Jam Session
The night before the conference kicks off, we’re hosting a warm-up event with our dear friends from Figma, with drinks and talks from your fellow attendees. We hope you’ll join us to connect ahead of the main event!
On Monday October 6th, the doors will open at 6:30 PM. There will be a number of lightning talks and we will be providing some snacks, alcoholic beverages as well as soft drinks.
This event is for SmashingConf New York attendees only. We will be doing a pre-registration so you can already pick up your badge and skip the line on the first conference day!
To attend, you’ll need to sign Figma’s NDA (sent to you by email in advance). Your email will only be used for this purpose.
Programme
6:30 PM – Doors Open: Networking & Drinks
7:00 PM – Opening
7:10 – 8:30 PM – Lightning Talks
8:30 – 9:00 PM – Networking & Drinks
9:00 PM – End
Lightning talks are 10 minutes and should provide valuable techniques and be useful.
Talks
How I learned to stop worrying and design with AI by Brett McMillin A discussion on craft in an AI-powered world where we talk about our role in an ever-evolving landscape, the purpose of the things we make, and take a look at real examples of how to integrate AI tools like Figma Make into your workflow.
Perception Is Reality: Why Clients Need More Than Data by Mike Demopoulos
Great metrics don’t always equal happy clients. In this lightning talk, we’ll uncover why perception matters just as much as performance—and how to bridge the gap. You’ll learn quick, actionable strategies to turn raw data into compelling stories, build trust, and make clients feel the value you deliver. Walk away with practical tips to ensure client confidence matches your results.
Designing AI That Anticipates by Gurusha Raskar
Most AI reacts; the best anticipates. We’ll explore intent-driven interfaces that read signals across modalities, set confidence thresholds, and time assists so they land on cue. Take away patterns for human-in-the-loop flows, one-line XAI explanations, and explicit controls that preserve user agency.
Masonry: not just a pretty grid by Patrick Brosset
A native implementation of CSS Masonry is getting into web browsers! Let’s take this opportunity to review what it is and what it allows you to do. Masonry isn’t about old layouts anymore. In this talk, I’ll focus on the many new capabilities that masonry unlocks, which Grid, Flexbox, or Multicol don’t quite provide. We’ll explore use cases where masonry shines and I’ll leave you with resources to explore and build your own layouts.
Design Systems: Bridging the Gap Between Developers and Designers by Greg Vissing
Design systems are no longer just a trend; they are a necessity for scaling design and development processes across teams and projects. This session will dive deep into the tangible benefits that a design system brings to both designers and developers, improving everything from initial concept to final product delivery.
The Fabulous Four by Donnie D’Amato
Imagine you can only use 4 CSS properties to build a website. Which ones would you choose? Donnie walks you through his picks, and might even inspire a few of your own.
We are no longer accepting speaker submissions. Sorry about that.
