop/Demo

8:15 – 10:00 PM – Informal Networking & Mingling

🕙 Venue closes promptly at 10:00 PM

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❓ Have an idea for the AI design workshop?
When you RSVP, let us know what you'd love to see built live using AI design tools!

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📍 Location Notes:

IRWD Community Meeting Room
15500 Sand Canyon Ave, Irvine, CA 92618
Free parking available onsite.

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✨Featuring:

Rinki Mukherjee
Sr. UX Designer | Self-Taught Vibe Coder
Rinki began her career as a graphic designer and has more than 7+ years of UX/Product Design experience across fintech, healthcare, energy, and consumer electronics industries. Her expertise spans systems thinking, AI-driven experiences, and data-informed design strategy. As a UX Design Manager, she's currently helping a non-profit build their design team, scale their design systems, and launch their product. Outside of work, she enjoys museum visits, hikes, and hosting vibe coding sessions.

Sean Maguire
UX Designer | Game Developer | Sour Beer Enjoyer
A strategic Product Designer with expertise in UX/UI design, transforming complex business requirements into intuitive, user-centered digital experiences that drive measurable business outcomes. Background spans game design, SaaS platforms, e-commerce solutions, and enterprise B2B products, bringing a multidisciplinary perspective to every design challenge.

Yinyin Wen
UX Researcher at McGraw Hill
Yinyin is a mission-driven UX researcher who is passionate about partnering with teams to create thoughtful, usable solutions. She has 3+ years of experience leading end-to-end research efforts, generating actionable insights to influence product roadmaps. Previously, she has worked in a variety of organizational contexts, including a seed-stage tech startup, a non-profit, and a global education company.

Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez is a multidisciplinary designer working at the intersection of human-computer interaction, user experience, the outdoors, and art.

Moderated by:
Kai Cheng – Data Strategist
Kai Cheng is a digital transformation and AI specialist with emphases and experiences in Data Analytics and Visual Designs. With 10+ years bridging data-driven insights and user-centered design, from leading ML-powered analytics to crafting omnichannel UX.

Melissa Murphy – UX Researcher at Capsule
With roots in psychology, music, and full-stack web development, Melissa transitioned into UX research and now leads research efforts solo for a music tech company. She works across time zones and teams to support musicians and tour managers with better tools.

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ℹ️ Venue Disclaimer (IRWD):

This event is not sponsored by or affiliated with the Irvine Ranch Water District. The IRWD neither endorses nor supports the viewpoints or materials presented during this event.