{"id":7740,"date":"2023-01-04T16:38:24","date_gmt":"2023-01-04T16:38:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uxdesigninstitute.com\/blog\/?p=7740"},"modified":"2025-01-28T14:55:39","modified_gmt":"2025-01-28T14:55:39","slug":"which-ux-meetups-to-attend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uxdesigninstitute.com\/blog\/which-ux-meetups-to-attend\/","title":{"rendered":"Which UX meetups should you be attending in 2023?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When it comes to forging a successful UX career, networking plays a crucial role. Just ask any of today\u2019s leading industry experts, who would no doubt credit UX meetups as a major contributor to their success.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The opportunity to meet fellow UX professionals and exchange ideas will open countless doors\u2014especially as a newcomer. But after two years of Covid-19, it\u2019s hard to have a sense of what\u2019s out there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite the wave of cancelled events brought on by the pandemic, UX professionals will find no shortage of opportunities to meet, learn, and network in 2023. Keep reading for our roundup of the meetups every UX professional should consider adding to their calendar this year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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[GET CERTIFIED IN UX]<\/p>\n Take our Professional Diploma in UX Design course<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

The best UX meetups in 2023<\/strong><\/h2>\n

UX London<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dates:<\/b> June 22-23, 2023<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> London, UK
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London UX-ers: This is the meetup for you. Arguably one of the most well-established UX events in the UK, <\/span>UX London<\/span><\/a> is a two-day in-person conference taking place in London\u2019s historic Tobacco Dock. The event explores all aspects of the <\/span>design process<\/span><\/a>; including interaction design, product design, <\/span>user research<\/span><\/a>, design systems, and UX writing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Not a fan of sitting still all day? Attendees can experience the best of both worlds, with inspirational talks from industry leaders taking place each morning and hands-on workshops available to join in the afternoons. You\u2019ll also be right in the heart of the action, surrounded by plenty of bars and caf\u00e9s where you and your new friends can continue chatting about all things UX.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The UX Book Club<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dates:<\/b> Multiple<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> Online<\/span><\/p>\n

We all know that <\/span>books are a great way to expand your UX horizons<\/span><\/a>\u2014and what\u2019s more enjoyable than making new friends and connections with every new book you read? Enter: <\/span>The UX Book Club<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Run out of Dublin, the UX Book Club is a growing community of UX-ers who meet bi-monthly to discuss must-read tech and product books. If you\u2019re new to the field, this is a great way to meet fellow keen readers, engage in professional discussions, and learn collectively from some of the industry\u2019s best authors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to book discussions, the organisers regularly run one-off virtual events with community contributors and authors. The group is free to join, and all levels and backgrounds are welcome!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Product Design Week\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dates:<\/b> April 24th-28th, 2023<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> Online<\/span><\/p>\n

Product Design Week<\/span><\/a> is a week-long online event that invites the global UX community to congregate and celebrate the industry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Spread over five days, Product Design Week is a festival of UX innovation covering everything from UX writing to the interception of design and business. You can attend specific events based on your role, or stick around for the entire week and dip your toes into the latest trends and developments across UX disciplines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Last year’s speakers included industry leaders from Google, J.P Morgan, and Headspace Health\u2014so it\u2019s only right to expect an equally star-studded collection of guest speakers for 2023.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

UXcamp 2023<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dates:<\/b> June 3-4, 2023<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> Berlin, Germany<\/span><\/p>\n

Unconferences are popular in the design world, aptly named due to their lack of format (think participant-driven conversation and informal exchange of ideas instead of structured programs or sponsored presentations). If you prefer to \u2018go with the flow\u2019 rather than be restricted by set schedules, <\/span>UX Camp Europe<\/span><\/a> is the continent\u2019s biggest unconference for UX professionals\u2014and well worth a ticket.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last year\u2019s event saw over 500 attendees from around the world gather for a passionate celebration of UX; complete with interactive sessions, free-form networking, and even a party (in true Berlin fashion). This year, the emphasis on engaged participation is even bigger: Attendees need to hold a session, help with one, or contribute to the event in some volunteer capacity. So prepare to get stuck in!<\/span><\/p>\n

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[UX DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS COURSE]<\/p>\n Get the Best Start in UX Design<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

Designer Hangout<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dates:<\/b> Multiple<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> Online<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hailed as UX design\u2019s best-kept secret, <\/span>Designer Hangout<\/span><\/a> is an online, invite-only community of over 18,000 UX professionals (and counting). The group provides UX-ers with a dedicated platform to build powerful networks and develop meaningful connections.<\/span><\/p>\n

