• Tools and techniques for practical usability research
• Challenges and barriers to usability research (and ways to overcome them)

• Hear professional researchers tell their stories
  
• Tell your story and share your wisdom
  
• Learn about practical usability tools, technologies, methods, and techniques
  

• Joe Sokohl, UX Lead at PracticeWorks LLC
  
• Tom Illmensee, Information Architect at Ironworks Consulting
• Susan Teague Rector, Web Applications Manager at VCU Libraries
  

• Chris Eklund, Solutions Analyst at Affinion Loylty Group

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the richmondux
group.

   File        : /UK_Usability_Testing_Article.pdf
   Uploaded by : jsokohl <joe@...>
   Description : Quite good article about usability testing.

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/richmondux/files/UK_Usability_Testing_Article.pdf

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/groups/original/members/web/index.htmlfiles

Regards,

jsokohl <joe@...>

Hi all,

great meeting at Affinion last night. Thanks, Chris! Too, big props to
Tom on his presentation...I definitely learned stuff. Hope y'all liked
my little dog'n'pony thing.

Good to meet new folks like Edwin & Craig & others, too.

Best,

joe

Forwarded from my friend Joanne Weaver

=====
Senior Web Front End Developer – Arlington VA (Wash DC area)

We are looking for a Senior Web Front-end Developer to join our
growing Interactive Services team. Here, you will work in a highly
collaborative, team-oriented environment with other skilled resources
to design and deliver engaging, transactional websites and applications.

The ideal candidate is familiar with leading web-based technologies
and can demonstrate experience providing front-end code development
for high-volume, consumer-facing websites and applications. Experience
successfully building applications for non-PC interfaces – such as
mobile devices, game systems, kiosks, flat panel displays – is a plus.

Consulting experience is desired. Successful candidate will work as
part of a cross-functional team of user-centered design (UCD) and
application development personnel in an agile and iterative
development process.

Important Characteristics
• Proactive, problem-solving work style
• Build strong working relationships
• Grasp the value of collaborative and iterative development processes
• Passionate about clean code, accessibility standards compliance, and
attention to detail
• Stay current with developments in user experience, emerging web
technologies, related fields
• Willingly shares knowledge and enjoys mentoring more junior colleagues
Requirements
• Ability to adopt new technologies, applications and methods quickly
• Experience working across standard application development
lifecycle, from requirements definition to design and development to
on-going site/application updates
• Experience working in an Agile environment a big plus
• Demonstrated success collaborating with UCD and creative
teams/colleagues
• Proven track record building high-volume, standards-compliant,
cross-browser/platform compatible, transactional websites and
front-end web applications
• Expert skills developing with HTML/ XHTML/XHTML MP, CSS, JavaScript,
XML/XSLT, AJAX, JSP, Flash/Flex, ActionScript, and other front-end
technologies
• Deep understanding of application servers (e.g. Apache Tomcat), web
servers and distributed or load-balanced systems, Web Services, and
SOA, SML, DOM and other W3C standards
• Ability to integrate front-end code base with back-end technologies,
including SQL, Java and standard databases (e.g. Oracle)
• Proven skills with client-side performance optimization,
object-oriented Javascript/JSON, and unit testing (JSUnit)
• Expertise in site security a big plus
• Experience with Selenium (GUI regression testing) a big plus
• Experience with leading Web analytics programs
• Experience with content management systems, including emerging
open-source platforms
• Willing to travel occasionally
• Very good written and verbal English communication skills
Responsibilities
• As part of a blended UCD-Agile team, develop high-quality websites
and web-based applications
• Ensure developed sites and applications are standards compliant and
cross-browser compatible
• Provide front-end development baselines and code standards, as needed
• Mentor junior resources, as needed
• Act as front-end development team lead
• Make a measurable contribution to overall development, growth and
culture of Interactive Services team
Education & Training
• Bachelors degree in computer science or related field, or equivalent
experience

To apply, email:
joanne@...

Referral bonus offered $500-1000---please share with a friend or two
(or 10) who you know + trust

Forwarded from my friend Joanne Weaver

======
Web Front-end Developer – midlevel – temp to perm or fulltime in
Arlington VA (DC)

We are looking for a Web Front-end Developer to join our growing
Interactive Services team. Here, you will work in a highly
collaborative, team-oriented environment with other skilled resources
to design and deliver engaging, transactional websites and applications.

