Time(s)
Description
ImprovUX is a series of fun and INTERACTIVE talks and workshops that apply the skills of Improvisation (listening, acceptance, support, collaboration, letting go of judgment, etc.) to the world of User Experience.
User Experience relies on gathering qualitative data from our potential users through interviews, surveys, and other methods. In order to connect with users, we need to build trust and empathy as quickly and strongly as possible.
During the interview process we need to be hyper-aware of all the information being provided to us by the users. For us, this means putting our own preconceptions and biases in the backseat and focusing on being in the present moment in order to collect all of the tiny bits of information, both verbal and nonverbal, which lead to a deeper understanding of the users and what they’re communicating.
About the speakers
Michael Gorgone – I am someone who loves being part of a creative, supportive and collaborative design team that builds engaging experiences for digital products at a company that fosters a culture that values design thinking and makes it a priority in how the company runs and solves problems. I currently get to do all of the above in the Experience Design (XD) Group at EY. The Group is divided into Strategy, Creative, and Technology disciplines. The XD Group collaborates heavily with leadership and stakeholders to align with business goals and strategy.
I discovered Improv when I lived in Chicago and started taking classes at Second City and iO (formerly improvOlympic). Improv taught me how to be present and more aware of the moment as well as how to listen and absorb information instead of just listening to respond. I also learned (and frequently witnessed) that a group can create more amazing and incredible work when collaborating together in a non-judgmental and supportive manner than any of those individuals could have created working alone.
