UX Meetups To Meet Other UX Pros During Social Distancing
In a time when many of us are working from home and cannot join any in-person events or UX meetups, we may feel out of the loop and disengaged not only with our peer networks but with our business itself. A way to help with this is to try and find online venues where we can remain engaged and on top of the trends while practicing safe social distancing. While we await a time when we can join UX events and UX workshops in person again, online can be just as useful.
CX And UX Meetups And Other Online Events For Experience Design Aficionados
1. Designer Hangout
This is the UX designer's best-kept secret. An invite-only online venue for professional UX designers. This is a peer network of over 18,000 people in your field and a place to talk about trends, offer advice, share stories, listen to insights, and connect with others who are in the know. Real-time chat, job boards, mentoring, and more to help build your network and keep up with the trends.
Who is it for: UX designers and researchers
2. Product Tribes
This is an invite-only online group of over 10,000 people working in design, development, and product management. You can join in on Slack and other virtual meetings to build your network and move your career forward. Meet teams from major companies and talk jobs, design, user research, and UX strategy. Just because you can’t meet in person doesn’t mean you can’t continue to learn and network.
Who is it for: Anyone in the UX and PM field
Learn more: Twitter
3. Interaction Design Foundation
This site has 486 groups in 97 countries around the world. You can join a virtual meet up of like-minded people near you and use the group for networking, job searching, learning and more. Engage in online discussions, take courses, and get advice from those who are also in your field. Meetups are free and give you access to lots of people who want to discuss similar issues.
Who is it for: Anyone in the field of UI or UX
Learn more: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn
4. UX Mastery
This site offers everything you could want when it comes to UX experience. Whether you want to get into the UX field, are just starting, or have lots of experience, you will find lots of places to network and chat with others who have experience and advice. You can troubleshoot work issues and get feedback while supporting others in this online venue.
Who is it for: Anyone interested or working in the UX field
Learn more: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
5. CX Accelerator
Here you’ll find a community of people working in the world of customer experience. It’s a slack channel that helps you network in a virtual world. Whether you are new to CX or have been in the field for years, you’ll find lots of support and advice from those around the world. They have a “CX Challenge of the Week”, a resource group, community focus, and more. This is a great way to work with a virtual community and stay on top of all the trends and happenings in the CX community.
Who is it for: Customer experience professionals
6. Higher Logic
Here’s a site where you can learn and meet people in the industry. This link, in particular, is to a 15-minute webinar for improved customer experience. It’s a live session where you can learn and interact with others. If you missed the event, you can watch a recording and while you won't get the same level of interaction, you get the benefit of the presenter's knowledge. These folks have some great CX content no matter what your position is in the field.
Who is it for: Anyone in the CX field
Learn more: Facebook, LinkedIn
7. User Experience Stack Exchange
A stack exchange of information where you can ask or answer questions around almost anything that applies to the UX world. While it is not a UX meetup, it offers a great opportunity to chat and ask any questions to help with your work. If you are an experienced UX person then your depth of knowledge may be a significant help to someone who is looking for support or help. It lists lots of questions and answers along with “hot network questions” topping the list.
Who is it for: UX researchers and professionals
Learn more: Blog, Twitter, Instagram
8. Designer News
This is where the design community meets and greets! A good site where you can read and answer questions, listen to a podcast, or even search for jobs. Networking and learning at its best for those in the CX and UX fields. It is a great virtual resource when you can’t meet people in person. The job board is a bonus as you can not only learn from others but also get a line on a new position if you are in the market. Designer News offers you access to a large, global online community that has a vested interest in design and technology.
Who is it for: All professionals working in the design field
What Are Your Can't-Miss UX Meetups Online?
Whether we are in a time of isolation or simply can’t be part of an in-person meeting or event, online groups help you stay on top of the trends and changes in the CX and UX fields.
Building networks, continuing education, and asking for support from your colleagues can all be done on some great stacks, forums, and online events.
If you know of other UX meetups that aren't on the list, please help out the UX community add them in the comments below!
The world is changing with distancing challenges so finding ways to continue your professional growth and improvement is important. The world will not stagnate while we step away from in-person meetings. It will continue to morph and as CX and UX professionals, you need to stay on top of everything going on.
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Related List of Tools: UI/UX Design Software To Build The Best Customer Experience