UX Hong Kong 2011 is a new event organized by Daniel Szuc and Josephine Wong of Apogee Hong Kong. Daniel describes the goals and context of the conference in our Q+A with him below. Registration and additional information available here..
Core77: Tell us about this new event.
Daniel Szuc: UX Hong Kong 2011 will be held at the Innocenter in Kowloon Tong (Hong Kong) on Friday 18 Feb 2011. The program has been deliberately designed to be intimate and give attendees plenty of opportunity to talk with other people and get one on one time with the invited speakers, including Steve Baty and Janna DeVyler on UX strategy; Steve Portigal on design research, Rachel Hinman on mobile design, and Gerry Gaffney on the UX Toolkit.
Usability, Interaction Design and UX have been steadily maturing in Asia over the last 10 plus years so a major impetus is to give people who are passionate about UX a place to meet and to help raise the profile about UX in the region. To date, its been really encouraging to see registrations and interest come in from Australia, the UK, mainland China, Singapore and Taiwan to name a few. On the day after the conference the fun continues as we all plan to go out and experience Hong Kong with the speakers including the harbour, a ferry ride, walking the streets, a dim sum and perhaps a visit to the Big Buddah on Lantau island (weather allowing) so we get out of the confines of the conference facility.C77: What is the UX scene like in Hong Kong and Asia in general?
DS: It's still tough. UX is still a new term for both designers and business in Asia. But on the positive side, the interest is steadily growing as businesses look at success stories where design and design thinking has impacted business positively e.g. Apple. Also local technology companies are looking at how to integrate great UX and design into their product strategies e.g. HTC and we have big names with Design Centers in the region including Dell and Philips. Business is also looking at how UX can help bridge organisational channels and also how design and usability can reduce risk before building product. Plus management teams are looking at how design can help them articulate and communicate strategy. There are also challenges in Asia including how UX is seen in organisations i.e. is it something they invest in, if yes, where do they get the talent from and how do they embed the thinking culturally in their organisations? These are probably common problems independent of geography, but we all feel it differently depending on how UX mature or ready a market is.
C77: Can you discuss the context of HK as it relates to the conference
DS: Hong Kong has so much to offer visitors and this piece sums it up well. I like Hong Kong for its speed, diversity, "can do" attitude, its global product mix, its transport (octopus card), its shopping and most importantly its food (especially the dim sum). Hong Kong in itself is "an experience"—from the moment you land at the airport and enjoy the free wifi, to the airport express shooting you into the city to getting out into the streets to feel the buzz.
Register before 31st December 2010 and you are eligible to win a free return flight from Hong Kong to Australia including a free ticket to attend UX Australia 2011.
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Comments
The workshops will be in English.
rgds,
Dan
Many thanks
Phuong Le