Refresh 009 — Fresh Perspectives

Posted Jun 27, 2008   |   1 Comments   |   by pcrump

Location TBD — Thurs, Jul 24, 2008, 6:30-8:00PM

As we’re trying to do once each quarter, we’ll take a break from the formal presentations this month to have a group share. We’ll take 30-45 minutes to geek out on some of the latest web industry news and share some personal favorites, valuable secrets, tips, tools, or whatever you feel could benefit the group.

Come ready to share anything you’d like — a headline or news item, a site, a tool, a snippet of code, a device, a book excerpt — anything large or small that you feel is current and elevates our web knowledge. And don’t think it has to be entirely unique (as in no one else knows about it already), it’ll kill the vibe. Just come with something that you know has been valuable/noteworthy to you, and don’t over-think it. It can be as quick as sharing a URL and a sentence about why we should visit the site. Or it can be as long as 5 minutes in a text editor demonstrating a few lines of code.

So stop for a few minutes before you head out and think of something to share. Do that, come relaxed, and the results will be sweet. See you there.  ... more

Filed under: Refresh Events

Refresh 008 Recap

Posted Jun 27, 2008   |   1 Comments   |   by Emily Bloom

Thanks to everyone who came out last night to watch and discuss the webinar from Jared Spool. We drew a small crowd by the usual standards (about 17 people attended), but our discussion afterwards was Refresh at its finest.  If you were there and you learned something or shared something, feel free to leave a comment.

Mindy Wagner wrote up a recap of the meeting and we posted photos on Flickr. We’re looking forward to seeing you next month on July 22nd. We’re looking for a host / sponsor - let us know if you’d be up for it.

Filed under: General Discussion

A Great Opportunity for a Great Designer

Posted Jun 26, 2008   |   Comments disabled   |   by Rick DeNatale

Overview
You understand beauty. You care about both form and function.  You understand the power and possibility of AJAX technologies to make a web experience that is dynamic and compelling. You are comfortable in Photoshop but also in the guts of CSS and HTML. You might even know Javascript and frameworks like Ruby on Rails.

Come join our product team in RTP. We’re using cutting edge technologies on a leading Web 2.0 collaborative community site. We have a dynamic start-up environment with proven leadership and established market traction. Help shape the future of the web together ... more

Filed under: Jobs

Information Architect/ UE Specialist

Posted Jun 25, 2008   |   0 Comments   |   by cjsnicolls

Information Architect. Web Strategist. Usability Pro. Client Champion. Could all of these be in your title? If so, you could be the one to help grow the User Experience practice of Ironworks Consulting’s Cary office ... more

Filed under: Jobs

Refresh 008 — UIE’s Strike Up the Brand

Posted May 23, 2008   |   10 Comments   |   by pcrump

Location: Durham, NC — Thurs, June 26, 2008, 6:30-8:00PM
In this virtual presentation, Jared M. Spool, User Interface Engineering’s Founder, will discuss UIE’s recent usability research into how people perceive brands on the internet and how teams can ensure their designs strengthen each user’s relationship with the brand. You will learn:

• The two important outcomes of branding efforts—affinity and dispositional returns—and why designers need to understand how these work
• Why ‘message’ branding doesn’t strengthen engagement, but ‘experience’ branding does
• The important role that user experience research plays in the design process for branding
• How measuring brand engagement can show the effects of a design

In his presentation, Jared will show how Amazon, Walmart, Ford, Apple, and Netflix have attempted to increase their users’ brand engagement ... more

Filed under: Refresh Events

Refresh 007 Recap

Posted May 23, 2008   |   0 Comments   |   by Emily Bloom

Refresh 007 was a big hit! Stuart Halloway was highly engaging and his presentation, “Ending Legacy Code in Our Lifetime,” gave everyone lots to talk about - not just the developers, but the designers and “others,” too.  Stuart’s slides are available, and I know of at least one recap of the event.

Many thanks to Stuart for being our speaker. We’re also grateful to the West End Wine Bar - they let us have their downstairs, The Cellar, all to ourselves at no charge.  The ceilings were low, but the vibe was great. I think everyone had a lot of fun. 

Photos are on flickr.  See you next month!

Filed under: Refresh Events

Designer, Developer, and Writer, Oh my

Posted May 14, 2008   |   0 Comments   |   by bart

The DukeHealth.org team is looking for a Web: designer, developer, and writer.  Follow the links for more details.

Filed under: Jobs

Refresh 007 — Ending Legacy Code In Our Lifetime

Posted May 07, 2008   |   0 Comments   |   by pcrump

Location: The Cellar — Thurs, May 22, 2008, 6:30-8:00PM

Most software developers don’t have an exact definition of legacy code, but to paraphrase Potter Stewart, they “know it when they see it.” Unfortunately, legacy code has something else in common with Stewart’s famous subject — it is embarrassingly ubiquitous.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Stuart Halloway, CEO of Relevance, will share:

• A better definition of legacy.
• How existing technologies and development practices guarantee that most code will slide into legacy immediately.
• How you can stave off legacy by writing low-ceremony, essential code.

