Next month, I will be speaking at the SharePoint Conference 2011 in Baltimore (March 6-9).  My session is called, “10 Ways to Make SharePoint NOT Look Like SharePoint.”  If you haven’t already registered, make sure you do!!  There’s only 47 seats left.

My Take on the Conference

It’s about time that content took center stage at a SharePoint Conference. The keynote speaker is Kristina Halvorson, president and founder of Brain Traffic.  She is the author of Content Strategy for the Web.  Content should be considered early– certainly not after launch, which I’ve seen before.  Content should be driving design.  If it’s not and you are using the publishing infrastructure in SharePoint, you should get to the conference.

I consider this a special event. Kristina is the first regular web design world (RWDW) “cross-over”  that I’ve seen keynote a SharePoint conference. Those of you that come should share with the rest of the SharePoint community by live tweet-ing throughout the conference using the hash tag #SPCORG.

If you haven’t heard of Kristina or read her book yet.  Start following her on twitter, buy her book and come to the conference.  It will be worth it.   She is one of the rockstars driving the visibility of content strategy methods that lead to more effective websites. Using the methods she outlines in her book can improve governance and user adoption in addition to  making your site more effective.  She is on my list of heroes among Jerrod Spool, Jesse James Garrett, Peter Morville and Steve Krug and influenced the way I see the web and the methods I use to manage UX projects.

Here’s What They Are Saying

“They” are the conference organizers and “They” outline what’s new at this year’s conference:

• All New Format with Individual Tracks for Developers, Business Users and Designers
• Comprehensive curriculums for SharePoint 2010 and 2007
• Pre- and Post-Conference Bootcamps: Full-day, hands-on Workshops for SharePoint 2010 Designer and SharePoint 2010 Advanced Developer (space limited)
• Relevant Sessions on real-world topics Led by SharePoint MVPs and SharePoint Experts
• Great opportunities to network with peers, SharePoint experts and MVPs at multiple receptions and conference events (with the most delicious food you can imagine!)
• SharePoint Vendor Hall with demos and displays of the latest SharePoint Products and Extenders
• Beautiful, Convenient Location on the Inner Harbor at the Baltimore Hyatt
• More Giveaways and Prizes than any other Conference on the planet!

Speakers I’m Stoked About

As it is with any SharePoint conference, the speakers are surprisingly available to answer your questions.  below are especially great at blogging and offer a steady stream of resources back to the community.

 Erik Swenson -  Erik is an experienced SharePoint information architect, designer, and front end developer for EMC Consulting.  Erik is a favorite resource for SharePoint branding because in addition to offering tips,  tricks and downloads,  he promotes process.   Erik and I haven’t met in person but I will stalk him for a jumpshot picture.

 Marc Anderson, Microsoft MVP -  Marc is a strong proponent of easy to use interfaces and considers the user experience when developing solutions for SharePoint (something I wish more devs did).   He and I have exchanged several conversations about the best practices involved in developing the UI and more specifically form design.

Marc is the developer of the jQuery Library for SharePoint Web Services, a faculty member at the newly established USPJ Academy, and a frequent contributing author to EndUserSharePoint.com.  Marc and I have met and he owes me a jumpshot.

 Kyle Schaeffer  is a senior web design consultant for SusQtech, a SharePoint solution provider based in the northern Virginia and the DC metro area. Currently living in Williamsburg, Virginia, Kyle is a pixel-pusher and architect of the online interactive experience.

helped with implementing the redesign of portions of the new SharePoint community site, NothingButSharePoint. a community project I was a part of.  We also haven’t met in person but have collaborated via phone and computer.  Yes Kyle must jump with me too.

It’s like meeting your pen pals when you meet your twitter friends and favorite bloggers in person, you know?  Or maybe it is more like meeting a rock star.

My Session, “10 Ways to Make SharePoint NOT Look Like SharePoint”

I present “10 Ways to Make SharePoint NOT Look Like SharePoint”  in Monday’s morning session just after the keynote.   This session veers a little bit from my usual user experience soapbox and contains practical quick fixes too.   I always stress how important it is to design holistically, but let’s face it– sometimes you need one or two tricks up your sleeve.

I’m having a blast putting the presentation together for many reasons—but I’ll admit, it’s primarily because the presentation is being developed with a storyline.  My fellow faculty at the Art Institute are helping with the creation of some of the presentation media.

This session offers both best practices and quick fixes that should come in handy for all roles. Be prepared and alert because you are going to get a lot of info.  I’ll also be giving away a few copies of my book, Beginning SharePoint Designer 2010 (wrox).

Below is the session info:

10 Ways to Make SharePoint NOT Look Like SharePoint

• When: Monday, March 07, 2011 @ 10:45am
• Where: Designer Track Room

Whether you are a SharePoint developer, IT Pro, designer, or super-user, chances are, you have been asked to make “SharePoint not look like SharePoint.”   What exactly does that mean?  To fulfill this requirement, you must first understand what makes SharePoint look so “SharePointy.”  Only then, will you be ready to battle the “SharePoint User Interface.”

This session prepares you for battle by debriefing you on the elements that combine to create SharePoint’s out-of-the-box look and feel.  Through a fast-paced and entertaining series of comparisons, design decompositions, before-and-after examples, and “how-to” demos, you will learn 10 tricks and strategies to target these elements one-by-one until you have eliminated all things “SharePointy”.  This session is designed for all skill levels and aims to give you a deeper conceptual understanding in addition to powerful yet simple quick-fixes .  You will walk away armed and ready to defeat your “SharePointy User Interface” and become a branding superhero.

Don’t’ forget to practice your  jumpshots.  I’ll be taking a ton.

I look forward to seeing you there.

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