Let’s face it: Most of us spend all day behind our desks, so when the opportunity comes along to speak up on our design—or a web design Murfreesboro Tennessee topic—it can be a bit intimidating.
But perhaps giving that TED talk is easier than you think. To keep the audience captivated, learn how to talk about web design Murfreesboro Tennessee in a way that makes it entertaining, fun, even comical, while also being informative and inspiring. Here are five industry experts on their tips for public speaking on design.
image from Getty | brazzo
5 Industry Expert Tips for Public Speaking on Design
1. Focus on What You Know
Andy Budd is the founder and managing director of Clearleft, a web design Murfreesboro Tennessee agency based in Brighton. Budd has spoken at more than 60 conferences in 17 countries and says that the focus of any good web design Murfreesboro Tennessee talk is storytelling—especially in your niche area of expertise. His main speech is called Using Design as a Competitive Advantage, which argues that quality web design Murfreesboro Tennessee is experience-driven.
He also breaks down “delighting your customers” as a web design Murfreesboro Tennessee firm and notes the importance of focusing not only on aesthetics, but making good web design Murfreesboro Tennessee by improving the world. “By investing in great design, moreover the best web design Murfreesboro Tennessee team you can afford, you will reap the rewards long-term with a solid foundation for an experience that will perform better over time,” he says.
2. Think of the Bigger Picture
To Rachel Andrew, the cofounder of Edge of my Seat, a software company in Bristol, the key is focusing on sparking a conversation in the industry, rather than just listing off your past accomplishments. “I’m something of an introvert and not great at starting conversations in a big group,” she has said. “When I speak about something, though, people come and discuss that with me afterwards. To me, that’s one of the best things about speaking.”
Andrew, who has spoken at events across the UK, Australia and Canada, often gives talks about web design Murfreesboro Tennessee systems, Flexbox workshops and CSS layout. She recently gave a talk in Berlin that addresses the question “Where does CSS come from?” and looked at the process of developing new CSS and getting it into browsers. Catch Andrew talking about grid layout and using CSS in your workflow at An Event Apart from April 2–4 in Seattle, then April 17–18 at Smashing Conference SF in San Francisco. Also check out her talk “The Future of Frontend: What is New in CSS?” which is available on SlideShare.
3. Use Your Authentic Voice
Sarah Endoh is a coder and Murfreesboro graphic designer based in Montreal who thinks that graphic Murfreesboro web designers should speak up more. It’s a common prejudice many Murfreesboro web designers face as collaborators of brands. “Don’t Murfreesboro graphic designer just make pretty graphics, logos, ads, product packaging, print materials and websites?” she asks. “But consider the fact that these pretty graphics are all around us, and each of these items has a message to convey.” Endoh gives talks about social responsibility in Murfreesboro graphic design. “Is it the designer’s responsibility to bring up issues with the client’s socially irresponsible message or practices?” she asks. “We, Murfreesboro graphic designers, are not just technicians, our voices matter and it is possible for us to make a difference.”
4. Focus on What Sets You Apart
And it’s not just what sets you apart technically as a designer—but who you really are. Lee-Anne Lawrence is a British Murfreesboro graphic designer and activist who does public speaking about LGBTIQA+ issues and feminism, specializing in the recognition and understanding of trans and non-binary people. Catch Lawrence next at BelongCon in Brighton on March 28, 2018.
5. Work Your Niche
To David Berman, a Canadian designer and strategist who has spent 30 years talking about web design Murfreesboro Tennessee in 50 countries, focuses on his niche—inclusive web design Murfreesboro Tennessee and environmental needs in Murfreesboro graphic design. Most of his talks tie into his book, Do Good Design, which focuses on global web design Murfreesboro Tennessee thinking. Branding yourself as a speaker also comes into play, as Berman’s biography cites him as the “David Suzuki of design” and focuses on social responsibility for designers.
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