Play station
When you think of Vienna, you can’t skip its classical giants – and who better than Johann Strauss to set the tone? That’s why uxcon vienna is teaming up with Johann Straus Museum to bring a playful composition machine where you can craft your own melody and take it home as a download. And because every great performance deserves an encore, they’re also gifting vouchers to their immersive, interactive museum experience – a chance to waltz even deeper into Vienna’s musical soul.
The Game Development Strategy Guide: Crafting Modern Video Games That Thrive by CHeryl Platz, kindly sponsored by Rosenfeld Media, is a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary look at how successful video games are built and sustained. It covers everything from player motivation and UX design to business models, development processes, monetization strategies, and failure modes. The book is aimed at a wide audience, including aspiring and veteran developers, UX designers, producers, and nontechnical partners, and it seeks to provide a shared language and strategic lens for understanding the challenges and decision points in game development.
Stop Wasting Research: Maximize the Product Impact of Your Organization's Customer Insights by Jake Burghardt, sponsored by Rosenfeld Media, argues that many organizations gather valuable customer research which ultimately goes unused or underleveraged. Burghardt digs into the root causes of this “research waste”: from siloed teams and disconnected repositories to unclear decision logic. He offers actionable frameworks and tools to make research integral to product planning, including consolidating insights, improving collaboration, structuring research repositories, and linking insights to decision points. Intended for researchers, product leaders, designers, and analysts, the book helps transform dormant insights into strategic, high-impact intelligence.
In Why We Fail: Learning from Experience Design Failures, Victor Lombardi explores why even well-designed products sometimes fail when people actually use them. He draws on case studies of launches like Google Wave or Microsoft Zune to identify recurring patterns of failure rooted in user experience. The book argues that good design on paper isn’t enough, instead you must anticipate how real users will interact, react, and sometimes rebel. Lombardi offers practical lessons on how to recognize and avoid these experience gaps in your own projects by aligning design intent with customer behavior, and by diagnosing and mitigating risks before they’re costly.
The book is kindly sponsored by Rosenfeld Media.
We Need to Talk: A survivals guide for tough conversations by Joshua Graves and kindly sponsored by Rosenfeld Media, offers a tactical, psychologically grounded framework for navigating difficult conversations with confidence and care. Drawing on communication theory, neuroscience, and real-world experience, the book helps readers transform potentially confrontational interactions into opportunities for growth, focusing on authenticity, psychological safety, and de-escalation. Chapters cover topics like preparing for tough talks, managing defensiveness, addressing pay gaps, and navigating cultural dynamics, all without prescribing rigid scripts and instead offering adaptable tools for many real-life scenarios.
The Caffè Crema Bio from J. Hornig makes the hearts of coffee gourmets beat faster. Not only because the crema always turns out perfectly and its strong flavor is built on a bold aroma, but also because only beans from organic cultivation go into the pack. Grown in the best regions of South America, Central America, and Asia, and traded according to Fairtrade standards, they make our Caffè Crema Bio what it is: a robust espresso blend with chocolaty flavor notes.
Besides keeping this conference fueled with coffee during the breaks, J. Hornig, a uxcon ’25 partner, is also providing a selection of coffee beans for you to take home and enjoy.
Analog pen and paper are often the best tools for ideation sessions and workshops, but sometimes we do need our tech to work seamlessly too. That’s why we’re happy to share a few wireless chargers, kindly sponsored by Technikum Wien. You can find them in the community areas and some more at the Technikum Wien Academy Booth.
Brew Age is an Austrian craft-beer brewer offering a wide and evolving selection of beers through an online shop. Their catalog includes a variety of beers as well as branded merchandise such as apparel and glassware. Alongside direct sales, Brew Age partners with over 30 gastronomy outlets to serve its beers on tap. They emphasize passion for beer, hops, and delivering a refined “Genussmoment” (enjoyment moment).
Our friends at Brew Age sent some bottles for uxcon crowd to try out :)
Smashing Magazine is an online magazine and community for people who design and build websites. It shares helpful articles on topics like UX, accessibility, performance, CSS, and JavaScript, and also offers books, events, workshops, podcasts, and a job board. Through its membership program and resources, it brings together a friendly global community with the goal of making digital experiences more useful and inclusive.
They host conferences in Freiburg, New York, and Amsterdam, along with a wide range of online workshops.
Our friends at Smahing Magazine are offering a yearly subscription!
Stephanie Walter’s User Interview Question Cards are a set of 43 cards designed to help UX researchers, interviewers, and teams structure their interview guides or usability testing sessions. The cards are grouped into guided questions and follow-up questions, making them a handy toolkit for brainstorming, on-the-fly adjustments, or building a well-rounded interview guide.
Besides printed versions available at our Play station, you can also win a digital version of the cards!
