Nottingham home of legends Robin Hood & #naconf
Over the last few months every time work or life got me a little bit down I would visit the New Adventures in Web Design website and instantly my spirits would pick up. When I booked my early bird ticket in August it seemed like the time for the conference would never come. I’m sure I annoyed a heck of a lot of people that follow me on twitter the last few days with my excited count down to the conference.
Now I’m back home after having spent a couple of days in Nottingham, having had the MOST BRILLIANT time and with my mind full of ideas and inspiration. I think Andy Clarke summed the whole experience up for me in less than 140 characters:
“#naconf had the best community feel of any conference since media 2005. @Colly just set a new standard for everyone to meet.”
I hadn’t been as excited for a lineup in a conference possibly since that @media back then. Today after the dust has settled and I’ve had loads of time to think on trains and buses I feel as inspired and as happy to be a web geek as ever.
The talks appealed to me because they didn’t consist of laundry lists of things we can do with all the new technologies at our fingertips today, but provided me with thoughts and ideas of moving forward as a designer and as a developer. Of course some resonated in me more than others, not because the speakers or subjects weren’t great but it’s down to personal taste and timing. (Either the conference hall chairs were built for midgets or I have put on height! Was so uncomfortable at times I found it hard to concentrate!)
I don’t think a blow by blow analysis of the talks by me would do justice to any of the speakers, and since Colly’s promised that videos and slides will be available soon, I’ll let you guys judge the day for yourselves. I’ve got to say that I would have gladly paid more to watch these people all over again (but I hope Colly doesn’t take it literally and makes the ticket unaffordable next year, because I really really hope there will be a next year!)
The speech that touched me emotionally was Veerle’s walkthrough of her process and how she gets Lady Inspiration to visit. I go through pretty much the same struggle very often and she made me realise that I am not alone, so thanks for that.
I would have loved to see some real life applications of both Clarke’s and Boulton’s speeches as they were very conceptual for my small greek brain to grasp completely, but nonetheless they both got me thinking, hard. On the other hand I smell a couple more books coming from these guys so I guess they’re still exploring these ideas themselves.
Need I say anything about Brendan Dawes speech? Hell, anyone who starts a talk with “I have never been under such a huge organ before” (!), who doesn’t talk about web design pretty much at all and still gets a room full of geeks clapping like mad at the end and makes them want to be his adoptive kids is a hero! I would love to see a video tour of his house including the tea strainer & pencil collections (His wife is prolly a hero too!)
I owe a HUUUGE thanks to Colly for getting this amazing group of people together, both speakers and attendees and for giving us the chance to explore all these new ideas. I think his leaving the stage at the end of the conference when we started clapping, looking like an embarrassed little boy sums up how great he is.
I’m looking forward to the videos, presentations and loads of pictures people where taking at the event and afterwards at Escucha so I can relive this again. I am also looking forward to my #naconf T-shirt which I’m gonna use like Gyro Gearloose’s thinking cap!
Comments
This sums up things rather nicely. It was a lovely time all around.
I do hope Colly does it again next year.
It would be a pity if he didn’t repeat it but he will find it hard to meet our expectations. Serves him right for setting the standard so high :)
On the other hand I’m looking forward to your pictures, although I was trying to step out of your lense everytime you where shooting our way :D