Why Attend a UX Conference In Person (and Pay for It), When You Can Watch Online for Free? — Key learnings from the George UX Conference 2023
The George UX Conference took place both in Vienna and online on October 19, 2023. It’s like a designer’s paradise, organized by designers for designers, features a full day of top notch talks around finTech and banking.
I’m a UX designer at KUKA, a robotics company (kinda different from all the fintech stuff, right?), and I thought, why not see what’s going on in the design world beyond robots? Here are the highlights I picked up from the big talks.
But first, let me confess that I’m a bit of a conference newbie. I’ve mostly been to online ones. So, why bother showing up in person when you can binge-watch it in your oodies? I mean, you save cash and get all the coziness, right? Well, this was only my second time at a real-life event, and I decided to find out what is about it.
During the quick coffee breaks, which were the perfect duration, thanks to the organizers, I had the opportunity to interview some designers and researchers to gain further insights. Some of them are seasoned professionals, and some practically run the UX world. Here’s why they believe that attending in person is worth every penny
Networking:
You see, seasoned designers and design leaders are on to something. Yes, online conferences deliver knowledge, but there’s something special about being there in the flesh. After the whole pandemic rollercoaster, in person events are like a grand reunion of design-minded folks. You get to meet, make real connections, and have those “a-ha” moments. It’s not just about listening; it’s about being there, in the moment. Think of it as watching a football game in a stadium. You’re not just a spectator; you’re part of the game!
Maria Amidi Nouri, Design Lead at Ergománia Kft., highlighted the importance of in-person connections after COVID:
“It’s so important to connect in real life and observe, experience everything.”
Sarah Pötzelsberger from Universitat Wien and Petra Kabátová from Slovenská sporiteľňa had the same opinion: networking and connecting with other designers are the most important part.
I mean, who wouldn’t want to be in a room full of like-minded individuals who understand your design struggles? It’s like a group therapy session, but without the awkward silences. Unfortunately, not all of us are lucky enough to sit and work in a big design team, and therefore, it is a joy to discuss the same problems within this field and feel that you are not insane or crazy.
You’re in a focused environment where you can feel the energy. No more half-listening while you’re trying to debug that design catastrophe from yesterday. Some of the interviewees said the following: “Without joining in real life, I would not listen at all.” It’s like going to a concert at a festival — you want to be there for the live magic, not for the creative background noise.
Get Noticed and Find Talent:
Speaking of design leaders, they also show up in person for a reason. It’s not just about giving a speech; they’re on the lookout for fresh design talents. Being present at a conference is like waving a massive flag that says, “I’m passionate about this stuff!” You become a design superstar, right there in the flesh.
Maria Herrera, Head of Product Design at Revolut, shared her perspective:
“For me, networking is the most important part. I always look for possible colleagues who can join my team. It’s a filter for me; everyone who attends a conference like this is passionate enough.”
This was an entirely new revelation for me. I had no idea that leaders often recruit designers at conferences like this, as I mentioned, this was only my second time. I learned more about Maria’s preferences. However, I encourage you to discover for yourself what a leader like Maria seeks in a potential team member. Be bold and take the leap, as Cameron Worboys, Design Director at Wise, emphasized in his speech. But before the big moment arrives, do your best to be well-prepared. Your presence communicates volumes and can open doors to exciting career opportunities and collaborations. Attending in person makes you a visible and memorable face for those who may be seeking the next design sensation.
Team Building and Retreats:
If you’re managing a remote team, attending a UX conference together can serve as a refreshing retreat. Shared experiences and the excitement of bonding beyond the virtual world can lead to improved collaboration and communication within your team. It’s akin to a team-building exercise but with added enjoyment and learning. That’s precisely what Marina Martinez Garcia, Eva Holder, and Marianela Grande Paiz from SeQura Worldwide S.A. did. They traveled to Vienna to enjoy this conference as a retreat. The first thing they did upon arriving at the conference was to take a photo and send it back to the rest of their team.
Being physically present at a conference with your team allows you to share workshops, engage in discussions, and bond over the collective learning experiences. It fosters unity and renews your commitment to your team’s goals and projects.
