Tag: speaking

Video: Empathy and User-centered Design

Here’s a short talk I gave at WordCamp London 2015 on the topic of empathy and user-centered design. Reblogging from the vault of yesteryear since I haven’t published it previously.

The big difference between good and bad designers (and developers, copywriters—all of us) is how they handle people struggling with their design. In this lightning session Lance will argue why empathy is important to beautiful, engaging, and useful products.

View full-screen video starting at 17:04 minute mark, and read the description on wordpress.tv.

Full text below.

Continue reading Video: Empathy and User-centered Design

Speaking at ThemeConf

Update: see my slides and notes here, and a full text write-up here.

I’m thrilled to announce my part in ThemeConf, an exciting new conference “for developers and designers who make themes,” organized by Automattic and set in the beautiful landscape of the Lake District (Keswick, UK on September 2–4, 2015).

Recognizing the fact that I don’t make WordPress themes any more, I’m honored to attend, speak, and share a bit of a retrospective on my career in web design and development, including a few stories about how my career in WordPress themes kicked off in 2010.

On a sunny summer day in Winnipeg I sit in The Forks dining area eating delicious fish and chips, the proper way, straight from the newspaper cone. I’m here for the first ever meeting of the Automattic Theme Team.

I’ll talk about my journey of theme craftsmanship—the ups, the downs, the unexpected results. From meeting Ian Stewart for the first time on that hot and humid August day in Manitoba, to my first theme launch on WordPress.com, getting a premium theme marketplace off the ground, shepherding default themes for WordPress.org, to building a team of 30 people strong.

A journey of adventure and learning where my skills have expanded beyond what I’d expected—not just the technical path from web designer and developer to “front-end expert” and WordPress themer—but also writing, speaking, and leading.

I’ll share how in 2015 I’ve now become an apprentice again, in the field of software quality and testing. Working hard at finding tools, skills, patterns, workflow, and process in my new craft. Discovering myself, my passion, my community, and opportunities to learn.

Screen Shot 2015-08-25 at 12.11.33

A special discount for my readers: use code lancetheme for 25% off the ThemeConf registration cost—which at only £49 for the conference and £99 with the workshop is quite a bargain!

Video: State of Themes Panel

Lance Willett, Tiago Noronha, Ben Gillbanks, Tammie Lister: State of Themes Panel from WordCamp London 2015 — now on WordPress TV.

Press Publish

Announcing Press Publish with two upcoming dates in Portland, OR in March 2015 and Phoenix, AZ in April 2015.

A new, one-day conference for bloggers who use WordPress — or want to switch. With inspirational talks by successful bloggers and workshops by the people who make WordPress.com and Jetpack — all designed to help you level up your skills and get fired up about your blog.

We’re ridiculously excited about the speakers we have lined up, from personal bloggers to published authors from all over the country. Their successes and unique points of view represent a diverse range of the possibilities that come with sharing your voice with WordPress.

Want to attend the Phoenix event and save a bit off the conference price? Use discount code PHX40 for 40% off. The price includes a one-year subscription to the WordPress.com Premium upgrade, a $99 value.

Hope to see you there! (I’ll be giving a tutorial in Phoenix on how to pick the perfect theme.)

WordPress Barcelona December Recap

Tuve el placer de presentar sobre los temas de WordPress en la meetup de WordPress Barcelona para diciembre 2014. Joan Artés hizo un buen resúmen aquí: Ahorra 1000 Horas Con Underscores (con fotos).

Ian Stewart Speaks About Themes at WCSF 2013

Must watch TV if you are into WordPress themes, even the slightest bit. Inspiring and amazing talk.

I’m Speaking at WordCamp Phoenix 2013

speaking-banner I’m attending and speaking WordCamp Phoenix 2013, and for my second year in a row presenting on themes in the Jumpstart track as part of the Saturday schedule. The conference is Friday Jan 18 through Sunday January 20.

If you’ll be at WordCamp Phoenix please say hello — let’s talk some WordPress, Arizona.

Update: Video is now up on WordPress.tv: http://wordpress.tv/2013/01/31/lance-willett-finding-the-perfect-theme/.

Speaking at the June 2012 Portland WP User Group

This coming Tuesday (June 26, 2012 at 6:30 PM) I’m giving a talk on WordPress themes, as part of this month’s Portland WP User Group.

My talk is titled Theme Busters R Us—theme breaking is one of my passions, so it’s a logical choice.

Breaking themes for fun?! Crazy talk. Busting your WordPress theme – on purpose – can be both fun and useful. The process is a crucial part of building sites with WordPress, whether it’s for a client project, a personal blog, or releasing an awesome new theme to the world.

Testing is often considered a dirty word; we either have no time to do it, or we think it’s boring and tedious. Breaking stuff should be fun and something we are excited to dig into. Even better if the breaking means pushing your theme to extremes to simulate real usage, with a goal of making it the best it can be: the best quality possible, and the best experience for people using it.

See details, location, and RSVP at Portland WP User Group. If you’re in the Portland area, hope to see you there.

Thanks to Daniel for the invite.

WordCamp Phoenix 2012

It’s that time of year—your favorite WordPress conference is back in the desert!

That’s right folks, WordCamp Phoenix is coming up this weekend, Fri Feb 24 through Sun Feb 26. Three days of WordPress geeky goodness, including full-day workshops on Friday, the conference on Saturday, and an “unconference” on Sunday.

I’m speaking in the “Jumpstart” track on Saturday at 10:30 am—my topic is Navigating the Theme Landscape:

Learn what types of themes are out there, how to find and choose a theme, and dive into basic modifications to your theme so it fits you perfectly.

See the rest of the talks on the full Saturday schedule; there are three tracks to choose from, and lots of great content.

I’ll also be working the help bar Saturday, from 2:15 pm onward. Come say hi!

Let’s talk WordPress, Arizona. More info: http://2012.phoenix.wordcamp.org/

Update Feb 26: Slides and links to all the themes and resources I mentioned are here: http://themeshaper.com/jumpstart/

Update Mar 8: The video of my talk is now online at wordpress.tv: http://wordpress.tv/2012/03/08/lance-willett-navigating-the-theme-landscape/

Break Your Theme, WordCamp Columbus

I gave a talk called Break Your Theme in June 2011, in Columbus (Ohio, USA) for WordCamp Columbus 2011. I had a blast! The room was packed and I had great questions after my talk and in the hallways later.

Packed house! (Photo by Ryan Imel, WPCandy.)

Here are the slides and notes from the talk.

By the way, Ryan Imel of WPCandy did an awesome job of live-blogging WordCamp Columbus 2011.