Web Design: Tricks of Tech Design Show At Big (D)esign Conference

At the sixth annual Big (D)esign Conference, about 1,000 inquiring tech design minds, including coders to gamers will be gathered in Addison to learn from each other. Co-founder Candy Bernhardt says, "It’s like South by [Southwest] before it got too big and commercial".

At Big (D)esign, they are promise to bring different mindsets together for help for those website owners, whose sites are amazing in looks and confuse to users while they are exploring or applications are difficult to navigate or entrepreneur might not have the wherewithal to launch it.

The president of Sabre’s user experience in Dallas, co-founder Brian Sullivan says, “Web designers, app developers, user and content strategists will give tips and tricks and ways to solve problems.” Sullivan also says that serious geeks can dive deep while the simply curious just wade in the water.

Sullivan says, “Über-nerds can learn about grunt.js, data visualizations, APIs and new design tools.” “Those seeking fun and interesting talks can learn how Picasso produced more than 150,000 pieces of art; misconceptions about how people think; how companies can design for disasters; and 101 different ways to write stories.”

They can also play games or can visit trade show for interactive exhibits. The director of Travelport Ltd.’s innovation lab said, “Rather than being perceived as experts, we’re doers.” About Friday morning she spoke about how to turn on your innovative juices.

Sullivan also says that the stylized Big (D)esign name is an insider nerd joke and Big D is an industry synonyms for design thinking. And we found one obvious thing, it happens only here. "It’s become a brand like South by [Southwest]. People will say, ‘Are you going to Big D?"

Beer Meeting

A nonprofit coalition of seven local professional organizations is placed by Big (D)esign with a joined membership of over 10,000 in North Texas. Keynote speakers can also get paid for and hotel expenses. Just all speakers have to donate their time. For the next year, expenses with a little left over are covered by proceeds and sponsorships.

Those readers, who are using online registration code DMN2014, can purchase two-day conference tickets for $280 that means they can enjoy 25% discount or $90 for students. On Sept. 4, the two pre-conference workshops cost $95 by using same code.

The idea of conducting conference was derived in July 2008 when Bernhardt, Sullivan and four other organization leaders got together for beers. Somebody said, “We ought to have a conference.”

The first (D)esign was held in 2009 and 502 people came at Southern Methodist University’s Hughes-Trigg Student Center. With growing attendance, the event moved to Addison in 2011. This year, people from Mexico, Spain, France and the Netherlands have registered.

Talent hunt

There is a cadence to the conference, said Sullivan. He also added, “We have the guy who designed Verizon’s FiOS, followed by the author of a very popular book, followed by a guy who did ballot designs for the last presidential election”. Think hanging chads? “Exactly.”

On Saturday evening’s finale, one can have Oscar winner Phil Tippett, who have worked his creature design and character animation magic in the Star Wars, Robocop, Indiana Jones, Twilight, and Jurassic Park movie series.

The Big (D)esign wants to spread their wings to other Texas cities and they have initiatives in the works with Addison and its TreeHouse. Sullivan says, “We want to do creative coffee talks one Friday a month”. “We also want to do civic-minded hackathons. So if Addison needs help with a website or an app, we’re going to get some of the best minds together over a weekend to figure out a solution. That’s going to happen next year.”