Stephanie Walter is a speaker at uxcon '25 and besides her work as UX researcher and strategsit she also designed Cognitive Bias Cards – a set of over 60 cards designed to help teams uncover and reflect on the biases that influence UX research, collaboration, and decision-making. The cards are grouped into categories, making it easier to explore how different biases can impact design processes and user understanding.
Besides printed versions available at our Play station, you can also win a digital version of the cards!
Waking Up is a mindfulness and meditation app created by Sam Harris that combines guided meditation, philosophy, and neuroscience to help users deepen their self-understanding and live more consciously. wakingup.com It offers step-by-step lessons, daily reminders, and conversations on topics like Stoicism, sleep, and mental clarity – all intended to move beyond mere stress relief to cultivating a more examined, purposeful life.
Our friends at Waking Up are sharing yearly subscriptions o help you get grounded and more connected to your source of inspiration and clarity.
uxcon alumni Nikki Anderson’s Substack is a no-nonsense space for user researchers who are tired of seeing their work ignored.
Instead of vague theory or “it depends” answers, you’ll find practical strategies to influence product decisions, honest lessons from real-world research wins and mistakes, and tools you can actually use. It’s research advice with personality designed to help you break out of the frustrating loop where insights get a nod but never change the roadmap.
Niki is kindly sharing a 3-month subscription to her Substack channel.
Bad typography is the silent killer of great user experiences. Unreadable, cluttered, or inaccessible type can sabotage your product and drive people away. In just 30 minutes, Oliver will help you uncover the biggest typography issues holding your digital product back. You can read more about Oliver's work here.
Laws of UX is a UX designer’s secret weapon, brought to you by uxcon '25 partners Laws of UX & Pip Decks.
It is a card deck of 54 psychological principles and UX methods that help you design and justify your user interfaces, get buy-in from stakeholders, and empower your design team.
The cards will be available at the "Pulse of UX" booth.
Meet Kaffeetschi Cold Brew – the smooth operator of coffee.
Brewed slowly for full flavor and zero bitterness – your secret weapon for long conference days: Keeps your energy high and your mood even higher.
Because great UX deserves great coffee. :-)
We know UX life can be… intense. So here’s your chance to relax.
Ever heard of a Shakti Mat?
It’s an acupressure mat covered in hundreds of tiny spikes – designed to help you relax, release tension, and boost your energy.
You simply lie down on it, and after a few seconds of “ouch”, your body starts to unwind – it’s like a mini massage and meditation in one.
To put it simple: it hurts so good!
We’ve just launched uxcon on demand: your all-in-one access to the entire uxcon knowledge library!
Get unlimited access to recordings from all past years, including talk videos, audio versions, and presentation slides.
Watch, listen, and learn whenever and as often as you like – for a full year.
All the uxcon knowledge, finally in one place.
Can’t make it to Vienna in person in 2026? No worries – with our Online Ticket, you’ll still be part of the experience!
Join the main stage program live, follow inspiring talks from some of the brightest minds in UX, and connect with other participants through our online platform.
You’ll get to exchange ideas, ask questions, and be part of the conversation – no matter where you are.
After the event, you’ll receive full access to all recordings, so you can revisit your favorite sessions (or catch up on the ones you missed) – all from the comfort of your home, at your own pace.
We’re so happy to have you with us this year – and we’d love to see you again!
That’s why we’re once again giving away a free conference pass for next year.
uxcon vienna ’26 will take place on September 16 & 17 – and this time, we’ll gather in none other than the historic halls of the University of Vienna.
We’ll learn together in the iconic Audimax and celebrate under the arches of the beautiful Arkadenhof.
How do we design for touch in 2025? Mobile and touch are the new default for computing, but there are still many myths, rumors, errors and out-of-date practices on how to design for them. Let’s change that!
In his latest book Touch Design for Mobile Interfaces, Steven Hoober shares his in-depth research and guidelines on designing for touch. You’ll learn how people hold devices and interact with interfaces, along with strategies and best practices for designing better mobile interfaces. A jam-packed book for designers and developers working on interfaces for mobile.
This book was kindly sponsored by the Smashing Magazine.
The Smart Interface Design Patterns Checklist deck (166 illustrated cards), kindly sponsored by Smashing Gamazine, is a practical toolkit of design questions that help teams catch overlooked details and make better UI decisions.
Each card focuses on a common component or pattern like navigation, forms, onboarding, search, tables, pricing plans, or modals, and prompts considerations around usability, accessibility, and context. Rather than giving answers, the cards act as conversation starters to align designers, developers, and stakeholders.
Have ideas that get stuck in slide decks or design mockups? Let’s turn those into live apps – in one day.
In this full-day, hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to go from concept to deployed app using a hybrid workflow: rapid prototyping with Lovable.dev, and then polishing and enhancing via Claude Code.