Agility can be done right. By respecting the dynamic, living nature of software/human systems, you can create systems that evolve to meet changing needs ... more

Filed under: Refresh Events

006 Meeting Recap

Posted Apr 28, 2008   |   0 Comments   |   by David Eisinger

Refresh 006 was a major success. Nathan Huening from OnWired gave a great talk called “Dr. jQuery (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the DOM),” and his passion for the material was evident. In a series of increasingly complex examples, Nathan showed off the power and simplicity of the jQuery JavaScript library. He demonstrated that most of jQuery can be reduced to “grab things, do stuff,” starting with simple CSS modifications and moving to AJAX, animation, and custom functionality ... more

Filed under: Refresh Events, Sponsors

WANTED: Best Web Designer in the RTP

Posted Apr 15, 2008   |   0 Comments   |   by onwired

We’re Looking for the Best Web Designer in Town
Are you passionate about pushing pixels? Are you a typographic genius? Do you always design on a grid? Can you produce gallery-worthy designs in a variety of styles ... more

Filed under: Jobs

Refresh 006 — Dr jQuery (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the DOM)

Posted Apr 01, 2008   |   2 Comments   |   by pcrump

Durham, NC — Thurs, Apr 24, 2008, 6:30-8:00PM

The web isn’t what it used to be: with advanced browsers and powerful Javascript frameworks like jQuery, websites deliver user experiences that rival those of traditional desktop software. Nathan Huening, Director of Web Development at OnWired, will share the nuts and bolts of jQuery and how you can use it to build rich, professional interfaces. It’s easy! No programming experience required ... and feel free to bring your laptop since you can expect live, hands-on examples. To participate, you’ll need a copy of Firefox with the Firebug extension installed ... more

Filed under: Refresh Events

005 Meeting Recap

Posted Mar 28, 2008   |   0 Comments   |   by pcrump

The laid back, free-form approach to the meeting was sincerely enjoyable and on spot. Thanks to Ogilvy and specifically to Callie, Noah, Chris, and Kendall for making it all happen. If you missed the meeting but have the chance later, make a reason to head over to Ogilvy for a visit — awesome people, immaculate space, and a ton of engaging work. There was no lack of sharing either — thanks to everyone for being plugged in and willing to speak up. If you’re looking to catch up on what went on, here’s the flow ... more

Filed under: Refresh Events, Sponsors

Refresh 005 — Kick Back, Freshen Up

Posted Mar 06, 2008   |   4 Comments   |   by pcrump

Durham, NC — Thurs, Mar 27, 2008, 6:30-8:00PM

For various reasons, we’ll take a break from the formal presentations this month. Come on out to Ogilvy where we’ll socialize a bit more than usual, eat, drink, and share. Share what? We’ll take 30-45 minutes to geek out on some of the latest web industry news and share some personal favorites, well kept secrets, tips, tools, or whatever you feel could benefit the group.

Come ready to share anything you’d like — a headline or news item, a site, a tool, a snippet of code, a device, a book excerpt — anything large or small that you feel is current and elevates our web knowledge. And don’t think it has to be entirely unique (as in no one else knows about it already), it’ll kill the vibe. Just come with something that you know has been valuable/noteworthy to you, and don’t over-think it. It can be as quick as sharing a URL and a sentence about why we should visit the site. Or it can be as long as 5 minutes in a text editor demonstrating a few lines of code.

So stop for a few minutes before you head out and think of something to share. Do that, come relaxed, and the results will be sweet. See you there.
... more

Filed under: Refresh Events

Refresh 004 — Justifying Design

Posted Jan 25, 2008   |   4 Comments   |   by pcrump

Durham, NC — Thurs, Feb 28, 2008, 6:30-8:00PM

Great design requires every design decision to be rationalized and justified. Explore the design process of great designers and discover tools and techniques to justify your own work.

