Location: Wellington
July 19, 2007
Information Architecture Workshop - Theory & Practice
This full day workshop [by Donna Maurer] will provide you with a thorough overview and understanding of information architecture theory & practice. It will cover a wide range of information architecture issues, including an understanding of how it fits into a project, fundamental skills & knowledge required for information architecture work and current information architecture issues. It will be theoretical and practical and allow you to immediately apply ideas to your projects.
June 5, 2007
UPA Wellington - Show and Tell – usability stories and case studies
Four usability practioners and a podcast TV host tell their stories of lessons learnt, insights gained and demonstrate examples from case studies. However, we have kept a speaking slot open for one of you to fill. Do you have a story you want to tell? A problem to present or a case study to talk about? If so, email sam [at] optimalusability.com and we’ll organise for you to join the 5 presenters.
There will be plenty of snacks and refreshments put on (Thanks Statistics New Zealand!) so come early and grab something to eat before listening to the speakers.
1. Dave O’Brien – How much does NOT user-testing your project cost? Dave presents examples of minor flaws that lose major revenue.
2. Bob Medcalf – Analysing usage patterns with blobs. Bob presents ‘blob-charts’ – a tool he developed for analyzing people’s usage and behavior patterns.
3. Claire Sheerington – Hell Pizza Usability Showdown. Clare talks us through the making of a “Thinking Orange” video podcast.
4. Sam Ng – Building and launching a web application in 8 weeks. Sam talks about what it’s like to ‘walk the talk’ in the development of an online card sorting tool.
5. Nicky McCreanor – The elderly and usability.Nicky talks about supporting her 83-year-old father as he learns to use a computer and how it has improved her own awareness of usability issues.
6. You. Yes, you. If you have something interesting to share or a good story to tell about usability – email sam [at] optimalusability.com. We’d love to hear from you.
More details at www.upa.org.nz
May 8, 2007
GOVIS 2007 - Pre-Conference Workshop: Power to the People
Workshop presenters: Zef Fugaz and Bob Medcalf - Provoke and Elyssa Timmer - Boulder Services
Full day workshop: Tuesday 8 May 2007, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, includes morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.
Our one-day intensive workshop teaches you how to incorporate user goals and agency needs into the web design process. You'll develop a detailed understanding of users through user research, usage scenarios and conceptual models. You'll help create a user-centric government website that meets both agency and user needs. You'll learn how to conduct simple in-house usability tests. You'll learn about the impact on your design decisions in context of government web standards, the search experience and 'web 2.0' concepts. Be prepared to be engaged while gaining practical, actionable knowledge! This workshop is for website managers, business analysts, interaction designers, information
architects and anyone interested in the user experience.
Power to the People! workshop fees:
GOVIS member early bird $395.00
GOVIS member standard $495.00
Non-member early bird $495.00
Non-member standard $595.00
Full Conference Details: http://www.govis.org.nz/conference2007/
Register online: https://www.secureregistrations.com/GOVIS07/
May 1, 2007
UPA Wellington - User Needs: Case Studies from Big Sites
Three 20-minute presentations about government websites with a wide range of users. This event will be of interest to all web professionals – from developers and designers, to information architects, content managers and communicators.
1. Making pathways: using mindsets to redesign http://www.statistics.govt.nz/
Mindsets were more useful than personas for redesigning the information architecture of the Statistics New Zealand website. While personas focus on what users need, mindsets focuses on how they do something (eg, seek information). Jocelyn Morrison, product developer, talks about why mindsets instead of personas were used to improve the pathways to information on a complex site.
2. Easier uploads: redesign of an administration tool for http://www.nzlive.com/
Jared Gulian, web editor, on creating a better behind-the-scenes interface for people wanting to contribute events to the site.
3. Show and tell: visual information on http://www.teara.govt.nz/ Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Tessa Copland, web editor and Helene Coulson, designer, give examples of converting complicated ideas into user-friendly diagrams and interactives.
* When: 12–1.30 pm, Tuesday 1 May 2007
* Where: Ground floor conference room, Statistics House, The Boulevard, Harbour Quays. You need to sign in at reception, then head left through the library.
* RSVP: Tessa.Copland [at] mch.govt.nz
To get to Statistics House: Access by road is from Aotea Quay at the traffic lights near the stadium. There is also a footpath beside the sheds and construction site on the harbour side of Aotea Quay, and a bridge walkway from the railway station and stadium. Get to the walkway from the north end of several rail platforms, and from the steps opposite East Day Spa on Thorndon Quay.
