User Research
Meet other local people interested in User Research: share experiences, inspire and encourage each other! Join a User Research group.
10,616
members
12
groups
Largest User Research groups
Newest User Research groups
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out user research events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the user research events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find user research events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
User Research Events Today
Join in-person User Research events happening right now
We Built an AI Platform Using AI — Here's What We Learned
A small team of AWS Solutions Architects not traditional software engineers, built AIRE Traffic Control (ATC), a production agentic AI platform now serving thousands of builders. We used AI at every stage: spec-driven development, AI-generated code, automated testing, and agentic workflows. In this talk, we'll share the real story, the architecture, the failures, the breakthroughs, and what we learned about driving adoption from 32% to 92% in 10 weeks.
You'll walk away with practical patterns for building multi-agent systems, using AI-DLC methodology, and empowering non-traditional dev teams to ship production-grade applications.
DC Crypto at The Point
https://www.thepointdc.com/
This beautiful bar and restaurant with delicious food and awesome happy hour will be the side of our first summer meetup.
It's accessible through Waterfront Metro and Buzzards Point shuttle. Or a 15 minute walk
Our crypto meet up is basically everyone. We are not officially connected with any group or government nothing like that so it's just a very chill place for OG crypto people and new people to have a drink and talk crypto .
It will probably be pretty crowded if the weather is nice but it's a really big bar with a big outdoor deck. I will have a colored candle with me identification purpose identification purposes.
It's a beautiful place where the Anacostia and the Potomac River's meet.
!I hope to see you there!
DevCommunity - DC/NY Meetup
**Agenda:**
• 5:00 PM - Doors Open (in-person attendees).
• 5:30 PM - **Deep Dive into Claude Code**
• 6:30 PM - Networking
• 7:00 PM - Doors Close
**Talk Overview:**
**Deep Dive into Claude Code**
Ever wondered what happens under the hood when Claude Code runs your next Android task? This talk dives into the internals of Anthropic's AI coding agent — its bootstrap pipeline and agent loop. You'll see how fork agents share prompt-cache prefixes to cut input token costs and how four-layer context compression keeps long conversations from exhausting the window. You'll leave with a mental model of how this production AI agent actually works. Whether you're building custom MCP integrations, orchestrating multi-agent tasks, or just trying to get more from the tool you use every day, you'll have a toolkit of patterns to apply to your own Android workflows.
**Speaker**: Mohit Sarveiya
**Speaker Bio:**
Staff Android Engineer AirBnb & Google Developer Expert
**How to find us:**
1680 Capital One Drive, McLean, VA 22102
We'll be located in C2 **100 D/E**. The area is publicly accessible. If you can't find it, you can ask the front desk for directions to the **C2 100 D/E**
**Attending Virtually?**
Zoom Link: [https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84509924569?pwd=jLXAAyOY94b9BARoiACKtKz16MoDi1.1](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84509924569?pwd%3DjLXAAyOY94b9BARoiACKtKz16MoDi1.1__;!!FrPt2g6CO4Wadw!LFvXbAXwA9nr_LdcnaIwoMGePe66Msg5rsnSUkUB9Z2ixCtXMfmUuOCTC5hZPsJVUdvuRVQrAUvdV-jdXQm6$&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw16hb6F9SrCsaIabEet1HR7)
Meeting ID: 845 0992 4569
Passcode: 754789
**Parking**:
You can park at
1680 Capital One Drive; this garage has a sign indicating public parking.
Or at the WEGMANS parking lot.
Magic The Gathering League Play - 3 Gear Games
**Join us for our very first MTG League Play!**
Are you ready to elevate your Magic the Gathering experience to new heights? Look no further! 🚀✨ We're thrilled to invite you to join our Magic the Gathering League Play – where the realms of strategy, skill, and camaraderie converge. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a novice spellcaster, there's a place for you in our League Play.
\* **Date**: Thursdays starting January 4th
\* **Time**: 6pm - 9pm
\* **Cost**: This event will be $15 and $7.50 for pass holders/ gold patrons. Each participant will receive a booster pack with purchase and a 2nd pack after playing a round. **(Pay at the shop the day of the event)**
\***Place**: 3 Gear Games 25 C Street, Laurel MD 20707
--**Game Room Code Of Conduct**--[https://www.3gearstudios.com/service/code-of-conduct/](https://www.3gearstudios.com/service/code-of-conduct/?fbclid=IwAR054LDLzN5OeBImBfQpND1a_83AGAxPeFHwMO303UD3Z7rggbPn-TRYH64)
Email questions to 3geargames@gmail.com
Read & Reflect: A Social Reading Circle.
