As a past chair of PDTG and advocate for this change, I want to chime in with a couple of thoughts. First, yes obviously many products include both hardware and software, and as practitioners we need to support integrated systems. But what the TGs are designing is an educational track and a forum of like-minded researchers to share their work, not a product. The skillsets for informing hardware design (e.g. biomechanics, anthropometry, ergonomics, etc.) are different than the skillsets for informing software design (e.g. attention, memory, perception, decision-making, etc.).
Original Message:
Sent: 10-13-2025 09:25
From: Paul Eisen
Subject: PDTG Proposed Name and Purpose Change
Hi Kathryn, I appreciate your posting this "draft proposal". This may have been stated somewhere earlier in this thread that I didn't catch: What is the disposition of this proposal? Was it circulated to the members of these TGs? If rejected, what were the reasons provided by those against?
You stated: "Of note, as the name UXTG was specifically chosen to increase membership from cross-functional groups familiar with the term "UX", this TG is only open to merging if the name is kept the same." I don't think this is necessarily the case. The past few years have seen a dramatic growth in the use of the terms "product design", "product strategy" and "product research" by those traditionally identifying as UX specialists.
Best,
Paul
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Paul Eisen, PhD, P.Eng.
Eisen UX Inc.
Toronto ON
paul@eisenux.com | www.eisenux.com
Original Message:
Sent: 10-13-2025 09:07
From: Kathryn Tippey
Subject: PDTG Proposed Name and Purpose Change
Thank you all for the thoughtful feedback! I really appreciate that we have such a passionate community!
Since many of the comments are centered around wanting to keep a holistic perspective on product design and veer towards creating a larger group with segments, I have attached my original DRAFT proposal for combining PDTG, UXTG, and USETG. Of note, as the name UXTG was specifically chosen to increase membership from cross-functional groups familiar with the term "UX", this TG is only open to merging if the name is kept the same.
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Kathryn Tippey
Senior Usability Designer
Marietta GA
Original Message:
Sent: 10-13-2025 06:05
From: Charles Mauro
Subject: PDTG Proposed Name and Purpose Change
I founded the PDTG in the late 1970s along with two other HF colleagues. The original objective was to bring together HFES and IDSA members into a common forum for more rigorous HF hardware AND software analysis and design. This was never a perfect union, but it still produced some great early conferences.
Today, the problem is simply a reflection of the massive dilution of the skill sets applied to human-machine interface problems spanning both hardware and software. An analysis shows that there are many UX Designers focusing on screen-based UI design, while more traditional industrial designers work on hardware. The membership numbers for each group likely reflect the actual relative number of practitioners for each skill set category, not a loss of interest.
In my upcoming book I discuss this exact problem of skill set dilution and how it impacts product development managers when attempting to solve a specific HF problem. My data shows extensive confusion related to who to hire to solve a given HF problem.
My suggestion would be to combine the groups into a single larger group with an appropriate title, and to manage the conferences and submissions internally by hardware and software categories. Just my POV for what it is worth.
Charles L. Mauro CHFP
President / Founder
Mauro Usability Science
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Charles Mauro CHFP
President CEO
New York NY
Original Message:
Sent: 10-12-2025 10:38
From: Kathryn Tippey
Subject: PDTG Proposed Name and Purpose Change
Thank you for your feedback, Paul and Mike. I agree that holistic product development is important. I'll briefly elaborate here on the data and rationale for this proposal. If needed, we can have a virtual session to answer additional questions the week after the conference.
Data: The data that prompted this proposal is the overlap and confusion between the distinct purposes of the PDTG and UXTG. The number of conference submissions this year directed at PDTG decreased by over 75% and membership has decreased by around 25%. In contrast, since the formation of the UXTG from the Computer & Internet TGs, which focused largely on software UIs, their membership has grown from 80 to 375 members. We know from discussions that many of our PDTG members submitted to UXTG or the UXTG-sponsored UX Mini Conference this year instead of PDTG.
Rationale: The purpose statements for the PDTG, UXTG, and USETG, are nearly identical - all support advancing research in user experience. Originally, these three TGs discussed whether they should merge. However, PDTG leadership was concerned that a merger would not provide a sufficient focus on hardware research; this was supported by reviewing the UXTG ASPIRE sessions, which are more software-focused. Hence, to better distinguish the purpose of the PDTG, the proposal suggests that PDTG focus on hardware development and UXTG focus more on software development so that each can provide curated content on these topics to their members. The proposal also highlights the expected high level of collaboration between these two groups.
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Kathryn Tippey
Senior Usability Designer
Marietta GA
Original Message:
Sent: 10-11-2025 14:41
From: Michael Rayo
Subject: PDTG Proposed Name and Purpose Change
Thank you, Katie, for bringing this to all of our attention. I will not be able to make the business meeting, as I will be helping to run the Cogntive Engineering and Decision-making TG business meeting at the same time. I can see the pro's and con's of this change in focus of the PDTG, but ultimately I would suggest against it because (1) it's ok to have some overlap between the missions of multiple TG's, and (2) the most likely future of products is to have more sophisticated interfaces and intended user interactions, thereby further blurring the lines between hardware and software, products and experience, and the missions of these two TG's. I look forward to hear how the community wants to proceed.
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Michael Rayo
Assoiciate Professor
Columbus OH
Original Message:
Sent: 10-10-2025 10:42
From: Kathryn Tippey
Subject: PDTG Proposed Name and Purpose Change
Dear PDTG membership:
Given the dynamic nature of the HFES communities, PDTG leadership is proposing changes to the name and purpose of the PDTG to narrow our focus to hardware products, while supporting the UXTG's parallel emphasis on user experience and software products. We believe this division will benefit our members by enabling more tailored content and learning opportunities focused on hardware design. During this year's business meeting on Wednesday, October 15th, from 4:30-5:30pm, we will hold an open forum to discuss this proposed change. Attached to this email is a document outlining the changes.
Voting on this proposed change will open the day of the PDTG Business meeting (October 15th) and stay open for 14 days. If approved, the COTG will then vote on this change, followed by the Executive Council.
Warm regards,
Katie Tippey
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Kathryn Tippey
Senior Usability Designer
Marietta GA
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