Rob Goodlatte is an award-winning interactive designer and developer. Currently an undergraduate at Duke, his short design career has included work for Disney, Microsoft, and Stanford University. After graduation, he will be joining Facebook as a product designer ... more

Filed under: Refresh Events

003 Meeting Recap

Posted Jan 25, 2008   |   0 Comments   |   by Emily Bloom

Last night we gathered at Bronto’s inspiring office for our first “Lightning Sessions” meeting. If you missed it, you should check out the flickr photos and Wayne’s video. Attendance was awesome as the Refresh momentum continues to build - we had about 35 people come out.  The Lightning Sessions approach was successful - presentation links are below. We hope to do Lightning Sessions about 4 times per year, but we have some ideas for improving the model next time around ... more

Filed under: Refresh Events

Refresh 003 — Lightning Sessions

Posted Dec 10, 2007   |   15 Comments   |   by pcrump

Durham, NC — Thurs, Jan 24, 2008, 6:30-8:00PM

Starting in 2008, we’ll be using the first monthly meeting of each quarter for “lightning sessions”. Think of this meeting type as a 1.5 hour BarCamp or similar event where members shape the outcome, and the approach toward sharing and discussing is rapid fire. The meeting will consist of 5 predetermined presenters each facilitating a 10 minute lightning session on a predetermined topic. Topics will be a mix of web design, dev, and technology. So for the January meeting, we’re looking for 5 topics and 5 presenters. Please share comments on topic ideas and/or express your willingness to lead a session ... more

Filed under: Refresh Events, Announcements

New Refresh Site Calendar

Posted Dec 10, 2007   |   0 Comments   |   by pcrump

Refresh has now switched over to using the SocialCarolina.org calendar as our event calendar, so update your XML or iCal subscriptions. Feed URLs are found at the top of the calendar page.

Filed under: General Discussion, Announcements

002 Meeting Recap

Posted Dec 07, 2007   |   0 Comments   |   by Emily Bloom

Last night’s meeting may go down in RTT history as the most amusing talk ever.  Clinton R. Nixon has a knack for not just explaining web app security vulnerabilities and solutions, but for doing so with humor and flare.  We had about 30 people in attendance and another 5 or 6 following live on ustream.tv.  If you missed the talk, you can watch the video or check out the photos ... more

Filed under: Refresh Events

MySQL Presentation by Jay Pipes

Posted Nov 27, 2007   |   1 Comments   |   by Michael Kimsal

Jay Pipes from MySQL will be speaking at the next PHP/MySQL group meeting on December 12 in Durham ... more

Filed under: Local Groups, Speakers, Announcements

SocialCarolina.org Launched

Posted Nov 20, 2007   |   0 Comments   |   by pcrump

Events about technology of some kind happening in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill area of North Carolina. Check it out at socialcarolina.org.

Filed under: General Discussion, Industry Events, Local Groups, Announcements

Refresh 002 — Fortified Web Projects: Fundamentals for Security

Posted Oct 26, 2007   |   0 Comments   |   by pcrump

Durham, NC — Thurs, Dec 6, 2007, 6:30-8:00PM

Clinton Nixon will share a high level view of common security risks and suggest some very practical approaches for protection. Clinton is a enthusiast for test-driven development, esoteric computer languages, and kittens. He serves humbly as a senior web developer at Viget Labs ... more

Filed under: General Discussion, Refresh Events, Industry Events

001 Meeting Recap

Posted Oct 25, 2007   |   1 Comments   |   by Emily Bloom

Thanks to everyone who came to the first meeting. I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.  About 28 people came out in the rain to hear Jackson’s talk and share in the conversation.  From our informal poll, it seemed that a little more than half of us are developers, a little less than half are designers, and a solid handful of us identify as “in between.” This is exactly the kind of mix we’re going for at Refresh, so we’re off to an exciting start.  We created a flickr account and posted some photos from the first meeting ... more

Filed under: Refresh Events

World Usability Day 2007

Posted Oct 18, 2007   |   0 Comments   |   by pcrump

Durham, NC — Nov 8, 2007, 6:00-9:00pm
Join UX professionals from around the Triangle area for an Interactionary (a live design competition), keynote speech, food, drink, and fun! More at www.triupa.org.

Filed under: Industry Events

Ready to be Refreshed

Posted Oct 18, 2007   |   0 Comments   |   by Emily Bloom

We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone on the 25th.  We (at Viget Labs) are sponsoring this month’s gathering, so we’re providing refreshments and hosting the event at our office (908 W. Main Street, across from Brightleaf Square).  I don’t think parking will be a problem ... more

Filed under: General Discussion

RubyConf 2007

Posted Oct 15, 2007   |   0 Comments   |   by pcrump

Charlotte, NC—Nov 2-4, 2007
We hope you’re as excited as we are by the schedule for RubyConf 2007. This year’s event will be even bigger than last year’s, and for the first time in the history of RubyConf we’ve made some changes to the event format. More at http://www.rubyconf.org.

Filed under: Industry Events

Chapel Hill Startup Weekend

Posted Oct 12, 2007   |   2 Comments   |   by pcrump

Chapel Hill, NC—Nov 2-4, 2007
Startup Weekend is an idea, an experiment, a chance gather the tech community and create a company over one jam packed weekend. More at http://chapelhill.startupweekend.com/.

Filed under: Industry Events

Triangle PHP Users Group (TriPUG)

Posted Oct 11, 2007   |   0 Comments   |   by pcrump

A local PHP group founded by David Rasch. Consistent and valuable monthly meetings. More at http://www.tripug.org/.

