The notion of “user friendly” has gone from equivocal to essential. But why does some design feel fundamentally good and timeless while other design expires? The expectation is that digital products are supposed to anticipate our needs before we even have them- but how did we get here?

Cliff Kuang, an award-winning journalist and experience designer at Google, tackles these questions in his new book: User Friendly: How the Hidden Rules of Design Are Changing the Way We Live, Work, and Play. The New York Times says of Kuang’s book “User Friendly is a tour de force, an engrossing fusion of scholarly research, professional experience and revelations from intrepid first hand reporting.” Through untold stories and mapping, his book sheds light on the history of our designed world and how it speaks to our behavior.

Cliff will join Work & Co Strategy Partner, Caleb Yarian—who’s led projects for clients like Apple, Lyft, Riot Games, and Gatorade—in a conversation about the morphing relationship between people and digital products.

Join us on Thursday, February 20th for an intimate Q&A and book signing at Work & Co’s Portland office. Drinks and bites will be available for attendees.