Say and do
The hype surrounding social media is fueling a boom in related conferences. Expert knowledge is in high demand, but do the experts live up to what the conference organizers promise? Guest commentary by Oliver Reichenstein, information architect in Tokyo.
If you look at how many conferences are held on the subject of the Internet (or, as it is sometimes called recently, social media) and hear how confidently they talk, then you have to assume that there are at least a hundred thousand experts who have the Internet fully under control. The truth is that you can't have the web under control. If Heidegger were still alive, he would have to call the web the information stuff that can't be controlled. Fortunately, Heidegger is no longer alive, because there is already enough poking and prodding at congresses by people who do nothing but talk. Because I am now invited to these congresses myself (and the longer I go on, the more I talk a lot of garbage myself), I am in a position to give a few tips on how to avoid empty lectures:
Before you go, see what the speakers have achieved so far. I don't even listen to people who talk about web design but haven't done anything convincing themselves. Nothing achieved nothing to say. There is no theory without practice. And there are certainly no theoretical experts in the practical discipline of user experience design.
Here is my telegram to those who are now shaking their heads: Not everyone who drives a car is an engineer. Stop. If you don't make Internet, you don't know how to make Internet. Stop. If you only know your own opinion, you're a user. Stop. Theory without practice is speculation. Stop.
The key is not to be blinded by names, age or any design medals when assessing speakers. It doesn't matter how many great books the professor has written, how many articles the social media uncle has been quoted in or how many Twitter followers the new media rock star has amassed. (And just to be clear: there are no medals in web design.) The only Internet expert relevance factor that is immune to all bragging is Google Analytics. The statistics show what someone has really achieved and how their work has been received. Any ADC, Webby or Cannes Lions awards are even more complete humbug on the Internet than usual. (Anyone who believes ADC awards still have any relevance: Hands up, and don't move!) Even from the lectern, conventions would be more interesting if fewer people went. Nothing is more depressing than speaking into a yawning audience. In other words: use the Internet before you go to conferences.
Before you go, see what the speakers have achieved so far. I don't even listen to people who talk about web design but haven't done anything convincing themselves. Nothing achieved nothing to say. There is no theory without practice. And there are certainly no theoretical experts in the practical discipline of user experience design.
Here is my telegram to those who are now shaking their heads: Not everyone who drives a car is an engineer. Stop. If you don't make Internet, you don't know how to make Internet. Stop. If you only know your own opinion, you're a user. Stop. Theory without practice is speculation. Stop.
The key is not to be blinded by names, age or any design medals when assessing speakers. It doesn't matter how many great books the professor has written, how many articles the social media uncle has been quoted in or how many Twitter followers the new media rock star has amassed. (And just to be clear: there are no medals in web design.) The only Internet expert relevance factor that is immune to all bragging is Google Analytics. The statistics show what someone has really achieved and how their work has been received. Any ADC, Webby or Cannes Lions awards are even more complete humbug on the Internet than usual. (Anyone who believes ADC awards still have any relevance: Hands up, and don't move!) Even from the lectern, conventions would be more interesting if fewer people went. Nothing is more depressing than speaking into a yawning audience. In other words: use the Internet before you go to conferences.