April 3, 2007
UPA Wellington - Prototyping tools for web design
After a slow start to the year, the Wellington Usability Professionals group has an exciting series of events planned for 2007!
To kick things off, their next meeting is Tuesday April 3rd and will be about prototyping tools for web design.
A rapid iterative prototyping process is often used with user centred design (UCD) methodologies.
With web based UCD designs interaction designers use a variety of tools to create, refine and test prototypes. With so much to learn about each tools’ advantages/disadvantages, it can sometimes be helpful to simply talk to someone who has used the tool.
Come along to the next Wellington UPA meeting to listen to six speakers talk for 10 minutes each on a tool that they have used for prototyping. The speakers are:
1. Dave O’Brien, Optimal Usability, talking about Microsoft Visio
2. Lulu Pachuau, Hansel, talking about Omnigraffle
3. Nicole Kaufmann, Optimal Usability talking about Axure
4. Isha Hartono, Provoke talking about Microsoft Expression Suite
5. Tim Norton and Natalie Ferguson, Plan HQ talking about Adobe Flash
6. Mary Sue Severn, Effacy, talking about their own tool Simplar Studio
* RSVP: kat@hansel to confirm your attendance.
* When: Tuesday April 3rd, 12 noon to 1.30pm
* Where: Hansel, Meeting Room, Level 3, 56 Victoria Street, Wellington
December 6, 2006
Webstock Mini
The Webstock team presents a day of edification and an evening of entertainment for your web-related pleasure and education.
Mark Wednesday 6 December in your diaries for Russ Weakley presenting an all-day CSS workshop and Natasha Hall, Russell Brown and Nat Torkington speaking on a range of wonderous topics. Registrations are now open.
October 26, 2006
IVR Usability Workshops
Learn how to compose successful touch-tone and speech IVR applications in these workshops brought to you by Optimal Usability. Participants can expect to not only learn the fundamentals of IVR analysis and design but also the usability skills needed to create world-class customer experiences.
More information and registration at the Optimal Usability website.
The Auckland 2-day workshop is on Thursday the 26th and Friday the 27th of October.
The Wellington 1-day workshop is on Wednesday the 1st of November.
August 31, 2006
Information Architecture Workshop
Optimal Usability has invited Donna Maurer over from Australia to present a full-day workshop on Information Architecture.
"This full day workshop will provide you with a thorough overview and understanding of information architecture theory & practice. It will cover a wide range of information architecture issues, including an understanding of how it fits into a project, fundamental skills & knowledge required for information architecture work and current information architecture issues. It will be theoretical and practical and allow you to immediately apply ideas to your projects.
This workshop will cover:
* What information architecture is and how it relates to other user experience disciplines
* Core IA techniques - analysing content, conducting user research, card sorting and more
* Core IA theories - classification, categorisation, metadata & labelling
* IA structures - hierarchies, database and other structures
* Designing navigation & page layouts
* Putting it together in an IA project
* Current issues in IA
The workshop will be at the level of an ‘advanced intro’, covering the basics and also allowing exploration of key challenges and issues. The format will be a combination of short lectures, group discussion and hands-on activities. Resources will also be provided for further personal exploration."
Visit site: Information Architecture - Theory and Practice : Optimal Usability
May 23, 2006
Webstock Web Conference
Webstock is is a four-day web experience: two days of intensive workshops, followed by a two-day conference. The aim: to improve how websites are built through inspiration, education, insightful analysis and practical application.
Never before has such a gathering of web celebrity taken place in NZ. Featuring international talent and web royalty who will provide you with expert knowledge, this is not just your average web conference.
Webstock will have a uniquely New Zealand feel, and in the spirit of one of the greatest mind-expanding festivals ever known, there'll be inspiration and horizon-broadening galore, and fun and merriment aplenty! There'll be ample opportunities for you to chatter and befriend other web-loving individuals over a drink or three, and the chance to mix and mingle with some of the biggest web names in the world!
Whether you're a web designer, developer, analyst, content-editor, information/solution architect or a decision maker from the corporate, government, non-government organisation or education sector in NZ or from further afield - there'll be something motivating, exciting and immensely valuable for you!
Webstock is brought to you by the good people at Web Standards NZ who've taken it upon themselves to promote raising the standard of web sites in their own backyard (and abroad), and have a jolly good time while they're doing it.
