Australian Infront

20 questions

Posted 07.10.2011 @ 10.52AM

hi there. we're (andy and i here from SouthSouthWest) speaking at the upcoming analogue/digital conference on the gold coast. we've been thinking about how to make a talk more interesting than just blabbing on about ourselves for an hour - and hence we need your help.

we are calling for 20 questions from you - the design audience. something that is engaging, probing, humorous, insulting - you name it. the idea is then that we will respond to the questions in a more candid way than a structured format. hopefully it will give the audience a bit more of an insight into things.

we haven't had much interest so far - so maybe we're doing it wrong!? but if you are interested please hit us up with a question and we will respond to it on the night. could be fun – could end in tears!

you can respond here also if you like: http://www.southsouthwest.com.au/2011/10/20-questions/

thanks people.
adam gibson.

Posted 07.10.2011 @ 3.58PM

I always wonder of the 'how', that is how you may have arrived at a solution etc. The last SP I went to was a few years back but I recall seeing really great stuff I had no idea of how I could possibly create.

The questions that come to mind are:

• How was the idea conceptualised? By whom
• How was the project run, with what resources etc
• How was the client managed/swayed/educated etc

Other would definitely be advice to designers, but most of what I see is aimed at students, so there's this unspoken thing of if you don't *make it* in a few years then that's it? Just a though.

Hope this helps!

Posted 07.10.2011 @ 4.03PM

good stuff - thanks. added to the list!

Posted 08.10.2011 @ 8.09AM

Hey Andy!

Good on you guys for putting in the effort to make sure you don't just get up and waste the hour (of power).

I've been to a fair few talks now and I'd say 80% of the talks I've ever seen have almost sent me to sleep. Sometimes because the speaker was so nervous that I felt uncomfortable, sometimes because the speaker just went through their portfolio without going through the process.

The best talks are the ones that have inspired me and the best way to inspire people, in my opinion, is to give away your secrets.

Posted 08.10.2011 @ 1.58PM

i haven't been to a great deal of talks but the ones that i found most engaging were ones that actually showed who/what inspired them, ie: how they started, where they draw ideas from (group discussions etc.) but i've yet to see many talks about solving problems-- clients not liking the idea, small timeframes etc.

Posted 10.10.2011 @ 1.38PM

thanks for these suggestions guys - they are very helpful. what you have put up here is pretty much the same thinking we have - less polished folio presentation and more a behind the scenes chat.

let us know if you have any more.