Explore. Learn. Transform.
Share the UX Journey at UXSYM
Nov 29, 2023, 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Campus Center, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Welcome to UXSYM 2023, the premier symposium that bridges the gap between academic and industry UX research. Our mission is to share valuable insights, cutting-edge methods, and shape the future of UX research together.
About UXSYM
As a bridge between academia and industry, UXSYM aims to create a rich and dynamic platform where professionals and researchers can learn from each other, exchange ideas, and shape the future of UX research. Our symposium features leading experts, enlightening workshops, and engaging panel discussions designed to empower the UX leaders of tomorrow.
The conference this year focuses on harnessing the power of AI to create value with exceptional user experiences. The event offers a unique opportunity to learn about cutting-edge research and engage in discussions about the future of AI and UX with leading innovators in our field.
UX Research
User experience (UX) refers to how people interact with technology in their daily lives. UX research refers to research for creation, testing, and improvement of experiences that are not only practical but also intuitive and enjoyable for users. It plays a pivotal role in developing innovative digital products, from specialized workplace tools like organizational decision support systems and robotics to everyday consumer items such as smart appliances, websites, and apps. As an interdisciplinary field that draws from business, design, and technology, UX research has a broad impact on product innovation in various industries including Healthcare and Medical Services, Information Technology (IT), Financial Services and Banking, Retail and E-commerce, Hospitality and Tourism, Entertainment and Media to name a few.
Program (Updated Regularly)
Speakers (Updated Regularly)

Alexandra Candelas
Alexandra Candelas is a user experience executive, early pioneer of the user experience practice, educator, mentor and coach. She helps organizations and C-Suite executives navigate the complexities of customer value through product design. Her focus is on digital innovation and how to strategically steer a company’s transformation towards customer excellence. In academic circles she is known for nurturing students to have a leadership mindset, mentoring them well beyond their academic tenure.

Ellen Carey

Soussan Djamasbi
Professor of Information Systems, Director of User Experience and Decision Making (UXDM) Lab, WPI
Dr. Djamasbi is the founder of the Neuro Information System (Neuro IS) research program at WPI and is internationally recognized as a leader in the application of eye tracking in UX research. To provide valuable design insights, she leverages eye tracking as a powerful tool to capture dynamic aspects of user experience, such as effort and engagement, which are often challenging to capture with traditional UX methods. Her research also harnesses the power of AI to develop intelligent systems capable of detecting user experiences, such as cognitive load, and assessing health status, such as chronic pain, through the analysis of eye movements.

Matt Ferguson
Chief Digital Officer & Acting CEO, Right Side Shift
Matt is a visionary leader that specializes in optimizing businesses for the digital age. With a passion for innovation and a relentless drive for excellence, Matt has a proven track record of transforming organizations and driving them towards greater efficiency, profitability, and competitiveness. His unwavering commitment to harnessing the power of technology for driving positive change, has made Matt a respected thought leader in the world of technology and business.

Matt Freed
Matt Freed is the former CEO and co-founder of Malamute, a startup dedicated to integrating artificial intelligence within industrial frontline workforces. Matt earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from WPI (2019) and a Master of Engineering in Computer Science from Cornell Tech (2020). His expertise is centered around elevating user experiences through the strategic application of AI.

Prateek Jain
UX Design Researcher, IKS Health
Prateek is an expert in UX-driven innovations, with a passion for the intersection of human psychology and technology. He is committed to developing healthcare solutions that not only deliver exceptional user experiences but also contribute to improving patient outcomes. Particularly noteworthy is Prateek’s skill in translating complex health-related decision processes into intuitive and accessible user interfaces.

Mike McGovern

Brian McLaughlin
Brian McLaughlin is a passionate and proven visionary in the areas of innovation, user experience, usability, design, standards compliant UI construction techniques, and mobile devices. As a former Chief Experience and Design Officer, Brian has been a member of the executive management teams as well as having spent countless hours as an individual contributor in his early years as a designer, illustrator, and frontend developer. Over the span of his 40 year career, he has led creative design teams, user experience teams, product innovation teams, as well as technology and development teams to deliver best-in-class customer experiences across several different markets.

Andy Piggott
Andy is a seasoned growth strategist and executive leader, renowned for his expertise in propelling companies to reach and surpass their aspirations. With a career spanning across diverse industries, Andy has spearheaded cross-functional teams to triumph in realms of product development, product management, and marketing. His deep understanding of product innovation, unwavering focus on enhancing customer experiences, and proficiency in product-led growth have enabled him to guide companies on their journey from early-stage startups to prominent public enterprises.

Alec Rooney
Alec Rooney’s passion is building. He switched from mechanical engineering to software because he wanted to iterate more quickly and build at a greater scale. He moved from working at HP and Cisco to helping to found and build startups because that fed his passion for building and scaling solutions in a way that working within a bigger organization, even one with immense resources, did not. Early in 2023 Alec realized that AI was a technology that would disrupt software and the way we use and interface with computers on the same scale that the internet and mobile computing did. Excited to be part of the disruption, with his co-founder he has focused on building Casie (https://casie.ai), an AI powered co-worker that can help companies make their employees more productive by tapping into the company’s knowledge base. When he’s not helping to build companies, Alec likes to build tree houses and wooden boats with his family in Maine.

John Wyatt
Sr. UX Researcher, Amazon
With over a decade in the UX/UXR realm, John has empowered both Fortune 100 titans and nimble startups to launch and scale UXR programs, converting insights into actionable outcomes. John believes in UXR’s potential to not just spearhead product innovation but to also instill a customer-centric ethos. A leading member of UXSYM’s organizing committee since its inception, he remains captivated by the partnership and innovation from academic-industry collaborations.
Buy Tickets
Ticket
- Event Admission
- Workshops
- Talks/Fireside Chats
- Coffee & Networking Breaks
- Lunch
- Networking Reception
Rate Schedule
Regular – $99
Regular Student – $25
Where It’s At
Rubin Campus Center,
Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Soussan Djamasbi
Professor of Information Systems, Director of User Experience and Decision Making (UXDM) Lab, WPI

Matt Ferguson
Chief Digital Officer & Acting CEO, Right Side Shift

Prateek Jain
UX Design Researcher, IKS Health

John Wyatt
Sr. UX Researcher, Amazon









