Webmaster Jam Session Dallas - Day 1
The Webmaster Jam Session in Dallas began today, and it's the first conference of its kind that I've been to. So far, it's been a great time.
Jared Spool gave a fantastic opening presentation called "The Dawning of the Age of Experience." He talked about the need for websites to become a full user experience rather than just providing a text-based experience or a video based experience or a shopping experience. He used Apple's iPOD program as the perfect example -- they provide the cool-looking hardware, the software to go with it, and they provide the ability to purchase music made even more convenient, now, with the iPhone. By combining the entire mobile music experience, they have more than 70% of the market for mp3 players.
He also discussed the element of success that can't be so easily defined and used NetFlix as an example. They easily beat Blockbuster's similar program, but no one can really pinpoint the reason. To top it off, they do it with far less marketing than Blockbuster does. Could it be for the simple reason that they did it first? Who knows.
Rob Weychert presented "A Field Guide to Design Inspiration." His message was that inspiration can't be confused with influence -- that it doesn't come from surfing other sites for new ideas but that it's a lifestyle. Inspiration can come from anything, and there is a good chance that it will come from off-line life more than on-line life. He used examples from his own life -- the great themed birthday parties that he and his friends have and the 48 hour Films they make and other real-life experiences that influence his design. It can be a deadline or a muse or a word of the day -- anything can end up as an inspiration, if you're open to it.
Garrett Dimon gave a presentation on "Application Interface Design" by using a bug-tracker (also known as a ticket-tracker) project that he's been working on. He pointed out the fact that a lot of us are using primitive ticket tracking systems that ask for the most inane information -- you know the kind of software that asks you to designate a severity level, an impact level, and a threat level when they really define the same thing. He has a great program in the works (that possibly will be open source) that strips all of the unnecessary and burdensome information out of those kind of systems, all in a friendly interface. I look forward to seeing the final product.
Rob Jones gave a great presentation called "Measure Twice, Code Once." In it, he covered all the bases on analytics and tracking and the need for user testing and surveying. It was a lot of fun, and he passed along some great links to tracking tools, which I will add to my "Great Tools" page.
Jeff Croft gave an overview of Typography. He pointed out the basics of attaining legibility and of using CSS for that end -- it was a great introduction to a topic that I'm avidly drawn to.
Unfortunately, I missed the last two hours of today's event but am looking forward to continuing the conference tomorrow morning. It's got a great, laid back feel and tomorrow night's after party at the Lizard Lounge will be a terrific chance to mingle with fellow designers.
Will post more on tomorrow's events!
Jared Spool gave a fantastic opening presentation called "The Dawning of the Age of Experience." He talked about the need for websites to become a full user experience rather than just providing a text-based experience or a video based experience or a shopping experience. He used Apple's iPOD program as the perfect example -- they provide the cool-looking hardware, the software to go with it, and they provide the ability to purchase music made even more convenient, now, with the iPhone. By combining the entire mobile music experience, they have more than 70% of the market for mp3 players.
He also discussed the element of success that can't be so easily defined and used NetFlix as an example. They easily beat Blockbuster's similar program, but no one can really pinpoint the reason. To top it off, they do it with far less marketing than Blockbuster does. Could it be for the simple reason that they did it first? Who knows.
Rob Weychert presented "A Field Guide to Design Inspiration." His message was that inspiration can't be confused with influence -- that it doesn't come from surfing other sites for new ideas but that it's a lifestyle. Inspiration can come from anything, and there is a good chance that it will come from off-line life more than on-line life. He used examples from his own life -- the great themed birthday parties that he and his friends have and the 48 hour Films they make and other real-life experiences that influence his design. It can be a deadline or a muse or a word of the day -- anything can end up as an inspiration, if you're open to it.
Garrett Dimon gave a presentation on "Application Interface Design" by using a bug-tracker (also known as a ticket-tracker) project that he's been working on. He pointed out the fact that a lot of us are using primitive ticket tracking systems that ask for the most inane information -- you know the kind of software that asks you to designate a severity level, an impact level, and a threat level when they really define the same thing. He has a great program in the works (that possibly will be open source) that strips all of the unnecessary and burdensome information out of those kind of systems, all in a friendly interface. I look forward to seeing the final product.
Rob Jones gave a great presentation called "Measure Twice, Code Once." In it, he covered all the bases on analytics and tracking and the need for user testing and surveying. It was a lot of fun, and he passed along some great links to tracking tools, which I will add to my "Great Tools" page.
Jeff Croft gave an overview of Typography. He pointed out the basics of attaining legibility and of using CSS for that end -- it was a great introduction to a topic that I'm avidly drawn to.
Unfortunately, I missed the last two hours of today's event but am looking forward to continuing the conference tomorrow morning. It's got a great, laid back feel and tomorrow night's after party at the Lizard Lounge will be a terrific chance to mingle with fellow designers.
Will post more on tomorrow's events!
Leave a comment