Filed under: Local Groups

Raleigh.rb October Meetup

Posted Oct 10, 2007   |   0 Comments   |   by pcrump

Raleigh, NC—Oct 16, 2007, 7:00pm
Clinton Nixon will be sharing some Rails goodness with us this month: Building Applications as Plugins. More at http://ruby.meetup.com/3/calendar/6385025/.

Filed under: Industry Events

The Raleigh-area Ruby Brigade (raleigh.rb)

Posted Oct 10, 2007   |   0 Comments   |   by pcrump

Like the Ruby programming language? We do too! Want to learn more about it? You’re in good company. Come join us in our pursuit of humane programming. Check out raleigh.rb.

Filed under: Local Groups

Triangle User Experience (TriUX) and Triangle Usability Professionals Association (TriUPA)

Posted Oct 02, 2007   |   0 Comments   |   by pcrump

TriUX.org is a blog that provides a central source for user experience-related events, organizations, and information in the Research Triangle Park (North Carolina, USA) area.
... more

Filed under: Local Groups

Raleigh-Durham Web Design & Mark-Up Group

Posted Sep 24, 2007   |   6 Comments   |   by Emily Bloom

Raleigh, NC—Oct 9, 2007, 7:30pm
Check out the topic and location for this month: http://webdesign.meetup.com/36/calendar/6340480/
This group appears to be pretty active and has a reliable monthly meeting. I’m hoping to make it this month for the first time. Is anyone else a member of this group or planning to attend this month’s meeting?

Filed under: Industry Events

Raleigh-Durham Web Design & Mark-Up Group

Posted Aug 20, 2007   |   0 Comments   |   by Emily Bloom

This Meet-Up group includes Freelancers, Entrepreneurs, “Back-end” Developers, Web & Graphic Designers, IT professionals, your average person who wants to create a Web site. We like to network, give presentations about our specialized areas, and enjoy ourselves ... more

Filed under: Industry Events, Local Groups

Converge South

Posted Aug 15, 2007   |   0 Comments   |   by pcrump

Greensboro, NC—October 19-20, 2007
ConvergeSouth is a dynamic, interactive and truly unique conference. Through a hands-on leader-led approach, this year’s ConvergeSouth focuses on dialogue and participation. The people formerly known as the audience become discussion leaders. Everyone joins in, as panelists and leaders encourage an exchange of ideas, tools and best practices. The conference promotes ongoing conversation online and in real-life ... more

Filed under: Industry Events

Rails Rumble

Posted Aug 14, 2007   |   0 Comments   |   by pcrump

September 8-9, 2007
The concept is simple: you and your team get 48 hours to design, develop, and deploy a web application from scratch. After those 48 hours are up, you’ll be judged by the community through a peer-ranking system in a variety of categories ... more

Filed under: Industry Events

User Experience Week 2007

Posted Jul 30, 2007   |   0 Comments   |   by pcrump

Washington, DC—August 13-16, 2007
Under the guidance of experienced practitioners from Adaptive Path and other top companies, this four-day conference introduces user experience practitioners to new rich internet application design approaches, practical prototyping techniques, effective cross-organization communications strategies and more ... more

Filed under: Industry Events

Refresh 001 — Building User-Centered Web Apps in a Crunch

Posted Jul 26, 2007   |   0 Comments   |   by pcrump

Durham, NC — Thurs, Oct 25, 2007, 6:30-8:00PM

Jackson Fox is a User Experience Engineer at Lulu.com, and a graduate student in Information & Library Science at UNC Chapel Hill. He is responsible for the community and marketplace functionality on Lulu.com, and is currently learning why MySpace is definitely not a “platform.” He and his wife live in Durham ... more

Filed under: General Discussion, Refresh Events, Industry Events

BarCampRDU

Posted Jul 26, 2007   |   0 Comments   |   by pcrump

Raleigh, NC—August 4, 2007
A Bar Camp is an unconference where people interested in a wide range of technologies come together to teach and learn. Unfamiliar with the un-conference format? Here’s the idea in a nutshell. Rather than having scheduled speakers, everyone pitches sessions the morning of the BarCamp. Those sessions are put on a schedule, and lots of little groups form for intense group learning. Everyone is expected to teach, to talk, to participate. Yeah, its different from a regular conference - but it works ... more

Filed under: Industry Events

Refresh Event, Speaker, and Topic Feedback and Suggestions

Posted Jul 25, 2007   |   1 Comments   |   by pcrump

It’s understood that Refresh the Triangle is only as good as the involvement of its members, and that the group dynamic is a bit unique in that it strives to appeal to designers and developers alike. As we try to strike the right balance and take a very forward-thinking approach toward our meetings and topics, ideas and feedback are crucial.

Filed under: General Discussion