My top takeaways from this wonderful conference were: 1) that it's impossible to design sites for specific devices and be covered -- we basically need to create in a way that covers all sizes of all devices; 2) embrace iteration, instead of trying to make it "perfect" on initial launch; 3) use systems for site design, like Style Tiles, designing in the browser and with responsive wireframes, and making pattern portfolios instead of making mockups for bunches of pages and screen sizes.

1. Recap :
An Event Apart 2013
Washington, D.C.
Amy Lamp
Design Director
amy.lamp@forty.co

2. Conference
recap
Panel
discussion
Identify and explore
the landscape of
digital design and
content-creation
Determine ways to
adjust our workflow so
that cross-discipline
teams can adapt

3. Website creation is
a rapidly-changing
environment.

4. Content and user needs
drive design.

5. Accessibility.
Systems.
Iteration.

6. Accessibility. We don’t decide how people
access our websites. They do. And increasingly it’s on
small devices with lower bandwidth.
Systems.
Iteration.

7. Accessibility. We don’t decide how people
access our websites. They do. And increasingly it’s on
small devices with lower bandwidth.
Systems. Create flexible systems rather than
fixed “pages” to accommodate the slew of
ever-changing devices.
Iteration.

8. Accessibility. We don’t decide how people
access our websites. They do. And increasingly it’s on
small devices with lower bandwidth.
Systems. Create flexible systems rather than
fixed “pages” to accommodate the slew of
ever-changing devices.
Iteration. There’s no such thing as a perfect
launch. Get your project out there so you can begin
improving it.

9. Accessibility
1
2
3
what device
people are
using
their
relationship to
that device
quality of
internet
connection

10. Accessibility
Systems
device / relationship / connection
So many devices,
so many sizes.
3” to 30” and beyond
Iteration

11. Accessibility
Systems
Iteration
device / relationship / connection
Remember that current
situations are bad for
predicting future behavior.
http://www.idownloadblog.com/2013/04/02/phablets-fad-flurry/

12. Accessibility
Systems
device / relationship / connection
Mobile devices
are a disruptive
innovation.
i.e., it’s a cheap way for more people
to access the internet
Iteration

13. Accessibility
Systems
device / relationship / connection
TV browsers =
touch + distance
Iteration

14. Accessibility
Systems
Iteration
device / relationship / connection
Mobile device interaction is
often one-handed

15. Accessibility
Systems
device / relationship / connection
The mobile
device may be
their only access
to your site.
Iteration

16. Accessibility
Systems
Iteration
device / relationship / connection
Take care with the
“mobile” experience.

17. Accessibility
Systems
Iteration
device / relationship / connection
YMMV
35% have no internet access at home.
The means of getting out of poverty are increasingly
available exclusively on the internet.
31% of mobile owners who use their mobile device for
internet use it for their primary internet use.

18. Accessibility
Systems
Iteration
The introduction of
different devices and sizes
really just takes us back to
the natural state of the web.

19. Accessibility
Systems
Iteration
Specifics to keep in mind:
page weight
start with the small screen
make input easy
touch everywhere
favor HTML over
Javascript solutions

20. Accessibility
Systems
Iteration
Responsive
fluid layouts
flexbox
media queries based on EMs rather than pixels
break points based on content needs, not fixed
grid system

21. Systems
“Put your clients in the
position to succeed.”
—Samantha Warren

22. Accessibility
Style tiles
Look and feel
http://styletil.es/
Systems
Iteration

23. Accessibility
Systems
Iteration
Pattern
portfolios
Component library +
page examples
http://clearleft.com/thinks/onpatternportfolios/

24. Accessibility
Systems
Iteration
In-browser
wireframes
and design
http://alistapart.com/article/responsive-compingobtaining-signoff-with-mockups

25. Accessibility
Systems
Iteration
Content strategy
“Content strategy is caring for the
life cycle of content.”
­­­—Kristina Halvorson
who
+
how

26. Accessibility
Systems
Iteration
people
content components
Workflow and
governance
Substance and
structure
Good collaboration
Good writing
Making yourself heard
Chunking your content
Asking “why?”

27. Iteration
“But people will see it!”
—Jason Santa Maria

28. Accessibility
Systems
Iteration
Don’t protect ideas.
We WANT feedback.

29. Accessibility
Systems
Iteration
Get over perfectionism
and ship it.

30. Accessibility
Systems
Great designs
evolve.
Iteration

31. Accessibility
Systems
It’s easier to revise
than to create.
Iteration

32. Jared Spool
Experience Design

34. Everyone wants to be an Apple Store.
Because they’re successful.
Because they are
designed with intention.

35. “Apple products
suck just as much as
everyone else’s”

36. Innovation doesn’t mean
new inventions.
Innovation means
adding new value.

37. …and that was An Event Apart 2013,
Washington, D.C.