Due to popular demand we decided to host another live UX Leeds event as part of the 2024 Leeds Digital Festival. Four years ago we recognised the lack of UX and digital product design specific events in Leeds and decided to host our own. Following another successful annual event it is clear to see a keen appetite from business owners, design professionals and students alike for UX and research themed content.

The relaxed and informative event was hosted in the heart of Leeds City Centre at Avenue HQ, a beautiful grade-II listed building. We always invite leading specialists who share their stories and insights on the key UX and digital challenges facing organisations today. After tickets went live it wasn’t long before UX Leeds 2024 was fully booked and we knew it was going to have a terrific buzz.

On the day guests were welcomed with refreshments and the opportunity to chat to industry peers. When everyone was seated our Strategy Director Andy Curry hosted the afternoon and delivered a short and enthusiastic talk himself ‘I bought a new TV – a UX exploration’. Describing a real user case scenario he expressed the importance of research and insight into genuine user needs.

UX Leeds 2024 Live event brings the user experience and product design community together for another enlightening afternoon 4

Andy Curry speaking at UX Leeds 2024 by LION+MASON – Photo Credit Mark Smith, Leeds Media Services

📽️ Link to watch ▶️ ‘I bought a new TV – a UX exploration’

Next up was Leeds Building Society where Kelly Moran (Head of User Experience) & Sasha Parkinson (Senior User Experience) presented ‘How to become a UX Jedi.’

They stressed the importance of the basics for example ensuring the neutral state of the user in testing and research.

As experienced professionals they offered invaluable career tips – how to be the best you can. They provided current information on what UX skills employers are looking for and the tools available to help you.

UX Leeds 2024 Live event brings the user experience and product design community together for another enlightening afternoon 6

Kelly Moran and Sasha Parkinson speaking at UX Leeds 2024 by LION+MASON – Photo Credit Mark Smith, Leeds Media Services

📽️ Link to watch ▶️ ‘How to become a UX Jedi’

They were closely followed by Marianne Knowles, Principal Content Designer at Co-op whose talk title was ‘Hack to the future – AI and content design’

She spoke about how content designers can use their knowledge to influence how we design with emerging technologies today and develop skills for the UX of the future.

UX Leeds 2024 Live event brings the user experience and product design community together for another enlightening afternoon 8

Marianne Knowles speaking at UX Leeds 2024 by LION+MASON – Photo Credit Mark Smith, Leeds Media Services

📽️ Link to watch ▶️ ‘Hack to the future – AI and content design’

Guests were then invited to have a short break and network over refreshments before the second half of the afternoon commenced with a talk from Tom Allen, Digital Product Manager from Age UK.

His talk was titled ‘Profitless products – Building valuable digital products in the charity sector’ He described the considerations necessary when managing digital products in the charity sector. Including; the competition (or little of it), the funding and resources, the users and user experience, UX driven roadmaps and turning UX into return on investment.

UX Leeds 2024 Live event brings the user experience and product design community together for another enlightening afternoon 10

Tom Allen speaking at UX Leeds 2024 by LION+MASON – Photo Credit Mark Smith, Leeds Media Services
📽️ Link to watch ▶️ ‘Profitless products – Building valuable digital products in the charity sector’

Last up to speak was Will Perkins, Group Product Lead at Deliveroo and his talk title was

‘From the Treaty of Versailles to the Agile Manifesto’.

Will draws on his very own experience in the army to explain similarities between wars and military vehicles with modern products teams and successful product design.

Taking lessons from the past in that features are not always good if they are not designed and tested properly.

UX Leeds 2024 Live event brings the user experience and product design community together for another enlightening afternoon 12

Will Perkins speaking at UX Leeds 2024 by LION+MASON – Photo Credit Mark Smith, Leeds Media Services
📽️ Link to watch ▶️‘From the Treaty of Versailles to the Agile Manifesto’

The event concluded with guests having the opportunity to chat directly with the expert speakers and ask further questions on the topics highlighted during the afternoon. We encourage that our events are not just about listening; they are about engaging, asking questions and networking with like-minded professionals in the local digital, UX and product community.
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