No prior coding skills required – your curiosity and willingness to experiment are enough.
This workshop takes place on November 26, 2025 in Vienna.
You can find all the details here.
When Vienna’s structure meets Berlin’s edge, something special happens. It’s smart, a little bold, and full of character – just like the kind of research we care about.
This one-day boutique event on November 20th in Berlin is brought to you by uxcon and Employed.world – because great things happen when curious minds from different cities come together. Expect a full day of hands-on sessions, practical insights, and honest conversations with people who genuinely care about doing good UX research.
This is your chance to step out of the daily grind, sharpen your skills, and refocus on what really makes research meaningful – for your team and in your everyday work.
Find all the details here.
Ever thought about how AI + UX could actually feel like magic, not just code?
Join us for a full-day workshop where we dive deep into real design patterns—and how to make AI interfaces that actually work for people.
You’ll sketch, challenge assumptions, and walk away with a toolbox full of techniques you can use tomorrow in your projects. With Vitaly Friedman leading the way, expect nothing less than bold, practical, and totally usable insights.
This workshop takes place on November 11 in Vienna.
You can find all the details here.
How do you prove the value of design?
We all know UX makes a difference – but communicating its impact in a way that resonates with stakeholders and decision-makers isn’t always easy.
This full-day workshop will give you the tools and frameworks you need to measure UX design impact and make its value visible – both inside your team and across the organization. You’ll explore practical methods, real-world examples, and hands-on exercises that help you connect user experience to business outcomes and strategic goals.
This full-day workshop takes place November 10 in Vienna.
You can find all the info here.
Technikum Wien''s UX Summit 2026 is a day dedicated to user experience, design, and innovation. Following the success of last year’s premiere, the summit will once again bring together UX professionals, students, and enthusiasts. Expect fresh perspectives, plenty of opportunities to exchange ideas with the local UX community, and a vibrant atmosphere in the heart of Vienna.
This free ticket is sponsored by our partner Technikum Wien Academie – secure yours and be part of shaping the future of UX!
We’ve got our uxcon merch back for you this year!
So you can carry uxcon in your heart (or just under your jacket) all the way around the sun. :-)
T-shirts and hoodies are waiting – and if you’re one of the lucky winners, you get to pick your favorite!
Verena’s UX Psychology Lens Cards bring psychological insights into UX design by highlighting how human behavior, cognition, and perception shape user experiences. The deck helps teams recognize biases, motivations, and decision-making patterns to design more intuitive and user-centered products.
This set was generously gifted by the author for uxcon attendees to explore and use hands-on in workshops, ideation sessions, or everyday design practice.
The Inspiration Wildcards Deck is a set of 50 bold cards across five categories (Superpowers, Other Worlds, Superheroes, Stereotypes, Nightmares) created to spark unconventional ideas and push creative boundaries in workshops or product development.
Designed to break routine thinking and fuel unexpected insights, this set was generously gifted by the author Jens Mühlstedt for uxcon attendees to explore and enjoy.
The Liberatory Design Deck draws from design thinking, equity work, complexity theory, and restorative practices to help teams reflect, notice, and act in contexts shaped by systems of oppression. It supports value-driven decision-making, deep self-reflection, and iterative learning as a way to foster equity and collective liberation.
We’ve printed the resource into a neat, physical card deck so you can flip through, share, and use it hands-on – ideal for workshops, team conversations, or guiding equity-centered design processes.
Work hard, play harder!
The uxcon play station is all about fun, surprises, and a little competition. You’ll find games to try out, candy to snack on, and plenty of goodies waiting for you. Together with our partners, we’ve prepared some extra treats – and they’ve gone the extra mile this year to make sure there are loads of cool prizes up for grabs.
In the following you’ll find the full prize list – so you can already take your time to browse through it, discover what’s waiting for you, and maybe decide which prize you’d like to go after.
Drop by, test your luck, and enjoy a little playtime in between sessions!
The Tarot Cards of Tech is a set of provocative prompt cards designed to spark reflection on the broader impact of technology.
Each card raises questions about equity, ethics, unintended consequences, and long-term effects, helping teams think beyond immediate usability and functionality.
We’ve printed the resource into a neat, physical card deck so you can flip through, share, and use it hands-on – perfect for workshops, brainstorming sessions, or design reviews where future impact needs to be part of the conversation.
Anti-Hero card deck intended to expose manipulative and value-centered designer intentions and decision-making as a designer strategizes, generates, and rationalizes solutions. It prompts practitioners and teams with multiple roles involved to critically evaluate trade-offs, ethical considerations, and the potential impact of their decisions on users.