The community boasts multiple Slack channels where designers can share insights, offer advice, post job opportunities, discuss trends, and organise local in-person meetups. The Design Hangout organisers also host regular events and get-togethers for the whole community throughout the year\u2014often sponsored by industry-leading design companies like InVision.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Read next: <\/span>12 UX communities that are ready to welcome you<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

UX Scotland<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dates:<\/b> June 7-9, 2023<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> Edinburgh, Scotland<\/span><\/p>\n

Following a three-year hiatus, <\/span>UX Scotland<\/span><\/a> returns in 2023 for a three-day UX extravaganza. The international conference welcomes UX professionals from around the world to congregate in the heart of Edinburgh for a celebration of modern user-centricity.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Attendees can choose from a mix of keynote presentations, smaller sessions, and interactive workshops. UX Scotland is all about learning\u2014and hopefully, you\u2019ll walk away with an updated arsenal of tools, techniques, and design practices (plus a bunch of new friends).<\/span><\/p>\n

The Chicago Digital Accessibility & Inclusive Design Meetup<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dates:<\/b> Multiple<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> Online<\/span><\/p>\n

Accessibility is a crucial pillar of UX design\u2014and to continue to make their products user-friendly, it\u2019s vital that UX professionals stay on the cutting edge of inclusive and accessible design practices.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Chicago Digital Accessibility & Inclusive Design Meetup seeks to bring together like-minded digital professionals across UX and software development to share, learn, and network in the spirit of inclusivity. With almost 3,000 members, this is one of the USA\u2019s biggest inclusive design meetup groups.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The group hosts regular events throughout the year, both online and in-person, on topics ranging from ableism in design to intersectionality\u2014and everything in between.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

UXinsight Festival<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dates:<\/b> February 17-19, 2023<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> Online\/Breda, The Netherlands<\/span><\/p>\n

As the largest UX research community in Europe, <\/span>UXinsight<\/span><\/a> is hosting its seventh annual UX research conference\u2014the highly-anticipated <\/span>UXinsight Festival<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Created by UX researchers, for UX researchers, the festival will take place both online and in Breda (The Netherlands). Last year\u2019s event, themed \u2018Growth in UX research,\u2019 focused on growth and development. While this year\u2019s theme (and program) is still being put together, attendees can expect high-quality talks, a diverse panel of guest speakers, and abundant opportunities to engage and network with like-minded UX researchers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

UX Writer Conference<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dates:<\/b> February 21-22, 2023<\/span><\/p>\n

Location:<\/b> Online<\/span><\/p>\n

UX writing is a flourishing discipline<\/span><\/a>, with a growing number of UX writing groups, networks, and events cropping up worldwide. Among them is the <\/span>UX Writer Conference<\/span><\/a>, a two-day virtual event produced by Joe Welinske\u2014who has participated in conferences for tech writers since 1991.<\/span><\/p>\n

The schedule includes talks and workshops from some of the industry\u2019s most talented UX writers, content designers, and strategists; with topics ranging from writing with empathy to breaking into the field. Breakout rooms and virtual one-on-one chats are also built into the schedule, allowing attendees plenty of opportunities to meet fellow writers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Design Thinking Conference<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dates: <\/b>October 12-13, 2023<\/span><\/p>\n

Location: <\/b>Amsterdam, The Netherlands<\/span><\/p>\n

The Design Thinking Conference<\/span><\/a> isn\u2019t your average design conference. The two-day annual event takes on a theatrical format, with actors portraying different scenarios which explore the power of empathy (the first stage in the design thinking process). The event encourages participants to be part of \u2018the Act\u2019 and experience the world through alternate viewpoints; and to disrupt, discuss, and experiment rather than spectate.<\/span><\/p>\n

Between acts, you\u2019ll have the opportunity to network with experts and researchers alike. We guarantee you\u2019ll never attend a UX event like this one!<\/span><\/p>\n

Where to find local UX meetups\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The above list is a snapshot of key UX meetups and events happening around the world\u2014but it\u2019s by no means an exhaustive list. It\u2019s just as valuable to attend smaller, more local meetups as it is to invest in a ticket to global conferences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll still expand your network\u2014but with the added benefit of grabbing a local coffee with your new contacts, without worrying about Zoom fatigue or clashing time zones.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The good news is that there are tonnes of ways to discover meetups, groups, and events happening both in-person and online in your local stomping ground.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Start by signing up to websites like:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n