Shared Pages, Shared Insights.
📚 Do you love reading, but wish you had a structure and a community to share your insights with?
Join our small circle of curious minds (just 4 members per gathering) as we come together for an hour of focused reading—in the calm setting of a library or the cozy atmosphere of a café.
Here’s how it works:
First part: Quiet reading on your own—bring a book you’re exploring, whether it’s philosophy, history, psychology, literature, or anything meaningful to you.
Second part: We regroup and each person shares key takeaways, insights, or questions sparked by their reading. This sparks a structured yet free-flowing conversation around ideas, perspectives, and personal reflections.
Why join?
Add structure to your reading habit.
Discover new books, authors, and ideas through others’ choices.
Build real connections by sharing and listening deeply.
Socialize around something meaningful instead of small talk.
Books and Chill
Everyone’s heard of book clubs where the group reads the same thing and gets together to discuss, which is great… if you have time and interest in whatever’s chosen. This is a different type of book club where you bring whatever you’re currently or recently reading (or just a book you’re super excited about) and talk about it with fellow book lovers.
We’ll start with people arriving/ordering food between 615-645, then go around and introduce ourselveslves and give a very brief synopsis of what we’re reading and why we’re excited (or not!) about it. Then devolve into informal conversations until people need to head out.
The goal Is to create community and connections in a group of strangers - to facilitate this please make sure you have at least a clear first name on your profile.
Upside on Moore has a great selection of food you can order from your phone or at the kiosks. There’s also a bar with happy hour, something for everyone!
Arrival tips: if you’re taking the metro, it’s the building above the Rosslyn exit. If you’re driving, you can park in the public lot under the food hall (entrance from the one way bus street) and validate parking after 6!
User Research Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Sunday Worship Service
## **Sunday Worship: Encountering God’s Word**
Join us every **Sunday at 10:45 AM** for a powerful time of worship, prayer, and deep biblical engagement. Our Sunday service is the heart of our community, where we gather to honor God and equip ourselves for the week ahead through the transformative power of the Gospel.
***
### **What to Expect**
* **Christ-Centered Worship:** We begin our time together by lifting our voices and hearts, creating a space to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit through song and prayer.
* **Exegetical Preaching:** We value the depth of Scripture. Our sermons focus on unfolding the Bible verse-by-verse, providing clear theological insights and practical applications that speak to the challenges of modern life.
* **A Welcoming Community:** At Bethel, you aren't just a face in the crowd. You’ll find a diverse family of believers dedicated to walking together in love, grace, and mutual support.
* **A Call to Action:** We believe faith should move us. Every service concludes with an encouragement to take the hope of Christ out into our neighborhoods, workplaces, and families.
### **Plan Your Visit**
Whether you are wearing your "Sunday best" or coming in casual attire, you are welcome here. We believe that no matter where you are in your spiritual journey, God has a message of grace waiting for you.
* **Location:** 9200 Edmonston Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770
* **Time:** Sundays at 10:45 AM
***
> *"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."* — **Matthew 18:20**
AI Policy Workshop
A beginner-friendly workshop on advanced AI, government policy, and how this new technology is evolving and impacting society.
**Free and open to the public — no technical background required**
In previous workshops, we've seen how AI is a transformative technology like no other, for better or for worse. Beyond the technology itself, however, government regulations and societal norms will inform the impact AI has on our world.
In this workshop, we will explore what policies have been proposed, which have been implemented and why, and what the impact has been so far. How can we use these lessons to maximize the promise and minimize the peril of AI?
**Over the course of the workshop, we’ll explore:**
* **Concepts and Goals:** What problems should AI policies be trying to solve?
* **Different Kinds of AI Policies:** What policies have been proposed so far? What are the pros and cons?
* **Political Landscape:** How are financial incentives and conflicting ideologies influencing AI policy?
* **Case Studies:** What can we learn from what's been passed so far?
**What you’ll get:**
* A clear, non-technical introduction to core ideas from AI safety, AI governance, and existential risk research.
* Small-group discussions and thought experiments that connect AI risks to everyday life, institutions, and incentives.
* A better mental model for evaluating headlines, hype, and claims about AI progress.
