Interaction Design
Meet other locals interested in Interaction Design, the professional discipline that defines how interactive products communicate their functionality to users and how users can interact with them. For more infromation, check out www.ixdg.org. Professionals and non-professionals alike are Welcome!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out interaction design events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the interaction design events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find interaction design events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Interaction Design Events Today
Join in-person Interaction Design events happening right now
Navigating Innovation, AI, and Entrepreneurship
Pitch Labs is happy to partner with George Mason University's Computer Science Graduate Student Association to host a tech talk for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, AI, and more. Damon Feldman, co-founder of Advocara, will be joining us to share his experiences in a fireside-chat styled event.
**About the Event**
This fireside chat will bring together students, founders, and innovators for an engaging conversation at the intersection of AI, entrepreneurship, and real‑world problem‑solving. Damon will share insights from:
* Building and scaling AI‑driven products
* Navigating the startup landscape from idea to execution
* Lessons learned from leading engineering teams and deploying mission‑critical systems
* Opportunities for CS students in emerging tech and founder ecosystems
The session will include a moderated discussion, audience Q&A, and opportunities to connect with fellow students, founders, and members of the DMV startup community.
**About the Speaker**
Damon Feldman is the President and Co‑Founder of Advocara, an AI‑based healthcare navigation startup working to bring transparency to medical billing. His career spans leadership roles in customer engineering, large‑scale data integration, and complex system design across healthcare, government, and enterprise technology. Damon holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science and has led engineering initiatives for organizations of various sizes and industries
Greenbelt International Folk Dancers
Friday night Greenbelt International Folk Dancing has gone "virtual".
As we all practice good social distancing, many in our folk dance community are feeling the absence of our usually scheduled local dances. In response, please join us for the Greenbelt Virtual Folk Dance Session.
Let’s keep dancing!
• Connect and dance in our own homes
• Watch hosts leading familiar dances
• See each other; listen and dance to our favorites
How: We will be using the ZOOM video conferencing app to share music and live videos of the leaders and each other. This can be used on a desktop, laptop, or smartphone.
What to Expect: Your hosts are Linda Mansdorf, Vita Hollander, Ben Hole, and John Robinson. Collectively they will play 25-30 dances, which should approximate the number of dances normally done on a Friday night in-person event. The hosts will do a quick teaching or demonstration of the steps to some of the dances that may be less familiar to you or just as a refresher, but the session is not designed as a workshop, so the majority of the evening will be spent playing dances that many of us already know and love to do.
How To Join Us: Each week we will send an email with the Zoom Meeting link ID. Make sure John Robinson knows you would like to receive this email with the link. John's email address for Info: j_srobinson@verizon.net.
https://www.facebook.com/GreenbeltInternationalFolkDancing/
Co-sponsored by the Folklore Society of Greater Washington
Skip the Small Talk Night at metrobar DC
**###PLEASE NOTE: Even if you RSVP on Meetup, you will need to grab a ticket here https://www.skipthesmalltalk.com/store/skip-the-small-talk-night-at-metrobar-dc-friday-march-13-2026 in order to attend###** This event is cross-posted so Meetup RSVPs won't accurately reflect the actual number of attendees; typically there are around 30-40 people in attendance.
**What's It Like?**
Do you wish you could have more of the kinds of conversations you have late at night where for some reason, you feel safe talking about the things you actually care about?
Bring your friends (or come by yourself- most people do!) and spend your Friday night at an event where you know everyone else is there for the same reason.
We'll be offering 'big talk' conversational prompts on them to get you started, and we'll have lots of structure to make sure that you actually talk to people and that it's not awkward.
There will be drinks and snacks available for sale! **There is a 1 drink/food item minimum purchase for this event,** so please keep that in mind.
**Check-in** for this event will begin around **6:45 pm**. Please do your best to arrive before 7:00 pm so we can begin as close to on time as possible.
Skip the Small Talk is dedicated to providing an inclusive, welcoming environment for everyone. Check out our safety policy here: tinyurl.com/ststSafety
Please see our event [page](https://www.skipthesmalltalk.com/store/skip-the-small-talk-night-at-metrobar-dc-friday-march-13-2026) for more accessibility info.
