Conferences that Work

JANUARY 11, 2021

What makes attending conferences worthwhile? As I described in Conferences That Work , the two most common reasons for attending conferences are to learn useful things and make useful connections. But there are numerous other ways that conferences provide value to stakeholders. Complicated problems.

Conference 342

Conference 2010 2011 2014 342

Conferences that Work

SEPTEMBER 26, 2022

Software testers do peer conferences right! They even call them a peer conference , rather than unconference , a term I don’t like.) As evidence of software tester conference awesomeness, I offer three examples below. a short history of the peer conference. The 2022 SoCraTes peer conference. But first…. …a

Conference 156

Conference 2022 2004 Meeting Design 156

Conferences that Work

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

Community versus audience I began my first book with the research finding (and common observation) that people go to conferences to network and learn. Creating community at conferences around participant-driven content , therefore, creates a far more effective learning and connection-rich environment.

Meetings 208

Meetings Meeting Design 2015 Conference 208

Conferences that Work

JUNE 3, 2019

The first peer conference I convened and designed was held June 3 – 5, 1992 at Marlboro College, Vermont. So, as of today, the community of practice that eventually became edACCESS has enjoyed 27 years of peer conferences. Twenty-three people came to the inaugural conference. 27 years of peer conferences.

Conference 170

Conference 2014 Consulting Meeting Design 170

Conferences that Work

SEPTEMBER 26, 2016

I’ve been promoting the Conferences That Work meeting format for so long, that some people assume I think it’s the right choice for every meeting. two meeting types and three situations when you should NOT use a Conferences That Work design: — Most corporate events. Here are (drum roll!)

Meeting Design 120

Meeting Design Conference Meetings Conference Design 120

Conferences that Work

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

For over thirty years I’ve been making clients’ conferences significantly better, for about the cost of a conference coffee break. I make conferences better by dramatically increasing attendee satisfaction. I’d argue that hiring me is the most effective and cost-effective way to improve any event.

2024 202

2024 Conference Meeting Design Speakers 202

Conferences that Work

AUGUST 29, 2016

BizBash consistently uses the term “event design” to mean “ visual design” As an example, consider the 2016 Design Issue. The cover proclaims “What’s Next in Event Design?” 3 — Conferences That Work. Read the full article at Conferences That Work.

Event Design 136

Event Design 2010 2016 2009 136

Conferences that Work

JANUARY 10, 2022

For too long, we’ve equated a meeting’s “success” with its size. ” But if we concentrate on increasing attendance, we overlook getting the meeting design right. Improving an event’s design makes the meeting better for all the stakeholders: meeting owners, sponsors, and participants.

Meetings 330

Meetings Meeting Design 2020 Speakers 330

Conferences that Work

JULY 2, 2018

Recently, a client asked for help designing a new conference. Thirty minutes of discussion with three stakeholders revealed they hadn’t yet settled on the event’s specific purpose, scope, and format. It’s an honor to work on a classic Conferences That. Conferences That Work goes to Japan!

Meeting Design 192

Meeting Design 2012 2014 Meetings 192

Conferences that Work

FEBRUARY 26, 2018

Traditional conferences focus on a hodgepodge of pre-determined sessions punctuated with socials, surrounded by short welcomes and closings. Such conference designs treat openings and closings as perfunctory traditions, perhaps pumped up with a keynote or two, rather than key components of the conference design.

Conference 160

Conference Conference Design Meeting Design Education 160

Conferences that Work

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021

Presentation versus interaction at meetings. But our meeting designs, in large part, haven’t changed to reflect this shift in cultural awareness. Read the full article at Conferences That Work The post Presentation versus interaction at meetings appeared first on Conferences That Work.

Meetings 300

Meetings Meeting Design Conference Event Design 300

Conferences that Work

FEBRUARY 20, 2017

And yes, I admit it, during the second day of my vacation while enjoying the harmonies I hear, I’m jolted to think about religious meeting design…. Religious services are thought to be around 300,000 years old — by far the oldest form of organized meeting that humans have created. Keep ’em moving!

