Schedule

Thursday, February 13

9:00
Introduction
9:05 - 9:15
Video: Thomas Castro, LUST (Design & Interaction)
9:20 - 9:30
Designing and living with technology - Alex Beim, Tangible Interaction
9:35 - 9:45
Houses - Michael Farrell, Twitter
9:50 - 10:00
Media: Object - Travis Kirton, Slant Design
10:05 - 10:25
Video: Progetto (Italia Design)
10:30 - 11:00
Break
11:00 - 11:10
Video: Thomas Marzano, Philips (Brand & UX)
11:15 - 11:25
Designing for startups - Amy Ngai, AxiomZen
11:30 - 11:40
Ryan Opina, Engine Digital
11:45 - 11:55
Designing on an unscripted canvas - Azmina Karimi, Crispin, Porter & Bogusky
12:00 - 12:10
Jocelyn Lai, R/GA
12:15 - 1:00
Panel
1:00 - 2:30
Lunch
2:30 - 5:30
Interviews

Friday, February 14

10:00 - 3:00
Interviews

What is Touchpoint?

Touchpoint is an interaction design Conference connecting interaction design students to industry leaders. The conference includes talks by industry representatives, panel discussions, documentary screenings, and one-on-one interviews with design organizations.

For Students

Touchpoint is an opportunity to hear what is going on in industry and professional practice from the leading companies in our field. The companies invited to attend in most cases have historically been some of the highest employers of SIAT students and graduates. Each company will present a topic in a theme, and then a panel will follow in which synergy can be pursued across the multiple views and outlooks.

Students will have the opportunity (by competition) to have one-on-one interviews with those companies who are recruiting for internships or other opportunities or who simply wish to speak to our students one-on-one to gauge the potential fit of the SIAT students with their organization.

For Professionals

TouchPoint provides the opportunity for local professionals to connect with the invited companies and network. To share ideas and to work at creating a stronger culture for exchange through the IDRC (Interaction Design Research Centre) network. These individuals may find ways in which their companies may be able to connect to the IDRC, to SIAT and to SFU.

And it will provide the opportunity to do professional development and connect across the culture with other professionals. SIAT graduates will find the opportunity to connect their alma mater and the larger networked community that has been fostered over the years.

For Presenting Firms

TouchPoint provides an opportunity to connect with SIAT, SFU and the IDRC (Interaction Design Research Centre) to build networks and relationships. Firms have the opportunity to meet our students and see their work as to the potential firm within the organization to fulfill needs, and to establish working relationships through the students and graduates of the SIAT Design program.

Firms have the opportunity to connect to the thriving and active professional Interaction Design community in Vancouver, many of whom are graduates of the SIAT Design program. And they will have an opportunity to see what other companies are doing and thinking about.

Speaker Bios

Travis Kirton, Slant Design

Travis is an artist, researcher and interaction designer specializing in the production of interactive installations and creative applications. He holds an MA in Interface Culture from the University of Art and Industrial Design Linz (Austria), as well as a BSc Interactive Arts / Interaction Design from Simon Fraser University.

Jocelyn Lai, R/GA

Jocelyn is a recruitment manager at R/GA in San Francisco. Before joining RG/A she was a Talent and Acquisition Manager at GSD&M in Austin, TX. Jocelyn is also a writer. Her articles on the topic of networking and career finding have been featured in Wall Street Journal. She also speaks at various conferences and workshop about the role of digital technology and social media in the recruitment process.

Ryan Opina, Engine Digital

Ryan has led product teams in creating holistic user experiences. Translating consumer motivations and behaviors into concrete design direction and product development activities is where his strength lies. He is accomplished in coordinating and leading user experience design teams globally while thriving on collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams.

Michael Farrell, Twitter

Michael is a SIAT alumni. He currently works as a Designer at Twitter in San Francisco. He has interned with Crispin Porter + Bogusky in Boulder, CO, frog in Seattle, WA, and contracted with Artefact in New York. He was the Co-Director of the TouchPoint 2012 Interaction Design Symposium, hosted at SFU. He completed his BA in Design, and Media Arts in 2012.

Azmina Karimi, CP+B

Azmina is a SIAT graduate with a B.Sc. Honour’s in Interaction Design. She is currently an Experience Designer at CP + B. She has strong passion for improving user experiences through human-centered design. She helps shape brand experiences and brings ideas to life by devising engaging, human-centered solutions across channels.

Alex Beim, Tangible Interaction

Alex Beim is an artist, speaker, creative director and founder of Tangible Interaction, an experiential design firm whose interactive installations have been enjoyed by millions of people around the world. Known for his Zygotes, giant helium-filled balls that respond to motion, touch and sound; his Digital Graffiti Walls; and other interactive luminescent installations, Beim relies on a complex mix of technological innovation to work his magic.

Amy Ngai, AxiomZen

Amy is a SIAT graduate. She currently works as a UX Designer at Axiom Zen in Vancouver, BC. She has interned with AKQA, in San Francisco and with Volkswagen Group in Germany as a Research Intern in the Service Innovation Team. Amy is passionate about connecting ideas through user-centered design. She values the need for strong communication and trust to build great relationships.

Come join us for the talks in Room 2600 on February 13 & 14, 2014.

RSVP Now!