Did you know that today is World Usability Day? Events have been organized around the world that you can attend in recognition of a very worthy cause—”increasing awareness for designs, products, and services that improve and facilitate conversation around the world,” as outlined in the event’s mission statement.

World Usability Day (WUD) was founded in 2005 by The Usability Professionals’ Association. On the second Thursday of November the UPA reports that 200 events are organized in over 43 countries to celebrate this day. Each year comes with a theme, with communication being the theme for World Usability Day 2010. “World Usability Day 2010 will serve as an impetus to creating greater awareness for designs, products and services that improve and facilitate communication around the world,” said Elizabeth Rosenzweig, founder of WUD.

The UPA’s WorldUsabilityDay.org website includes a map of events that may be happening in your area. If you’re lucky enough to live in Portland, OR, you may be consider participating in their first-ever PDX Usability Scavenger Hunt.

What’s happening online?

Even if there are no events planned in your area, there are a lot of events planned online that you can be part of. Here are a few of them:

Optimal Workshop’s World Usability Day Redesign Bonanza

This bundle of tools is a value of $5,000 for only $1,350. It includes some wonderful products ranging from Loop11′s remote testing tool to Clearleft’s Silverback App.

World Usability Day 2010 Virtual Seminar

This virtual seminar by UPA international will cover “Communicating the Brand: Where Marketing Meets Users” in honor of the 6th annual World Usability Day. This seminar costs $99 for non-UPA International members.

What are you up to?

What are you doing to celebrate World Usability Day? What events or special online happenings did we miss?