Meeting Design 154

Meeting Design Meetings 2014 Speakers 154

Conferences that Work

APRIL 25, 2022

The Conference Arc: Building connection while uncovering wants, needs, and resources. Ask Adrian Anything: using a fishbowl sandwich to facilitate group discussion on meeting design and facilitation. Human spectrograms: a simple tool for learning about other participants. Creating the right program. Consolidating learning.

2022 290

2022 Meeting Design Conference Meetings 290

Conferences that Work

JUNE 14, 2021

When the leading candidate for the Mayor of New York City has this take on how people learn, perhaps it’s not so surprising that we’re still sitting through endless broadcast-style sessions at meetings and conferences. Learning researchers and our best teachers and meeting designers have known this for a long time.

Meetings 316

Meetings 2021 Meeting Design Conference 316

Conferences that Work

AUGUST 16, 2021

And it made me think about meeting design. And, me being me, I thought about what Marcy had just said in the context of meeting design. And meetings are no exception. The art and craft of the meeting designer. It’s a meeting designer’s job to create these contextual layers.

Food and Beverage 316

Food and Beverage Meeting Design Meetings 2021 316

Conferences that Work

AUGUST 15, 2022

All too often, clients planning an event don’t spend enough time making hard but important event choices. Read the full article at Conferences That Work The post Making event choices appeared first on Conferences That Work. No related posts.

Conference 296

Conference Events Meeting Design Event Design 296

Conferences that Work

FEBRUARY 17, 2020

Well, here’s an alternative historical perspective from a completely different source, a 1926 article about the New York Club of Printing House Craftsmen, uncovered by Jeff Jarvis and described as “ …a lovely evocation on the value of sharing in our field, which we used to call printing. ” “Stop. No related posts.

Consulting 363

Consulting Meeting Design Conference Meetings 363

Conferences that Work

APRIL 18, 2022

The first novel hybrid meeting format was invented by Joel Backon back in 2010. The second is a design I’ll be using in a conference I’ve designed and will be facilitating in June 2022. Collaborative Tools Workshop ” designed by Joel Backon at the 2010 annual edACCESS conference.

2010 411

2010 Meetings Conference Travel 411

Conferences that Work

JUNE 28, 2021

During our 25 minutes together, we discussed various panel formats, their value, and how to structure and design powerful panel discussions into the larger context of meetings, conferences, and events. We covered a lot in a short time, but there’s much more to learn about Powerful panels and good meeting design!

Meeting Design 310

Meeting Design Conference Meetings Event Design 310

Conferences that Work

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023

Events and media consultant Julius Solaris shared at the Unforgettable Experience Design Summit that he was initially very enthusiastic about unconference format events. He thought conferences would eventually adopt unconference models. The solution to this is to design your unconference before choosing the venue.

Conference 266

Conference Venues 2023 Consulting 266

Conferences that Work

OCTOBER 11, 2021

All meeting design needs to recognize this reality. What we think of as modern business meetings and conferences are hundreds of years old. The traditional top-down formats of meetings and conferences reflect the top-down structure of the institutions that still largely dominate our world. Institutions.

Meetings 289

Meetings 2009 2002 Technology 289

Conferences that Work

JUNE 12, 2023

We are actors, impresarios, meeting designers, diplomats, teachers, musicians, creative directors, facilitators, management experts, sports team owners, fundraisers, journalists, experiential marketers, retreat leaders, event producers, philanthropists, coaches, and dealmakers!

Sports 156

Sports Meeting Design Conference Marketing 156

Conferences that Work

MARCH 14, 2022

Personal meetings like these, whether brief or extended, between good friends or strangers, are fundamental. Someone to tell it to at conferences. Conferences, whether in-person or online, are also potential arenas for conversations. But some conferences offer better opportunities than others. No related posts.

2006 162

2006 Meeting Design Conference Meetings 162

Conferences that Work

APRIL 1, 2019

This (slightly edited) interview by JT Long appeared in the March 2019 issue of Smart Meetings Magazine. What led to writing the book, Conferences that Work ? I invented the format by accident 26 years ago when there were no expert speakers to invite for a conference on administrative computing issues in small schools.

2014 244

2014 2019 Conference Meeting Design 244

Conferences that Work

JULY 3, 2023

Back in 1992 , I developed The Three Questions as a fundamental opening process for participant-driven meetings and conferences. Answering it gives every person present, in turn, an opportunity to share what they would like the ensuing meeting to be about. Those who offer it are usually first-time attendees.