The Unique Experience:
Before the George UX Conference kicked off, they had this cool bonus — a FLiP tour at Erste Campus in Vienna for in-person ticket holders. This is an educational tour. You can read more about this tour here: The FLiP Experience | Erste Financial Life Park| Erste Financial Life Park | Financial Education It was a great way to warm up for the conference. They also had Fireside chats to dig deep into the topics.
The takeaways and glimpses of the conference
How Revolut Designs Simple Digital Products for the World
Maria Herrera, Revolut
She shared their survival kit for this redesign journey, these are the main parts of the kit:
You need a good team that tackles challenges together.
- Clear mission.
- A map to every corner.
- Time machine.
- A little bit of magic.
- User compass — user insights.
- Pen and paper.
Insights Center, Rocking the Financial UX through Research
Natalia Heredia López, Marc Caparros, CaixaBank
The 5 mantras of the research team helped them rock financial UX through research.
You cannot build without design, you cannot design without deep understanding.
- Be relevant.
- Be agile.
- Be rigorous.
- Be persuasive.
- Be brave.
The Lies We Tell Ourselves about Design Systems
Stephen Hay, Rabobank
The key takeaway was that design systems should help designers make better micro-decisions. He introduced the seven lies about Design Systems:
- Most Design Systems are more than simply glorified component libraries.
- Documentation is optional.
- Design Systems strive to be completed.
- Atomic design is a linear process.
- Design Systems should predict the future.
- Having choice replaces thought.
- Design Systems are as important as we make them out to be.
My key takeaway from this conference was inside QA session of Stephen Hay’s talk. Stephen emphasised that digital accessibility should be integrated from the start in design systems, as it’s a legal requirement and a growing standard. I believe this is not just about design systems; it’s about every experience that a product/service designer creates. And what a great example of that is what George’s conference organisers offered: a free opportunity to those who could not attend in person.
Illustration Systems: Digital Emotion Management
Ilenia Notarangelo, Ani Karamanukyan, Illo.tv
For me, it was a unique experience in which a motion design studio demonstrated the significance of our emotions. In their highly visual presentation, Ilenia and Ani provided a list of client needs:
- Stand out.
- Bring clarity.
- Set direction.
- Perseverance.
- Reposition.
- Ownable narrative.
- Intentional aesthetic.
From Stale to Stand Out. How We Transformed Wise’s Design System
Cameron Worboys, Wise
I remember when I saw the design system change at Wise, I thought, ‘Wow, that’s brave,’ and during this talk, we could feel that. Cameron encouraged us to seek out big problems to make a significant impact. Wise was similar to any other banking app out there, with similar colors, fonts, and illustrations. In the complete brand revamp, the team improved everything. We learned that we need to fail 100 times to find the right solution, and then you need to be brave enough to take that big leap.
How We Keep Users Central to Monzo as We Grow
Layla Didarzadeh, Saskia Liebenberg, Monzo
Layla and Saskia showed ways to support self-served research.
They gathered three findings at Monzo:
- Self-serve research doesn’t save time (at first).
- More research isn’t always the answer.
- Not all customer interactions are research.
Enhancing UX Maturity in Designing Financial Services for the Masses
Niels D. Siebenborn, Deutsche Bank
How Google Uses its Conversational Interfaces: Call Companion UI Demo
Riccardo Carlesso, Google
A Tale of Piggy Banks & Pixels: How to Build a Banking Experience for Children and Their Parents
Sebastian Schreibmaier, Zsolt Aranyosi, George
Ubuntu Design Framework
Batsirai Madzonga, ADIB
Summing It Up
This year’s George UX Conference covered a range of compelling topics, from AI to empathy, relationship building, and innovative product design methods which could be applied beyond Fintech.
I’ve got to admit, attending a conference in person is a wonderful way to connect with fellow professionals and establish deeper, more personal connections.
So in this era of remote work, where you might spend more time with your cat memes than with actual colleagues, the value of in-person gatherings is greater than ever. So, if you are lucky enough, mark your calendar for the next UX conference; it’s an adventure that can’t be replicated online, and it’s an investment in your personal and professional growth that pays off in unexpected and delightful ways.
I’d also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Judit Ponya and the entire UX Budapest community for granting me the opportunity to attend this conference in Vienna in person. If you would like to read more about the conference here is great one from Krisztina Szerovay.
See you IRL next time!