**Ready to Skip the Small Talk With Us?**
**[Grab a ticket](https://www.skipthesmalltalk.com/store/skip-the-small-talk-night-at-metrobar-dc-friday-march-13-2026)** since entry is on a first come first serve basis and we tend to sell out in advance for these-- once we are out of tickets, we will NOT be able to accommodate folks at the door.
metrobar has lots of other fun events going on, too. Feel free to check them out **[here](https://metrobardc.com)**! If you want to be the first to hear about our events before we sell out, feel free to join our mailing list at [Skip the Small Talk Mailing List Sign-Up](https://sendfox.com/skipthesmalltalk)
**###PLEASE NOTE: Even if you RSVP on Meetup, you will need to grab a ticket here https://www.skipthesmalltalk.com/store/skip-the-small-talk-night-at-metrobar-dc-friday-march-13-2026 in order to attend###** This event is cross-posted so Meetup RSVPs won't accurately reflect the actual number of attendees; typically there are around 30-40 people in attendance.
FRIDAY Professionals Networking HourS
Grow your professional network across industries, swap ideas, and unwind in a friendly, collaborative vibe, ideal for career-minded pros seeking connections.
All professionals in the DMV and MidAtlantic area are invited!
This event is to every and each professional in different industry, sector and specialization to grow, interact, and learn from each other. It is designed to provide a professional environment, to meet other professionals, to broaden one's career. It is also for those interested in careers and are studying or intend to enter the dynamic world of global professionalism.
***GRAB A BOOZE OR A BITE AND YOU WILL BE SET TO ENJOY THE EVENT. YOU NEED TO GET AT LEAST A DRINK OR FOOD:) To get the event going and show support. We know that you like our events. P.S. : We have non-alcoholic drinks as well.***
We have a tiny venue and we hit capacity often and early arrival is suggested.
We have the discretion to decide entry.
HOW IT WORKS : We will give out name tags and you write your name and your industry/sector/specialization. However we don't guarantee the availability of a partner in that area. DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR BUSINESS CARD.
Rules to abide :
1. Event is free and 21+ (bring ID).
2. Be respectful to your counterparts and give them a chance to connect with others as well.
3. We all are professionals in one or two fields and be willing to share your knowledge and experience to others and try to accommodate as much as possible.
4. If you don't belong the other person's required specialization, LEAVE THEM ALONE.
5. Rude or aggressive members are removed from the group at an organizers discretion.
6. This is a face-to-face networking event. DO NOT try to arrange an online meeting, by using the comment box or direct message.
7. Most of our members complained about people writing in the comment box. Since it sends notification to all attendees. If you have any questions, send a message to the organizers. Don't write in the comment box.
8. We have ZERO TOLERANCE for solicitation. We don't allow anyone to run their own agenda at the Event. If you are interested to promote/sponsor/collaborate; contact us via ([info@merevents.com](mailto:info@merevents.com)).
9. When you get there, we will greet you and take you to your respective group.
10. ***Please be patient for the first 30 minutes, up until we form a group with your respective industry/sector.***
***AFTER THE SOCIAL, WE HIT THE DANCE FLOOR! BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES, WE WILL DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY!***
\- Come one\, come all; this is the most friendliest event you have ever attended\!
\- Feel free to invite your friends\. They don't necessarily have to be a member\.
\- Celebrate your birthdays or your moments in life with us\.
***N.B. : We have ZERO TOLERANCE for solicitation. We don't allow anyone to run their own agenda at the Event. If you are interested to promote/sponsor/collaborate; contact us via ([info@merevents.com](http://info@merevents.com/)).***
**FOR FURTHER INFO, REFER THE EVENTBRITELINK. IT RULES.**
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FRIDAY Gen X Social
This is where you meet the area's 30, 40 and 50 years young; 30 somethings, 40 somethings, 50 [somethings.......as](http://somethings.......as/) they are known as GENERATION Xers....., who are active, self accomplished, sophisticated, young at heart, empty nesters; who would like to do things and enjoy life; who has got time and could afford it as well!
***GRAB A DRINK AND YOU WILL BE ALL SET TO ENJOY THE EVENT. YOU NEED TO GRAB AT LEAST A DRINK OR A FOOD ITEM :) To get the event going and show support. We know that you like our events. P.S. : We have non-alcoholic drinks as well.***
We have a tiny venue and we hit capacity often and early arrival is suggested. Direct RSVP required.
We have the discretion to decide entry.
