In 2014 I’m combining my love for fika, cafes and UX into practical, hands on learning sessions in inspiring places.
As the importance of User Experience (UX), its role within a company and for product development has become more recognised, the need for UX skills have also grown. I’ve noticed it in who attends my workshops, through the questions I’m asked and the inquires I’m getting, as well as with the companies that I work with. As a result I’ve broadened the workshops that I run and increased the mentoring sessions and in house training that I do. And over the last year in particular I’ve come to realise just how much I enjoy it.
The idea behind UX fika
There is something very special about working with others and being able to pass on what you’ve learnt. Through UX fika I’m hoping to do more of that. For anyone who knows me or have come across this site, you’ll know what a lover of cafes and a big advocate of fika I am. Combine that with my love for running workshops and do talks and you have UX fika.
The main UX fika will be monthly talks and workshops run in – yes, you guest it – cafes. I will also run other types of UX fika to cater for in house training, mentoring and more specific UX training. But I don’t just want it to be about the training. The fika aspect is a really important one too.
In Sweden fika is a way of living. We do it at home, in the office and meet up in town for a fika with friends and family outside of work. Fika is a way of socialising and a scheduled fika in the work place can be something to look forward to. A place to meet away from your desk and chat to colleagues that you may sit further away from. It’s an informal way to catch up that can both boost morale and lead to conversations and outcomes that wouldn’t have taken place if people instead had stayed at their desk and drunk their cup of tea or coffee.
As for fika outside of the work place there is something special about walking in and sitting down in a good cafe. It’s full of smells from freshly made food and hot brews. It’s filled with the buzz and sounds from other people and the coffee machine. You can sit in a good cafe for hours, chatting, working and watching people come and go. And research has shown that the noise that you normally find in a cafe can also help your creativity. Not surprising then that some startups, freelancers, writers and people who can work more freely have chosen cafes as their day to day offices.
With UX fika I’ll be partnering with cafes to bring UX training in the form of talks and workshops to inspiring places. I’m in the process of launching the UX fika website and get the first event in place, but until then there is a bit more information on this site and also a twitter account to stay up to date.
I’m really excited about this and look forward to meeting many of you over fika in the new year.
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Image source: Cinnamon buns & a cup of coffee via Shutterstock
