As designers, it's our role to stand for our users and empower them, to give them control and freedom. It's not an easy feat to achieve.

How, in the words of Henry Dreyfuss, can designers succeed to make people feel safer, more comfortable, and happier? Do we, as designers, always put the users at the centre of our work? Do we really strive to meet their needs, rather than add another feature requested by the client?

This month, we've invited two designers to share their thoughts on designing with people in mind. Carlos Garcia will help us learn how the design of products can be good for business as well as users. We will also learn how familiar accents in educational software augment learning with Nicola Duffy.

The agenda for the evening

18:00 - 18:30 - Doors open

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18:40 - 19:10 - Carlos Garcia - Friction vs frictionless. Why it’s sometimes better to make humans think.
As so many companies strive to make products that are frictionless and take cognitive load off users, are we creating lazier humans as a result? Are people making decisions because they are easy and what the business wants rather than being based on their needs.

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19:10 - 19:40 - Nicola Duffy - Inclusive design in educational software for children with autism - a case study
This talk is based on findings of a research masters which was funded by the Department of the Minister for Children. The discussion will highlight findings of a Nationwide study on software being used in primary schools and homes in the education of children with autism and highlighting their limitations. The author will also discuss her findings on the research question; "Can familiar accents in educational software augment learning?

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19:50 - 21:00 - Networking
Make new friends and discuss what you've heard with our speakers and the rest of the IxDA Dublin community.

About Carlos
For the past 12 years, Carlos has been working with start-ups, local companies, international brands and charities to create products and customer experiences that are simple, beautiful and easy to use.

As a consultant, he works collaboratively with business teams to deliver experiences that are more human. That design is more than just surface aesthetic. It informs process, architecture and ultimately allows us to understand how people think and behave.

His clients have included Electric Ireland, Heineken, Topaz, Pepsi, Coors Light, Sony PlayStation, Amnesty International, Guinness and Bank of Ireland.

About Nicola
Nicola Duffy is a lecturer in Digital Media, a designer and artist. Her areas of specialism are Graphic design, Design Thinking and User Experience. She is lecturing on a Degree programme in Digital Media and is the Year 2 course-co-ordinator of this programme. Her research interests are in UX, Inclusive design and Interaction design. She is embarking on a PhD in the area of UX and Inclusive design.