Conference 156

Conference 2023 Meeting Design Meetings 156

Conferences that Work

JANUARY 24, 2022

But I see meetings where hallway learning trumps a majority of, if not all, conference sessions as failures of design, rather than a fact of life. Wouldn’t it be great if we could improve the quantity and quality of hallway learning, conversations, and connections throughout an event? . Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Food and Beverage 360

Food and Beverage Meetings Conference Meeting Design 360

Conferences that Work

SEPTEMBER 21, 2020

A freewheeling Ask Me Anything about meeting design that delivers optimal learning, connection, engagement, and action outcomes? I hope you’ll take advantage of this standing invitation for event and hospitality teachers. Learn more about me here. You won’t get a canned presentation. No related posts.

Hospitality 189

Hospitality Education Meeting Design Conference 189

Conferences that Work

MARCH 15, 2021

Recently, I’ve been appearing as a guest at college event planning and hospitality courses to talk about meeting design. (I Rather than lecture for an hour, I’ve been using an Ask Me Anything (aka AMA ) meeting format. I love to do this. Teachers, please contact me , it’s free!)

Hospitality 169

Hospitality Meeting Design Conference Event Planning 169

Conferences that Work

JUNE 7, 2021

Why am I writing about social learning on a blog that’s (mainly) about meeting design? Because social (uncovered) learning is the best learning model for conference sessions. Which means, to create the best meetings we need to maximize the social learning that takes place. Humans’ true superpower.

Meeting Design 284

Meeting Design Conference Meetings Event Design 284

Conferences that Work

MAY 24, 2021

New research about online meetings. Because the vast majority of online meetings provide a significantly different environment than the CMU researchers used. From the research article: “…our findings were observed in newly formed and non-recurring dyads in the laboratory…” “Each session lasted about 30 minutes.

Meetings 296

Meetings 2016 Consulting Conference 296

Conferences that Work

MAY 11, 2020

I’ve been designing and facilitating participant-driven and participation-rich in person meetings — aka peer conferences — for almost thirty years. Because participants love these meetings ! Now the covid-19 pandemic has forced meetings online. In person meetings have vanished overnight.

Conference 375

Conference 2012 Meetings Meeting Design 375

Conferences that Work

JULY 19, 2021

If you want maximum learning, interaction, and connection at a meeting, small meetings are better than large meetings. For example, think about a conference to explore the implications of a medical breakthrough. Do you expect to use this format in future events? Increased learning, interaction, and connection.

Meetings 330

Meetings 2011 2021 Fashion 330

Conferences that Work

JUNE 12, 2017

I love my meeting design clients, but there is one mistake I see them making over and over again. Clients invariably ask me to help design their meeting after they’ve chosen a venue! Read the full article at Conferences That Work. Face The Fear—Then Change Your Conference Design!

Venues 210

Venues 2010 Meetings Conference Design 210

Conferences that Work

NOVEMBER 8, 2021

At a traditional meeting, however, perceived status roles rarely change significantly during the event. This leads to a number of problems, which I described in my first meeting design book: Conferences That Work. At many events, only high status people talk. The first agreement…. …is

Meetings 323

Meetings Conference Negotiating Speakers 323

Conferences that Work

JULY 31, 2017

Although I have good reasons to champion meeting designs where the participants get to choose what they want and need to discuss and learn rather than a program committee , there is invariably a place for some predetermined presentations at conferences. Read the full article at Conferences That Work.

Meetings 196

Meetings Meeting Design Conference Speakers 196

Conferences that Work

APRIL 11, 2022

By “practitioners” I mean the folks who do what the meeting is about; e.g., doctors at a medical event or scientists at a conservation conference. Often, vendors meet with practitioners at a tradeshow, and sponsors (who are usually vendors too) get opportunities to address practitioners.

Meetings 296

Meetings Conference Meeting Design Advertising 296

Conferences that Work

MARCH 13, 2017

Every time I find myself wishing for an external event, I realize that I’m way better off focusing on something I can control instead. This is all very well, but it begs the question: what can meeting designers do to make it easier for attendees to participate more at meetings? Seth Godin, What Would Happen.

2011 200

2011 2012 Education Meeting Design 200