Monday, September 22
1:45-2:30 p.m. M301
The Hottest Design Trends to Follow -- and Avoid
Speaker: Luke Hayman, Partner, Pentagram
From killer covers to color palettes, magazine designers need to master and integrate all of the elements of design to create and communicate the visual brand. In this session, Luke Hayman, one of the magazine industry's most renowned designers, will show you how to combine typography, illustrations and photography to create a unique look and feel for your publication and to attract and engage your readers.
2:45-3:30 p.m. M302
Translating Print Design to the Web
Speaker: Jason Brightman, Director of Web Design, PC World
There's a big difference between designing for print and the Web and many editorial designers find the transition frustrating. In the online world you have to consider information architecture, search engine optimization, resolution, user experience, and development feasibility. This session will look at the habits of print vs. online users and how usage patterns impact design. You'll learn the elements of good online design, what should and should not transfer from one medium to the other, and what skills and techniques you need to be successful.
3:45-4:30 p.m. M303
The Advantages of InDesign, and Tips for Transitioning from Quark
Speaker: Paul Chernoff, Director, IT, Washingtonian
The advantages of InDesign as part of a unified Adobe product suite are drawing more converts from QuarkXPress every day. But making the switch is not without some pitfalls. This session is for designers and production managers considering a switch to InDesign and will prepare you with the tips, techniques and pitfalls you need to know in order to make a smooth transition.
Tuesday, September 23
9:45-10:45 a.m. T311
The 6 Steps to a Successful Magazine Redesign
Speaker: Kelly McMurray, Designer, 2communiqué
A magazine redesign should be about more than the final look and feel. In this session you'll learn the critical steps necessary in implementing a magazine redesign, from the initial discussions to the final output. As a designer, you can play the central role in the process if you understand how to communicate and coordinate the ideas and input of all of the stakeholders. Attend this session and you'll get a gameplan and checklist that you can use back at the office.
11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. T312
The 8 Essential Qualities of a Top Designer
Speaker: Laura Wall, Design Director, Pace Communications
Beyond raw talent, successful designers share certain qualities and contribute beyond their job descriptions. In this session you'll learn the 8 essential steps you can take to increase your value and contribution to your company, enhance and measure the impact you make on your organization, and become a valuable contributor to business success. This session is for designers and creative directors looking to move up the ladder and take on larger roles within their departments and their organizations.
2:45-3:30 p.m. T313
Trends in Marketing Design
Speaker: Scott Carlis, Executive Director, Marketing, GQ
Marketing design is fundamentally different than editorial design. In this session you'll learn the key trends in effective marketing design, including the importance of "calls to action" and how to balance "look and feel" with the need to sell. Attend this session and you'll see winning examples of great marketing design and the principles that were followed to create them.
4:45-5:30 p.m. T314
Creative Department Organization Strategies
Speaker: Paul Lee, Creative Director, Radius Design Group
Productivity and efficiency are the watchwords in today's publishing organizations. But is your creative department optimized for peak performance? In this session we'll examine the winning strategies for building, organizing and managing a creative department, including workflow and communications strategies, task management, scheduling/deadlines, and how to document productivity gains.
Wednesday, September 24
9:15-10:00 a.m. W321
Combining Visual Elements and Type
Speaker: Debbie Bates, Principal, Bates Creative Group
It's the simplest and most elegant expression of an idea or concept: the union of typography and art. In this session you'll learn how to communicate or reinforce a message by combining photos or art elements and type, including techniques for layering, color selection, selecting fonts and more.
11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. W322
Creating High Design at Low Cost
Speaker: Josh Klenert, Creative Director, Billboard
You can create great design without busting your budget. In this fun session you'll learn guerilla techniques and insider tips for using stock images, digital photography and creative approaches to creating killer designs at low (or no) cost from Josh Klenert of Billboard, a 114-year-old title known for pushing the boundaries of trade magazine design.
12:30-1:15 p.m. W323
Inside the Ultimate Designer's Toolbox
Speaker: Chris Courtney, Design Director, Redeye
Keeping up with the software, online tools, and other resources to spark your creativity and execute your ideas is a growing challenge. Take a seat, grab a pad, and take notes as top designers share what they're using to work more efficiently, spark great ideas, and execute their creative ideas in their magazines, marketing materials and online.