November 3, 2005
World Usability Day in Wellington: "Making it Easy for E-Govt"
Technology should work and it shouldn't make you feel stupid. That's the goal of this year's first annual World Usability Day on November 3, 2005, with more than 70 events planned in 30 countries around the globe, starting in New Zealand.
The events are being created and driven by Usability Professionals' Association volunteers, whose goal is to promote awareness of the benefits of user-centred design and a positive customer experience.
In Wellington industry professionals and the public are invited to "E-Government Success Stories" - a free event where some of New Zealand's leading usability experts will share their stories on how the usability industry is re-shaping the web landscape in the Government sector.
While in the past there has been strong emphasis on e-government web standards and guidelines, these can sometimes shadow the goal of such standards - ensuring that people who use Government websites can achieve their goals easily and effectively.
"In recent years many Government websites have undergone a makeover and now lead the way on accessible design," says Zef Fugaz, President of the Usability Professionals' Association of New Zealand.
"The next challenge facing the Government sector is in information design and task-based analysis – or understanding the motivation and specific tasks people have in their minds when visiting their online presence."
"In 2006 and beyond, Government organisations will need to have a renewed focus on understanding the people accessing their websites, the tasks they'd like achieve, and ensuring the whole online experience is worthwhile", Fugaz says.
Speakers at the Wellington World Usability Day event include Jock Phillips from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, speaking on the award winning Te Ara website; Nikki Bristol from Optimal Usability speaking on Korero Maori; and Lynsey Blacklock from Shift speaking on the Ministry of Economic Development.
This will be followed by "Usability Speed Dating" where people are invited to meet with the presenters and usability experts for short one-to-one meetings to chat about usability or get advice. Visitors are encouraged to bring their questions on usability testing, information architecture, interaction design, user research and other usability related issues.
Date: Thursday 3rd November 2005
Time: 12:30pm (ends 1:30pm)
Venue: Synergy International, 3 Queens Wharf (opposite the Events Centre)
Admission: Free (limited capacity)
Coffee and snacks provided
RSVP to wudrsvp@optimalusability.com
October 7, 2005
How cultural contexts affect the design of web sites
Mun Ga Choi
Wellington
Friday 7th October
12.00 PM
http://communication.massey.ac.nz/seminar_series.html
Department of Communication and Journalism
Doctoral Research Seminar Series, Wellington.
Venue: Massey University, Wellington, Wallace Street, 6C01. map
Contact Details: Nicky McInnes
Tel: (04) 801 2794 x6931
September 30, 2005
Community capital and household use of the Internet
Community capital and household use of the Internet
Joce Williams
Wellington
Friday 30th September
12.00 PM
http://communication.massey.ac.nz/seminar_series.html
Department of Communication and Journalism
Doctoral Research Seminar Series, Wellington.
Venue: Massey University, Wallace Street,
Contact Details: Nicky McInnes
Tel: 801 2794 x6931
September 21, 2005
Wellington as a Creative City
Date: Wednesday, 21 September 2005
Time: 4.40-6pm
Venue: GBLT4, Old Government Buildings
Address: 15 Lambton Quay
Michael Volkerling (Director, Centre for Creative Industries, WelTech): Wellington as a Creative City
Booking and Ticketing:
Free event open to the public
For More Information:
Contact:
Sarelle Reid
Phone: 463 5305
Email: sarelle.reid@vuw.ac.nz
September 1, 2005
TUANZ (e)-vision forum — it's all about the USER!
User Centered Design — what is it, why is it important and how can it have an impact on your business?
This interactive session will cover your website, intranet, mobile applications, and product development. If you are a designer, website or intranet manager, developer or product manager involved in IT or telecommunications, this forum is one for you. Join a great line up of speakers including Mark Billinghurst, HITLab, Suzanne Currie, Navman and Jock Phillips, Te Aro for a one day interective session in Auckland or Wellington
Website: The Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand
August 31, 2005
Creative Industry
Date: Wednesday, 31 August 2005
Time: 4.40-6pm
Venue: GBLT4, Old Government Buildings
Address: 15 Lambton Quay
Hard at Work in the Creative Industries - Panel discussion, including Deborah Jones (Victoria Management School), Cheryll Sotheran (Director Creative Industries, NZTE), Tim Walker (Director The Dowse), Carol Beaumont (Secretary New Zealand Council of Trade Unions)
Booking and Ticketing:
Free event open to the public
For More Information:
Contact:
Sarelle Reid
Phone: 463 5305
Email: sarelle.reid@vuw.ac.nz
July 26, 2005
e-government
Our next UPA event is happening next week on Tuesday 26th July.
