What does a typical UX Camp Hamburg event day look like? Excellent question. Well, it’s never exactly the same… but it’s more or less like this:
Imagine it’s a Saturday. It’s summer. Birds are chirping and… well, you get the picture. You arrive at the UX Camp venue. A small crowd has already gathered in front of the entrance…
09:00 Arrival, coffee, snacks
We start into the day easily: People arrive, check themselves in, get a cup of coffee and a bite to eat, and either enthusiastically greet acquaintances or shyly smile at all the new faces.
09:30 Intro
Everyone sits down. The org team enters the stage, welcomes the crowd, and tells everyone what the agenda looks like. (Hint: It looks pretty much like what you’re looking at right now.)
They then explain how the session planning works: If you like to host a session, you fill out a session card and then get in line. When it’s your turn, you tell everyone what your session is about in 2-3 sentences.
10:00 Session planning
Everyone who wants to host a session presents their topic. Some people come prepared with presentation slides, others have nothing but a question they’d like to discuss. Both (and everything in between) is fine and can make very valuable and interesting sessions.
Tip: Check out this selection of topics from past UX Camps to get an idea of how diverse they are:
10:45 First session block
We usually have five session blocks of 45 minutes each. We ask hosts to talk or present no longer than 30 minutes so there’s at least 15 minutes time for questions and discussions.
For each block, there are 4-5 sessions taking place at the same time, in 4-5 different rooms across the event venue. So you have to pick the one that sounds most interesting to you… and yes, that can be quite hard.
11:45 Second session block
After a 15-minute break where you can get coffee, check the schedule, and find your next room, the second round starts.
Again, you need to pick one of 4-5 sessions… or maybe it’s your turn to host this time?
12:30 Lunch break
After 2 sessions, it’s a good idea to take a longer break and charge up those worn batteries. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy wonderful food and talk to wonderful people, every single one of them just as lovely as you are.
13:45 Third session block
By now, you know the game, right? Which doesn’t mean it gets easier to decide on a session. They all sound so interesting…
14:45 Fourth session block
Same procedure as in the morning: 15-minute break, followed by another session. By now, you’ll probably feel your head spinning… no worries, just one more session block to go.
15:30 Coffee break
We’re going to take 30 minutes to digest all the information and insights we gained during the last two sessions and to get ready for the final round.
16:00 Final session block
This is the fifth session you will participate in. Which means that you will have learned and / or shared insights and thoughts about 5 different UX topics. Well done – you made it!
16:45 Wrap-up
Time to say thanks: to everyone who contributed a topic and hosted a session (we lovingly call those people “sessionados”), to all the volunteers, to our sponsors, to the helping hands of the venue. And then it’s time to call it a wrap.
17:15 Group photo
It’s a good old tradition to end the day with a group photo of all the amazing people who spent an entire day together. Everybody say “Cheeeese”…
18:00 Drinks, anyone?
The official part if over… but usually, there are a couple of people who don’t want to go home quite yet. If you’re one of those people, you’re invited to join our after-show party: We meet somewhere close-by for drinks and snacks and talks and laughs.
The agenda at a glance
So there you have it: This is, more or less, what a UX Camp Hamburg looks like. Here’s a quick overview of everything we just talked about:
09:00 Arrival, coffee, snacks
09:30 Intro
10:00 Session planning
10:45 1st Session
11:45 2nd Session
12:30 Lunch break
13:45 3rd Session
14:45 4th Session
15:30 Coffee break
16:00 5th Session
16:45 Wrap-up
17:15 Group photo
18:00 Drinks, anyone?