NOT THE USER - elysium® at the 3rd UX Festival in Erfurt

One weekend in June, idyllic Erfurt was transformed into the centre of the UX community when the 3rd UX Festival of the German UPA (Usability Professionals' Association) opened its doors. Our entire team from elysium audio solutions GmbH took the opportunity to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of user experience (UX) and experience an unforgettable weekend.

What is the German UPA?

The German UPA is the professional association of usability and user experience professionals in Germany. Its mission is to improve the quality of user-centred design of products and services and to promote the skills of UX professionals through further training, exchange and certification. The annual UX Festival is one of its highlights, where the German-speaking UX community meets to exchange ideas, learn and network.

What is UX?

User experience, or UX for short, refers to the totality of impressions and experiences that a user has when interacting with a product, system or service. It is not just about usability, but also about aspects such as aesthetics, accessibility and the user's emotional response. The aim is to create products that are not only functional, but also enjoyable and intuitive to use.

Our experience at the UX Festival

Our luggage included not only our curiosity, but also a good dose of humour and team spirit. As soon as we checked in, we came across a colourful mix of participants: UX/UI designers, UX researchers and stakeholders from a wide range of industries. One of the biggest realisations of the weekend was that if all the relevant interest groups - i.e. the stakeholders - are present, you no longer need special sessions to convince them of the importance of UX. Clever, isn't it?

Highlights of the weekend:

1. Great encounters and networking: We had the pleasure of meeting many interesting people. The community was open, diverse and incredibly tolerant - it is rare to experience such a warm atmosphere in a professional context.
2. Exciting sessions: The programme was packed with informative and inspiring sessions. We were particularly impressed by the presentations on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in UX and the avoidance of ‘dark patterns’, i.e. manipulative design practices that tempt users to take unwanted actions. 
3. Mastering weather extremes: Despite almost inhuman temperatures on Saturday and a storm surge on Sunday, the German UPA organisation team stood firm and put on a fantastic event.
4. Our favourite UX jokes: The submitted UX jokes were a small humorous highlight. Even though our favourite - ‘Chuck Norris doesn't do research. Chuck Norris knows his users!’ - didn't make it into the top 3, it made us and many others smile.

Why UX is so important

Good UX goes far beyond an appealing design. It starts with the initial idea and continues throughout the entire development process. It's about understanding the needs and expectations of users and putting them at the centre of the design process. Successful UX design not only improves user satisfaction, but can also make a significant contribution to the success of a product or service.

Conclusion

The 3rd UX Festival in Erfurt was a valuable experience for us at elysium audio solutions GmbH. Not only did we learn a lot and get inspired, but we also had a wonderful time with a great community. A big thank you to the German UPA team for organising this great event!

We have already marked the date for the next UX Festival in our diaries and are looking forward to attending again next year and delving even deeper into the world of user experience.

Until then, all we can say is:

‘Keep the user in focus - not the user in confusion!’