Axure Tech Talk (Ann Arbor, MI)

The following came through on the SI and SOCHI mailing lists. It is on campus in Ann Arbor. It is intended for students, so if you are not one, and attend this talk, please be aware and appropriate.

Hi everyone,

One thing that SOCHI is trying to do this year is help students teach other students the software and technologies that they know. We want you to be able to pick up new skills from this that can help you with class projects and finding jobs. Our first official Tech Talk of the semester will be on Axure, a prototyping tool that is great for making interactive prototypes for websites.

WHAT: Axure Tech Talk
WHEN: Next Wednesday, October 29th, 12-1 pm
WHERE: 412 West Hall
WHO: Presented by me, Debra Lauterbach

WHY you should come:
I learned how to use Axure this summer at my internship and found it surprisingly easy for making prototypes that can look and feel like they actually are real websites. This is great for user testing. To see some examples of what Axure can do, check out the sample prototypes and also the design patterns here and here. As you can see, pretty much every AJAX-y interactive website component can be mimicked using these patterns.

Even better news - Axure is available free to HCI students in good standing through their Good Student Program. Just email them your transcript and you get a free license, which is normally $589. (I checked with them, and first-year HCI students are eligible as well). Otherwise, you can download a 30-day free trial.

So, if you're going to come on Wednesday, I'd advise applying for your student license now, and getting the free trial set up on your computer until then. Caveat: it's Windows only, but if you have a Mac with Parallels or VMWare that'll work too.

On Wednesday, I'll explain the features of the software and demo how to actually build a simple prototype in only a few minutes. Then, I'll get into the advanced features of the software and how to use the design patterns. If you've got a project to use Axure for now, come with your questions and I'll do my best to answer them. And if anyone else is also a resident expert on Axure, please come too!

See you Wednesday!

Mozilla Design Jam II

SOCHI and SCSI bring you the second design jam in our browser redesign series, answering Mozilla's call for participation.

WHAT: Sketch your ideas for improving or redesigning Firefox
WHEN: Thursday, October 16th, 7-8:30PM
WHERE: Design Lab 1, Duderstadt Center (North Campus)

You don't have to be a Firefox user or an HCI student to attend. Everyone is welcome, but if you were unable to attend the previous design jam, we ask that you read through SOCHI's summary of the event and check out the photos. Bring your sketchbooks if you like, (especially those students taking 682, this might add valuable content to your design notebook,) or do your sketches on a whiteboard. Snacks and swag will be provided, including a chance at free Firefox t-shirts.

This event is sponsored in part by SourceForge and Mozilla.

Hope to see you there!
SOCHI and SCSI

SI Design Jam

(this from the SOCHI mailing list)
SOCHI and SCSI have joined together with SourceForge to bring you this school year's first design jam.

WHAT: Brainstorm your ideas for improving or redesigning Firefox
WHEN: Thursday, September 25th, 6-8PM
WHERE: Design Lab 1, Duderstadt Center (North Campus)
RSVP: http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=23492638077

Please indicate via the Facebook event if you will be attending so that we have an accurate count for ordering pizza.

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More information about the event:

We will be answering Mozilla's call for participation, which requests that we all put our heads together to come up with revolutionary new ideas for the browser. These ideas can range from a simple improvement on how new tabs work (see one idea from Aza Raskin, Mozilla's UX lead) to a more complete browser interface redesign such as the very futuristic designs seen on the call for participation page.

You don't have to be a Firefox user or an HCI student to attend. Everyone is welcome! Come share your browsing habits, frustrations, and ideas!

We will follow up with the ideas generated at this event during two additional design jams later in the semester in which we will sketch ideas and create prototypes, but coming to one is not a commitment to attend all three.

Not only will this be a whole lot of fun, but this is a great opportunity to build up experience and portfolio materials in interface design and contribute to open source in a way that matters with no long term commitment. SourceForge is providing T-shirts to all the participants. If you plan to attend, RSVP and please take a look at some of the videos in the links above to rev up your creative engines!

Hope to see you there!
SOCHI and SCSI