The ideal candidate is familiar with leading web-based technologies
and can demonstrate experience providing front-end code development
for high-volume, consumer-facing websites and applications. Experience
successfully building applications for non-PC interfaces – such as
mobile devices, game systems, kiosks, flat panel displays – is a plus.

Consulting experience is a plus. Successful candidate will work as
part of a cross-functional team of user-centered design (UCD) and
application development personnel in an agile and iterative
development process.

Important Characteristics
• Proactive, problem-solving work style
• Build strong working relationships
• Grasp the value of collaborative and iterative development processes
• Passionate about clean code, accessibility standards compliance, and
attention to detail
• Stay current with developments in user experience, emerging web
technologies, related fields
Requirements
• Ability to adopt new technologies, applications and methods quickly
• Some experience working across standard application development
lifecycle, from requirements definition to design and development to
on-going site/application updates
• Experience working in an Agile environment a big plus
• Demonstrated success collaborating with UCD and creative
teams/colleagues
• Proven track record building high-volume, standards-compliant,
cross-browser/platform compatible, transactional websites and
front-end web applications
• Expert skills developing with HTML/ XHTML/XHTML MP, CSS, JavaScript,
XML/XSLT, AJAX, JSP, Flash/Flex, ActionScript, and other front-end
technologies
• Solid understanding of application servers (e.g. Apache Tomcat), web
servers and distributed or load-balanced systems, Web Services, and
SOA, SML, DOM and other W3C standards
• Ability to integrate front-end code base with back-end technologies,
including SQL, Java and standard databases (e.g. Oracle)
• Experience with leading Web analytics programs a plus
• Experience with content management systems, including emerging
open-source platforms, a big plus
• Willing to travel occasionally
• Very good written and verbal English communication skills
Responsibilities
• As part of a blended UCD-Agile team, develop high-quality websites
and web-based applications
• Ensure developed sites and applications are standards compliant and
cross-browser compatible
• Provide front-end development baselines and code standards, as needed
• Mentor junior resources, as needed
• Ability to act as front-end development team lead a big plus
• Make a positive contribution to overall development, growth and
culture of Interactive Services team
Education & Training
• Bachelors degree in computer science or related field, or equivalent
experience

To apply, email:

joanne@...

Referral bonus offered $500-1000---please share with a friend or two
(or 10) who you know + trust

Thanks!
www.joanneweavergroup.com
UX + Creative Talent Acquisition

Colleagues,

As we enter the new year, we're posting more on our new blog and our
Facebook account. Please check it out when you can:

Blog: http://richmondux.com/
Subscribe: http://richmondux.com/feed/
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/58lhkk

See you online,

Best,
Susan

Mark your calendars for these exciting events brought to you by RUX:

Wednesday February 25, 2009, Resume/Portfolio tips for the UE Job Seeker
6pm - 8pm
Location: TBD
RSVP: seteague AT vcu DOT edu or cnicolls AT ironworks DOT com by
Monday, February 23.
Hiring managers will provide tips on creating a UE resume/portfolio.

Wednesday March 25, 2009, Selling the Importance of Usability & IA to
Clients
6pm - 8pm
RSVP:  seteague AT vcu DOT edu or cnicolls AT ironworks DOT com by
Monday, March 23.
Location: TBD

Wednesday April, 29, 2009, First Book Club Discussion Group
6pm - 8pm
Location: TBD
Book Club Discussion (see below)
Book: Subject to Change: Creating Great Products & Services for an
Uncertain World from Adaptive Path (http://tinyurl.com/cgzffc)

We'd also like to announce a new topic for RUX, the RUX Book Club! For
April's discussion, we'll talk about the book Subject to Change:
Creating Great Products & Services for an Uncertain World from
Adaptive Path.

Best,
The RUX Planning Team

February RUX meeting
**Please note the change in date!**

Group Discussion Series- Presenting yourself: Tips for showcasing your
UX experience in your portfolio and resume
Thursday, February 26, 2009
6:00pm- 8pm
Affinion Loyalty Solutions
7814 Carousel Ln
Richmond, VA 23294

One block east of the Parham and Broad intersection.

Attendees should enter on the rear side of the building (the side
closest to Parham Rd) and enter under the green awning. The meeting
room is just to the left of the entrance and if the door is locked,
they will need to go to the window and get someone's attention.
Admission is free.

