UX India Conference Review: Great Potential, But Pro Bono Speakers Deserve Better

UX India Conference Review: Great Potential, But Pro Bono Speakers Deserve Better

Ux India Conference Review: Great Potential, But Pro Bono Speakers Deserve Better
Contextual Note: This review reflects the author’s experiences with UX India Conference over several years, including attending in 2017, speaking in 2020 and 2023, and considering an invitation for 2024. Thus the review provided is based on these cumulative experiences and is not specific to any single year of the conference.

With UX India 2024 approaching next month, it’s crucial to examine what this major UX design conference in India offers and at what cost. As a key program of the UMO Design Foundation (UMO), UX India aims to inspire and drive design-led social transformation, earning praise for its commitment to advancing design education and community growth. It’s a great platform for networking with like-minded professionals, getting to know industry trends, and gauging how the future generation holds UX design in high regard. However, despite its notable achievements, there are ongoing issues on a number of fronts, particularly regarding how it compensates and respects pro bono speakers.

DesignWhine's Verdict
Overall
3.3
  • Organization Background
  • Speaker Credentials
  • Networking Opportunity
  • Logistics, Venue, and Facilities

Summary

UX India remains a significant event in the Indian UX landscape, especially for students and those new to the field. However, for seasoned professionals, the value proposition is diminishing due to organizational shortcomings and a lack of depth in the content offered. While the conference continues to be a good networking platform, the high ticket prices and inadequate treatment of speakers raise concerns about its long-term sustainability and relevance. If you’re considering attending, weigh the pros and cons carefully – particularly if you’re looking for more than just surface-level engagement with UX design.

Pros

Networking Opportunities: A great platform for networking, especially if you’re a student or seeking a job switch.

Credible Keynote Speakers: Keynote speakers often have impressive credentials, bringing valuable insights into the design world.

Diverse Topics: The conference covers a wide range of topics, which can be enlightening for newcomers to the UX field.

Cons

Disorganized Venue Arrangements: Venue management during lunchtimes can be chaotic, often resembling a crowded marketplace.

Treatment of Pro Bono Speakers: The treatment of pro bono speakers by the organizers is disappointing and undermines their contributions.

Superficial Talks: Many talks and workshops lack depth and fail to live up to the expectations set by their ambitious titles.

Underwhelming Goodie Bag: The goodie bags provided are not worth the ticket price, adding to the sense of dissatisfaction.

Expensive Tickets: Ticket prices are quite high, especially considering the value received in return.

Background of UX India Conference

UX India Conference is a flagship program of UMO Design Foundation (UMO), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing design awareness and fostering interaction between designers and design-sensitive consumers. Founded in 2000 by Bapu Kaladhar, UMO Design has established itself as a significant voice in the design community over the past 24 years.

The foundation’s mission is to promote ethical, accessible, and impactful design, driving meaningful change through innovation and collaboration. UX India Conference embodies this philosophy, aiming to inspire and engage through design-driven social change. A very nice thought and mission, indeed!

Event Atmosphere and Setup

A typical UX India conference spans three days and is usually hosted in or around Bangalore, with the exception of 2020 when it was held remotely, like many other events. The days are a mix of workshops, keynote talks, and panel discussions, aiming to cater to a broad audience, from students to seasoned professionals. However, the execution sometimes falls short of expectations. The workshops, while varied, often don’t delve deep enough into the subject matter, leaving participants wanting more. The keynote speeches, although delivered by well-regarded professionals, sometimes feel disconnected from the real challenges faced by UX practitioners in India.

Ux India, A Flagship Program Of Umo Design Foundation (Umo) Founded By Kaladhar Bapu (Source: Ux-India.org)
UX India, a flagship program of UMO Design Foundation (UMO) founded by Kaladhar Bapu (Source: UX-india.org)

Additionally, the scheduling of up to four simultaneous sessions forces attendees to choose one and miss out on the others. While this overlap is common at such events, it could be mitigated by offering fewer, more focused sessions that prioritize quality over quantity.

The venue, typically a large convention center or a star hotel, is usually well-appointed but struggles with crowd management, especially during peak times like lunch breaks. The lack of clear directions and crowd control leads to a chaotic atmosphere, which can be overwhelming for attendees. This disorganization is particularly noticeable in the dining areas, where the quality of the experience significantly diminishes due to overcrowding and long waits for food.