**Format & vibe:**
This is not a lecture it is an interactive workshop designed to help people think clearly about a topic that is increasingly important and moving very quickly.
Whether you’re new to AI, casually interested, or deeply unsure what to believe, you’ll leave with a clearer picture of *why* many researchers take AI seriously—and *what’s actually at stake* if we get it wrong.
Meaningful Conversation and Coffee - Northside Social Falls Church
**Join us in Falls Church for conversations that go beyond small talk.**
Higher Grounds – Falls Church is where this growing network of gatherings began: a space for thoughtful, authentic dialogue about what matters most. Whether we’re exploring the nature of happiness, the challenges and possibilities of midlife, spirituality, culture, capitalism, parenting, or the role of art and travel in a meaningful life, every conversation is shaped by the people in the room.
There’s no set leader or rigid agenda—just a shared commitment to listen as much as we speak. We start with brief introductions focused on what makes you *you* (not your LinkedIn bio), then dive straight into whatever is on people’s minds. The direction of each meetup emerges organically, making every event unique.
MANDATORY: PLEASE REVIEW OUR COMMUNITY GUIDELINES IN THE GROUP DESCRIPTION. Everyone is expected to engage in respectful conversations and listen deeply as well as share. We have a zero tolerance policy of sexual harassment and hate speech.
Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others in Falls Church who are also seeking deeper conversations.
**Suggested Questions: Life Stages & Transitions**
1. What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging?
2. When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists?
3. What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about?
**Suggested Questions: Identity After the Roles**
1. Who are you when nobody needs anything from you?
2. What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed?
3. How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted?
**Suggested Questions: AI & Being Human**
1. What human experiences will AI never truly understand?
2. If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do?
3. What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated?
**Suggested Questions: Belief & Meaning**
1. What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space?
2. How has knowing someone who died changed how you live?
3. What do you believe now that would shock your younger self?
**Suggested Questions: The Modern Psyche**
1. What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have?
2. Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire?
3. What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept?
**Suggested Questions: Work & Purpose**
1. When did you stop believing that your job would complete you?
2. What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors?
3. How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years?
**Suggested Questions: Relationships & Connection**
1. What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why?
2. When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best?
3. What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others?
**Suggested Questions: Time & Mortality**
1. What are you running out of time to say or do?
2. How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite?
3. What will you regret not trying, even if you fail?
**Suggested Questions: Society & Culture**
1. What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense?
2. Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing?
3. What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years?
**Suggested Questions: Personal Philosophy**
1. What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way?
2. When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out
3. What paradox about life have you learned to live with?
BINGO Online (Win Prizes!)
**\*TO ATTEND GET TICKET At**
[https://www.socialevents123.com/event-details.aspx?id=13508#tix](https://www.socialevents123.com/event-details.aspx?id=13508#tix)
(Multiple Meetup groups are co-organizing so the RSVP's shown are just a very small portion attending. We'll have at least 20 registered.)
Our last online Bingo Night Party was such a BIG hit, we're doing it again! Do you like to play BINGO or want to just do something different?! Then you will LOVE this event! Here is your opportunity to have some fun playing our Live "Bingo" game. You will also get to socialize and make other friends from the comfort of your home.
Prizes included Amazon gift cards, free future events and more! This completely online event will be LIVE and you will be able to see and hear the other participants while playing. You will either need to print or draw out your bingo cards. We will email you with how to get it after registering.
You can have more than 1 person on your team as long as they're from your house and use same device. Friends/family around the country can also play. They would just need to also register for a ticket.
This event will be held on Zoom which you would access through your computer/webcam, or via your phone/tablet. On day of the event, you will get a secured Zoom link and link to print out Bingo cards.
\*RSVPS ON HERE ARE NOT REFLECTIVE OF ACTUAL ATTENDANCE as this is a multi group event.
Cost: $15-$20 depending on how early you register.
**\*TO ATTEND GET TICKET AT -**
[https://www.socialevents123.com/event-details.aspx?id=13508#tix](https://www.socialevents123.com/event-details.aspx?id=13508#tix)
Social Pickleball
We're playing pickleball. Come, play, and meet some new friends. If you don't know how to play, we'll teach you. We have balls and a couple extra paddles. Please bring your own, if you have one. We'll get lunch and drinks afterwards. See you there!
Social Sips & Bites | Sunday Walk Series Begins!
Join us for a morning Sunday Walk - the perfect way to ease into your Sunday with fresh air, great company, and relaxed vibes.
