UX Research Intensive Training in Hawaii
Aug 4-10, 2024
This one-of-a-kind hands-on experience will enable you to learn from UX experts, work with real clients, and conduct research in the field. After just one week, you will have new confidence in your research skills, and a portfolio piece showcasing your research experience and the impact of your work. And it’s all in person, in Hawaii! Capped at 13 attendees.
UX Research Master Course Retreat: Big Island Edition
This 7-day, all-inclusive, UX research master course retreat on Big Island, Hawaii, is for 13 people who have a basic understanding of user experience research.
13 people will have hands-on personalized 1:1 and small group training, conducting research in the field, and working with stakeholders.
This training takes a process approach: participants will execute a research study (that will be planned prior to the retreat), analyze results, and report findings effectively to stakeholders. All attendees will receive a certificate of completion.
Key Experiences:
Prep Before the Retreat: We will meet weeks before the retreat to plan our research. You will meet the stakeholders and conduct stakeholder interviews to learn about their needs. Instructors will provide materials and discussion guides to model.
Team-Based Research: Students will collaborate in small teams to execute in-depth, in-person UX interviews, supporting local Hawaii businesses.
Findings & Presentation: After conducting research, teams will synthesize their findings and present their insights to the clients.
Impact: We will meet with out clients weeks after the retreat to discuss the impact of our work and how findings were used.
Guidance from the Best: Engage closely with Jen, Matt and other guest instructors throughout the retreat. Benefit from their invaluable feedback, and learn from their real-world experiences in both research and stakeholder interactions.
All Inclusive: Participants will live together in an off-grid oasis. Meals will be prepared by our personal chef and we will eat out locally.
Local Hawaiian Activities: Participants will partake in local Hawaii activities, such as lei making, sound healing and a luau.
Space is limited to 13 people to ensure an intense hands-on learning environment. Participants will work closely with each other and instructors and will have extensive personal training and attention.
Bonus Career Session: Weeks after the retreat, we will meet to discuss how to display this training on your resume and how to share it in interviews.
Not sure if this amazing training experience is right for you? Book a 15-min call with your main coach, Jen to discuss!
Your Home Away From Home
Escape into an ancient Hawaiian forest where you can enjoy ocean and mountain views and the quiet peace of being nestled within a private 24 acre native Hawaiian Ohia and Koa forest. This off-grid 9,000 square-foot home has 11 bedrooms and 5 baths. A wrap-around Lani makes for great gathering spaces to enjoy our chef-prepared meals, relax and read, nap, and hang out with other attendees.
Meet the Instructors
Jen Romano, Ph.D. is an Experiential Design Leader, UX Research Strategist (prior Google, Facebook, Instagram), instructor at UC Berkeley Extension, instructor at the University of Maryland, and UXR Coach. Jen teaches graduate-level classes, trains UX professionals, and coaches people who are entering the field. Jen is passionate about training the BEST researchers in the world, and this retreat is one of many ways she is accomplishing this mission.
Jen is an established leader in the UX field: She is the founder of the mentorship program, webinar program, and short course program for the User Experience Professional Association (UXPA) and is a Board Member of the UX Quality Certification Center (UXQCC).
Jen is a published writer, and some of her books include: Modern Socio-Technical Perspectives on Privacy, Usability Testing for Survey Research, Eye Tracking in User Experience Design.
More about Jen, and Jen on LinkedIn
Matt Karakilic is a UX Consultant (prior Hitachi Energy, autoTRADER, BestBuy, UKG), mentor at ADPList, Vancouver Film School and UXD Coach. Matt teaches junior-level UX designers, coaches UX professionals, and provides consulting to entrepreneurs that want to create products with users in mind. Matt will work closely with attendees throughout the week, coaching on design strategy.
Matt is an established leader in the UX field: He is the founder of UX was Here - THE Swiss army version of a UX community, where you can find anything UX related, in one place.
