Learn More About Mary Formanek

Mary's next conference appearance:

Mary will be speaking at the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society's ASPIRE conference in Phoenix, Arizona on September 11th, 2024.

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Mary is an active and influential voice in the UX community. Her contributions span speaking at conferences, guest appearances on podcasts, and sharing valuable educational content across social media. As a passionate advocate for user experience design, she is dedicated to imparting insights, teaching best practices, and driving meaningful conversations that help shape the future of the industry.

Community Involvement

UXPA Arizona:
Mary reignited the once-dormant UXPA (User Experience Professionals Association) chapter, breathing new life into an organization that had been dissolved in 2015. Through her visionary leadership and unwavering determination, she transformed the chapter from nothing into a thriving, vibrant community of UX students, professionals, and design enthusiasts seeking a place to belong.

Mary spearheaded the strategic establishment of the chapter's foundational elements, crafting everything from bylaws and a code of conduct to a comprehensive events calendar and a compelling brand voice. She meticulously developed and executed end-to-end branding efforts, ensuring a strong and recognizable identity that resonated within the design community.

Her leadership in assembling a dynamic board of seasoned professionals was instrumental in driving the chapter’s mission forward. Mary’s expertise extended to dynamic social media management, where she created and maintained an engaging online presence that connected and energized the community. Her efforts in event planning and ambassadorship further solidified the chapter’s place as a cornerstone of the UX community, making a lasting impact on the industry and providing a welcoming home for designers of all levels.

Though Mary had to step down from her role in 2022 after relocating to Colorado, she remains an active advisor to the UXPA Arizona board as President Emeritus. Despite no longer residing in Arizona, she frequently flies out to Phoenix to support the board and speak at events, continuing to contribute to the thriving community she helped build.

Mary mingling with other attendees at the World Usability Day party hosted by GoDaddy

A COVID UXPA Arizona event via Zoom

Mary mingling with other attendees at the World Usability Day party hosted by GoDaddy

Ladies That UX Phoenix + AIGA Arizona

Mary was a founding member of the Ladies That UX group in 2017, where she discovered her passion for the UX community in Arizona. This experience ignited her desire to participate actively in the local design scene. Her involvement didn’t stop there; she soon began contributing to other design groups, most notably volunteering with the AIGA Arizona group. During the 2017 design week, Mary played a crucial role on the social media team, capturing photos, posting live videos, boosting online engagement, and assisting event attendees throughout the weeklong event. This experience solidified her commitment to fostering a vibrant and connected design community.

Speaking Engagements

Mary has built a strong foundation in public speaking through various engagements across different platforms and audiences. She has presented in high-stress situations, showcasing her ability to deliver impactful presentations under pressure. Her speaking experience includes addressing students at the University of Arizona, where she shared her expertise on UX principles and ethics. She has also been an active speaker at community events hosted by UXPA Arizona, contributing her insights and knowledge to fellow professionals and enthusiasts. Additionally, Mary has delivered multiple presentations at local Arizona middle schools, where she introduced young students to the history, practices, and principles of design. Her diverse speaking experiences reflect her commitment to educating and inspiring a wide range of audiences, from budding designers to established professionals.

Mary would love to speak at your event! To request for Mary to speak at your event, please see her contact page.

UX Education + Social Media

Mary has significantly contributed to UX education through her popular TikTok channel, where she has garnered 13,000 followers and over 100,000 likes. Her most viral content focuses on exposing dark UX patterns, including detailed evaluations of websites employing these deceptive practices.

One of her most impactful videos from 2020, where she blew the whistle on a political website's unethical practices, led to a New York Times investigation in 2021. As a result, the politician in question was ordered to reimburse more than $122 million to donors, following the exposure of practices like auto-checking a "donate monthly" box without user confirmation and hiding it from screen readers.

Aside from her dark UX content, Mary imparts her audience with essential UX principles, such as Fitts' Law and cognitive load, and offers quick, practical UX tips. Her recommendations of UX books and insights have not only resonated with a global audience but also inspired them. University professors have incorporated her videos into their ethics classes, and students credit her with helping them secure jobs and internships, a testament to her global influence and impact.

Mary's expertise in UX is not only recognized by her audience but also by industry leaders. Her extensive writing on Medium, where she tackles common UX misconceptions, design needs, and principles, has garnered thousands of likes and over 600 followers. Her articles have received high praise from industry leaders, including former Google UX Director and VP of Product Design, Scott Jenson, further solidifying her position as a trusted voice in the UX community.

In 2021, Mary was invited to mentor students at the University of Arizona's James E. Rogers College of Law, where she shares her expertise on UX ethics, further contributing to the education of the next generation of UX professionals.

Her influence in the UX community has led to numerous podcast appearances, including a feature on the NN/g podcast where she discussed the importance of labeling icons for usability.

Mary would love to be on your Podcast or partner with you on a UX TikTok. To connect with Mary, you can visit the contact page and leave a detailed message about your idea.