Get your hands dirty with Object-Oriented UX, a philosophy and methodology that modular design wizard Brad Frost called “fantastic”, responsive web pioneer Ethan Marcotte called “so very, very good,” and the fairy godmother of content strategy Karen McGrane gave a three thumbs up.

Decades ago, the development community experienced a revolution, moving the industry from procedural code to object-oriented code. Over the past few years, a similar revolution is happening within the design world. Across the globe, UXers are beginning to design in objects—objects that reflect users’ mental models, as well as behind-the-scenes CMSs and databases.

With OOUX, you’ll design elegant, modular systems that can travel across devices with consistency and efficiency. You’ll create systems of interchangeable parts with fewer moving pieces and less extraneous complexity.

Since 2014, Sophia Voychehovski has been teaching the OOUX methodology to UX designers, product managers, executives, and developers. And now the workshop is finally coming to Chicago!

For this fast-paced and fun workshop, leave your laptop at home. Using only sticky-notes and rough sketches, you’ll learn to design an object-oriented system that is derived from business goals and the way your users understand their world. You will architect relationships between objects that help a user get to content through content, taking pressure of persistent navigation that is so often ignored by users.

This is not the type of workshop that'll leave you wondering how to apply what you’ve learned. You’ll come into work on Friday itching to implement OOUX principles on your projects...and you’ll be totally prepared to do so.

(Good to know: we will be gathering in a small group setting, so you'll get lots of individual attention and training.)

SHOUT OUT: THANK YOU TO CRITICAL MASS FOR HOSTING!

Schedule

• 9:30am: Doors open! Check-in, get settled, and meet your cohorts.

• 10am-12pm: Interactive Lecture and Warm Up Exercises. Learn about the cognitive science behind OOUX and all the reasons why you should “go-OO.” Get the basics down and watch a demo of object mapping.

• 12pm-12:30pm: Box lunch provided

• 12:30pm-2:30pm: Object Mapping. Sticky notes will fly and sharpie fumes will be inhaled. Each team will build the scaffolding of a new product.

• 3-3:30pm: Functionality Audit. Learn how to think about the functionality and interaction design of your product through the lens of objects.

• 3:30-4:15pm: Reviews! Let's compare the object maps, discuss the challenges and learn from each other.

• 4:15pm-5pm: Sketching hierarchy diagrams. Learn a totally new methodology for sketching: focusing on modules, details, and lists.

• 5pm-6:30pm: For those that need an adult beverage after such a packed day, we head down to Sweetwater Tavern for a beer (or three).

Need more convincing? How about some OOUX Testimonials

“Sophia's OOUX framework has been pivotal in simplifying the interface of our complex B2B app. We knew presenting a more uniform, familiar experience was the key to improving usability but we weren't sure how to get there. OOUX is the real deal! It's transforming our design process and setting the right tone for the next generation of our product.”

Libby Maurer, Director of UX, Widen Enterprises, Madison, WI

“...I've spent many of my waking hours worriedly reflecting on my design process and how it can be better. One of the things I've struggled with most is how to enable my team to have conversations about a solution without jumping to wireframes. That's not because wireframes are bad, but because most of the teams I've worked with tend to lock into certain solutions and decisions without fully considering other options once wireframes get introduced.

Your Object-Oriented UX process has effectively solved that problem. Not only does it encourage creating systems of reusable components (which means less work for everyone and makes my inner design freak giddy with glee), but it enables us to have conversations and ask questions that lead to groundbreaking ideas that never would have happened without this process.”

Jonathan D'Ambra, UX Designer at Bluetooth SIG, Seattle, WA

"I attended Sophia Voychehovski's workshop regarding OOUX at EuroIA in 2016 Amsterdam. I was convinced to try it right away. Since then, I have integrated the method into my everyday workflow. I found that using this object-oriented method is a real advantage to maintain a clear and rational vision throughout my design process."

Hugo Labonde, UX Designer & User Researcher at Usabilis, Paris, France

“I use Sophia's methodology for OOUX on design projects that have a number of moving parts, and where the IA needs to go beyond a rigid hierarchical structure. By following this OOUX approach, I can quickly get a schema of the site/application at a sufficient level to create an early prototype, to test whether the content and the actions hang together in an intuitive and helpful way for users. Super-helpful, and packaged really nicely as a workshop format, too.”

Ben Simmonds, Independent UX Consultant, Bristol, UK

"I love the OOUX method! It made my professional life easier and it wasn’t difficult to learn and implement in the design process. Actually, it was just about changing the way I think while designing. It’s a very logical way to process loads of information in order to create more relevant navigation pathways. You have to simply treat systems’ features in the way you think and function every day as a human being. Object-oriented design is a natural thing. It’s the way we describe the world!"

Magdalena Rydiger, UI designer at Polidea, Warsaw, Poland