Rory Southworth at #mex15

Rory’s skill lies in mastering complex processes from the cutting edge of user research and translating the techniques into concise, usable lessons. In addition to his broad personal design interests, his position at the intersection of academia and industry makes him an ideal choice to keep the MEX community up-to-speed on the latest ways of understanding user behaviour.

The diversity of participation at MEX is one of its defining characteristics, ensuring each event is enriched by differing views from skilled design practitioners and researchers to commercial managers and start-up founders. However, it also presents us with a challenge: communicating user-centred techniques and ideas useful to all those different backgrounds.

Rory is leading our efforts on this at MEX in March 2015, combining his experience advising start-ups and established brands on research processes with his academic interests at the University of Central Lancashire’s Innovation Clinic. He has designed a series of 15 minute ‘lightening sessions’, delivered at intervals throughout the two days of MEX, to give every participant a set of research insights they can take back and start applying in their own roles, whether they’re a start-up founder just getting to grips with user-centred processes or an experienced researcher looking for an update on the latest experimental techniques from universities.

Rory (@rorysouthworth) was introduced to the MEX community through our long-standing partnership with Brunel University, where final year design and engineering students are paired with MEX facilitators to help run the creative sessions at each MEX event. He went on to host a fascinating Pecha Kucha evening of design talks at the June 2014 Made In Brunel event, including one by MEX co-host Andrew Muir Wood. I’m delighted to welcome him back as a speaker.

Details and tickets for MEX: pmn.co.uk/mex/.