From web development, to design, to fulfilling business objectives; Kansas City Women in Technology’s TechTalks bring women from across all professional technology roles together to network, share career advice, and to connect. Whether you have been working in a technology field for years or are a technology enthusiast, TechTalks are opportunities to learn and grow.

Our first TechTalk of 2018 is coming up Wednesday, January 17, at Google Fiber Space in Westport. This kickoff event presents an overview of all KCWiT programs, panels, and other events of 2017 along with a preview of what we have coming up in 2018. Read below to discover our September 2017 TechTalk which covered the area of user experience design.

Tech Panel Explores User Experience Design

Enhancing development projects to drive sales and to engage users with ease of usability and conveniences. This intersection of marketing, design, and development form the practice of user experience design and the topic of our September TechTalk with the Kansas City chapter of UXPA.

A panel of six local technology professionals discussed the diverse aspects of user experience design with TechTalk attendees during a Q&A session at the Federal Reserve Bank. The panel comprised of women working in a variety of technical roles with local Kansas City companies like Cerner, VML, Useagility, and Ziv. The panel discussed user experience design in regards to cognitive psychology, user profile creation, working with clients, and beyond.

Q1: What does good user experience look like? #SeptTechTalk

— KCWiT (@KCWomeninTech) September 20, 2017

A1: “If you remove all necessary elements and leave the truth-that’s good design.” #SeptTechTalk #TechTalkKC

— KCWiT (@KCWomeninTech) September 20, 2017

Pro tip: User experience personas or “aspirational personas” will help you in the design process, knowing what your broader audience is.

— KCWiT (@KCWomeninTech) September 21, 2017

Being multifaceted, working in user experience design is arrived at from many different paths.

There is no research w/o design. Both have to be considered. Make a destiniction between user experience design and interaction design.

— KCWiT (@KCWomeninTech) September 21, 2017

To those looking to get into (or at least explore) user experience design, Leah Sand, associate director of content systems at VML, suggests this:

“Find a digital product or experience that you like and could make better and then make it better,” said Sand. “Take screenshots to show it was ‘this’ and now it’s ‘this’ then put that in your portfolio. Don’t wait for permission, make your own opportunities.”

Learning all the things at #SeptTechTalk with the ladies of @KCWomeninTech 💪🏻#KCWIT #girlswhocode #ux pic.twitter.com/EFPdanscvA

— Katie Roby (@katieroby) September 21, 2017

If you’re interested in becoming more involved with other technology professionals, learning to use various forms of technology in your profession, or simply enjoy a night out, mark your calendars for our upcoming TechTalks. Register on our Eventbrite page for our January 2018 session.