Smashing Conference Freiburg 2024: A Concentrate of Innovation and Web Best Practices
Auteur(s) de l'article
As last year, we went to Freiburg to attend the Smashing Conference: The Web. This conference covers a wide range of topics, from design to development, including accessibility, AI, and sustainability. Here is a summary of the different talks:
Day 1
Phil Hawksworth explored the different approaches to rendering and delivering web content. He emphasized the importance of understanding project requirements and starting simply, optimizing as much as possible upfront. Phil particularly highlighted the use of Edge functions to improve performance.
Chris Kolb approached user-centered design from an interesting angle. He explained why users might seem "stupid" in certain contexts and how to design interfaces that minimize cognitive load. Chris stressed the importance of enabling users to think quickly for a better experience.
Sarah L. Fossheim shared valuable insights on creating accessible data visualizations. She emphasized the importance of contrast, legends, and providing alternative formats. Sarah also reminded that accessibility should be considered from the beginning of the design process.
Emma Craig explored how knowledge management within an organization can stimulate innovation. She highlighted the importance of internal and external feedback loops and creating an environment where failure is permissible to foster innovation.
Ryan Townsend delved into the details of web performance optimization, focusing on the new Core Web Vital metric: INP. He provided practical tips for improving INP, such as using requestIdleCallback and optimizing event handlers.
Oliver Schöndorfer debunked some myths about accessible typography. He showed how careful typography and accessibility can go hand in hand, offering practical advice on choosing and using fonts in a way that is both aesthetic and accessible.
Day 2
Adam Argyle, the mysterious speaker, presented an impressive array of new CSS and HTML features. From media query syntax to scroll-driven animations and new HTML elements, Adam showed how these tools can enhance user experience and simplify developers' work.
Sandy Dähnert addressed the crucial topic of sustainable design. She emphasized the importance of considering the environmental impact of the web and provided practical tips for creating lighter and more ethical designs. Sandy also highlighted the links between sustainability, accessibility, and mental health.
Do the Next Right Thing
John V Willshire presented Zenko Mapping, a framework for examining the interaction between the social and material dimensions of the design process. He demonstrated how this approach can be used to create a holistic strategic design process.
The Shape of AI
Emily Campbell explored the challenges and opportunities related to integrating AI into products. She shared her experience in creating human-centered AI experiences and provided practical advice for designing, evaluating, and deploying AI products at scale.
Sophie Koonin shared her experience of migrating to TypeScript at Monzo. She provided valuable tips on planning and executing technical migrations, emphasizing the importance of starting small, centralizing efforts, and measuring progress.
Bridge the Gap between Design and Development, One Token at a Time
Samantha Gordashko presented design tokens as a means to improve collaboration between designers and developers. She showed how tokens can streamline workflows and ensure consistency, while providing practical advice for their implementation.
In conclusion
This conference offered a fascinating overview of the latest trends and best practices in the web field, covering topics ranging from performance optimization to design ethics, AI, and accessibility. We left with many ideas and practical tools to implement in our own projects.