14 September 2025 — SMX Convention Center, Pasay, Philippines
The much‑anticipated UX+ Conference 2025 opened today with user experience designers, product managers, developers, and digital strategists filling the halls of the SMX Convention Center to explore practical, people‑centered design practices for the modern digital landscape. Organizers kicked off the event with opening remarks that underscored the importance of blending timeless UX principles with today’s accelerating AI‑assisted tools, setting a thoughtful tone for the afternoon sessions. The first keynote was delivered by Jon Howell, Brand Experience Design Director from Los Angeles, who challenged attendees to think beyond aesthetics by showing how brand experience and product design intersect to create cohesive, meaningful user experiences across digital touchpoints.
Following the keynote, Michelle Fernandez, Vice President of Digital Experience based in Manila, took the stage to discuss how organizations can embed human‑centered design into product strategy to improve usability and customer satisfaction at scale. Fernandez’s insights drew on case examples from enterprise environments where UX research findings directly informed design decisions that uplifted both engagement and conversion rates.
The program continued with a session led by Jezreel Cerbito, Product Design Lead in Manila, who shared actionable takeaways on leveraging user research methodologies to capture meaningful user data and translate it into impactful design solutions. Cerbito emphasized the importance of empathy in research and how iterative testing can refine product experiences.
As designers and strategists converged for deeper discussions, Rajeef M K, Senior UX Engineer from Singapore, walked delegates through technical interaction design patterns that enhance accessibility and streamline user flows for both web and mobile platforms, reminding the crowd that inclusive design is foundational to digital‑first experiences.
Mid‑afternoon saw a dynamic presentation by Katrina Lachica, Senior UX Manager from Manila, whose talk on integrating UX processes with agile workflows resonated with product teams navigating fast‑paced development cycles. Lachica shared frameworks for effective collaboration between design and engineering teams to foster shared ownership over user outcomes.
Innovation in design automation took center stage when Gian dela Rama, Chief Product & AI Officer from Manila, addressed how AI‑assisted tools can accelerate prototyping and idea validation without sacrificing human intuition. His examples showcased practical applications where generative tools complement designer expertise.
Panels earlier in the day highlighted emerging trends in personalization strategies, mobile‑first design, and UX metrics that matter, while workshops gave participants hands‑on experiences in wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing. UX+ Conference 2025 covered verified topics in human‑centered design, accessibility, interaction design, research methodologies, and emerging digital experience trends.
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