He is also the volunteers’ chair and proud volunteer of the User Experience Professional Association (UXPA). Matt has a BSc. in Media Arts and Design from Simon Fraser University (SFU), and 15+ years hands on experience in the UX field, helping startups to Fortune 500 companies!
More about Matt, and Matt on LinkedIn
Meet our Guests
Lauren Schaefer will join us to provide feedback on client presentations and to discuss how to quickly create wireframes to better communicate recommendations to clients.
Lauren is an expert in visual design and is currently the UX Design Leader at Seesaw Learning (prior Nearpod, Ultimate Software, Sitemotif). Lauren was an instructor at Florida International University, and mentored new designers in the South Florida UX design community.
Lauren is an established leader in UX and an active contributor to the Ohio UX community. She founded the South Florida UX Meetup (SOFLUX), served on the Advisory Board for Keiser University’s Design Program, and if former Director of Marketing and Web for UXPA.
Lauren on LinkedIn
Claudia Gutierrez will join us to discuss the intersection of AI and UX and to provide feedback on client presentations.
Claudia is a bilingual UX Expert and Strategist. She has over 20 years of experience in industry and academia in major sites in Latin America. She has been a UX Professor since 2006 for Graduate and Undergraduate programs, and she is a Latam UX leader, speaking, coaching and consulting for local and international communities. She is the former Chief Digital Officer for the largest university in Chile, Former LATAM Regional Manager and Director of Publications for UXPA and current Editorial Manager for UX Magazine. Claudia is a Data Science expert, currently advocating for the relationship between UX and Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Models.
Claudia on LinkedIn
Jennison Asuncion will join us for a fireside chat to discuss what to consider when including people with disabilities in user research.
Jennison is currently LinkedIn's Head of Accessibility Engineering Evangelism. He is the Co-Founder of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) & GAAD Foundation and the Founder of Accessibility Camp Toronto & Accessibility Camp Bay Area. He is a recognized digital accessibility leader, working in the field since 2006.
Jennison on LinkedIn
All-Inclusive Experience
Off-Grid Oasis
7 days with other attendees
World-Class Training
Learn UX strategy and methods from the best
Occupancy
Single or double occupancy available
Local Experiences
Tradition Lei making, sound bath, and sunset luau
Daily Gourmet Meals
A personal chef will prepare meals and we will eat out locally
Hawaii
Be part of Hawaii community, working closely with Hawaii businesses
Itinerary*
Monday, Aug 5
Breakfast together. Group training at home. Everyone conducts remote interviews and gets personalized feedback from the instructors. Lunch and dinner prepared by our chef.
Sunday, Aug 4
Arrival welcome party. Meet the instructors and other attendees, and get ready for the fun and intense week!
Tuesday, Aug 6
Breakfast together. Group 1 ventures out for in-home interviews and has lunch out. Group 2 conducts remote interviews at home and has a chef-prepared lunch. We reconvene in the evening and debrief about the day over a home-cooked meal, prepared by our chef.
Wednesday, Aug 7
Breakfast together. Group 2 conducts in-home interviews and has lunch out. Group 1 conducts remote interviews at home and has a chef-prepared lunch. We reconvene in the evening and debrief about the day over a delicious dinner together, prepared by our chef.
Thursday, Aug 8
We start the day with a sound bath and have breakfast together. Then both groups work closely with the instructors, analyzing findings and creating reports. We take a break for lei making at sunset. Lunch and dinner prepared by our chef.
Friday, Aug 9
Breakfast together. Analysis and reporting continues. We conduct dry runs to make sure we are prepared to present to clients tomorrow. Lunch and dinner prepared by our chef.
Saturday, Aug 10
Breakfast together. Both groups present to clients. We share a chef-prepared lunch with our clients. We celebrate a successful week with a sunset luau on the beach.
Sunday, Aug 11
Breakfast together. Depart by 11 AM.
*Itinerary subject to change
