New York City, Fall 2007

Joshua Davis (Joshua Davis Studios) - Finding Inspiration

Inspiration. People say to go out and look for it while others advise for it to come to you. No matter what school of thought you belong to, the face remains that inspiration can be found anywhere and through anything. This session will give you an outlook on just a few of the many ways designers today are finding inspiration. [audio] [slides]

Brian Fling (Blue Flavor) - Taking Your Site Mobile

Like it or not, the mobile web is booming. People are scouring for those expensive data plans to get the most out of their mobile web experience. But how does one take advantage of the massive boom? This session will provide some guidelines for taking your site mobile, including the importance of semantics, and help when deciding if the work required to create a mobile only site is worth the effort. [audio]

Ryan Singer (37Signals) - Web Application Usability

The most important part of any web application is the memorable experience that it gives the visitor. An important part in any experience is usability. With web applications popping up faster than ever and development timelines quickly shrinking, it's still imperative to make your application usable. This session will go over the importance of usability and tips and tricks to make sure all your apps follow suit. [audio] [slides]

Cindy Li (Scrapblog) - Beautifying the Web with Illustration

If you're searching for ways to personalise your site, whether personal or corporate, illustration is a growing solution. Gone are the days of illustration making a site look "cartoony", as its effective use can add a special elegance and the personality you've been looking for. [audio] [slides]

Andy Clarke (Stuff & Nonsense), Josh Williams (Firewheel Design) & Jeffrey Zeldman (Happy Cog) - Discussion on The Future of Web Design

No matter the background or the experience, every designer has a toolset, those special knick-knacks that allow them to work their magic. In this interview with two people who have seen it all, we'll be asking them about the future of web design and the evolution of the standard designer's toolset. [audio]

Jonathan Snook (Snook.ca) - AJAX & Design

It's time to add some polish to AJAX, a part of the web that has become so popular that everybody wants to get their hands on a piece of its sleek nature. This is a session that focuses on using AJAX effectively in your designs, adding more meaning to the term than just the superfluous effects it's known for. [audio] [slides]

Jina Bolton (Jinabolton.com) - CSS3 and What Could Be

No matter how far CSS3 might be from our design toolkits, it still provides an awesome view of what the web will become. If the standard still alludes you, this session will give you some insight on the power of CSS3, which browsers support what properties, and what the future could look like when CSS3 finally becomes mainstream. [audio] [slides]

Elliot Jay Stocks (elliotjaystocks.com) - Destroying The Web 2.0 Look

Elliot will be hosting a quick-fire attack on web design cliches in which he will take no prisoners! Reflected logos, diagonal lines, luminous colours... they'll all come under the hammer. Elliot will explain the dangers of referring to 'Web 2.0' as a design aesthetic rather than a development concept, and make some suggestions on how to embrace modern trends without becoming a sheep. Metaphorically, of course. [audio] [slides]

Mathew Patterson (Campaign Monitor) - Good Practices in Newsletter/Email Design

Email newsletters are still one of the best ways for companies to communicate with customers, promote new products and push new promotions. How do you design a stunning newsletter that will actually be read by recipients, while keeping it standards compliant, accessible and easily trackable? Campaign Monitor is a leader in this area - and Mathew Patterson knows a thing or two about putting together effective campaigns. [audio] [slides]

Jeffrey Kalmikoff (skinnyCorp) - Community-Centered Design

Designing a blog or a site for a client can be a challenge for any designer, but designing for a community of people is a whole different beast. Not only is a design there to wow, it's also there to serve as a mechanism to keep people active on the site. This session will provide an outlook at how to effectively design for communities, and the special considerations needed for this breed of site. [audio] [slides]

Lea Alcantara (Lealea Design) - Building a Brand through Design

Branding. Most people think that "brand" begins and ends with the logo, when the truth is much more than that. Essentially, a brand is an idea and perceived value formed by its intended audience based on a company's culture, product, and service. This session will focus on bringing the branding principle home and help you to create the brand for yourself and your clients. [audio] [slides]

Ryan Sims (Virb inc), Keith Robinson (Blue Flavor) - Inside The Designer's Studio: IMDb

Just as James Lipton digs into the minds of great actors to discover what makes them tick, you'll be presented with an in-depth look into the minds of designers D. Keith Robinson and Ryan Sims. They'll show you the thinking behind their design decision making and uncover all the behind-the-scenes details of their design process. [audio] [slides]