Session Title:
A Sheep in Wolf's Clothing: How to be a Design Thinker in an Analytical World
TIM FLETCHER, FIDSA

Design thinking. It has been described as both the solution for bringing design to the strategic table as well as a dead marketing ploy. This session will articulate what design thinking really is, what it is not and why it is important for everyone, not just designers. As an important take away, the participants will be given an understanding of when and how design thinking needs to be articulated and how to remain a design thinker but camouflage communications in an analytical manner, so as not to scare others. This session will move from high-level topics to actionable techniques all with a humorous slant.

Session Title:
Ignite and Button-Up Your Portfolio: Things You Need to Know about Portfolio Design
RANDY BARTLETT, IDSA

For 10 years, Randy Bartlett, IDSA, portfolio guru, has co-led the Portfolio and Interviewing Seminar with RitaSue Sigel, IDSA at IDSA’s international conferences. This year, at the Southern District Conference, he will share important tips about what it takes to prepare and produce a powerful portfolio. Even though there are many ways to represent your work, there are still basic dos and don’ts that need to be maintained. Join Bartlett as he presents these important truths in an entertaining, provoking manner.

Session Title:
Design is Not the Center of the Universe
STEVEN MEISTER

While everyone appreciates beautifully designed products like the Apple iPad, Nest Thermostat or Porsche Panamera, their success in the marketplace requires much more than simply great design. Multiple disciplines from research and marketing to legal and supply chain all play a roll in determining if the product will be a home run or closeout special. In this presentation, Meister will discuss techniques for designers to embed themselves into these fields to better understand the motives, goals and languages of these development constituents and dramatically improve design outcomes.

Session Title:
The Customer Journey Framework: A Structured Approach for Creating User Empathy and Designing in Complex Customer Experience Environments
FLORIAN VOLLMER

This session explores the power of designing from a customer journey viewpoint. Designers stand to create more human-centric and integrative solutions by taking a time-based approach of analyzing and designing for experience. The customer journey canvas also serves as an effective communication tool with all project stakeholders. Vollmer will analyze a few real-life customer journeys and go in depth on how to create and use the customer journey framework in the design process.

Workshop Title:
Sketching Fun with Sharpies
JEFF SMITH

This workshop will focus on old school sketching skills. There will be a strong theme of sketching with “big fat Sharpie” markers. I am a believer in “sketch by the pound.” Also, I am a believer that all levels of sketchers can improve skills quickly with the right practice and challenging drills. Grab a sharpie, some copy paper and come draw with me! This will be a hands-on workshop.

Session Title:
Co-Creation in Design: How to Ride the Lightning But Not Get Burned
JOHN B. ROGERS JR.

Since the dawn of the Internet, designing in the face of the crowd was inevitable, but being successful in that has been anything but a given. In this session, Local Motors will share how they have co-created the first vehicle in the world and did it successfully.

Session Title:
Digital Flow- Quick Sketch Techniques for Concept Development
THOMAS PAREL

This workshop will deal with fast sketch techniques in a digital environment. You will learn how to create a sense of flow while using digital tools to generate solutions and form concepts. You will also learn how to work to the strengths of tools like Photoshop and Wacom pads while recognizing their inherent limitations. The objective is to minimize unnecessary cursor movement and maximize muscle memory.

Session Title:
Successful Networks
ROBERT MOSER, IDSA

People with strong networks are more likely to succeed. A strong network gives you access to people and resources that others may not have. So, how do you build a strong network? Strong networks are composed of strong connections. The more the other person likes you, the more they will remember you and be willing to help you in the future. Connecting with people can be difficult, but luckily, there are several extremely effective tools that can make you stand out. This session will show you how to make your network work for you.

Session Title:
Beyond Brainstorming
ROBERT MOSER, IDSA

Brainstorming is a great way to generate new ideas. What do you do, however, when brainstorming fails? Most people don’t realize it, but there is an entire science of innovation. Using tools like nine-squares, provocation, SCAMPER or brain writing, you can find more great ideas than possible by brainstorming alone. This session will interactively explore a few tools that will help you achieve better results immediately.

Session Title:
Business Growth through Multi-Sensory Brand Language
MATHIEU TURPAULT

One opportunity that's ripe for entrepreneurial leadership is the true integration of digital user interface design with traditional industrial design. It's still the exception to the rule where these disciplines aren't silo'd within companies and design consultancies.

Thanks to technical advances, we're now able to create multi-sensory product experiences for more and more products. While VBL (Visual Brand Language) has been an effective design tool, today it really should be thought of as MSBL (Multi-Sensory Brand Language), encompassing audible sound signatures and haptic feedback, in addition to visual and tactile modalities.

From consumer, to medical, to commercial, users expect more from new products. MSBL opportunities lie in integrating technology to improve the experience and foster fierce brand loyalty. Learn about a process for aligning the UI and ID disciplines early in the product development process, what skill-sets are necessary and how companies can integrate the UI/MSBL functions with product design to yield more compelling and competitive products.