History of UXPA Award Recipients

UXPA Awards: Recognizing Extraordinary Service

In 2005, UXPA (formerly UPA) began formally honoring those who contribute in special ways to UXPA and to the profession. Recognition by a professional association is an important way to acknowledge both individual and chapter achievements, and to publicize the best projects we undertake. We present the following awards:

Lifetime Achievement Award
The President’s Award
Chapter Award
Usability Service Award
Usability in Civic Life Award
Volunteer Service Award

Lifetime Achievement Award

This award goes to individuals who through a lifetime of achievements have contributed to the UXPA and/or to the field of User Experience

2023 – Carol Righi
Carol Righi has been a practitioner of User Experience and User-Centered Design for more than 30 years. She is a UX thought leader who exemplifies all that is great about our industry encouraging innovation and the growth of her mentees and colleagues in the field of UX.

2022 – Stephanie Rosenbaum
Stephanie Rosenbaum founded the pioneering UX consultancy TecEd, Inc. 55 years ago. Several of the leaders of today’s UX community are TecEd alumni. She has remained a steadfast supporter of the UX community – and UXPA since its inception. Over her long career, she’s mentored the experienced and given a start to those beginning their UX career journey.

2019 – Dick Horst
Dr. Dick Horst received the 2019 UXPA Lifetime Achievement Award. Dick was regarded by his peers as an industry expert in developing, aiding, and presenting usable services and products through work in private, nonprofit, government, and academic sectors. His work included the design and evaluation of office equipment, medical devices, paper forms, websites, and kiosks, among other products. Dick sadly passed away in 2022. We share our memories of Dick here.

2018 – Nigel Bevan
Nigel Bevan was awarded posthumously after being nominated by several colleagues and friends in the UX Industry. He made a number of contributions to the industry, and specifically to UXPA International including serving on the Board of Directors from 2002 – 2007, Regional Director in 2002, and liaison to the International Standards Organization (ISO) since 2014.

2017 – Randolph Bias, Ph.D, CHFP
The UXPA International 2017 UX Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Randolph Bias, Ph.D, CHFP. Randolph Bias is one of the few people who has worked both in academia and in industry. Not surprisingly, he has excelled in both. Dr. BIas says he is exceedingly proud to have his “utility infielder” UX career recognized this way by the UXPA.

2016 – Susan Dray, PhD
Described by her peers as a pioneer in the field of HCI she has influenced many in our industry. Her contributions to the world of research, HCI, and UXPA are massive. She was the first to do field research using ethnographic methods, and international usability evaluations. She served as Director of Publications for UXPA International and was instrumental in expanding the UX Magazine in addition to coordinating efforts with the Journal of Usability Studies.

2015 – Chauncey Wilson
In recognition of more than 25 years of significant contributions to the development and dissemination of UX evaluation methods, for pioneering research that continues to improve the efficacy of those methodologies, for authorship that has advanced the field, and for his tireless mentoring of students and colleagues.

2014 – Rolf Molich
In recognition of more than thirty years of significant contributions to the development and dissemination of UX evaluation methods, for pioneering research that continues to improve the efficacy of those methodologies, for authorship that has advanced the field, and for his tireless mentoring of students and colleagues.

2013 – Ginny Redish, PhD
For her early contributions and current involvement in UXPA; as an author, a reviewer and advisory board member to the Journal of Usability Studies; for her contributions to her local chapter, the UXPA DC chapter, as a speaker and frequent attendee; and for being a role model and teacher to so many professionals, helping them to just let go of the words.

2012 – Joseph S. Dumas, PhD
For his contribution for over 30 years to the development and dissemination of UX evaluation methods; his skill in translating research findings into practical advice; and his mentoring of students and colleagues

2011 – Thomas S. Tullis, PhD
For his leadership in the usability field for over 30 years; his commitment to education in the UX field; his research and publications, especially around UX metrics and his quantitative approaches; and his ambassadorship of the field

2010 – Marilyn Tremaine, PhD
For her pioneering work in human-computer interactions over the course of her career, her work as a respected faculty member, and her foundational work and continuing active involvement in organizations important in the usability arena.

2009 – Elizabeth Rosenzweig
For her pioneering work and contribution to the worldwide growth of UPA, for her inspiration and leadership, and for her continuous promotion of usability and World Usability Day.

The President’s Award

This award gives special honors to an individual whose work has been important in furthering both the organization and usability in general.