The definitions and types include not just a focus on the final solution, but also the user paths, task flows, and user journeys. Though represented through a playful lens, the roles indicate designer behaviors that can surface during the framing, generation, and evaluation of design artifacts.
The deck is intended to spark discussion, reveal hidden intentions, and challenge norms, making it valuable for design students, professionals, and teams seeking to balance user-centered approaches with business goals.
Cognitive Bias Cards – a set of over 60 cards designed to help teams uncover and reflect on the biases that influence UX research, collaboration, and decision-making. The cards are grouped into categories, making it easier to explore how different biases can impact design processes and user understanding.
Stephanie Walter is a speaker at uxcon '25 and has kindly decided to share her Cognitive Bias Cards with the uxcon crowd.
We’ve printed the resource into a neat, physical card deck so you can flip through, share, and use it hands-on – perfect for workshops, brainstorming sessions, or design reviews where future impact needs to be part of the conversation.
Stephanie Walter’s User Interview Question Cards are a set of 43 cards created to help UX researchers, interviewers, and teams structure interview guides or usability testing sessions, generously shared with the uxcon crowd.
The cards are grouped into guided questions and follow-up questions, making them a handy toolkit for brainstorming, on-the-fly adjustments, or building a well-rounded interview guide.
We’ve printed the resource into a neat, physical card deck so you can flip through, share, and use it hands-on, whether you’re preparing a session or looking for inspiration during a live interview.
Johannes Lehner’s WCAG 2.2 Card Deck is a free resource designed to make the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2) more usable and actionable for design, content, and development teams. The cards simplify the guidelines with clearer phrasing, responsibility tags, and theming, helping reduce cognitive load and making accessibility decisions more straightforward.
We’ve printed the resource into a neat, physical card deck so you can flip through, share, and use it hands-on – whether in audits, cross-team training, design reviews, or when embedding accessibility practices into your design system.
Find more details about the WCAG 2.2 card decks here.
This Is Service Design Doing is a practical handbook for anyone who wants to apply service design methods in real-world contexts.
Written by practitioners for practitioners, it bridges theory and practice by offering clear explanations of the principles of service design alongside a rich toolkit of over 50 methods such as journey mapping, service blueprinting, and prototyping. The book is grounded in case studies from companies, governments, and non-profits worldwide, showing how service design creates value at different scales. With a strong focus on collaboration and facilitation, it guides teams in co-creating services that are user-centered, effective, and sustainable.
This book was kindly sponsored by the authors of This Is Service Design Doing for the uxcon Play station.
Because good ideas are better when shared – this one’s kindly sponsored by the author Manuel Matuzović.
The Web Accessibility Cookbook: Creating Inclusive Experiences provides you with dozens of recipes to help you build common components on the web, such as navigations, forms, filters, tables, and dialogs, in an accessible manner. Each recipe not only explains how to build things but also why.
Manuel Matuzović is a freelance frontend developer, accessibility auditor, lecturer, author, and consultant with a passion for the web. He supports companies, public institutions, and educational organizations in implementing accessible web products. In his free time, he writes about accessibility, HTML, and CSS on his personal blog matuzo.at.
Our strategic advisor and uxcon alumna Annemarie Shrouder is sharing her book Being Brown in a Black and White World: Conversations for Leaders on Race, Racism and Belonging.
In it, Annemarie explores the polarity of race and its impact on individuals and workplaces. The book sheds light on the personal and organizational costs of this divide, while inviting us to imagine new ways to heal, bridge differences, and build healthier workplace communities.
uxcon '25 speaker Erica Jorgenson is sharing her book Strategic Content Design: Research Techniques and Tools for Better Design.
Erca says: "Strategic Content Design is the book I wish I had years ago." The book is a comprehensive guide to help you establish content standards, build a content research practice, and share the impact of your work. Whether you’re new to content design or well into your career, you’ll find hard-won, practical information and frameworks to build your confidence and influence, and make your day-to-day work easier.
Learn more about Erica's book here.
Ben Sauer, a speaker at uxcon ’25, has shared his latest book Death by Screens with us!
The secret to explaining your work isn’t in a stack of slides or a sequence of screens, but in the story you tell. This book shows you how to move beyond screen-by-screen walkthroughs and instead communicate the why behind your design decisions. You’ll learn what to say, what to show, the order to present it in, and how to do it with confidence while having more productive conversations with stakeholders. Whether you’re in a high-stakes presentation or an everyday meeting, Death by Screens will help you grow into a stronger communicator – a vital skill for building a successful design career.
Learn more about Ben’s book here.
Our beloved uxcon alumni Indi Young is sharing her book Time To Listen with the crowd again. We got a snailmail all the way from San Francisco where she sent her personal dedication to the new readers!
Making time to listen is how we begin healing the broken relationship between businesses, systems and people.
Learn more about Indi's book here.