Bridging the UX Learning Gap
In the fast-paced world of UX design, professionals often struggle to find affordable, relatable spaces to learn and connect. The Encontrinho de UX was born out of a desire to build a community where designers of all levels could share knowledge, tackle real-world challenges, and grow together—without the barriers of formal conferences or rigid structures.
Crafting the Experience: A Tale of Two Sessions
Session 1: "Sell Your Story, Not Just Your Work"
This session tackled a common UX dilemma: how to tell your story effectively. Using the “Why, What, How” framework, participants learned how to:
Pinpoint the heart of a design challenge.
Highlight their unique role in solving it.
Craft case studies that resonate emotionally and intellectually.
Through interactive exercises, designers broke down their portfolio projects into compelling narratives, turning technical achievements into human-centered stories.
Session 2: "Designing for Dollars: Who’s Really in Control?"
Personal finance might not seem glamorous, but it’s a design goldmine. This session guided participants through:
Uncovering pain points in everyday money management.
Brainstorming UX solutions that empower financial decision-making.
Applying design principles to create tools that are accessible, clear, and genuinely helpful.
Participants dove into brainstorming apps that addressed real-life issues, like budget tracking and debt management, with user empowerment at the core.
The Magic Ingredients: What Made It Work
Community-Centered Design
Every decision, from the topics to the structure, was based on real feedback from the UX community. This wasn’t about lecturing; it was about co-creation.
Hands-On Learning
The exercises weren’t hypothetical—they were grounded in the challenges participants faced in their work. Designers were left with frameworks they could use the next day.
Hybrid Access
Live sessions were engaging, and recorded versions allowed everyone, even those unable to attend, to learn at their own pace.
Results: A Growing UX Ecosystem
The Encontrinho de UX proved to be more than just a meetup—it became a movement. Attendees reported feeling more confident in their storytelling skills and inspired to tackle complex challenges like personal finance design. The sessions fostered a sense of belonging, and the hybrid format ensured that its impact extended far beyond the live audience.
Lessons in Leadership: Designing for Designers
From a product design leadership perspective, Encontrinho de UX showcased how to lead by empowering others.
Empathy in Design Education: Understand your “users” (in this case, UX professionals) and create content that solves their pain points.
Scaling Inclusivity: Hybrid formats make knowledge-sharing accessible to a broader audience, ensuring that everyone benefits.
Building for the Future: Community-driven initiatives have a compounding effect, creating networks that inspire ongoing collaboration and growth.
Encontrinho de UX didn’t just teach UX—it modeled it. By embracing user-centric principles, it showed that great design isn’t just about solving problems; it’s about building a community where everyone thrives.
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