We will be having an interactive brainstorming session on usability and the NZ e-government web guidelines. E-Government is revolutionising the way people interact with government, so we want to discuss:
· What your thoughts and ideas are regarding the guidelines
· What’s good, what needs improvement
· Whether the Usability Professionals' Association have a role to play on the future direction of the guidelines
Business analysts, information architects, developers, designers and other usability professionals who have worked on an E-Govt project are encouraged to attend.
In addition, Sam Ng will also give a short overview of what it was like at this year’s UPA international conference in Montreal, held just three weeks ago.
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TIME:
5:15pm to 7pm, Tuesday 26th July
LOCATION:
Optimal Usability, Level 4, 25a Marion Street, Wellington
RSVP (by 24th Jul):
Email sam.ng@optimalusability.com
AGENDA:
5.15pm – Drinks and catching up
5.45pm – UPA update and debrief on UPA 2005 conference
6.00pm – Discussion session on NZ e-government web guidelines
June 16, 2005
Wellington Web Standards Group Meeting
NZ web guidelines
A representative from the State Services Commission will be talking about the NZ web guidelines and the implications of them becoming mandatory. There'll be lots of opportunity for participation and discussion.
Weta Workshops website
Dave Turnbull and Dan Smith from Chrometoaster will present a case study on the development of the Weta Workshops website
There will be a $10 cover charge per person for the meeting. This is to cover venue hire plus provision of drinks and nibbles for everyone. Can you please pay this at the door on the night.
Can you also please RSVP to wellington@webstandardsgroup.org before the meeting so we know how many to cater for.
Date: Thursday 16th June
Time: 4:00pm - 6:30pm
Venue: National Library Auditorium theatre
Website: Web Standards Group
June 7, 2005
Wellington UPA Meeting - Content Modelling
5:15pm to 7pm, Tuesday 7th June
VENUE:
Level 4
25A Marion Street
Wellington
RSVP (by 7th June): Email nikki.bristol@optimalusability.com
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UPA Wellington | June Meeting
SPEAKER:
Lynsey Blacklock, Business Analysis and Information Architect, Shift Ltd
TOPIC:
Content Modelling
Locally our industry and clients are just getting to grips with the need for Information Architecture (or Information
Architects for that matter) and the structure of content within their online developments. Taking Information
Architecture to the next level, Lynsey will present a discussion on 'Content Modelling' - the structure and organisation of content within the page.
In effect, exploring deeper levels of Information Architecture. How to identify content chunks and flow within the page, where the content sits within the organisation and the context of the page.
AGENDA:
5.15pm – Drinks and catching up
5.45pm – UPA update and speaker introductions
6.00pm – Speaker’s presentation
6.45pm – Discussion
June 2, 2005
Designers Speak
Thursday 2 June 5.30 for 6
Victoria University of Wellington School of Design
Joanne Oliver, IDEO
STORIES FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PACIFIC
Designing in the USA
Joanne will discuss her passion for creating stimulating, humanizing experiences around the products she designs, where responsibility, mindfulness for the environment and de-mystifying the design process are at the heart of everything she does.
Thomas Gerlach, via 4 Design
CULT AND DESIGN
From eye candy and heart flutters, from musts and victims
Thomas will discuss how he positions himself as a designer, bridging the gap between brands, products and target groups. He will deliver examples that he has experienced as to how cult status develops, how he maintains contact to trends and the coherence between trends, slow-down and long life.
There is no charge for this event.
Info: Designers Institute of New Zealand 09 303 1356 or designer@dinz.org.nz
May 27, 2005
TCANZ - Introduction to Usability for Technical Communicators
This workshop will cover the following topics:
- Overview of Usability and its cousins Usefulness and Desirability
- Defining the System
- Situating the human within the product's use
- Goal-driven design
- Me-Centered design and the personification of products
- Overview of the Customer Relationship Lifecycle
- How to assess a product's understandability, learnability, and operability
- Conducting Out-of-the-Box (OOBE, pron. 'oobie')
- Evaluations
- Usability Heuristics for software and documentation
Website: TCANZ May Workshop