Like gesture and speech, language and design together form an integrated experience. Written and spoken language affect the way we think, perceive, and behave belying a deep and influential relationship between words, thought, and action. As designers, we can and should ask ourselves key human-centered questions that inform the design process and the language that tells (and sells) the story.
 
We explore several considerations that frame the role of language in design through vibrant, sometimes controversial, examples, demonstrating that words matter. Understanding the impact that the purposeful integration of language and design can have on the user’s experience and resultant behavior makes us more thoughtful, influential practitioners.
 
Key takeaways for Action Designers:
 
A view into the behavioral science and research illustrating the important connection between language, thought, and action and why words matter
 
An increased awareness of and sensitivity to the importance of language in design…
 
…and its role in the design process
 
The products and experiences we create for users are richer, more accessible, more usable, and more powerful when design and language are developed in tandem.
 
ABOUT OUR SPEAKER
 
Emily Richter
Emily moved from Los Angeles to rural Missouri and then to Chicago, which gave her a unique and slightly off-beat perspective on people and life. She obtained her BA in anthropology and archaeology at Washington University and received a Master’s degree in social science at the University of Chicago.
 
Emily worked in not-for-profit and research at the Field Museum and the Chicago Botanic Garden before pursuing a passion in education. She became a teacher and mentor, collected another MA, had a trio of kids, and now has found her life’s work as a co-founder at word. combining fresh sociocultural perspective with impactful storytelling and deep human insight. She is passionate about communication and empowering people to express themselves in authentic and meaningful ways. Food and reading and music occupy the rest of her brainspace, in that order.
 
Bari Wieselman Schulman, PhD
Bari is a social scientist, designer, and writer with deep experience in human-centered research and design. Her high-intensity creative and analytical mind and keen sensitivity to cultures, trends, and worldviews fueled leadership roles at e-Lab / Sapient, Insight Product Development, Razorfish, Panorama Innovation, and thinkMAGENTA.
 
It is her deep-seated passion for creative expression, the power of words, and wrangling complexity that have led her to co-found word., where she creates compelling human-centered solutions and language-centered designs.
 
Bari earned her doctorate in developmental psychology from the University of Chicago, and a dual Bachelor of Arts in psychology and Spanish from the University of Rochester. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband and two children. They are foodies, readers, photographers, explorers, and Real Madrid fans.
 
Keep up with word. at:
 
twitter: https://twitter.com/wickedwordassoc
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wickedwordassociation/
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wickedwordassociation/
linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/company/word./
website: https://wickedwordassociation.com
 
@wickedwordassoc – twitter
@word – instagram