UX/HF Leaders Forum
Where leaders communicate, learn, and grow together.
The UX/HF Leaders Forum is a forum of user experience
design managers who value a regular exchange of new knowledge and
experiences.
CONNECT • LEARN • LEAD
What We Do
The UX/HF Leaders Forum serves as a continuous professional development platform for managers and leaders in UX, human factors, user research, design, and related fields. It fosters a close-knit community of professionals who benefit from shared learning and personal interactions, with trust and respect for each other.
Members participate in two annual “un” conferences—some in-person, others virtual. Meetings are interactive sessions typically with university researchers, industry practitioners, and other thought leaders. The meetings also provide opportunities for private discussions where members exchange challenges, insights, and best practices in a supportive setting.
Overall, these experiences enrich members’ professional lives while fostering a uniquely supportive network of human-caring leaders.
What Members Experience
The Forum meetings provide two ways for members to expand their knowledge. Core are tours of company labs and presentations by their UX/HF/CX managers, and presentations by researchers at institutions. These visits are typically supplemented by member-only sessions where one or more members may share some helpful experience or may pose a challenge for the team to offer solutions.
Select examples of the richness and diversity of members’ exposure to the works of other company labs and research institutions include:
- Cycorp (pioneers of AI technologies)
- Bently University (UX Center)
- Carnegie Mellon University (on wearable computing)
- Center of Creative Studies (Detroit Creative Ventures)
- Library of Congress
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
An alternative to in-person visitations are virtual meetings. These meetings are often based on a specific topic for which experts from around the world can be (easily) invited to present.
An Active Membership...
“The consortium provides a safe and energizing venue to discuss organizational issues associated with the design and usability function. It also has created a network that we can tap when we are executing our duties such as searching for new employees or sharing up-to-date best practices.”
Nelson Soken, System Strategist, Cardiac Rhythm Management Division, Medtronic
“I am a new member to the consortium but I have found it very valuable. My first meeting in Rochester really gave me some great ideas to think about and bring back to my company. I really liked the range of presentations at the meeting. … . It is very good to connect with a group of professionals from a variety of companies and backgrounds. We share many of the same challenges, albeit with different perspectives. I look forward to future participation in the consortium.”
George Hackman, Senior Director of User Experience, Oracle Corporation
“As a long-time member of the consortium, I always look forward to our meetings. They are an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow UX leaders and discover new approaches and techniques in UX. Engaging with leaders from various organizations is particularly enlightening, offering a deeper understanding of team structures, challenges, and successful strategies within the UX field, providing me with valuable benchmarks and inspiration for my team.”
Laura Vennie, Director of Usability and Experience, Newell Brands
“The UXD Consortium is a network of HF and UX leaders from various companies, aimed at advancing their organizations’ HF/UX capabilities. Its strong member connections foster open, impactful discussions on key topics. Through shared experiences, members gain valuable insights into effective and ineffective strategies. For me, no other HF/UX forum offers such focused, high-level content and exceptional professional networking.”
Tom Yen, Sr. R&D Manager of User Experience Design, Integrated Diagnostic Solutions, Becton Dickinson (Formerly)
“Stan Caplan draws on his deep expertise in UX and Human Factors, along with a broad network across industry, government, and academia, to create enriching experiences for UX Consortium members. I’ve valued every meeting, both in-person and virtual. Memorable moments include a private tour of Bill Buxton’s collection, engaging with leaders from Carnegie Mellon’s HCI and Design programs, exploring Stanford’s autonomous vehicle lab, and visiting the Mellon Bank Innovation Center.
If you’re invited to join the UX Consortium, seize the chance. The networking and diverse learning opportunities have not only enhanced my daily work but have also been intellectually rewarding and enjoyable.”
Eric Bergman, Director, Human Centered Innovation, Fresenius Medical Care