Speakers Credentials and Topics

Talking about speaker credentials, while the lineup of keynote speakers often includes industry veterans and academic experts, the content delivered doesn’t always meet the mark. The talks and workshops tend to skim the surface of topics rather than providing actionable insights or deep dives into complex issues. This is a recurring complaint from attendees who expect more substantial content from an event of this scale. The titles of the sessions are often grandiose, but the actual content feels underwhelming, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction among more experienced professionals.

One such notable example from the 2023 conference is Katrina Alcorn’s workshop on the intersection of artificial intelligence and user experience (AI and UX) titled, “Teaching AI to Work with Humans”. While the topic is undeniably relevant and critical in today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, the workshop received significant criticism for its lack of depth and comprehensive analysis. Attendees expressed disappointment. Many had anticipated a more rigorous exploration of the subject, including practical applications and case studies, but instead found the session to be somewhat superficial and lacking in actionable takeaways.

Similarly, Andrew Pendleton’s keynote address in UX India 2023, delivered in his capacity as the Director of Design Systems at Verizon, raised eyebrows among participants. Rather than providing a thought-provoking exploration of design systems and their implications for the industry in a talk titled “Elevating User Experience through Design Systems”, the presentation felt more like a promotional pitch for Verizon’s services and products.

This shift in focus led to concerns about the influence of corporate sponsorship on the integrity of the conference content. Attendees began to question whether the financial backing from large corporations was compromising the quality of the sessions, potentially prioritizing marketing messages over genuine educational value.

Treatment of Pro Bono Speakers

At DesignWhine, we’ve previously highlighted the unfair practice of engaging pro bono speakers without proper recognition or compensation. UX India exemplifies this issue, where speakers who generously offer their time and expertise receive neither financial remuneration nor adequate acknowledgment, raising serious concerns about the event’s ethics and its respect for the design community.

For instance, selected speakers are not provided with remuneration, travel, or logistical support, often being invited under the pretext of gaining industry exposure. While this may appeal to first-time speakers, it represents a negative return on investment for more seasoned professionals. Adding to this, speakers are assigned rooms or stages seemingly at random, with some experienced speakers relegated to small halls while first-time speakers are given larger auditoriums. This lack of consideration for both speaker experience and audience interest results in poorly matched venues for the talks.

In the case of UX India 2024, some selected speakers were assigned student-only audiences and given a one-day pass for the days when students were attending, rather than the full conference access they anticipated. This diminishes the value of their contributions and reflects a lack of respect from the organizers.

This issue has become a sore point in the UX design industry, especially given the contrast with the high ticket prices charged to attendees. It leads one to wonder if the profits are being funneled into securing international keynote speakers, who likely command substantial fees along with travel and accommodation expenses.

Networking Opportunity

One of the standout aspects of UX India conferences is the opportunity to connect with industry professionals. Attendees are approachable, and it’s easy to strike up conversations about their work, experiences, and insights into the industry. While some connections might be short-lived, the event offers valuable glimpses into current trends and projects, keeping you plugged into the design community.

Networking here is vibrant, with many participants active on LinkedIn and quick to exchange contact information. You’ll encounter numerous salespeople from various design organizations eager to share their business cards and introduce their products. The conference also features booths from both established brands and emerging companies, showcasing new products and innovations.

This networking environment is especially beneficial for those looking to advance their careers or students seeking to make industry connections for internships and job opportunities.

Ticket Prices: Bang for the Buck?

The ticket prices for UX India 2024 can be steep if you’re buying individually. For a single day access pass starting at ₹5,498, you get entry to the Grand Conference, keynotes, panels, the expo, and networking opportunities. A two-day pass, priced from ₹7,999, includes everything in the one-day pass plus additional workshops, the Academic Summit, and a job fair. The three-day pass, starting at ₹23,998, offers comprehensive access including all workshops and summits, while the four-day all-access pass at ₹26,998 covers the full spectrum of events, from keynotes to mentorship sessions.

If you can arrange for your company or organization to sponsor your attendance, it might justify the expense, especially if networking is a primary goal. However, don’t expect much from the goodie bag—it’ll likely be a basic tote with a T-shirt, notepad, and pen. Lunches and dinners are standard fare, adding little to the overall experience. The real value lies in the networking and professional connections you can make, which could make the investment worthwhile if that aligns with your goals.

Conclusion

UX India remains a key event for students and newcomers in the Indian UX scene, but its value for seasoned professionals is declining due to shallow content and organizational flaws. While it offers decent networking opportunities, high ticket prices and poor treatment of speakers cast doubt on its long-term relevance. Consider the pros and cons carefully, especially if you’re seeking more than just a surface-level experience.

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Written by
Rajat Agarwal
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