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UP TechX Home: Workshop

Key dates

Conference Duration

28 - 30 October 2025

Registration is Now Open

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Registration Close

24 October 2025

Contact us

Name: Organising Committee

E-mail: techx2025@up.ac.za

Telephone: +27 (0)12 420 4291

 

  

 

Workshop 1: Crafting Effective Digital Content: Hands-on Practice with a Strategic Framework – Ms. Amy Deschenes

In this interactive workshop, participants will explore a comprehensive content strategy framework designed with libraries in mind. Through collaborative exercises, real-world scenarios, and guided practice, participants will learn how to create intentional, audience-focused digital content. The workshop will provide a practical toolkit for developing more strategic, effective communication across various digital platforms. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a repeatable framework for approaching content creation with intention, clarity, and strategic focus.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the core components of the content strategy framework
  • Develop skills in audience-centered content creation
  • Practice applying the framework to typical digital communication challenges
  • Identify and articulate clear value propositions for digital content
  • Learn techniques for aligning content goals with broader institutional objectives

Workshop Format:

  • Interactive discussions
  • Small group exercises
  • Scenario-based learning
  • Collaborative problem-solving

 

Workshop 2: Seeing is Believing: UX Improvements Through Eye-Tracking and Design Thinking – Prof. Hanlie Smuts

This hands-on workshop explores the intersection of user behaviour analytics and human-centred design by combining eye-tracking technology with design thinking methodologies. Participants will evaluate an existing e-commerce website interface, uncovering usability issues and behavioural patterns through real-time eye-tracking data.

In the first part of the session, participants will observe how users interact with the site, where their attention lingers, what elements are ignored, and how visual hierarchy influences decision-making. The captured eye-tracking heatmaps and gaze plots will be analysed to identify cognitive load hotspots, navigation inefficiencies, and visual friction.

Following this, participants will engage in a collaborative design thinking sprint, using the empirical insights to ideate and prototype solutions that enhance usability, accessibility, and customer experience. The session will focus on evidence-informed design decisions, demonstrating how behavioural data can drive sustainable UX improvements that benefit both users and business outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand how to apply eye-tracking data in real-world UX evaluation
  • Experience a structured design thinking process informed by user attention and behaviour 
  • Learn how behavioural insight can inform policy, product, and service design in digital environments
  • Build cross-sector understanding of how to co-create sustainable, human-centred digital experiences.

 

The UP TechX workshop information is available in downloadable PDF format

Conference venue

University of Pretoria
Groenkloof Campus
George Storrar Dr & Leyds Str
Pretoria
0027