How is your Mondaying?

• A week with no travel! Last week I was in Toronto and Los Angeles. In addition to my LA UX talk (which was recorded) I also gave three interviews, so I’m hoping to have plenty to share soon (as well some videos from Fluxible). Here’s some of the tweets from the hugely successful presentation in LA.
• I’m already underway with reconnecting with people after having been away. I’ve got two interesting prospective projects to plan for, including one collaboration with a thought leader I really admire but have never got to work with. I’m lunching with a colleague of a colleague to hear what they are up to and try to answer some of their questions. And so on.
• Out and about: I’m planning to see Janice Fraser speak this Wednesday. And Friday, I’m off to see the Mr. Show reunion.
• Ten years gone: From September 2003 – Awkwardly inappropriate Craigslist help-wanted ad.
• What we’re consuming: Balmy Alley, Hop Dogma Brewing Co., Milky Edwards, Breathing Light, Musso & Frank.

Greetings, people!

• I’m spending the day hanging out in Toronto, my stomping grounds from a previous life. This weekend was the fantastic Fluxible conference. I gave a 5-minute talk about The Power of Silence (slide), as well as the first-ever version of my new workshop The Designer Is Present (slides). I learned a lot from the people who participated, and I can’t wait to do this workshop again (hint-hint!).
• I fly back home tomorrow and then on Wednesday I’ll be speaking to the Rome UX Book Club (via G+ Hangout).
• On Thursday I’m flying to LA to speak about Interviewing Users at an overflowing event.
• I’ll also take advantage of the (brief) time in LA to meet up with the new team at an old client’s newish campus as well as see the James Turrell retrospective at LACMA. And try to cram in some delicious meals in my spare moments. We’ll see!
• Ten years gone: From September 2003 – ‘Photoshopping’ grows into a subculture art form.
• What we’re consuming: Lake of Bays Brewing Company, Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co., Block 3 Brewing Company.

It’s September in Northern California and that means the weather is insanely gorgeous! Summer is finally here.

• I’m doing the last bit of preparation for my new workshop The Designer Is Present, to be held at Fluxible this weekend. Participants have a short homework exercise, there’s A/V and other logistic details to be worked out, and I need to finalize a 5-minute talk I’ll be giving to the entire conference. I leave very early Friday morning. Meanwhile, Max and Brody are featured in a promotional video for Fluxible, which you can see here.
• I’ll be speaking to the Rome UX Book Club (via G+ Hangout) on September 18.
• My presentation at the LA UX Meetup on September 19 is full and they are now taking names for the waiting list.
• Out on the town this week, I’ll be seeing Marina Abramovic at City Arts and Lectures and hoping to drop in on the book launch party for Erika Hall’s Just Enough Research.
• Ten years gone: From September 2003 – Bernard Manischewitz dies.
• What we’re consuming: Post Street Creamery, Alex Karpovsky, Rust and Bone.

Happy Labo(ur) Day!

• I’m spending much of this week in Vancouver, visiting family.
• I’m wrapping up the details for The Designer Is Present, to be held at the end of next week. This is a new workshop and I’m crazy excited for it.
• I just arranged to lead a day of training at a client’s site in Tampa next month; I haven’t ever been to Tampa so looking forward to having a bit of an explore beforehand.
• I’ll be speaking to the Rome UX Book Club (via G+ Hangout) on September 18.
• I’ll be speaking about Interviewing Users at the LA UX Meetup on September 19.
• Ten years gone: From September 2003 – Donut branding.
• What we’re consuming: Open Canvas, Anatomy of a Murder, Food Cart Fest.

Hello, Monday…Monday, hello!

• UIE has posted our “Book Corner” podcast here. It’s a fairly concise conversation I had with Adam Churchill about – you guessed it – Interviewing Users. Check it out!
• I’m recording another podcast this AM and will post the details once it goes live, presumably in a couple of weeks.
• My key focus this week is to flesh out my upcoming workshop – The Designer Is Present – at Fluxible next month.
• At the same time, I’m hoping to get some update on a few projects that we proposed, as well as nail down a few more details about some upcoming workshops and speaking events.
• Just announced: I’ll be speaking at the Los Angeles UX Meetup on September 19. Topic is currently being voted on!
• Ten years gone: From August 2003 – Global Ouches, The Seven Clown Commandments.
• What we’re consuming: gluten-free watermelon, soy milk ramen, demising walls, pizza-pizza-pizza.

Top ‘o the week, my friends.

• I’m in San Diego today to wrap up this project that I’ve been so focused on. We’ve got a session today that is part presentation and part workshop. The that came out of the analysis is really interesting and has huge implications for this team’s current opportunities – and those still to come. I know my main contacts are really excited about it.
• I’m spending the rest of the week at UX Week in San Francisco. On Wednesday I’ll be teaching Interviewing Users: How To Uncover Compelling Insights and otherwise attending the event. Let me know if you’re going to be there!
• Interviewing Users was reviewed in QRCA (Qualitative Research Consultants Association) Views Magazine. The entire issue is here or read the review as a PDF here.
• Thanks to John Ruberto for his review of Interviewing Users on Amazon.
• Ten years gone: From August 2003 – Waterbed history, New Jersey Blob.
• What we’re consuming: Little Nepal, fatberg, baby panda and mom, John Le Carre.

Last week was fieldwork, hotels, restaurants, airports, rental cars, conference rooms, facilitation, teaching and much much more. I’m glad to be home!

