Navigating the Highs & Lows of Working in UX
Details
Let’s face it—working in UX isn’t always pixel-perfect. While collaboration, creativity, and impact can be incredibly fulfilling, many UX professionals are also feeling the strain: burnout, role confusion, power struggles, and the quiet fading of UX in some workplaces.
Join us 🗓️ Wednesday, July 30th, 5:30pm PST for an honest, research-informed talk exploring the real experiences of designers today—from the highs of inclusive teamwork to the lows of feeling undervalued or quietly pushed out. Through interviews, surveys, and stories from the field, we’ll unpack:
WHAT WE’LL COVER
🧠 What’s behind the growing sense that UX is being marginalized
💥 How effective communication is crucial, and what happens when it's lacking.
😓 Why burnout is hitting even the most experienced designers
✨ Where allies show up—and how we can support one another
🔧 Tactics to protect your well-being and reignite your passion for the craft
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🕰️ AGENDA (PT):
6:00 pm - Doors Open / Networking
6:15 pm - Opening statements / Announcements
6:30 pm - Presentation
7:00 pm - Audience Q&A
7:30 pm and beyond: Optional post-event networking
8:00 pm - Continued Networking @ Princes Pub
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🅿️ PARKING RECOMMENDATIONS
There is street parking and paid lots around the office. The closest paid lot is the Little Italy Parking Garage. The venue is very close to the Little Italy trolley stop, so you could also park for free at the Old Town Station and trolley in.
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🎤 SPEAKERS
Dawn Ta
During college, Dawn spent her time between classes working at an outreach program that helped disadvantaged high school students get into college. As a first-generation college student herself, this experience sparked her passion for making a meaningful difference through her work. For the last 20 years, she has dedicated herself to making an impact in the health and wellness space, leading teams to create solutions that help those who need the support.
Dawn cares deeply about designing not only for individuals but also for the teams, operations, and cultures that support them. Today, she serves on the board of Scientella, a student-led nonprofit connecting high school girls with STEM opportunities. She is also an Experience Design & Research Director at Ascension, a nonprofit healthcare system, where she shapes service and digital experiences that improve clinical outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Romisa Rohani Ghahari
Romisa is a passionate UX researcher with over five years of mixed-method research experience in the healthcare industry. She has worked with companies like Invetech, ResMed, and Parkview Health to enhance patient engagement with their health and improve user experience and safety of medical devices. Additionally, she has expertise in diverse research areas, including digital information, accessibility, multimodal interaction, and complex information architectures.
Romisa has a PhD in Human-Computer Interaction from Indiana University, Indianapolis and her dissertation was investigating a number of design alternatives, which had the potential to enhance quick scanning through content-rich pages when the time and contextual or physical constraints are at play.
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