Activities

IxDA Amazing Race

Session Title

IxDA Amazing Race

Presenter

Anh Dang, New York Times

Session Type: Activity

Teams of conference attendees will set out on a race around Savannah in competition with other teams. Teams will set out on missions to strive to arrive first at pit stops around the area to find clues that will lead them to the next destination and outline tasks to be perform. Along the way, teams will learn about the city, the campus, and each other. Additionally, teams will be tested on their ability to collaborate with one another, accomplish tasks effectively and efficiently, and earn their place as the Ultimate IxDA Race Champions.

Biography

Anh Dang is an information architect at the New York Times, an adjunct professor who teaches information design and architecture at the School of Visual Arts and Pratt Institute, and an occasional speaker at design conferences such as DUX and IxDA. Previously, she was a senior information architect at Razorfish. She has an M.P.S. from the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) at New York University, and a B.S. in advertising from the University of Texas.

5 Comments

  1. Lily Kenney
    Posted September 16, 2009 at 10:09 am

    What an interesting idea! I’ve always thought that we can learn so much about interaction design by observing the world around us – after all, we’re designing for people and that’s where the people live!

  2. MJ Broadbent
    Posted September 22, 2009 at 5:54 pm

    This sounds like a blast! If it isn’t chosen as a session, I’m game to help make it an elective event during social hours. (This year’s GEL conference in NYC had an urban safari as a precon activity: big fun.)

  3. Posted September 25, 2009 at 5:32 pm

    Sounds like a terrific idea. I’d be interested to know more about what some of the potential challenges might be. What a great way to get to know other people attending and to get to know Savannah.

  4. Posted September 27, 2009 at 10:17 am

    Here are some of the potential challenges and possible solutions:

    Time: If we were to do this all in one day, the number of tasks that each team needs to accomplish can be limited to 3 or so based on the time. Alternatively, we can also incorporate the events of the race over a couple of days during social hours/free time.
    Planning/Set Up: Along with race participants, a team of people will be needed to make the game work. From setting up discrete clues around the conference area and the city, there will be a “control” center that will help monitor the race through mobile check-ins.

    In a game like this, while the destination may be the end goal, the journey is the key takeaway. So, we’ll strive to keep it simple, uphold the spirit of the Amazing Race, and have a lot of fun along the way!

  5. Posted October 1, 2009 at 11:16 pm

    I’m all for this idea!

    One of the worst parts about attending a conference is that we travel great distances and hardly get to experience the city we’re in.

    We spend so much time in meeting rooms and hotel rooms that an activity of this nature is more than welcome. I’m with MJ on this one!