Hosted by CapCHI, Hediyeh, & Miti
Join us for a talk to learn about what an AI-enabled workflow actually look like
Where AI Helps, Hurts and Why Humans Still Matter
by Mandy Hui, UX Designer, Outwitly
and Roxana Maria Barbu, Senior Service Designer, Outwitly
AI is now part of our process, from early discovery to prototyping, analysis, synthesis, and delivery. That shift can come with growing expectations: move faster, produce more, and stretch budgets further.
But what does an AI-enabled workflow actually look like? Where does AI genuinely make our work better? Where does it introduce new risks? And what gets lost when we don’t listen, whether that means listening to participants or across the different roles shaping the work?
DATE TIME: Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 6:00-9:00 pm.
LOCATION: In-Person Event at Impact HUB Ottawa (123 Slater Street, 7th floor, Ottawa, ON K1P 5H2).
- NOTE: The venue is in a high-rise building, and the entry doors on the ground floor/street level lock automatically at 7pm.
REGISTRATION: (Free!) https://www.meetup.com/capchi/events/316890078/
Roxana and Mandy will work through the research and design journey from the moment a brief or new ask lands on your desk through dissemination. Drawing on lessons learned and tangible examples, they’ll share where AI has helped, where it has fallen short, and where human judgement still matters.
Rather than saving the conversation for the end, we’ll pause throughout for discussion so we can work through these questions together.
There is no single perfect AI workflow. The goal is to leave with practical approaches, examples and methods to try, along with cautionary tales about where human expertise still matters most.
About Mandy and Roxanna
Mandy Hui is a UX designer who specializes in bridging user needs with business goals to create meaningful solutions. With a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from Carleton University, she is well-versed in the end-to-end design process, spanning research, concept exploration, prototyping, and production. She built her experience in agency settings, collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver web and product experiences for clients across technology, entertainment, e-commerce, and financial sectors. Mandy brings a human-centered, research-driven approach to both client projects and internal initiatives. Her practice spans service design, user research, and UX/UI, allowing her to contribute strategically as well as tactically across the design process.
Roxana Maria Barbu is a Service Designer with more than 10 years of experience helping clients navigate the full product, service or experience journey, from early discovery through market launch and ongoing improvement. Her work spans public- and private-sector organizations, consultancies, and growing ventures across various industries. With a background in cognitive science, Roxana brings a systems lens to the relationships between people, organizations, and the services they experience. She is particularly drawn to work that creates meaningful change at the product, service, and organizational levels.
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A Space for Community and Support
Beyond the talk, we recognize the importance of fostering a strong UX and design community—especially in light of the recent news about Algonquin College suspending its Human-Centred Design program. The decision to halt new student admissions after Fall 2025 is a significant loss to the local UX ecosystem.
Now, more than ever, we must come together to support, uplift, and advocate for the growth of human-centered design. Events like this serve not only as learning opportunities but also as spaces for connection, mentorship, and solidarity.
We hope to see you there. Let’s keep the spirit of UX alive.
Spread the word and bring a friend!
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About The Venue
Impact HUB Ottawa is situated on the 7th floor of a high-rise building and at 7pm the entry doors on the ground floor/street level lock automatically. We will monitor the doors a bit past the lock time and tape a note to the door with a number to contact for entry. Water, tea and coffee are provided for free, but food will not be available. You are welcome to bring your own snack. No alcoholic beverages please. If you like to head out for a drink afterwards, there are various options near by to do so.
Our Sponsors
We are extremely grateful to these organizations for their generous support of CapCHI and the local UX community.
DFFRNT
We’re an exceptional team of highly experienced behavioural researchers and design strategists. We apply a fundamental understanding of human behaviour, strategic design and human-computer interaction to deliver product and service design value.
Outwitly
Your Trusted Partner for Staffing High-Impact Design Teams
Outwitly is more than a UX recruitment agency. We’re your strategic design partner. We help you hire exceptional UXers, service designers, and researchers — with ongoing support from our own design experts to ensure lasting impact.
Impact HUB
Impact HUB is Ottawa’s coworking space for social impact where consultants, non-profits, social entrepreneurs and small business owners like you get the workspaces, services, and experts you need to do good better.
About CapCHI
CapCHI (www.capchi.org) is a social and professional society of people who work as user interface designers, researchers, educators, software developers, web designers, graphic designers and human factors engineers in and around Canada’s National Capital Region. Founded in 1991, CapCHI’s goal is to bring together local professionals interested in how humans and computers interact, in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.
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