The recording showed me just how many things I need to work on to be a better presenter. That will come with time and practice.

Also check out my iOS Design Newsletter for more tips and tricks.

Designing iOS Applications

My video recording turned out alright for this talk, so I will do some editing and post it online soon. In the mean time here are a few links I talked about.

• Clear
• Calcbot
• 25 Free iOS Design Resources
• Subtle Patterns
• Apple HIG
• Commit
• OneVoice
• Fluent

Designing with CSS3

Unfortunately I had technical issues with the audio recording for this talk, so I cannot post a recording. But I will redo the talk in the future and post code samples and a new video then.

Demos

The independent bookstore, the small coffeeshop, the elegant restaurant, and the used clothing store. Each one has a person behind it. They thought and dreamed about their idea for years before taking the leap and starting. Many still don’t know if they will succeed or fail. But at least they tried. The only way to guarantee failure is to never start.

Now look to the larger businesses. A fast food restaurant like Wendy’s. Now you are looking at the dreams of several people. First the founder in some far away city. Proud that his little creation turned into something that people all around the country frequent. But it is also the dream of someone local. The person who started the local franchise is still fulfilling a dream of their own, just with a different logo on the storefront.

Now look to the floors above these storefronts. Office windows sometimes lit late into the night. Ideas and products are being created. Dreams are being realized.

It’s more than just a business you sometimes visit. It’s someone’s dream.

Also I should mention the people who helped who aren’t in the article.

• Hannah Herrick – Hannah provided the initial inspiration and idea for OneVoice as well as feedback throughout the development.
• Robert Carrico – Robert is the co-worker mentioned in the article who helped develop the prototype over the weekend at iOSDevCamp.
• Chris Brandsma – Chris has helped me with too many code problems to count. Anything especially complicated in OneVoice he either wrote himself or helped me write it.

Enjoy the article!

Update: I gave the same talk in February 2011 at Boise Code Camp. Thanks to everyone who attended the session!

Here are some resources for further learning about HTML5:

• Dive Into HTML5
• HTML5 for Web Designers

If you haven’t already, signup for our private beta for Shop208. We will be opening it up to the first 50 people (only 18 spots left) on August 7th. If you are an early adopter living in Idaho you should signup quickly!

More updates coming soon.

1. Limit Your Points

Just because you have 20 slides, doesn’t mean you should make 20 different points. You don’t have time to do justice that many ideas. Instead limit it to about 5-10 points, and use several slides for each one. If you try to say too much, then you will be too rushed and end up saying nothing.

If you try to make too many points, you will end up being rushed.

2. Use Clean and Simple Design

That means less words per slide and to be more visual. Simple. Follow it.

Your slides are not a substitute for notes. They should accent your talk, not repeat it verbatim. If you have more than a single sentence or point on a slide you’re doing it wrong. Here, try this:

1. Write your slide.
2. Cut the number of words in half.
3. Smile at your incredible progress.
4. Then try to cut the word count in half again.

You will have more people listening to you, rather than reading a slide (which will probably have already changed anyway).

Short text and simple imagery makes for an effective slide.

3. Memorize Your Presentation

Your presentation is really a performance. If you have ever done a school play, or any acting then you know the how imperative it is to memorize your lines. As a presenter you will be much more free to improve other aspects of your presentation. You would be surprised how hindering notes can be on stage. It will be easier to engage the audience and you will have a better stage presence. Plus, it’s five minutes! Not that much to memorize.

Notes don't have a place in a 5 minute presentation (unless you are trying to be funny).

4. Practice Under Realistic Circumstances

At the last Ignite Boise some presenters seemed genuinely surprised at how quickly their slides moved. Everyone knows to practice, but you need to practice under realistic circumstances. That includes making sure that your slides are timed to the 15 seconds, not whenever you are ready to push the button. Both PowerPoint and Keynote make that easy.

Also when you practice try to do in in a large space. At the Egyptian theatre you have a huge amount of space. The most engaging speakers used that space. Walk, move, gesture, and keep the audience interested!

Use the entire stage!

The first Ignite Boise 1 was a huge success (thanks to everyone who put it on!) and I am looking forward to brilliance from IB2.