Rich Gunther (2015): In recognition of his significant contributions to the field and his commitment to UXPA as a Board Member and UXPA President
Nigel Bevan (2014): In recognition of his significant contributions to the field and his commitment to UXPA as Regional Director for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Carol Smith (2014): In recognition of her exceptional contributions to the field and her commitment to the User Experience Professionals’ Association in the leadership positions of: Vice President, UXPA Board of Directors, Treasurer and Director of Education and Training, UPA Board of Directors, Treasurer and : Director of Chapters, UPA Board of Directors, Director of Global Outreach, UPA Board of Directors, International Conference Co-Chair, UPA Conferences 2007 and 2008Special Interest Group Coordinator, Editorial Board of the Journal of Usability Studies UXPA Usability Body of Knowledge, Working Group Member.
Ronnie Battista (2013): For his service to UXPA as Director of Certification from 2010-2012, and as Treasurer for 2012.
Susan Dray (2013): For her service to UXPA as Director of Publications from 2007-2012.
Silvia Zimmermann (2012): For her important contributions and commitment to UPA as a Board Member from 2006-2011 and serving as UPA President from 2009 to 2011 in addition to her invaluable contributions over the years to many areas of the organization.
Robert Skrobe (2012): For his important contributions and commitment to UPA as a Board Member from 2009-2011.
Dan Szuc (2012): For his important contributions and commitment to UPA as a Board Member from 2007-2011
Jason Huang (2012): For his important contributions and commitment to UPA as a Board Member from 2010-2011
Trent Mankelow (2011): For his important contributions and commitment to UPA as a Board Member from 2008-2010.
Paul Sherman (2010): For his important contributions and commitment to UPA as a Board Member from 2004-2009.
Amanda Nance (2010): For her important contributions and commitment to UPA as a Board Member from 2007-2009.
Thyra Rauch (2009): For her important contributions and commitment to UPA as a Board Member from 1999-2008.
Lyle Kantrovich (2009): For his important contributions and commitment to UPA as a Board Member from 2006-2008.
Paul Sherman (2009): For his commitment to UPA as UPA President in 2008 and all his invaluable contributions over the years to many areas of the organization.
Peter Picone (2009): For his important contributions and commitment to UPA as a Board Member from 2006-2008.
Thyra Rauch (2008): For her commitment to UPA as UPA President from 2006-2007 as well as all her invaluable contributions over the years to many areas of the organization.
Nigel Bevan (2008): For his important contributions and commitment to UPA as a Board Member from 2002-2007.
Whitney Quesenbery (2007): For your innumerable contributions to UPA over the years in many areas of the organization. Your leadership and tireless enthusiasm have touched and inspired many across UPA.
Charlie Kreitzberg (2005): For your contributions in launching User Experience Magazine, and serving as Editor-in-Chief from 2001-2004 Your leadership created a publication with a unique perspective, substantive contents and a professional design
Ginny Redish and Margot Steinberg (2000): For your work to modernize the finances of the association. This is unglamorous work, done behind the scenes, but it was critical in helping UPA mature and continue to develop.
Janice James (1998): For your vision and initiative in founding UPA, and your ongoing mentoring of local chapters and other UPA leaders.

Chapter Award

This award recognizes chapters for sustained exceptional activities. Whether they have held a new conference, shown significant growth in UXPA members in their area, or starting a new collaborative initiative, the work of chapters in creating local visibility for UXPA cannot be underestimated.

German UPA Chapter (2011): For its continuous growth and activities, including the development of the first UPA certification program, organizing WUD events in Germany, and hosting the 2010 UPA International Conference in Munich.
Japan UPA Chapter (2011): For bringing the Japanese UX Community to the UPA international family and for holding excellent local activities including WUD 2010 in Tokyo.
UPA Singapore Chapter (2008): For excellence and innovation in creating chapter activities, including a usability networking platform for UPA members and a design integration seminar with Motorola.
UPA Michigan Chapter (2007): For promoting UPA, increasing its visibility, and collaborating with other related chapters and universities throughout the state of Michigan.
UPA China (2006): For rapid growth as a chapter in its first two years, with local meeting groups in Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou and Hong Kong. The chapter also created an annual conference, “User Friendly,” which attracted over 200 professionals from across China and the region in 2005.
Boston Chapter (2005): For sustained excellence and innovation in creating chapter activities, including five annual chapter conferences
UK UPA (2005): For increasing the visibility of usability throughout the UK through a successful drive to increase membership

Usability Service Award

Organizations thrive on the work of “unsung heroes” who put in extra effort to start, revitalize or sustain UXPA activities. They often devote extraordinary effort, beyond normal volunteer work, whether on a specific project or in a general sustained effort.