Many of you were not born while we were partying:) The profile picture of this invite was taken while we were having a blast. One of our members was buying us rounds of shots. He almost spent $ 1K just on shots. LET US DO IT AGAIN!
They also make us feel loved and honored, by serving, one of our signature cocktails, which is named after us - MerTini:) It will be one of the featured cocktails. Ask your bartenders:)
Unacceptable Attire:
1. Athletic Clothing: This Includes gym attire, sweatpants, yoga pants, and tracksuits
2. Baggy Clothing: Clothing that is excessively loose-fitting or oversized, such as baggy jeans, sagging sweatpants or oversized t-shirts.
3. Sportswear: Jerseys, team logos, and other sport-specific attire
4. Beachwear: shorts, tank tops, swimwear, and revealing clothing
5. Flip Flops: Open-toe sandals, thong sandals, and flip flops are not allowed
6. Timberlands and Steel Toed Shoes.
DETAILS :
* We will have a registration station and check you in.
* Most of our members complained about people writing in the comment box. Since it sends notification to all attendees. If you have any questions, send a message to the organizers. Don't write in the comment box.
PARKING INFO
Parking might be a challenge and the event involves drinking. We highly encourage you to take a public transportation, taxi service or a ride share. DRINK RESPONSIBLY.
***N.B. : We have ZERO TOLERANCE for solicitation. We don't allow anyone to run their own agenda at the Event. If you are interested to promote/sponsor/collaborate; contact us via ([info@merevents.com](http://info@merevents.com/)).***
Signs of the Seasons Walk: Green Spring Gardens, Alexandria
COST: Green Spring has a minimal parking fee (\~$2) which we will collect together because they consider us a “group” with different fee rules. Therefore, DO NOT put parking fee in parking lot collection box. Instead, please bring some cash for the GROUP fee (dollar bills or a fiver) to our start point.
DESCRIPTION:
Join us on a slowish walk over gentle hills with stops (up to two miles in about two hours) at Green Spring Gardens, Alexandria, to enjoy the waning wonders of winter (and even last autumn) and the signs of spring.(Unfortunately, the mulched trails and slopes are not wheelchair accessible nor suitable for those with walking difficulties.) Experience nature in a leisurely way, and awaken your senses. Before trees leaf out, we still get our longest scenic views, evergreens pop, and groups of bare trees are like sculpture gardens. Delight in the rush of spring water and colors and textures of early flowers. In the Glass House conservatory, preview what will become the colorful late-spring planted gardens.
WHAT WE'LL DO:
We will meander up to 2 miles in about 2 hours within Green Spring Gardens (with opportunities to stop, engage and wonder) and end up back at the visitors center.
YOUR GUIDE: Adrienne Betancourt is an educator (with a career in adult education and college programs.) She completed the Maryland Natural Naturalist 60-hour course and has continued to study natural history, with experience leading programs and walks for kids, families, and adults.
MEETING POINT: Drive to : 4603 Green Spring Rd, Alexandria, VA 22312 Meet at 10:30 AM for a short introduction (that is, OUTSIDE main door of the Visitor's center in view of reception desk and restrooms and water inside). We start walking at 10:45 AM.
PARKING: Medium-sized lot available. But do NOT put fees into parking box slots. Instead hold onto your cash for when we collect the required GROUP fee, please.
WEATHER: Steady rain cancels event. We will add updates as needed.
PREPARATION:
* Sturdy comfortable footwear
* Hiking poles (optional)
* Comfortable layers
* Water!
* Snack and/or lunch if desired
* Backpack
* Sunblock
* Bug spray
* Optional: bring binoculars and your charged up cell phone for taking photos and using nature apps.
WEBSITE & NEWSLETTER: [https://imaginebeingwell.org](https://imaginebeingwell.org/)
[Click Here to Sign Up](https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/newsletter-form/sign-up-for-the-imagine-well-being-newsletter) to join Imagine Well Being’s mailing list to stay informed on the latest news and upcoming events and retreats.
LIABILITY RELEASE:
With my RSVP, I hereby stipulate that I am physically sound to participate in this event.
I understand and agree that all classes, gatherings, and workshops are undertaken at my sole risk and that Imagine Well Being guides and instructors shall not be liable for injuries or damages to my person or property arising out of or connected to any of these activities.