We’ll take on a 2–3 mile walk along the beautiful Capital Crescent Trail, enjoying nature, conversation, and that signature SSB energy.
And because we know how to reward ourselves…
There might be an ice cream stop after. (Okay, there probably will be.)
Come walk, connect, and start your Sunday right.
Let’s make this a new favorite tradition.
Montgomery County parking garages in the area are free on Sunday.
Metro: Bethesda Metro (0.5 miles from meeting point)
Share a book, meet a friend
We are going to talk about the books we read—any books, from any genre. Whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, classic literature or something modern, everyone is welcome to share their thoughts, impressions, and favorite passages. It’s a relaxed and friendly conversation where we can discover new ideas and enjoy each other’s perspectives.
User Research Events Near You
Connect with your local User Research community
Stop Guessing: A Product Person's Guide to AI Adoption
## 🤝 Host Information
A co-hosted event by ProductTank Columbus & Women in Product Columbus
💡 About the Workshop
AI adoption is stalling across organizations — not because of a lack of motivation or tools, but because it's fundamentally a behavior design challenge.
This hands-on workshop applies proven Behavior Design models and methods to help you move from a vague organizational wish to boost AI adoption to 3-5 concrete, testable interventions you can act on starting tomorrow.
Whether you're a product manager, on a product team, or just someone trying to get AI to actually stick at work, you'll leave with a clear picture of what's worth focusing on, what to ignore, and how to drive real, sustained adoption — no guesswork required.
🛠️ What to Bring
Laptop: Fully charged and ready to go.
AI Assistant: Have your favorite AI assistant pulled up. (Dom will be using Claude, but feel free to use whichever assistant you prefer!)
🍕 Logistics & Perks
Food & Drink: Pizza and drinks provided!
Parking: Plenty of free spaces available on-site.
###
Rays Of Light Spiritualist Church Service
Rev. Steven Clevenger is an ordained spiritualist minister with over 40 years experience as a Spiritual Healer, Clairvoyant and Spiritual Teacher, educated and trained at the White Lily Chapel.
Rev. Siobhan Wolf Shaffer is an ordained spiritualist minister and certified medium and healer with over 20 years experience. She began her development in 1988 in Pennsylvania and continued when she moved to Ohio in 1998 where she studied at Rays of Lights Church with Rev. Steven Clevenger.
Our full worship services consist of an inspirational lecture, healing meditation, and messages from the spirit world that serve to demonstrate evidence of eternal life.
Please visit our Official Church Website (http://raysoflightchurch.com) for more information.
Smart Search + AI: An Outcome-Driven Journey from IDP to a Suite of AI
Over a billion documents processed. Millions of Veterans impacted. Hundreds of thousands of employee hours saved. Faster decisions. Greater accuracy. More benefits in the hands of our disabled Veterans.
We created Smart Search, the world’s largest consumer of Amazon Textract, right when GenAI began reshaping what’s possible. Since then, we’ve built a suite of AI‑driven solutions that transform this data into real, measurable outcomes—accelerating benefits decisions for our Nation’s Veterans.
Join us for a focused conversation on how an outcome‑driven approach to AI is helping us boost accuracy, streamline workflows, and deliver faster results for those who have served.
This is a follow up to the AWS re:Invent 2023 "Intelligent Document Processing with Gen AI for Public Sector" presentation.
About Speaker: Cameron Williams is a Senior Technical Project Manager and cross-functional technical leader at Booz Allen Hamilton with 15+ years of experience architecting and evolving scalable, cloud-native systems, from greenfield development to complex enterprise modernization. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronw711/
**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
Battle of the personal agents
Join the Columbus AI community for a special event.
**Battle of the Personal Agents** is your chance to see what people are actually building with AI agents and personal automation systems. Whether you’re running OpenClaw, Hermes, or a completely custom solution, bring your agent and show the community how it works.
We’re interested in real-world implementations: the problems your agent solves, how you use it day-to-day, how it’s hosted and managed, how you built it, and why you’ve chosen to keep using it. Live demonstrations are encouraged, so be prepared to show your code, architecture, workflows, and your agent performing real tasks.
This is less about polished presentations and more about sharing practical experience, comparing approaches, and learning from one another. If you’d like to present, please contact Chris Slee (via meetup) before the event so we can allocate enough time for everyone’s demonstrations.
