Russian User Experience Firm Leads Usability Marathon

CHICAGO, IL, November 10, 2008 — October 1st marked the kickoff of
a two week Usability Marathon in Moscow, Russia. The event was the
first of its kind in the Russian user experience market.

The event was organized by UIDesign Group ( http://eng.uidesign.ru) a partner company of the UXalliance ( www.UXalliance.com), an international network of leading user experience firms.

In addition to UIDesign Group (UIDG), two other UXalliance partners conducted seminars: User Centric, Inc. of the US ( www.usercentric.com) and The Hiser Group of Australia ( www.hiser.com.au) provided lecturers for the Usability Marathon.

The Russian user experience market is still developing and lacks
programs that provide Russian usability consultants with valuable
technical knowledge. Natalia Kirillova of UIDG commented on the value
of the event, “The Usability Marathon provided Russian usability
consultants an applied and practical perspective on state-of-the-art
user experience practices. The event exemplified theoretical and
methodological knowledge of usability that the Russian practitioner may
not get unless they travel to usability conferences abroad or take
specific courses.”

The Usability Marathon covered several topics, including usability
testing, user-centered design, user experience in the contact center
and how to build an effective usability lab. The event was hosted by
four teachers who presented a total of thirteen seminars in four weeks
with two hundred people in attendance.

UIDG provided the localization of all lecture materials including
adaptation of presentations and exercises plus translation of handouts
and lectures from English to Russian.

One of the lecturers, Robert Schumacher, Managing Director of User
Centric said: “The opportunity to exchange thoughts with professionals
from Russia was very rewarding. UIDG did a magnificent job in putting
this together. In the end, the beneficiaries will be Russian users.”

Through this and other activities, UIDG will continue to serve and
support Russian clients as well as foreign firms who need to enter the
vibrant Russian market.