It’s hard to believe that just five years ago, the pandemic upended how we connected professionally. Since then, many meetups have disappeared, conferences have moved online, and sadly, some conferences even folded. While I do love attending events virtually (because—sweatpants!), there’s something to be said for attending in-person events. I used to say going to UX meetups and conferences was great for networking. These days, “networking” sounds so transactional and soulless, maybe even a little gross. But when I reflect on what I love about in-person events, it’s the experience of connecting with others that I value the most.

Connecting is innate to humans

For thousands of years, humans have gathered in person to share ideas, work together, and build communities. Connecting in person is natural for us. In our day-to-day lives, technology keeps us “connected” to colleagues and peers in the sense that we’re plugged into people’s lives. But, texts, emails, social media posts, and virtual meetings make it so convenient that they easily replace in-person interactions—and that’s dangerous. Connecting in person with other practitioners in your field takes some effort, but it’s worth it.

While we might not have any control over what’s going on at the industry level, gathering, chatting, and listening to one another can help us stay resilient and feel supported. 

Engaging and meaningful conversations

There’s nothing like hearing a talk, feeling inspired or challenged, and turning to the person next to you to ask, “What did you think?” Those organic, unscripted conversations lead to deeper insights, idea sharing, and more inspiration. In these moments, I’ll learn how someone had similar challenges but tried different solutions or I can ask questions to see how I might be able to avoid the same pitfalls and ensure success for myself.

Oftentimes, you might even catch a speaker during a break! When this happens, you can ask follow-up questions or share your experiences with the topic that was discussed. Whenever I give a talk, even as an introvert, I love chatting with people because I always learn so much from them. 

Finding and being with your people

For those of us whose workplaces don’t feel particularly safe or inclusive, in-person events can be lifelines. You find other practitioners who get it—they know what you’re going through, they’ve been in similar situations, etc. Just feeling heard, having your challenges validated, or swapping stories can be uplifting. 

Months after hosting a conference, I ran into an attendee. She told me how much she loved the conference, so I asked what made her feel that way. Was it the awesome speakers and practical takeaways? Nope, she told me meeting people and learning that they were going through the same struggles made her feel like she wasn’t alone.

Career impact

Some of the best career opportunities come from connecting with people at in-person events. Especially today, when hiring managers receive hundreds of resumes for an open role, how do you stand out from the crowd? When you meet someone in person, you build a connection, making sure you’re not just another LinkedIn profile. 

Like many others I know, I struggled to start my UX career sending cold applications. I finally got the interview for what would be my first UX gig because I hit it off with the hiring manager at a UX conference in DC. That one moment when we shared laughs was pivotal to my UX career. 

Even if you’re not looking for a new job, making these connections can help in the future. When teams are hiring, they’re often thinking about who they’ve met that could be a good fit for them and trust those that they already know to send good candidates their way. Some of my friends can attest to this:

“My professional entry into the UX space happened only because of an in-person design challenge! Being young and self-taught, my portfolio was, as my first boss loved to tease me about, not great (“too many words” to be exact lol). But, we worked together on that design challenge, and because she saw how I handled group situations and my work ethic, when my portfolio crossed her desk, she gave me a chance and launched my UX career!” 
– Jaimie Yakaboski, Product Design and User Experience Research

“There is an energy to in-person events that cannot be matched. Conferences have changed my life professionally. Every full-time or freelance role I’ve had since 2017 happened because of a connection I made at a conference. Between the presentations, hallway conversations, and connections, a true community is formed that you can support and that will be there for you when you need them.” 
– Amy Grace Wells, Senior Information Architect, Bixal

The community needs us

There’s A LOT of uncertainty these days, and people are feeling the impact of industry layoffs, federal changes, and so much more. While we might not have any control over what’s going on at the industry level, gathering, chatting, and listening to one another can help us stay resilient and feel supported. 

Especially this year, I frequently hear how beneficial this is for people. In the DC area, my friend shared how recent meetup events have been well attended. Folks are there to commiserate, support, and hold a safe space for each other as we all try to make sense of things and navigate a way forward.

Finding in-person events

Are you ready to attend some in-person events? Looking for local events is a great place to start. You don’t have to travel far, they tend to be more low-key, and you can become more involved with your community. Meetup.com might have some active groups. Check to see if they’ve hosted an event recently. Friends or colleagues can also point you in the right direction. Meetups can vary in quality, so if you’re not vibing with one, keep trying until you find your tribe.

In terms of UX/design conferences, here are some that I recommend. I’ve attended these personally, and they’ve all been great spaces for connecting with amazing people!

Here are some conferences that my friends also recommend. (If there’s one you absolutely love for building connections and it’s not listed, let me know!)

What connections have you made?

I’d love to hear about your experiences at conferences and the connections you made. Let me know on Bluesky (@soysaucechin.bsky.social) or on LinkedIn. Hoping our paths will cross at an in-person event someday!