Come ready to show what you’ve built, discover what others are doing, and maybe find a few ideas worth taking home.
Whether you’re deep in the field or just getting curious, come connect with others building and exploring AI in Columbus.
Sponsored by [Transform Labs](https://www.linkedin.com/company/transformlabs/)
Sign up also accessible via [Transform Labs Luma](https://luma.com/transformlabshq)
Rise and Shine with Atlassian - Reynoldsburg
Come chat about Atlassian tools and best practices at the Reynoldsburg Sunny Street Cafe and Breakfast is on Atlassian!
Let's get the day started off with breakfast with your ACE Leaders! We're always excited to talk about Atlassian Products, share our knowledge and hand out swag! Come chat with us about new product news and anything you are working on within the Atlassian product stack. This is a great opportunity to come see what we are all about, hear new business news and share with other Atlassian users your questions and experiences. We'd love to see new and old friends come out to chat and learn about Atlassian!
Agenda
---
Moderators
Kimberly Deal - Columbus Atlassian User Group Leader
Kevin Stanley - Columbus Atlassian User Group Leader
Greg Sprowls - Columbus Atlassian Community Leader
Hosted By
Kimberly Deal, Atlassian User Group Leader
Kevin Stanley, Chief Everything
Greg Sprowls, Agility Lead
---
Global Partner
Atlassian (http://atlassian.com)
Millions of users globally rely on Atlassian products every day for improving software development, project management, collaboration, and code quality.
Partner
Atlassian
---
For over a decade, Atlassian customers have come together to network, share ideas, solve problems, and find new ways to use Atlassian products. Today, more than 15,000 people take part in Atlassian community events in more than 30 countries.
---
Complete your event RSVP here: https://ace.atlassian.com/events/details/atlassian-columbus-presents-rise-and-shine-with-atlassian-reynoldsburg-5/.
AWS Columbus: Smart Search + AI: An Outcome-Driven Journey
Title: Smart Search + AI: An Outcome-Driven Journey from IDP to a Suite of AI
Register at the Columbus AWS meetup: [https://www.meetup.com/columbus-aws-amazon-web-services-meetup/events/313426379/](https://www.meetup.com/columbus-aws-amazon-web-services-meetup/events/313426379/)
Over a billion documents processed. Millions of Veterans impacted. Hundreds of thousands of employee hours saved. Faster decisions. Greater accuracy. More benefits in the hands of our disabled Veterans.
We created Smart Search, the world’s largest consumer of Amazon Textract, right when GenAI began reshaping what’s possible. Since then, we’ve built a suite of AI‑driven solutions that transform this data into real, measurable outcomes—accelerating benefits decisions for our Nation’s Veterans.
Join us for a focused conversation on how an outcome‑driven approach to AI is helping us boost accuracy, streamline workflows, and deliver faster results for those who have served.
This is a follow up to the AWS re:Invent 2023 "Intelligent Document Processing with Gen AI for Public Sector" presentation.
About Speaker: Cameron Williams is a Senior Technical Project Manager and cross-functional technical leader at Booz Allen Hamilton with 15+ years of experience architecting and evolving scalable, cloud-native systems, from greenfield development to complex enterprise modernization. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronw711/
**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
AI Agents 101: How to Make ChatGPT Do Actual Work
Most people still use AI like a search box: type one question, get one answer, repeat.
But the next step is AI agents: systems that can take a goal, break it into steps, use tools, remember context, and produce useful work for a human to review.
In this beginner-friendly session, we’ll demystify what AI agents actually are — without hype or jargon. We’ll walk through practical examples of how agents can help with research, planning, writing, coding, operations, and personal productivity.
We’ll cover:
* What makes an AI “agent” instead of just a chatbot
* How agents break tasks into steps
* Where agents are genuinely useful today
* Where they fail, hallucinate, or need human review
* How to design simple AI workflows for your own work
* A live demo of an AI agent-style workflow from start to finish
No coding experience required. This is for anyone who wants to understand where AI tools are going and how to use them more effectively right now.
LOGISTICS AND PARKING:
The talk starts at 7:00 PM. The first half hour is reserved for everyone to get set up and mingle. Free pizza and drinks!
The cheapest parking option is to find street parking, which will only cost you a few bucks. Otherwise, park in the nearby veteran's museum lot for $8. It's highly recommended you avoid the nearby $15 garage parking.




























