Author: Kirk

I’m an optimist it seems – a dyed-in-the-wool type too.  I am constantly seeing opportunities loom within the current software development methodologies I follow at work.  Little ones, big ones, medium sized ones that you would feel good about taking advantage of without straining your back (or the corporate cheque book).  Sadly I have yet to fully realize any of these opportunities when it comes to usability practices at work.  I’ve tried a few different tacts – I’ve worked to bring general and specific user-centered design ideas into the fold, as it were.  Success thus far has been fleeting to say the least.  But I did say I’m an optimist – I haven’t given up yet.

I know there are better ways to do things and I know I’m not the only one around who sees it.  I just need a little more “oomph” or perhaps a little more “pow” in my approach.  Actually what I really need is a little more professional credence behind my ideas.  I need to rally the troops, as it were.

Enter CanUX – a glorious nirvana of like-minded soldiers congregating to discuss how to spread the word, to make design a little more person-centric and a little less “why the heck did that happen”-ish.  Is that a word?  Nestled in Banff for the last few years I have never been able to convince my manager (and her manager) that attending would be the door-opening, spirit-lifting, productivity-enhancing, creativity-spurring event I am certain it would be.  At least, I’ve never been able to convince them that this would happen for the low low price of admission and accomodation.

Picture a little cocoon awaiting the dawn of a new day, nestled in the shadows of Lake Louise.  CanUX is the sun and my ideas are the cocoon – they must be brought together!  Now picture the lack of funds as a giant flyswatter swishing … slicing … searching …

SPLAT!

That was last year.  And the year before.  This year I have another chance – we all have another chance.  No, my employer is not footing anything, but nForm knows what’s what.  They’ve created a contest where they will provide registration and accommodation for a single person to attend.  This may not seem like much until you realize that this is a full 1/100th of the attendees that they are funding.  That’s right – there are only 100 spots available at the CanUX conference and I want one of those spots.

I want to tap into the expertise at the conference.  I want to share my experiences – what kind of worked and what didn’t.  I want to take home ideas and push through to success with my current teams.  I want to arm myself for future teams, growing my bat-belt of tools, techniques and ideas.  CanUX can give me a leg up, a helping hand, a supportive cast of 99 people who can back me up when I say “The user matters – let’s design for them.”

This post then, is my entry to this contest.  I humbly submit it as my very first Twitter post – my inaugural tweet (well, my second, the first doesn’t count as it was stream of consciousness following the sign up process).  Wait, what’s Twitter for again?

And I would be remiss if I did not point out that there is a free, open-source microblogging tool available called identi.ca – and to support FLOSS efforts I will register there too.