Speaking at a Web Directions event in 2021 - Web Directions

Speaking at a Web Directions event in 2021

John Allsopp 21st January, 2021 @johnallsopp

If in 2021 it’s your goal to speak at a conference, for the first time, or as a seasoned speaker, then in 2021 Web Directions has 5 (yep 5!) online conferences focussed on different aspects of front end development and design for you to propose to, with calls for proposals open now for all of them.

We’ve thought a lot about what makes for a better, online focussed conference, for the audience, and for the speakers, so–

• our online conferences are pre-recorded, and delivered in our unique “slow” format–across 2-4 weeks depending on the conference, for 3-4 hours each Friday, several times a day to reach folks at a time that best suits them.
• We provide speakers with all the equipment (camera, lighting, mic, software), direction, editing and support you need to create an amazing presentation.
• And it doesn’t stop with the conference, we host your presentation on our new video platform Conffab, where speakers are compensated for the engagement their presentations generate!

2021 Conferences

In 2021 we’re hosting these conferences with the associated CFP closing dates

• Hover, focussed on CSS, in April, CFP closes Jan 31 2021
• Lazy Load, focussed on front end performance in May, CFP closes Feb 15 2021
• Global Scope, focused exclusively on JavaScript, in June, CFP closes March 7 2021
• Code, focussed on the Web Platform and PWAs in September, CFP closes April 30 2021
• Product, for product designers and product managers in November, CFP closes June 30 2021 

How do I get to speak at a Web Directions Conference?

At Web Directions we have a strong editorial style we’ve developed over 15+ years of putting together conferences. The type of sessions that prove popular, and so which we program tend to have a number of characteristics.

• They’re about “unknown unknowns”–introducing or explaining to the audience concepts, practices or technologies they may not be aware of, or may be only vaguely aware of, that would be useful to them in their work, today, or in the coming months.
• Forward looking (but not far future). It’s right there in our name “directions”–we want to help our audience chart where they are going, but we don’t want to lead them down dead ends, or show them things that might only one day become useful.
• Product and solution agnostic. We don’t focus on specific solutions (libraries, frameworks, products and tools) whether open source or commercial. Not that we have anything against these, just we feel they are often covered well elsewhere, while foundational technologies, patterns and practices, that can apply regardless of the tools and solutions you use, are often less well covered.

One of the things we love hearing from our audience is “I can’t wait to get back to work and put this into practice”. If you can aim for that, for an event’s target audience, you’ll go a long way to getting a place in the schedule.

Here’s a few more tips what we recommend to give yourself the best chance of getting a place at our conferences.

• Most sessions especially those chosen from CFPs are of 20 minutes duration.
• If we see proposals we really like, we start pencilling them in before the closing date. So it pays to not wait until the last minute.
• We’re also happy for multiple proposals from the same person.
• Past presentations give a good indication of the sort of thing we’re looking for as well.
• Focus is good! Rather than proposing for example “what’s new in Javascript” think about a deep dive on one aspect of what’s new in JavaScript (for example “Crunchy or smooth? All about JavaScript’s Spread Operator”). What’s something you think is indispensable but not as many people now about and use as think should? There’s a great topic right there!

OK, I’m keen Where do I propose?

Each conference has its own proposal section, but if you think a proposal might fit in multiple conferences, or you’re not quite sure where it best fits, you only need to propose for one conference. We’re looking at all proposals as they come in to think about where they might best fit overall.

Here’s all our 2021 conferences again, linked to the propsals section

• Hover, focussed on CSS, in April, CFP closes Jan 31 2021
• Lazy Load, focussed on front end performance in May, CFP closes Feb 15 2021
• Global Scope, focused exclusively on JavaScript, in June, CFP closes March 7 2021
• Code, focussed on the Web Platform and PWAs in September, CFP closes April 30 2021
• Product, for product designers and product managers in November, CFP closes June 30 2021 

What Do Speakers Get?

We provide speakers with all the equipment (camera, lighting, mic, software), direction, editing and support you need to create an amazing presentation.

And it doesn’t stop with the conference, we host your presentation on our new video platform Conffab, where speakers are compensated for the engagement their presentations generate! 

Good luck, we can’t wait to hear your suggestions!

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Going to #wds18 has given me inspiration to attend more conferences. Meeting tech folks like myself and learning from each other is pretty amazing!

Hinesh Patel Ruby and React Developer

Join us in 2019:

• Web Directions Code://remote 2020

  A global remote-only conference for JavaScript Developers and Front End Engineers.

  Exclusively Online September 2020

  Details

• Web Directions Product://Remote Design & Management 2020

  A global remote-only conference–product design and product management.

  Exclusively Online November 2020

  Details

• Web Directions Summit 2021

  A conference for the whole digital team–featuring product, design, front-end dev, and new people/talent/culture tracks.

  Sydney See you in 2021

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