“Interaction design is a systematic and iterative process for designing highly interactive user interfaces. Methodology includes research and discovery techniques such as requirements analysis, stakeholder analysis, task analysis, as well as prototyping, inspection and evaluation methods” … or “The process of creating an interface for the user to engage with a site or application’s functionality and content.” There are plenty of other definitions of Interaction Design (and many misunderstandings too).

The Interaction Design Association [IxDA] is a global network dedicated to the professional practice of Interaction Design. IxDA is a novel kind of “un-organization” in that there is no cost for membership – IxDA relies on its passionate members to help serve the needs of the international Interaction Design community. With more than 15,000 members and over 80 local groups around the world, the IxDA network actively focuses on interaction design issues for the practitioner, no matter their level of experience.

Every year, IxDA gathers the interaction design community to stretch minds, sharpen skills, and inspire each other. Interaction ’11 will be held in Boulder, Colorado, from February 9-12, 2011. Confirmed keynote speakers include Brenda Laurel, Jason Bruges, Richard Buchanan, Erik Hersman, and Bruce Sterling.

The big news is that the 2012 IxDA conference will take place in Dublin – thanks to the efforts of Séamus Byrne, Ben Arent and IxDA Dublin. The international IxDA Board of Directors selected Dublin as the location for the Interaction 12 Conference – honouring Dublin with the designation of first European IxDA host city.

The Dublin presentation team beat off rival bids from Berlin, Delft, Helsinki and Paris.

Seamus Byrne says: “Our local IxDA group is a vibrant and thriving community that has helped Interaction Design take centre-stage as an important and relevant discipline here in Dublin. It is clear our industry will play a vital role in Dublin’s current evolution from capital city of a knowledge economy to a global hub for research, design and development.”

“Our proximity to both North America and Europe has graced our monthly events with excellent international speakers from both sides of the Atlantic. Now, we are delighted to have the opportunity to bestow a thousand million welcomes from Dublin to the global IxDA community.”