Rebirth of Slick: Why Design Is Cool and Why It Will Make People Love Your Company

Presenter: Kelsey Ruger

Time: 10:00 – 10:50

Can being design oriented really change the face of your company?  Companies like Apple, BMW, Whole Food Stores and Target are proving that design isn’t only cool it’s important.  As web professionals we learn a lot about building sites that are standards compliant and optimized, but what does that mean for the overcoming some of the problems people have with really adopting web solutions. The experience a consumer has with your web site goes beyond technology, marketing and functionality. What they see, interact with, do – all the things they experience about a company are used to form opinions and make buying decisions. More and more companies are realizing that you have a universal view of design to create the best experience. Today, design isn’t just a “nice to have”, it’s a fundamental component of company strategy and  an organizational cornerstone. Market leaders of the future understand that “universal design” and “design thinking” is everyone’s job and will be as important as anything else in your web arsenal.