Judy Blostein (2012): For her contributions to UPA by editing the UPA Voice from 2005 to 2012.
Alice Preston (2012): For her contributions to UPA and to the international nature of the profession though her work to create and chair a Translation Team for User Experience (UX) magazine.
Laura Faulkner, PhD (2012): For her contributions to UPA and to the profession through her work as Co-Chair of the UPA International Conference in 2009, 2010, and 2011 and her efforts to evolve the UPA conference model to meet the needs of a growing and increasingly international audience.
Avi Parush (2011): For his contributions to UPA and to the profession through his work as the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Usability of the Studies (JUS).
Toyohiro Kanayama (2011): For his tireless work in organizing UX professionals to create the Japan UPA Chapter and for his leadership in establishing strong worldwide relationships.
Chris Koster (2011): For his energy and professionalism in his work as Assistant Editor, Associate Managing Editor, and Managing Editor of the UPA Usability Experience Magazine from 2005 to today.
Toshikazu Shinohara (2011): For his important contribution of making the Japan UPA Chapter a reality as well as his continuous support to and participation in UPA Asia from 2009 to 2010.
Vynarack Xaykao (2010): For her excellent work from 2007 to the present posting the Journal of Usability Studies and the Voice on the UPA website and making them accessible.
Aaron Marcus (2009): For his contributions to the User Experience Magazine as Editor-in-Chief from 2004-2009. His leadership has resulted in a publication with a unique perspective, substantive content and a professional design.
Gerry Gaffney (2009): For his energy and professionalism in his work as Managing Editor of the UPA User Experience Magazine from 2007-2008.
Steven Wiens (2008): For the innumerable hours of invaluable support he has given to the World Usability Day website.
Josephine Scott (2008): For her unwavering commitment and involvement in the UPA Voting and Usability Project and other efforts in support of UPA’s involvement in voting standards in the United States.
Kit Brown (2008): For her invaluable support of the Journal of Usability Studies in her capacity as Editorial Assistant. She has set a high standard for those who will follow.
2008 – Alberto Lacalle (Spanish), Melanie Rousseau & Sylvie Lachize (French), Silvia Zimmermann (German), Michele Visciola (Italian), Adriana Betiol (Portuguese), Yaniv Michaeli (Hebrew), Natasha Voynarovskaya (Russian), Denny Huang (Chinese), Tadashi Kobayashi & Toyohiro Kanayama (Japanese), Ali Berkman (Turkish): For their tireless and efficient efforts in translating the UPA Monthly in support of the growing global view of usability connecting usability communities everywhere.
Daniel Szuc (2008): For his tireless and efficient efforts in preparing the UPA Monthly in support of the growing global view of usability connecting usability communities everywhere.
Natalia Minibayeva (2007): For your years of dedication and attention to detail in making UPA’s online publications professional, usable, and accessible.
David Mitropoulos-Rundus (2007): For your unwavering commitment to the goal of expanding the scope of UPA through new chapter development andyour leadership in nurturing new chapters both locally and abroad.
Richard Bellaver (2006): For establishing the UPA Ethics Advisory Committee, and leading the effort to create the Code of Professional Conduct for UPA. This international code provides a strong foundation for guiding the work of professionals practicing usability around the world.
Keith Instone (2006): For tireless work as a member of the World Usability Day 2005 committee. His leadership in creating WorldUsabilityDay.net, which brought people from many different user-experience communities together to help create the first World Usability Day; and his innovative work on the official WorldUsabilityDay.org web site contributed in many ways to the success of this inaugural event.
Susan Fowler and Alice Preston (2005): For your energy and professionalism in your work as Managing Editors of the UPA User Experience Magazine
Chauncey Wilson (2005): For your unstinting contributions of knowledge, time and energy. We honor you as a mentor, a colleague and a friend.

Usability in Civic Life Award

Lawrence Norden (2009) at the Brennan Center for Justice At NYU School of Law: For his pioneering work to improve elections, for recognizing that poor ballot design and instructions can disenfranchise voters, and for promoting usability and plain language as keys to protecting civil rights.

Volunteer Service Award

UXPA Magazine Translations Team (2017): A group of more than 20 people who have served since 2010 as translation reviewers for the Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish abstracts, excerpts, and even some of the full articles of our magazine.
- Adriana Betiol for her facilitation of Portuguese translation reviews,
- Zhengjie Liu and his team their work with Chinese translation reviews,
- Noriko Osaka and her team for their focus on Japanese translation reviews,
- Huatong Yim and his team for their effort with Korean translation reviews,
- and everyone on the Spanish reviewing team, who I am privileged to lead.