TOPIC:
Presenting yourself: Tips for showcasing your UX experience in your
portfolio and resume

Join our discussion about what managers look for when hiring to their
creative teams. This conversation will focus on Information
Architecture and Usability samples, and how to gear your resume to
better reflect your experience. We'll look through examples of good IA
portfolios, and we'll toss in a couple of not so great ones and
discuss how they could be improved.

As time permits, we'll also have an open critique of resumes and
samples from attendees. If you're interested in discussing yours, send
an electronic version to cnicolls@... prior to the meeting!

Panel to be announced
Hosted by Chris Eklund, Solutions Analyst at Affinion Loyalty Group

Please rsvp by Tuesday, February 24, 2009 if you plan on attending!

I came across a great article on the value of social networking
recently and wanted to share it. (from inRich.com)

Check it out.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/local/metrobusiness/article/IRIS02_200\
90130-233915/193881/

LinkedIn - ranked #1, Facebook a close 2nd

Daulton West
Information Systems Director / Webmaster
Richmond Ski Club - http://www.richmondskiclub.org/
(804) 270-6147

Thanks Daulton --

So far, I haven't warmed up to FB, and though I do have a LinkedIn
account, I haven't fleshed it out yet. Twitter seems to have hijacked my
interest in social networking. It's fun for me (1) because there are so
few character spaces to fill at a time, and (2) the other tweets are
short enough to scan quite a few to choose which ones I'll check out for
tips, or info to retweet.

Follow me when you get the chance,
Jean
http://www.twitter.com/Jean_S

--- In richmondux@yahoogroups.com, "dwestjr1" <dwestjr1@...> wrote:
>
> I came across a great article on the value of social networking
> recently and wanted to share it. (from inRich.com)
>
> Check it out.
>
>
http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/local/metrobusiness/article/IR\
IS02_20090130-233915/193881/
>
> LinkedIn - ranked #1, Facebook a close 2nd
>
> Daulton West
> Information Systems Director / Webmaster
> Richmond Ski Club - http://www.richmondskiclub.org/
> (804) 270-6147
>

Message-ID: <gojqbq+7o27@eGroups.com>
User-Agent: eGroups-EW/0.82
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Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="7-6598021725-0970171324=:4"
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Sender: notify@yahoogroups.com
X-Yahoo-GPoster: PxvC4NSePQPXPXXX

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Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable


We had a great turnout last week and an awesome presentation! Thanks
again to Affinion for hosting, to Candace for presenting and to all RUX
members for sharing ideas and feedback!

We have an exciting few months ahead of us so mark your calendars for
these events. As always, if you have an idea for an event, for the new
book club or wish to present, please don't hesitate to email the list or
contact one of the steering committee members
<http://richmondux.com/about/> .

Wednesday March 25, 2009, Selling the Importance of Usability & IA to
Clients
6pm - 8pm
RSVP:  seteague AT vcu DOT edu or cnicolls AT ironworks DOT com by
Monday, March 23.
Location: TBD

Wednesday April, 29, 2009, First Book Club Discussion Group
6pm - 8pm
Location: TBD
Book Club Discussion (see below)
Book:  <http://tinyurl.com/cgzffc> Subject to Change: Creating Great
Products & Services for an Uncertain World <http://tinyurl.com/cgzffc>
from Adaptive Path (http://tinyurl.com/cgzffc)

Best,
The RUX Planning Team


--7-6598021725-0970171324=:4
Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<p>We had a great turnout last week and an awesome presentation! Thanks
again to Affinion for hosting, to Candace for presenting and to all RUX
members for sharing ideas and feedback!</p>
<p>We have an exciting few months ahead of us so mark your calendars
for these events. As always, if you have an idea for an event, for the
new book club or wish to present, please don't hesitate to email the
list or contact one of the <a href=3D"http://richmondux.com/about/" mce=3D"=
http://richmondux.com/about/">steering committee members</a>.</p>
<p><b>Wednesday March 25, 2009, Selling the Importance of Usability & I=
A to Clients<br>
</b><b>6pm - 8pm</b><br>
RSVP:  seteague AT vcu DOT edu or cnicolls AT ironworks DOT com by Mon=
day, March 23.<br>
Location: TBD</p>
<p><b>Wednesday April, 29, 2009, First Book Club Discussion Group<br>
</b><b>6pm - 8pm</b><br>
Location: TBD<br>
Book Club Discussion (see below)<br>
Book:<a href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/cgzffc" mce=3D"http://tinyurl.com/cgzffc=
"> </a><i><a href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/cgzffc" mce=3D"http://tinyurl.com/c=
gzffc">Subject to Change: Creating Great Products & Services for an Unc=
ertain World</a> </i>from Adaptive Path (http://tinyurl.com/cgzffc)</p>
<p>Best,<br>
The RUX Planning Team</p>

--7-6598021725-0970171324=:4--

All, it looks like the email didn't come through correctly. Please
find out details for the upcoming events on our blog at:
http://richmondux.com/2009/03/03/reminder-upcoming-rux-events/

Thanks!

