March 10 12:00pm ET

Using Visual Models to Solve Big Design Problems

with Stephen Anderson

Visual models make sense of complex systems by expanding our ability to see patterns and relationships in information that would be impossible otherwise. Working with visual models frees us from the limits of a more linear, analytical approach. They allow us to see arrangements of data that show possibilities and comparisons between data sets. Modeling simply gets us out of our heads.

In this seminar, Stephen Anderson, will show you how to crack complex systems and open up your ideas to visualizing concepts. Anderson will teach you how to create your own, unique maps based on the information you have and the basics of concept modeling. He’ll look at the important role that spatial arrangement plays in the creation of maps, and share a toolkit to help you get started on your own maps.

• Learn to clearly communicate ideas through visual models
• Design custom data models
• Understand the fundamental building blocks of spatial thinking and reasoning

Stephen Anderson will teach you how to integrate data and information into visual models, from brainstorming ideas with your team, to creating unique client deliverables, to developing complex visual models to communicate ideas.

March 10 1:00pm ET

Timeless Interaction Patterns

with Karl Fast

We make sense of information by interacting with it, tooling with it, filtering it, and looking at it from different angles, regardless of technology. It’s how we figure things out. Even simple analog actions, like bookmarking a page in a book, are a fundamental part of how interact helps us understand information.

In this seminar, Karl Fast will look at the deep ways we interact with technology and identify fundamental interaction patterns. These patterns can be applied to any medium. Whether you are designing for mobile, tablet, desktop, or future technologies, an understanding of these interaction patterns will strengthen your practice. These patterns have broad application and in this seminar we’ll explore, in particular, how filtering is a key interaction for understanding complex data sets.
 

• Design for complex systems with an understanding of the why and how behind the patterns that users follow as they interact with information
• Understand how people filter information, common interaction controls used for filtering, and how to approach the design of filter-centric interfaces
• Develop a vocabulary for describing interactions across mediums

We’ll look at how these timeliness patterns can be applied in the design for complex systems across mediums and future technologies.

March 10 1:58pm ET

Agentive Technology

with Chris Noessel

Technology not only provides a way for us to visualize an abundance of information, and filter through that information in our quest to understand it. It can help us complete simple, informational, and even physical tasks that are time consuming. One way of dealing with a complex system in the future will be to offload work to an Agentive Technology.

Agentive Technologies are a form of artificial intelligence—a subset known as “Narrow A.I.” These technologies assist people by performing simple, specific tasks. For example, WAZE will keep friends notified when traffic delays our arrival time. EBay lets us set up Watch Lists to find and bid on things that match our search terms. Even spam filters in Gmail are helping us by filtering out information we don’t need, before we even know there’s a problem.

In Chris Noessel’s seminar, we’ll get the skinny on what Agentive Tech is, why we shouldn’t be afraid of it, what’s to come in the future, and how we can design for these technologies.

• Understand what Agentive Technology is, how it fits in with other categories of Artificial Intelligence, and what it means for your design practice
• Explore examples of existing and future Agentive Technologies and how to prepare for them
• Develop a community of practice around the design and development of these “Narrow A.I.” technologies

Chris will explore how these technologies may deliver on the big promises of user-centered design.