I authorize Imagine Well Being guides and instructors to call 911 in the event that I appear to require emergency medical care and assume responsibility for all associated costs.
I have carefully read this agreement and understand its contents. I agree that it is a complete release of liability for any injuries or damage that I may sustain due to Imagine classes, gatherings, and workshops.
FRIDAY 40s & Up Social
This is where you meet the area's 40 and 50 years young; 40 somethings, 50 [somethings.......as](http://somethings.......as/) they are known as GENERATION Xers....., who are active, self accomplished, sophisticated, young at heart, empty nesters; who would like to do things and enjoy life; who has got time and could afford it as well!
***GRAB A DRINK AND YOU WILL BE ALL SET TO ENJOY THE EVENT. YOU NEED TO GRAB AT LEAST A DRINK OR A FOOD ITEM :) To get the event going and show support. We know that you like our events. P.S. : We have non-alcoholic drinks as well.***
We have a tiny venue and we hit capacity often and early arrival is suggested. Direct RSVP required.
We have the discretion to decide entry.
Many of you were not born while we were partying:) The profile picture of this invite was taken while we were having a blast. One of our members was buying us rounds of shots. He almost spent $ 1K just on shots. LET US DO IT AGAIN!
They also make us feel loved and honored, by serving, one of our signature cocktails, which is named after us - MerTini:) It will be one of the featured cocktails. Ask your bartenders:)
DETAILS :
* We will have a registration station and check you in.
* Most of our members complained about people writing in the comment box. Since it sends notification to all attendees. If you have any questions, send a message to the organizers. Don't write in the comment box.
DRESS CODE :
Unacceptable Attire:
1. Athletic Clothing: This Includes gym attire, sweatpants, yoga pants, and tracksuits
2. Baggy Clothing: Clothing that is excessively loose-fitting or oversized, such as baggy jeans, sagging sweatpants or oversized t-shirts.
3. Sportswear: Jerseys, team logos, and other sport-specific attire
4. Beachwear: shorts, tank tops, swimwear, and revealing clothing
5. Flip Flops: Open-toe sandals, thong sandals, and flip flops are not allowed
6. Timberlands and Steel Toed Shoes.
PARKING INFO
Parking might be a challenge and the event involves drinking. We highly encourage you to take a public transportation, taxi service or a ride share. DRINK RESPONSIBLY.
***N.B. : We have ZERO TOLERANCE for solicitation. We don't allow anyone to run their own agenda at the Event. If you are interested to promote/sponsor/collaborate; contact us via ([info@merevents.com](http://info@merevents.com/)).***
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Interaction Design Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
DC Service Jam 2026
**DC Service Jam is back.** This March, SD:DC is hosting the DC edition of Global Service Jam 2026 week. We are part of a worldwide movement of designers, strategists, and curious minds who come together to build real service concepts from scratch.
From **Saturday March 14 to Sunday March 15**, you'll work in a small team around a secret theme revealed at kick-off. No briefs, no client. Just hands-on design, rapid prototyping, and plenty of Post-its.
This year we're bringing AI into the mix. Throughout the weekend we'll look at how AI tools can support service design work, as a sensemaking tool, to build artifacts faster, and to push prototypes further.
**WHAT TO EXPECT**
**Saturday March 14th**
* **9 - 10am:** social / breakfast (theme reveal + team formation)
* **10am - 6pm:** full day of research, ideation, and prototyping (meals provided)
* **6:30pm (optional):** social / happy hour (nearby bar)
**Sunday March 15th**
* **9 - 10am:** social / breakfast
* **10am - 12pm:** finalize prototyping & storytelling
* **12pm - 2pm:** present your work and share what DC made with the world
**WHO SHOULD COME**
You don't need to be a service designer. If you're a UX or product designer, strategist, public servant, researcher, or just someone curious about how services actually work, you're welcome here.
