When it comes to the city that never sleeps, UX professionals play a huge role in virtually every company that forms New York’s industry. However, New York UX practitioners often struggle to find outlets to exercise their skills and enhance their knowledge—be it through networking, discussions, idea sharing, location strategy, or association affiliation. In order to reap the full benefits of the UX community in New York City, there are several places that all New York-based designers and developers should be looking.
The Silicon Alley is where many UX professionals find themselves located. Originally used to refer to the lower part of Manhattan—the Flatiron District—the thriving area quickly expanded and has since outgrown its name. It now encompasses the majority of Manhattan’s technological industry, spanning geographically from the southern tip all the way up through Chelsea. Companies found in the area include Etsy, Tumblr, MakerBot, Shutterstock, and MoPub. In addition to the big names, the Silicon Alley is home to more than handful of tech startups and promising businesses.
By far the largest city in the United States, it’s no surprise that New York City holds some of the biggest UX conferences. Among its annual lineup, LeanUX NYC is one of the most popular. Hosting an average audience of 5,000 to 10,000 each spring, LeanUX offers a variety of hands-on workshops and lectures from some of the most prominent members of the UX world. In addition to LeanUX, New York’s Web Visions conference is another big event in the UX community. Typically held in April, the yearly occasion attracts thousands of professionals. These events are must-attends for anyone who’s serious about user experience.
For those looking to hop into an association of fellow UX designers and developers, NYC User Experience PA (UXPA) offers a variety of benefits: the opportunity to network, event invitations, and updates of the latest goings on in the world of user experience in New York. Additionally, the association offers a mentorship program, which attracts many new-to-the-scene designers and developers, and the system has been met with overwhelming success. For those who choose to become members, they are given access to all that UXPA offers as well as increased opportunity for further growth and development.
Whether its happy hour or the holidays, New York UX designers and developers love any chance to get together. While events by groups both large and small can be found on Meetup.com, the Big Apple’s most popular groups (each containing several hundred members) are The UX Lab (a group dedicated solely to networking and strengthening UX skills), UX + Data (whose focus tends to be on creating accessible, compelling data), and Brooklyn UX (social gatherings for those in the less-industrial borough). Providing the perfect opportunities to meet and mingle, these events are ideal for social and creative professionals.
All in all, the thriving city of New York is a great place to be if you’re a UX practitioner. With its large community, high-traffic conferences, and hundreds of events centered on design, New York UX professionals can easily find ways to network and participate in the goings on of the NYC tech industry.
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