Startups/VCs SIG: How to Bake UI Strategy Into Your Startup March 9, 2009

Bake User Experience Strategy Into Your Startup

In the rush to get a new product or concept into the market, the "user experience" may be given a back seat. In the myriad of start-up details, how much attention can be given to the "look and feel" - which can be added later? Or can it? And what is it anyway?
"User experience" covers the myriad ways your customer will interact with your product and company - website, user interface, support center, user manual, training, forums, help system, and beyond. While you may see each of these areas as different company functions, to your customer they are all part of a single thing - your product and their "experience.'
The success of your product (and company) depends upon whether that experience is engaging, efficient, effective, and predictable, or disconnected, time-consuming and difficult. Because a good user experience touches nearly every part of your company, it must be "baked in" from the very beginning -- and it is nearly impossible to "add later".
Meghan Ede will explain how to "bake in" an approach which produces great user experiences, from the get-go. She'lll start with a simple question: "Does Customer = User?" (Not always). And she'll end with an explanation of how to hire the right person from a growing array of user experience professionals. In between, she'll talk about how to make your great product even better.

Who should attend: This session will be of particular interest to entrepreneurs launching products or services with a visible user interface or company website. If you are responsible for any of these product areas: creation/design, marketing, support, training or evaluation, or face resource allocation decisions you will find value in this presentation

Free for eBig Members, $15 pre-registration, $20 at the door.

Official Website: http://www.ebig.org