**LOGISTICS**
* **Dates:** Saturday March 14th & Sunday 15th (ending at 2pm)
* **Venue:** SteamPunk, McLean, VA
* **Capacity:** 50 spots only (first come, first served)
* **Attendee fee:** $60\* (covers meals, materials, and space)
*\* If the fee is a barrier for you, we have a limited number of discounted tickets available, just reach out to Sergio Venegas directly for a code.*
**WHAT TO BRING**
✔️ An open mind and a willingness to make things
✔️ Laptop and charger
✔️ Curiosity about Service Design (no experience needed)
**Follow SD:DC on LinkedIn and @DCServiceJam on Instagram for updates!**
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Many thanks to our host and sponsor, **SteamPunk**
*Design. Disrupt, Repeat. Steampunk is anchored by a startup culture with a customer-centered delivery approach. We put our Federal government clients in the center of everything we design, develop, and deliver to drive high quality mission impacts and user experiences at speed.*
Meetup for Conversations
Join us on zoom call zoom from your phone free at 1929 436 2866; meeting id is 896 0197-4108 that's all, see you today 3rd Sunday at 12:45pm 2-15-26 ask for Howard!
Play at the Library: A Video Game Showcase
*A series of pop-up arcades of locally-made games!*
The Washington, D.C. Chapter of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA DC) has partnered with the D.C. Public Library to host a series of showcases at library branches across the city.
**At these showcases you can come play games made by local developers and learn about how those games were made!**
Saturday, March 14, 2026
2-5pm
Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Neighborhood Library
5401 South Dakota Ave NE, Washington, DC 20011
(Near the Fort Totten Metro Station)
Family-friendly and appropriate for all ages (recommended for children ages 7 and up mainly because video game controllers are hard for younger children to use.)
Come out and support your local community of game developers!
Evolving Self: From Reaction to Intention
**Shift from autopilot to conscious choice!**
This session is designed to help you move beyond reactive patterns and step into intentional living. Through mindfulness, emotional awareness, and reflective exercises, you'll uncover the habits that keep you stuck and learn how to respond to life with clarity and purpose. It's a journey from unconscious reaction to empowered intention.
Key Takeaways:
o Recognize and interrupt reactive behaviors
o Cultivate emotional awareness and regulation
o Develop tools for intentional decision-making
o Align actions with values and inner truth
Saturday, March 14th, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM. Held at the Meditation Museum, 9525 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD. Free Event – Register at: [https://shorturl.at/V1luA](https://shorturl.at/V1luA)
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Insight Meditation of Northern Virginia
Whether you're new to Insight meditation or an advanced practitioner looking for like-minded people to sit with, you're welcome to join us at our Sunday morning drop-in group, sponsored by the Insight Meditation Community of Washington. Insight meditation cultivates our natural wisdom and compassion. Meditation practice develops concentration, which allows us to calm and steady the mind.
This class includes a 30-minute lightly-guided meditation, followed by a short talk and time for questions and discussion. The size of the group usually runs somewhere between 25-40 people in-person and between 12-25 online. Chairs are provided, or you may bring a sitting cushion or bench. You may also use the blankets and bolsters offered by the yoga studio.
**We offer both in-person and online attendance.**
To learn more about our topics and teachers, view our videos or **get the Zoom link**, visit our [class page](https://imcw.org/event/?eventId=735&utm_source=MeetUp&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=vienna-drop-in).
“Sip & Secure the Bag” Purse Making Experience!
✨ SIP & SECURE THE BAG ✨
This luxe, hands-on experience invites you to design and create your very own custom purse while sipping wines and vibing with an incredible community.
Whether you're a fashion lover, a creative spirit, or just looking for a unique way to unwind and connect, this is your moment to pour into yourself and leave with something beautiful you made with your own hands.
Each experience includes a curated selection of materials, tools, and guided instruction.
Tix link:
https://www.melaxsocial.shop/event-details/purse-making-experience
Doubles Volleyball Skill Training Class
Doubles volleyball skills and rules can be different from indoor volleyball and if you are already an advanced beginner 6x6 player and want to learn how to play doubles volleyball, this event will be for you.
Cost: FREE
Court Type: Outdoor grass
Minimum Required Skill Level: B (Advanced Beginner)
**Skills that we will cover:**
Be a good doubles partner ( [details](https://docs.google.com/document/d/14weEw-P52XKx0P8K2l-ZOFtYU61wmfdkSkopbG5avro) )
Tomahawk
Receiving positions
Doubles hand set
Doubles bump set
Knuckle shot
Defense position and hand signals
Serving strategies
Attacking by ball placement (Roll shot and Jumbo)
King of the court game
**Smiley Social documents:**
1. [Group Rules](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HrG35p_0M08leRvCp8XWG3CMkr_GL928XFabl5T6Dvg)
2. [Liability Waiver](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W2mq-7m99lmvd7gdWYaSUFtvVg4UGnzV6koafAbHmco)
3. [Smiley Social Volleyball Levels](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PojSi4qdlRsv1msCHhvpQ43iDc4FfzQwpWCc3kafVMY/edit)
Interaction Design Events Near You
Connect with your local Interaction Design community
Quarterly Goals Reset for Product Professionals
One of the most valuable parts of this community is the opportunity to think out loud with other product professionals. This session is built for exactly that.
