SmashingConf Heads To Austin For Its 2020 Debut
SmashingConf is adding a new city to its roster this year. SmashingConf Austin brings the conference's blend of talks, workshops, and community events to Texas, with a lineup covering everything from raw HTML to design systems and web performance.
The Venue And Setting
The conference will be held at the Topfer Theatre at The ZACH, a 420-seat theater built in 2011. The venue is part of the ZACH Theater complex, an organization with deep local roots: founded in 1932 as The Austin Civic Theater, it holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating theater company in Texas and the tenth oldest in the United States.
Talks Across The Frontend Spectrum
The two-day speaker lineup is now complete, with Vitaly Friedman and Phil Hawksworth returning to host the event. The sessions span a broad range of frontend and UX concerns, curated to offer something for every role on a team.
- Chris Coyier, founder of CSS-Tricks and co-founder of CodePen, will open "Building Websites" with the argument that you can build with almost no fancy technology at all—just raw HTML. From there, he'll examine how needs change as sites grow, and why every added complication carries a cost that should be minimized when it isn't necessary.
- Sara Soueidan returns to discuss accessibility and CSS, building components live to demonstrate her process for developing accessible interfaces.
- Harry Roberts will look at web performance from a business perspective: what performance improvements actually mean for clients, and how to translate those numbers into stronger working relationships.
- Gemma O'Brien, returning after a well-received talk in Toronto, brings her background in murals and illustration to the stage.
They'll be joined by Brad Frost on design patterns, Mandy Michael on front-end development, Miriam Suzanne on CSS, Rémi Parmentier on HTML email, Robyn Larsen on internationalization, Luke Wroblewski on UX, metrics and conversion, and Zach Leatherman on type and performance. In her video interview with Vitaly, Miriam also discusses why developers shouldn't over-worry about browser support for modern CSS—fallbacks are often not as bad as they seem.
Workshops On Both Sides Of The Conference
Beyond her talk, Miriam will lead a full-day workshop on using CSS and Sass to build resilient, maintainable design systems that scale. She's one of eight workshop presenters, with four sessions running the day before the conference and four the day after.
- Sara Soueidan on front-end accessibility, focused on inclusive thinking and coding practices.
- Rémi Parmentier on building HTML emails.
- Brad Frost on creating and maintaining successful design systems.
- Harry Roberts on front-end performance and building faster websites.
- Rachel Andrew on a new CSS Layout Masterclass.
- Vitaly Friedman, offering two workshops: New Front-End Adventures and Smart Responsive UX Design Patterns.
A workshop plus conference ticket saves $100 on the workshop price.
Runs, Swims, And Bat Watching
As with past Smashing events, the social calendar is part of the package. A pre-event on the day before the conference will feature snacks, drinks, and talks from attendees. There's also a party between the two conference days aimed at keeping conversations going between attendees and speakers.
For early risers, a 5k run is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday morning at a sociable pace. Swimmers can head to Barton Springs Pool, an open-air natural spring pool open daily from 5 AM to 10 PM with admission at $9. Those looking for company can organize a group via the conference Slack.
The organizers have also put together a map of recommended local restaurants and activities, plus a conference handbook with suggestions. One local highlight they're particularly excited about is bat watching: during warm months, thousands of Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from under the Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk, viewable from the bridge or from a small park on the south bank.
Logistics, Discounts, And Tickets
The recommended hotel is The Carpenter Hotel, a five-minute walk from the venue, where a special Smashing discount has been arranged. Staying there also puts attendees in the same place as others at the conference.
Several programs exist to lower attendance barriers. Scholarships are available for anyone from underrepresented groups in tech, with particular welcome for LGBTQIA+ people, people with disabilities, and those facing economic or social hardships. Volunteers can help on conference days in exchange for behind-the-scenes access, attendance at some talks, and a full workshop. Twenty discounted tickets are reserved for students and non-profits at each event.
Tickets are on sale now, and past experience suggests they won't last: three SmashingConf events sold out well in advance last year, with popular workshops filling up quickly as well.
