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UXer & Developer Hangout

by EJ Makela and Sebrinia Welch | at Minnebar 19 | 3:50 – 4:30 in Discovery | View Schedule

Since the beginning of the year, a group of folks with an interest in the disciplines of both user experience and development have been meeting up online. In addition to socializing, we've been pondering what sort of activities we could engage in and offer to the community.

Our next meetup was due to happen during Minnebar, so the main organizer decided to simply hold an in-person gathering at the unconference itself.

There is no formal agenda for this hangout. It's mostly a chance for people to do some casual networking. Some of us may also share some of the things we've been working on, such as a skill-share series set to launch around summertime. This gathering is open to everyone, so feel free to join us!

Why UX & Development???

There's a very vibrant tech community in the Twin Cities, and thus a lot of overlap and opportunities for cross-pollination. In addition to exposing new UXers to the development side of things — seasoned developers, especially the old-timers, often practice UX already.

All levels

EJ Makela

EJ is a career-switcher, trying to land his first paid gig in the area of experience design (service design, UX, IxD, etc.).

With a long background in customer service, education, and IT-oriented roles, EJ also spends a lot of his time engaging in community-building and other volunteer work. He nerds-out on anything related to design or process. Currently, he's a local leader for the Interaction Design Foundation (IxDF) and the webinar coordinator for UXPA International.

At Minnebar 18 (2024), EJ was shocked when 30+ folks attended a humble UX meetup that he had organized. He also volunteered at the all-day UX Office Hours session, and he's doing it again for 2025. Stop by if you want to talk about your tech project or idea!

His nickname is "Johnny," and he usually finds it odd to speak in the third person.

Links:

Sebrinia Welch

With a background in psychology and over a decade in education, Sebrinia has always been driven by a desire to understand people and help them thrive. After transitioning from her role as a school counselor, she explored digital marketing and website creation for small businesses and nonprofits—quickly discovering a love for visual storytelling and the power of design to elevate meaningful work.

What began as a creative pivot soon turned into a passion for designing thoughtful, user-first digital experiences. She’s now a UI Designer at 4Site Studios, a digital agency that creates custom tech solutions for nonprofits and mission-driven organizations. There, she enjoys helping bring meaningful stories to life through design that’s both visually compelling and purpose-driven.

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