As we wrap up the quarter, it’s a great time to pause and reflect. What’s on track? What needs adjustment? Where could a small shift create bigger impact?
Join fellow product professionals for a focused, interactive conversation designed to help you recalibrate for the next quarter. You’ll have the opportunity to share where you are, hear how others are thinking through similar challenges, and gain fresh perspective you can bring back to your team and organization.
We’ll gather at 8:00AM, with discussion starting promptly at 8:15AM.
📍 First Watch - 7227 N High St
Located in: The Shops at Worthington
Ample parking is available.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Start your morning with clarity and connection — we hope to see you there! ☀️
Web Design Decoded: Tools, Practices, and Proven Processes (Semantic HTML)
**Web Design Decoded: Tools, Practices, and Proven Processes:**
**Semantic HTML**
At WebDev Columbus, we are exploring some of the most important topics of professional high-end web design and page building. Primarily focused on site building in the WordPress environment, our group explores tools, tips, and techniques for building the best WordPress sites possible. Additionally, we focus on disciplines and technologies that take website design from visually appealing to optimized spaces for delivering you and/or your client's message effectively and with a nod towards extended reach.
Each session combines practical demonstrations with real-world insights, giving you actionable knowledge you can apply immediately. Whether you're a seasoned developer looking to enhance your design skills or a newcomer wanting to understand design best practices, this series offers valuable insights for every skill level.
**What to expect:**
* Hands-on demonstrations of popular design tools
* Best practices for design-to-development workflows
* Tips for creating responsive, accessible designs
* Real-world problem-solving scenarios
* Interactive Q&A sessions
* Networking opportunities with fellow developers
**Each meetup features:**
60 minutes of focused presentation
30 minutes of live demonstrations
30 minutes for questions and discussion
**See you there!**
Our casual, collaborative environment encourages learning from both presenters and fellow attendees. Bring your questions, share your experiences, and connect with Central Ohio's web development community!
**Stay tuned for specific session topics and dates.**
Columbus Code & Coffee 84 @ Improving
Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you!
**What to Expect at the Intro Circle**
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Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup:
* Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics
Round 1 - (7 secs max):
* Your name
* What you're working on
* What you can help others with
Round 2:
* Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too.
Round 3:
* Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool.
After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!
Prototype, Play, and Build Workshops (In-Person @GameArena)!!!
This month, we are in-person at GameArena!!! We will also be joined by students and their games from [Shawnee State](https://www.shawnee.edu/game-design-programs)!
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Join us for our our monthly COGG Prototype and Play event @GameArena! Come to play and showcase your games.
We're back in the upper levels of the catwalk mezzanine area. It'll be packed with lots of camaraderie playing your game(s) and other's games on the 2nd floor as well as the 1st floor in the gaming room below the mezzanine.
Light snacks and water provided but you can buy food and drinks at the bar (alcoholic drink ID required).
[https://www.game-arena.co/menu](https://www.game-arena.co/menu)
**Attendees:**
Don't have a game to show? Not a problem! All are welcomed and invited from all ages and backgrounds. The more we can have to play test our games the better!
**Developers:**
Do you have a game that you would like to get critical feedback on? Would you like an excuse to work on a game with other talented artists, programmers, musicians, designers, and writers? Digital, table-top, non-experienced developers, and the like are welcomed! We'll provide signage for your game to help others learn more about your work. Wifi, outlets, tables, and seats (though standing tables also) are available.
Come to the Prototype and Play workshop to collaborate and meet local game developers for an evening of epic and raw game play fun! Play works-in-progress, show off your own game, work with others to add polish to a game, or even lend your talents to other fellow developers.
Can use South Garage at the Gateway with a $5 voucher on your way out.
