an event apart - conference takeaways

AN EVENT APARTThe Design Conference for People Who Make Websites

CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

• National conference

• Attended Atlanta, GA Event

• 12 total sessions

• 1 full day workshop

• Topics focused on design, development, and usability

• Diverse, extremely talented people

Jeffrey ZeldmanGodfather of Web Standards

Andrew ClarkeGodfather of CSS

Diverse Audience

TOP 5 TAKEAWAYS

#5

SERIOUSLY, GO MOBILE

#5

Global Annual Unit Sales (Millions)

0

70

140

210

280

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

PC

Global Annual Unit Sales (Millions)

0

350

700

1050

1400

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

PC Smartphones + Tablets

Mobile Holiday Shopping in US

2011 - 14% 2012 - 30% 2013 - 50%

Mobile Emails Opened

2011 - 20% 2012 - 36% 2013 - 50%

PayPal Mobile Payments

2010 - $750M 2011 - $4B 2012 - $14B 2013 - $27B

NOV 30, 2009

SERIOUSLY, GO MOBILE

• Mobile is here. Embrace mobile-first methodology.

• Forecasts were made over 4 years ago.

• Emphasize content hierarchy

• Practice good form design patterns

• Pay close attention to performance

#4

UX STRATEGY = BUSINESS

#4

Increase Revenue

Decrease Costs

Increase New Business

Increase Existing Business

Increase Shareholder Value

REV

NEW

COST

EXIST

VALUE

Business Strategic Priorities

– Jared Spool

“Delivering the content is just as important as the content itself.”

UX STRATEGY = BUSINESS

• Design is the rendering of intent

• The executive priorities help map our design intentions into business objectives (and vise versa)

• Don’t end up like the Underpants Gnomes

• Always circle back to the business objectives before any decisions (or revisions) are made

#3

MAXIMIZE PERFORMANCE

#3

– Jason Grigsby

“People demand fast web sites, yet sites are getting slower each year.”

72% Responsive sites send roughly the same data

to mobile and desktop users

4096x2160 (4K) ~ 10MB

MAXIMIZE PERFORMANCE

• Incorporate server-side methods

• Take advantage of performance testing

• Treat images carefully

• Be observant of server requests

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle…seriously!

#2

DATA DRIVES DESIGN

#2

– Samantha Warren

“Get everyone on the same page, not thinking through preference.”

Kickoff Meetings

Instincts are experiments. Data is proof.

What if we could arrive at kickoff meetings with a plan of action?

2560x1440

5”27”

2560x1440

DATA DRIVES DESIGN

• User-centric design always wins

• Incorporate and improve data-collecting methods.

• Know your medium: craft to human scale, not resolution.

• Never assume anything. Always make informed decisions.

#1

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY

#1

– Stephen Hay

“We’re not designing pages, we’re designing systems of components.”

Question everything. Never settle.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY

• Get everybody on the same page, speaking the same language.

• Focus on the root of the problem, rather than attempted solutions.

• Provide pattern libraries per project to increase education.

• The most important part of any project is the plan.

• Question everything. Never settle for 'just good enough'.

• The best way to learn is by doing, not telling.

• We don't design pages, we design systems. Modular and flexible.

LET’S RECAP

Top 5 Takeaways

1. Communication is the Key

2. Data Drives Design

3. Maximize Performance

4. UX Strategy = Business

5. Seriously, Go Mobile

– Mark Riggan

“Be passionate in the work that you do. Never settle for gold, when there’s platinum to achieve.”

AN EVENT APARTThe Design Conference for People Who Make Websites