Hi Everyone,

Anyone know anything about Koves Technology? Good/bad/indifferent? Got a friend
interested in them. Let me know at joe/at/ sokohl dot com directly, please.

TIA,

joe

Please join us for a panel discussion March 25, 2009 to discuss Selling the
Importance of Usability & IA to Clients.
Feel free to bring your ideas and advice about how you sell usability & IA to
your organizations.

Panel to include:
Chris Eklund, Solutions Analyst at Affinion Loyalty Solutions
Dan Chamberlain, Internet Strategist at Dominion Resources
Rick Whittington, President of Rick Whittington Consulting

Online Information at: http://www.richmondux.com

When: Wednesday March 25, 2009, 6pm - 8pm

********************************************************************************\
*************
Where:
Affinion Loyalty Solutions
7814 Carousel Ln
Richmond, VA 23294

One block east of the Parham and Broad intersection.
Google Map and Street View
<http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=7814+Carousel+Ln,+Richmond,+VA\
+23294&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=63.9851,108.632813&ie=UTF8&ll=37.633436,-77.5\
30475&spn=0.00797,0.013261&z=16&layer=c&cbll=37.629438,-77.5312&panoid=57-0xcxp0\
HYrwYvtUpuWeg&cbp=1,357.7704307073191,,0,5.2055199761399065>
Attendees should enter on the rear side of the building (the side
closest to Parham Rd) and enter under the green awning. The meeting room
is just to the left of the entrance and if the door is locked,
  they will
need to go to the window and get someone's attention.

Admission is free.
********************************************************************************\
*************

Looking forward to seeing you there!


Best,
The RUX Planning Team

For April's discussion, we'll talk about the book Subject to Change: Creating Great Products & Services for an Uncertain World from Adaptive Path.

More information can be found on richmondux.com - http://richmondux.com/2009/03/26/reminder-rux-book-club-next-month/

http://ixdadc.ning.com/events/ia-summit-09ixd-09-redux-dc

Some heavy hitters on the list (so why am I there?)--Donna Spencer from
Australia, Dave Malouf from SCAD, Todd Zaki Warfel from Philly, and the great
Will Evans and Dan Brown and Olga Howard from DC. Great way to get two
conferences in five hours. Also, should be fun. Most of the folks are wonderful
presenters and just plain fun folks.

I anticipate some drinkin' goin' on afterwards, too...although it's convenient
for an up-and-back trip from Richmond.

I've read Subject to Change several times and really like it. It's a
game-changer for some folks, too.

Join us for our first RUX book club!

For April's discussion, we'll talk about the book Subject to Change: Creating
Great Products & Services for an Uncertain World from Adaptive Path.

Format: (from UXBookClub.org)

A UX (User Experience) Book Club is a get-together in which people interested in
the area of user experience come to discuss a book relevant to the discipline.

A UX Book Club would operate as follows:

* Everyone who attends should try and read the nominated book (you won't be
barred from entry, but it helps everyone get more out of the night);
* Everyone needs to jot down and bring along: 2 things in the book that really
struck a chord; and 1 thing they either hated, disagreed with; or don't
understand.
* The book would be within the practice of user experience, which might include
books like Indi Young's Mental Models; Dan Saffer's Design Gestural Interfaces;
Todd Zaki Warfel's forthcoming Prototyping; and classics such as The Design of
Everyday Things; Don't Make Me Think; The Inmates Are Running the Asylum; etc.
* The book should not be arduous to read!
* We'll vote on next month's book at the current meeting.

In keeping with the book-club theme we will meet somewhere like a wine bar or a
bookstore. The important thing is that the noise level has to be low, and be
able to accommodate a group of 15-30 people.