• But later today I’m on a plane again, heading off for a multi-event day with clients where we’ll have stakeholders debrief from their observational research homework, share some of what we heard in the field last week, set up an interactive exercise with participants who are coming in to meet with us, and then debrief. All before dashing back to the airport to come home, just over 24 hours later.
• Meanwhile, I’m working with another organization to nail down the best approach for a new project, balancing what will give us the amount of insight we need with an approach that will engage their design team. I’m surprised at some of the constraints but hopeful we’ll find something that strikes the right balance. Last week I said here that I was pretty sure I knew what the program would look like. Guess not!
• I will be joining UX Book Club DC by Skype this Wednesday for a discussion of Interviewing Users.
• I will be at Twitter (in person) on Thursday for a Fireside Chat.
• Thanks to Amber DeRosa for her new review of Interviewing Users on Amazon. You should post yours!
• Look for a new War Story later this week.
• Ten years gone: From August 2003 – Self-reporting meets TMI, Tokyo Bob Dylan, The identity of Internet Guy.
• What we’re consuming: The Bridge, dinner at a Lexus dealership, Zoomies, Root Down, Children’s Hospital Season 3.

This week is a three-city week (and I’m not counting home!)

• Today I’m in the Pacific Northwest as part of a full-day professional development retreat for designers, marketers and others. Tonight I’ll fly to Southern California for a second session with another part of the organization.
• On Wednesday, I head over to another organization nearby, to meet with stakeholders and try to uncover their competing – and not previously articulated – visions for an area of technology and user experience development.
• As soon as that meeting is over, that team is heading to the airport to fly to Denver. We’re in Denver doing fieldwork through Saturday, when we’ll all return to our homes.
• I’ve been having some really interesting conversations about our next piece of work. It never pays to count chickens etc. etc. but I’ve got an idea what we’ll end up doing and it looks really exciting.
• UX Booth has published a two-part conversation I had with Maish Nichani of Pebble Road. In Part 1, Maish interviews me. In Part 2, I interview Maish.
• I was interviewed by Joe Dager for his Business 901 podcast.
• Ten years gone: From July 2003 – End times, Clickety-click.
• What we’re consuming: Electric 13, Tasty n Sons.

It’s my first five-day week in three weeks; There’s a lot going on and I’m going to need it!

• Fieldwork starts soon so there’s many details to be sorted out. The recruiter is working but it’s still a bit of a waiting game to see how easily we’ll see participants getting set up. I’ve still got some travel to Denver to book. There’s a homework exercise to finalize and send out to participants and introductory calls to be scheduled. I’m still hoping that I’ll be able to speak with stakeholders but I’ve asked a few times and meanwhile the window is rapidly closing. I’ll be putting together incentive packets and consent forms. Oh, and yeah, what exactly are we going to do with these folks? I’ll be getting the field guide and any exercises together.
• I’m working with another organization on an internal development day they are having next week in two cities. I’ll need to work out my final presentation and details of the exercises in the next few days.
• There’s a few interesting projects that we’re in discussions for and so I’m waiting for more details on what they’re trying to do and some feedback on the ideas I’ve already shared to see if the programs make sense for us.
• This week I’ll be involved in three completely different public presentations. On Tuesday I’ll be part of a panel about Design-led Innovation, on Wednesday I’ll be presenting The Power of Bad Ideas at IxDA Silicon Valley and on Thursday I’ll be doing Design Research Fireside Chat. Phew!
• Registration is now open for The Fluxible in Kitchener, ON. Come and be part of my new workshop, The Designer Is Present.
• Ten years gone: From July 2003 – Many photos of Jakob Nielsen, South Dakota Dinosaurs.
• What we’re consuming: Chocolate Lab, Guess Who/Rush/Tragically Hip postage stamps, Finally, Did You No Wrong.

I flew back yesterday from a long weekend in Michigan to visit family (and some friends!)

• Our new project is underway. We’ve been doing the administration stuff like setting up a purchase order and iterating the details of the project plan and then lining up recruiters to find participants. This week I’ll be finalizing the screeners and launching the recruit, chatting with stakeholders, and starting to think through the fieldwork details.
• I’m meeting with a new team at a previous client to get a demo of something they are developing. They aren’t happy with the info they are getting from surveys and focus groups and so we’re going to talk about how we can help them get the insights that will inform where they take this.
• I’m also scheduled to chat with another organization, where the UX group is eager to get alignment around the vision for their product, while they face challenges to their market dominance from nimbler yet less robust competitors who are creating excellent user experiences.
• The fantastic Alissa Walker reviewed Interviewing Users here for the Designers and Books Notable Books for July.
• Also check out recent Amazon reviews for Interviewing Users: Lena Blackstock, Angela Colter, Lisa Renery Handalian
• I’ll be part of a panel organized by TiE Silicon Valley. The panel is about Design-led Innovation and will be held July 23 in Santa Clara. I’ll be meeting with the organizers and other panelists this week to start planning.
• Also coming up: I will be doing a Design Research Fireside Chat at Yammer on July 25 and presenting about The Power of Bad Ideas at IxDA Silicon Valley at Yahoo on July 24.
• Out-and-about: I’m hoping to make it to Nerd Night where the topics are Yeast, Science Beer Tasting, and Games User Research – Oops – sold out!
• Ten years gone: From July 2003 – Small market sodas, Roger Dean’s house.
• What we’re consuming: Newsreaders, Dragon’s Milk, Michigan blueberries, Pae White, pretzel chicken.