IDEA 2009 Preconference Workshop

I’m really psyched to be presenting the pre-conference workshop at the IDEA 2009 Conference in Toronto, CA on September 14th. The conference program is spectacular, the speakers in the program are top notch, so I’m hoping to add a bit of sizzle as we dive deep into patterns, components, reuse, and modular deliverable techniques.

What is IDEA 2009?

The IDEA Conference is about how to create experiences in a world where tangible and virtual are converging. And not just in a lofty way, but in a practical context for professionals who need to understand this convergence. Where are you seeing convergence in your job or life?

The EightShapes Workshop

Over the course of a full day, I’ll be speaking on modular techniques to improve your design and documentation practices.

In the morning, you’ll learn about components, each a chunk of a page, and how you can create, vary, and recombine design elements to produce a better, more usable solution. You will also get a glimpse of experiences we’ve had creating and managing component and pattern libraries for many UX teams, and take away useful techniques you can apply to your work and team’s process.

In the afternoon, we’ll shift gears and explore better ways to produce better design documentation. Using our own approach – EightShapes Unify – as a backdrop, we’ll demonstrate techniques for creating effective UX deliverables. From design strategy to research, page and component wireframe designs to effective annotations to even integrating comps and copy, you’ll leave with ample inspirations of how to better communicate many parts of your design’s story and collaborate with your fellow designer (even if you don’t use our specific templates, which we give away for free).

Why am I speaking on it?

I’ve been thinking in patterns and components for years, but didn’t really hit my stride on the subject until I worked with the incomparable UX team at sun.com, who built the gold standard on component libraries (take a look-see yourself, since they share it with the world at www.sun.com/webdesign/). Since then, I’ve had the great fortune to explore the highs - and the lows - of trying to implement more systematic design and deliverable libraries for a range of teams. It’s been a great ride, and coming out the other side I’m still a firm believer that we can communicate in a more unified, effective, and modular way.

What am I looking forward to most?

Aside from my own presentation, I’m especially looking forward to Social Design Patterns Mini-Workshop presented by Erin Malone and Christian Crumlish. No surprise there, I love thinking patterns, and Erin and Christian are always ready to put on a good show. In particular, I’m very curious how they are going to mash up patterns, a competitive game, and lucky cards. Competitively playing lucky cards in a pattern is one step closer to nirvana.

Join us in Toronto!