We'll keep the book club updated via the UX Book Club site:
http://www.uxbookclub.org/doku.php?id=richmond_va

You can also learn more at http://www.uxbookclub.org/doku.php?id=richmond_va

When:

Wednesday April, 29, 2009, First Book Club Discussion Group
6pm - 8pm
Location: Borders Bookstore, 9750 W. Broad St, Glen Allen, VA
Book: Subject to Change: Creating Great Products & Services for an Uncertain
World from Adaptive Path (http://tinyurl.com/cgzffc)

Looking forward to seeing you!
The RUX Planning Team

Hi everyone,
Just a quick note that since the last Wednesday of the month falls within the
shortened Memorial Day week, we won't be having a meeting in May. Stay tuned for
details on our happy hour in June!

- the RUX planning team

Though the turnout for April's book club was light (really light ;)), I know
there are folks interested in the book club concept. Lou Rosenfeld wrote an
interesting post, taking a look at what other UX book clubs are reading. Maybe
there's some interest here?

http://louisrosenfeld.com/home/bloug_archive/2009/05/popular_ux_books.html

Colleagues,

Please excuse cross postings.

Call for Participation, EdUI 2009 Conference

• Have you completed an innovative Web project at your institution that you want to tell others about?
• Are you enthusiastic about introducing new technologies and techniques to other Web professionals?
• Do you want to share your ideas about user experience design and development for higher education or other large institutions?
• Are you ready to add something cool to your CV or resume?

Then we invite you to help make the EdUI 2009 conference a success! Submit your presentation proposal by July 1 2009.

About the Conference

The University of Virginia (U.Va.), in partnership with User Interface Engineering (UIE), invites presentation proposals for EdUI 2009: Remaining <strong>, to be held September 21–22, 2009 in Charlottesville, Virginia on the U.Va. campus. 

Economic times might be lean, but professional growth has never been more important. EdUI 2009: Remaining <strong> will provide an opportunity for Web professionals in higher education and local and regional businesses to share ideas about the opportunities and challenges surrounding web user interaction, interface design, and development. The conference will be particularly useful for:

• Web Designers
• Web Developers
• Webmasters
• User experience and interaction design professionals

We are delighted that our speaking lineup so far includes Jared Spool, founder of User Interface Engineering, as keynote speaker, with Michael Wesch, Dana Chisnell, Derek Featherstone, Molly Holzschlag & Dan Rubin as headliners. Jared, Dana, Derek, Molly, and Dan are some of today's top authors and speakers in web design and development. Michael Wesch, featured in the most recent issue of National Geographic magazine, is widely known for his popular Youtube videos on the social and cultural impact of new media.

Keep up with the conference:

Email - http://eduiconf.org/joinlist

Twitter - http://twitter.com/edui2009

Facebook - search for "Edui 2009" and join our group

Questions about EdUI? Email info@...

Be a Part of It

Please join us for this exciting conference. We seek dynamic speakers willing to share their knowledge and expertise about user experience design and development through case studies, workshops, tutorials, and poster sessions. Preference is given to presentations that offer practical methods and ready-to-use techniques and tools.

Possible topics may include:

* Innovation and change in higher ed or large institution web sites

* Web strategies

* User experience design / interaction design

* Graphics workflows

* User testing

* CSS tips & techniques

* Web standards

* Web accessibility

* Reusability in web development

* Web applications frameworks

* Interaction & web applications testing

* Use of social media

Conference sessions will be 40 minutes long with a 5-minute question and answer period. Longer topics can be proposed to spread across two consecutive sessions in a "Part 1, Part 2" format.

Submission Guidelines & Important Dates

If you would like to be considered as a speaker, please submit your ideas online at http://eduiconf.org/proposals/ by July 1, 2009.

The Conference Committee will review all submissions. Notification regarding acceptance will be made by July 22nd.  If your proposal is selected, the primary speaker will receive a gratis registration to the full conference, including lunches and a reception. Conference organizers are not responsible for speakers' travel and accommodation costs.

We look forward to receiving your ideas and suggestions by July 1, 2009.

Best wishes,

EdUI Conference Organizers

info@...

Join us at Ellwood Thompson's new coffee, beer and wine bar in the Fan for a RUX happy hour. We'll lead a discussion on what you'd like to get out of RUX, bookclub picks and upcoming events.

When: Wednesday June 24, 2009, 6pm – 8pm

Where: Ellwood Thompson  http://www.ellwoodscoffee.com/

Admission is free.

*********************************************************************************************

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Best, The RUX Planning Team

Come on out for your chance to help us plan our upcoming events! Check out
richmondux.com for all the details, and we'll see you at Ellwood Thompsons
tomorrow at 6pm!