After couple of very busy weeks, finally I have time to tell you next part of our San Francisco Story. I started to miss recalling UXPin’s awesome startup mission in USA and sharing it with you guys!

Let’s go back to March 20th.

Excited after meeting with Brandon Schauer (Adaptive Path) we were rushing through the city to another important meeting. Meeting with Chris Baum – Editor-in-Chief of Boxex and Arrows, respected consultant, experienced UX Designer and Information Architect. We just couldn’t wait to meet with Chris. He was about to reveal us his secret UX+IA process sauce and discuss how UXPin could accelerate help to UX Designers all over the world.

We were not disappointed.

Our meeting took place in Coffee Bar USA (1890 Bryant Street). Excellent location that you should definitely check out and have some fresh orange juice and mind-blowing sandwich. Be warned though: it looks like „mac only” place. I didn’t spot single PC there and about 20 people were working in front of their computers. We actually felt great about it .

After quick UXPin pitch something clicked between us. Chris understood what we’re trying to achieve and immediately soaked in into UXPin world. It was super lovely.

Chris deeply understand that UX Design is a process (not mere wireframing/prototyping activity). Kind of continuum in which we’re using different methods to reach perfect, engaging, user experience.

I was impressed when Chris started to sketch diagram of his design process. He truly cares about Information Architecture. Well thought structure lies at the core of his designs.

After one hour of constant conversation we had minds full of new ideas worth validating.

Chris – thank you!

After this meeting we’ve started to realize what Silicon Valley is all about: help and energy. We’ve received both in following two weeks.

Till next time friends!

Surprisingly sunny (good weather hardly happened during our stay in California) Monday morning. San Francisco was still rather sleepy after weekend, but we were rushing through downtown in super-excited moods. We were about to meet Brandon Schauer – one of the most important people in the User Experience world. Experienced designer and manager, CEO of Adaptive Path, named one of Business Week’s “Twenty-One People Who Will Change Business”.

Meeting was about to happen next to famous San Francisco’s piers. Outstanding area.

Purpose for the meeting? Getting feedback on our strategy, understanding design process of Adaptive Path, checking what problems UX consulting agencies may have and how we could solve them.

This is still hard to believe that Brandon agreed to meet us (thanks to introduction made by our great friend Jeff Parks!). We were just starting to realize how much networking means in USA and how people are open to help just because they believe this is right thing to do.

In Eastern Europe networking almost doesn’t exist. No wonder we were in constant jaw-dropped state.

And Brandon was just amazing.

He was really focused on our products and strategy. Every minute of this meeting was meaningful. We’ve quickly learnt that simple wireframing tools doesn’t matter much to Adaptive Path. They do wireframe, but they are not attached to any popular wireframing tool. Our „design process focused” approach and tools dedicated to UX Design process and communication between designers and non-designers, resonate much better with them, than our competitors simple wireframing solutions.

Brandon – thank you. The meeting was awesome and very, very helpful.

“Crap jobs are created by other people. Dream jobs you make yourself.” – picture above, originally from co-working space Rackspace is held by Jason Fraser, founder of LUXr (future of Lean UX).

I love it, but as every rule it has certain exceptions. We had great jobs (UX folks at important eCommerce company). Nonetheless we decided to leave them 3 weeks ago, packed our stuff and traveled to San Francisco to meet with our clients, friends and heroes.

We left our comfort zone, because we’re passionate about User Experience Design and we want to resolve problems caused by lack of dedicated UX Design tools.

We had great, intense, time. We’ve met with: Luke Wroblewski, Peter Merholz, Brandon Schauer, Indi Young, Mike Kuniavsky, Liz Goodman, Chris Baum, Jeffrey Kalmikoff, Michal Kopec, Dave McClure, Paul Singh, Richard Boardman, Hiten Shah, Kate Rutter, Jason Fraser… to mention few of our great mentors.

I thought I will have time to give you at least short glimpse of the meetings. I’m sorry, I didn’t. I will try now to make it up to you. Expect San Francisco stories to be told every couple of days.