75 E 11th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201
[https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9)
If you have any questions or comments, as always, feel free to reach out to us at [info@thecogg.com!](http://info@thecogg.com!/)
Fun & easy way to play more tennis (read event description)
We’re still working to get more people into these Meetups, but our goal is to give PlayYourCourt members a few social tennis outings each week in addition to your practice sessions and Challenge League matches.
These Meetups are co-ed, super laid back, and all skill levels are welcome. Post your skill level and a suggested court in the comments section so we can round up as many players as we can for some tennis fun!
Also, if you’re looking to meet new practice partners or play some matches and you aren’t already in the PlayYourCourt Community, you can go here to see what we’re all about and sign up:
https://www.playyourcourt.com/tennis-community/columbus-oh/meetup/
If you love tennis, we’d love to have you! Be sure and watch the quick video that explains how everything works.
Happy hitting!
- Scott
Unity GameDev Hangout – Tools, Workflows & Open Discussion
This is a relaxed, community-driven Unity GameDev meetup.
There’s no strict agenda this time — just developers getting together to talk shop, share projects, and exchange ideas.
**Some topics that may come up (based on attendee interest):**
• Frame Debugger & performance tooling
• Addressables & additive scene workflows
• Input System, localization, responsive UI
• AI integration approaches
• DevOps & LiveOps experiences
• Full lifecycle: idea → cross-platform publishing
• Favorite Asset Store tools and hidden gems
• Weird Unity quirks we’ve all run into
*Nothing is locked in.*
Bring a project if you’d like.
Bring a question.
Bring a lesson learned.
Or just come hang out and meet other developers.
All skill levels welcome!
From Idea to Working App in Minutes: The Agentic Development with Amazon Kiro
Discover Kiro, AWS’s innovative development environment that adapts to your workflow. Whether you prefer specification-driven development or a more intuitive, vibe-based approach, Kiro empowers you to build applications your way.
In this session, speakers will explore Kiro’s core functionality and its evolution through re:Invent 2025, along with demonstrations of prompts used to create APIs, hooks, and steering documents.
In the latter part of the session, watch as we build a complete example from scratch, showcasing Kiro’s agentic AI workflow in action for spec-driven development and vibe coding.
What You'll Learn - Core Kiro concepts and development philosophy
Feature evolution: pre and post re:Invent 2025
Practical examples: API creation, hooks, and steering docs
Live coding demonstration with real-time problem solving
Who Should Attend - Developers, solutions architects, and technical leaders interested in modern AWS development tools and AI-assisted coding workflows.
**Speakers Bio:**
Matthew Jorat: Matthew Jorat is a Customer Solutions Manager at AWS with nearly three decades of expertise in AI, cloud transformation, migration, modernization, IT, technology, and business. His career spans infrastructure engineer, solutions architect, security auditor, customer success director, support and services director, and operations officer. He was an early adopter of AWS services as a customer, and his current role at AWS uniquely blends his technical and business skills as he partners with executive teams to translate strategic priorities into measurable business outcomes through cloud adoption, AI implementation, and operational excellence. Matt leads end-to-end AI initiatives for enterprise customers, identifying high-impact use cases and maintaining relentless focus on measurable ROI. He holds eight AWS certifications and serves as Adjunct Professor at Franklin University teaching cloud computing and AWS architecture. His expertise encompasses GenAI, agentic AI systems, migration, modernization, and optimization strategies that drive transformation at scale.
[https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/)
Girish Bhatia: Girish Bhatia is a seasoned technology delivery leader with deep expertise in cross-domain program management. He holds multiple AWS certifications, including AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, AWS Certified Developer – Associate, and AWS Generative AI Practitioner, and is also an AWS Community Builder. Girish brings over two decades of experience in the information technology industry.
Throughout his career, Girish has led major technology-driven business transformation from modernizing on-premises applications to driving large-scale cloud migrations. His work includes API-based integration platforms, data-center and mainframe modernization, and enterprise cloud adoption initiatives.
Based in Columbus, Ohio, Girish works at a tech-forward fintech company. He is passionate about AWS serverless architectures, Generative AI and emerging cloud technologies. An avid learner and builder, he continues to explore and apply the latest innovations in AWS to help organizations accelerate their digital transformation.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/[https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/)
**THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/
**DIRECTIONS**
Franklin University
Fisher Hall
300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8
Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map.
NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct.
**Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?**
Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com






























