Christopher Merkel's Page

Our profession talks a lot about the mechanics of our job, concentrating on the processes, tools, and techniques that lead to concrete deliverables. What we miss is that 90% of our work is in building and maintaining relationships.   Only through trusting relationships with our clients, co-workers, managers and stakeholders are we able advocate for our customers, have a seat at the strategy table, participate in the key decision making processes, garner buy-in, and become empowered to do our…See More

Agile represents a huge shift from waterfall and other traditional approaches to software development, and UX practitioners have realized they need to adapt their traditional methods accordingly. Author Anders Ramsay will show you how to be a successful UX practitioner within an Agile team, and how to improve your own UX methodology (even if you're not in an Agile environment) through Agile practices. (full…See More

In this day-long workshop, noted governance expert Lisa Welchman will explain how to create a web governance framework for your organization. She'll offer practical steps for creating a complete set of Web policies and standards. Participants will leave with a detailed understanding of how to begin the process for creating Web governance frameworks for their own organizations. (full description; other…See More

In this intensive workshop with author Whitney Quesenbery, you’ll learn ways to use personas and stories throughout a UX process. You’ll practice ways to create and share snapshots of users that cut across the complexity of context, attitudes and behavior, and how to use them with your team to design with a better view of users in mind. (full description; other…See More

Are you tasked with designing a UI for search? It's an art, but an understandable art. This IxDA event will be an interactive exploration of various aspects of search design, including how to:Interpret mental models that users bring to their searchesUnderstand different search tasks, particularly for intensive knowledge work or critical information needs Consider the strengths and weaknesses of different search designs, based on user mental models and tasksTranslate user goals into valuable…See More

Can't afford An Event Apart? Not to worry! On Tuesday, Oct 25, AEA speaker Ethan Marcotte will be presenting to IxDA-DC about responsive design AND critiquing your responsive design projects! We'll also be giving away free copies of Ethan's book, "Responsive Web Design." SCHEDULE6:30-7:00  Networking & welcome7:00-7:40  Responsive web design with Ethan Marcotte7:40-8:20  Critique and feedback8:20-8:30…See More

Look out, August, we're bringing the heat!Jeff Gothelf (@jboogie) is coming to town to give us his LeanUX manifesto followed by 5-5-5 madness. The whole thing is happening at Sapient's new digs in Arlington. 5-5-5 MadnessWhat's 5-5-5, you ask? 5 talks for 5 minutes with only 5 slides. You bring the talks, the rest of us get to vote on which ones we want to see. Any topic that is remotely -- and I mean remotely -- related to IxD or UX is eligible. Start plotting your 5 minutes of fame…See More

In this salon, we’ll discuss one of the most sticky issues our industry faces: delivering the design solutions we think are appropriate to clients and managers who disagree, don’t want to invest the appripriate level of resources, or simply don’t understand the difference between good enough design and great design. I don’t have the answers but I have a lot of questions, like:Why is it so hard to explain the value of design, and why do we have to spend so much time “educating” our clients and…See More

This month’s AccessibilityDC meetup will be an informal panel discussion on the DC Public Schools Teen Afterschool program at DC Library and how agencies can work together to incorporate training in accessible publishing and programming into the curriculum._____________________________________________Invited panel members:Kazuko Ross, Nena Moore and Alicia Johns – DC Assistive Technology Program, University Legal ServicesMelesse Demissay – DC Rehabilitation Services AdministrationJose Seijas…See More

I'm really glad that my presentation brought out a lot of interest in our group. It was great to see some familiar faces and meet new people. Thanks very much for coming, and bear with me while I archive my slides for you; I have several corrections and some important additions.For November,Is anyone interested in talking about anything related, or something completely different next month? Where could we meet up?See More