Cambridge Usability Group

Masterclass in User-Centred Design

29th November, Møller Centre, Cambridge

Instrata is offering a 1-day intensive workshop on user-centred design. You will receive a basic grounding in a variety of techniques such as ethnography, lead users, personas, scenarios, prototyping and evaluation. You will learn when to use the techniques and what their benefits are. Most importantly, you will learn to apply the techniques through a series of exercises to the product or service you bring to the workshop. This could be a software application, or a mobile or web application, or a physical product.

The workshop is aimed at those of you that have taken on a usability or interaction design role within your organisation and wish to learn more.

Cost
Full price: £325 + VAT per person
Two or more delegates from an organisation: £300 + VAT
Members of the Cambridge Network: £300 + VAT

All prices include lunch, refreshments and handouts.

Contact Anita at anita@instrata.co.uk if you wish to register for this event or to find out about future courses.

Dr Rachel Jones is the course leader. Highly experienced, Rachel is at the forefront of people-centred design in the UK. Rachel is involved in mentoring organizations and teams in ongoing innovation programs at the BBC, BT and Reuters where she brings a people-centred approach to the development of new technologies and services. Rachel founded Instrata 6 years ago, which specialises in people-centred design and provides expertise across a broad range of services and products. Clients include Microsoft, Vodafone, Yahoo, Nokia, Proctor & Gamble, Smith & Nephew, Virgin Atlantic, and the Countryside Agency. Prior to starting Instrata, Rachel was employed by two of the foremost pioneers of people-centred design techniques, Xerox EuroPARC and Sapient (formerly E-lab). Rachel has a PhD in Computer Studies, over 40 international publications and has authored 10 patents.

Terms and Conditions:
Bookings are not confirmed until payment is received in full. Once payment is received you will receive the workshop documents. All fees must be paid for in advance. You may cancel your registration up to 14 days before the seminar. Your registration fee will be refunded less a £10 enrolment charge. If you need to cancel less than 14 days prior to the seminar you may send a substitute from your organisation. Cancellations must be received in writing. In the unlikely event of the seminar being cancelled a full refund will be made, but further liability is disclaimed. It may be necessary for reasons beyond the control of Instrata to change the date or the venue.

29th October - "Shaping new mobile services: is it anytime, anyplace, on the move, in the bag or in between?"

We are delighted to welcome back Rachel Jones as the speaker at our next event. Rachel, from Instrata in Cambridge, spoke at the inaugural meeting of the Cambridge group back in March 2005. In this new talk Rachel, a recognised UK expert in people-centred design, will explore ways of thinking about new mobile services as the capabilities of mobile devices continue to grow.

Date: Monday 29th October
Time: 6.30 for 6.45
Venue: Microsoft Research, Cambridge [Map & address]

Registration: Please email cambridge.usability@gmail.com to reserve a place. The event is FREE and you do not need to be a UK UPA member to attend

Shaping new mobile services: is it anytime, anyplace, on the move, in the bag, or in between?

The mobile has moved on from a simple communication tool. It now has many capabilities, many of which are now workable from the user’s point of view. For instance, the quality of the camera is nearly as good as that of a digital camera which it will surely replace; and internet connectivity is on the way to offering acceptable access times. Such capabilities can only improve.

Over these base services, new mobile services are being developed and a variety of dictums are being vaunted for framing and envisaging them. The mobile operators talk about offering services “anytime, anyplace”. For example, the mobile internet allows the internet to become ubiquitous – we can access anything online from anywhere. User experience experts frown at this approach and advocate the importance of “context” – different services are appropriate at different times, at different places, by different people. For example, with people’s position now determinable, we could identify the sort of services people will want to use based on their location.

In this talk, I explore various ways of thinking about new services, including anytime, anyplace, on the move, in the bag and in between. I suggest that each framework both opens up and restricts the way we explore the design space and therefore the way we envisage new services. I propose that we continue to explore new frameworks to help shape our thinking.

About the speaker

Rachel Jones founded Instrata 6 years ago. Instrata specialises in people-centred design and provides expertise across a broad range of services and products, including mobile, web, television, medical, travel, and personal care services. Instrata offerings include strategic innovation, ethnographic research, user requirements understanding, design mapping and design solutions. Clients include Microsoft, Vodafone, Yahoo, Nokia, Proctor & Gamble, Smith & Nephew, Virgin Atlantic, and the Countryside Agency.

Rachel has over 20 years experience in people-centred design and has been involved in mentoring organisations and teams, managing research and design projects, and developing novel methods and tools. Rachel’s specific experience and expertise comes in selecting or developing the appropriate techniques for a project and guiding the process.

Prior to starting Instrata, Rachel was employed by two of the foremost pioneers of people-centred design techniques, Xerox EuroPARC and Sapient (formerly E-lab). Rachel spent four years at Xerox EuroPARC, which is a world leader in understanding the human and organisational aspects of technologies in use, and on reflecting this understanding in novel design. At Sapient, a leading e-commerce consultancy, Rachel was involved in developing major corporate web sites and services for mobile devices. Rachel has a PhD in Computer Studies, over 40 international publications and has authored 10 patents.