On 14 November 2024, it was that time again: for the eighth consecutive year, our WUD Leipzig took place – once more at the impressive Paulinum of the University, right on Augustusplatz. Under the theme "Designing for a Better World", professionals, students, and enthusiasts gathered to discuss the role of user-centred design in shaping a sustainable and inclusive future. With nearly 200 participants, we surpassed our previous record this year.
The day began successfully with a welcome address by our moderation team and our CEO, Artur Schiefer, followed by greetings from Jana Hinze, a representative of the German UPA. Richard Bretschneider then kicked off the thematic part of the event with his keynote, "All Creatives Are Doomed – GenAI Wins." Combining humour and expertise, he explored the impacts of generative AI on professions within the music industry.
Throughout the day, six engaging talks provided diverse perspectives on the event's theme. Danny Hucke and Tina Marschner (IT Sonix) presented an exciting experiment in "Replace Me If You Can": as a software developer and a UX designer, they competed to develop an end-to-end web application – a mood tracker – using AI tools. They complemented their presentation with the afternoon workshop, "Hands-On AI", offering practical insights into the technologies employed.
After a brief coffee break, Dominique Winter (Produktwerker) delivered a talk titled "From Chatbots to Friends", illustrating how conversational AIs can build emotional connections with users through politeness and personalisation, thereby fostering successful products. Next, Ravi Kanth Kosuru (Fraunhofer IAO) took the audience into the realm of brain-body interaction, showcasing how neurophysiological interfaces enable more inclusive technologies that support individuals with diverse abilities in daily life and work.
Simultaneously, the first workshop of the day took place: "UX Writing", moderated by Birgit Horn (InVision), introduced participants to the principles of impactful writing for interfaces to enhance usability sustainably.
After a delightful lunch break – with culinary delights provided by our caterer Rasselbock – the afternoon brought fresh insights. Oliver Singler from Bauhaus University Weimar demonstrated how human factors serve as the key to equitable and safe traffic systems. Following this, Margarita Osipova and Urszula Kulon, also from Bauhaus University Weimar, delved into women’s safety in smart cities and the representation of women’s body images on e-commerce platforms.
Holm Hänsel (Jambit) concluded the lecture series with "Generative UI," illustrating how algorithms can create and dynamically adapt interfaces to user needs automatically.
A highlight of this year’s WUD Leipzig was our collaboration with SyncWords, an AI-powered translation tool. This innovation provided real-time audio and text translations of the talks, ensuring accessible participation and fostering dialogue among attendees.
The successful day concluded with open networking over coffee and sweet treats, sparking animated discussions and new connections. Our heartfelt thanks go out to all contributors, speakers, and sponsors whose support made the eighth WUD Leipzig a success. We look forward to continuing to shape the future of user-centred design together.