Speeches on Online, Professional, and Technical Communication by Saul Carliner

the studio of
Saul Carliner
content development
for the workplace

Speeches on Online, Professional, and Technical Communication

In this List of Speeches
Experience
Speeches Available
How to Schedule a Speech or Request More Information

Experience

Have spoken at these events:

Society for Technical Communication Annual Conference
TECHCOMM/99, TECHCOMM/2000, TECHCOMM/2001
WinWriter's Conference
Help Technology Update
Online Help Symposium
The following chapters of the Society for Technical Communication: Atlanta, Berkeley, Boston, Canada West Coast, Central Connecticut, Chicago, Eastern Ontario, Four Lakes, Hoosier, Houston, Israel, Lone Star, Los Angeles, Metro Baltimore, Mohawk, Montreal, Orange County, Philadelphia Metro, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Silicon Valley, Singapore, Toronto, Twin Cities, Washington DC
IBM AS/400 Technical Conferences
American Medical Writer's Association Conference
Atlanta chapter of the American Medical Writer's Association

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All speeches are 60 to 90 minutes. Length can be changed on request.

Speech

Description

Intended Audience

New!
Storytelling as an Information Design Technique

Although technical communication is often characterized as “objective,” and limited in narration, the reality is that storytelling has many powerful uses in our work. This interactive session surveys uses of storytelling throughout the information design and development process: in research, design, and communication. Specifically, learn how to apply such storytelling techniques such as “A Day in the Life,” “archetypes,” and “the war story.”

Technical communicators, information designers, information planners, and others who develop plans for communication products.

New!
Information Design in Three Dimensions--Lessons Learned from Museums

Sometimes the best design tips come from outside of our field. Information designers have learned that visitors to web sites have short attention spans, are easily susceptible to distractions, and need to be enticed to continue onward. Museum exhibit designers learned these lessons years ago and have adapted their design practices in response. In this experiential session (based on research into the exhibit design process), you'll experience some of these design challenges, brainstorm solutions (and hear how exhibit designers have responded), then learn how to adapt the best practices of exhibit design to the web design. (Based on the concepts underlying the presenter’s 2001 article on museums and web design, which won the Best of Show in the Frank R. Smith competition. )

Technical communicators, information designers, and others seeking alternative perspectives on design.

New!
Inconspicuous Consumption: Lessons for Web Design from Mall and Retail Design

Although e-commerce sites can provide much insight into the design of functional websites (websites with technical support, training, or employee information), their ancestors--the bricks and mortar store and mall--offer additional insights. This session presents them. The insights address such issue as layout of the site, content sources, and the effective launch of online communities.

Technical communicators, information designers, and others seeking alternative perspectives on design.

Classic
Physical, Cognitive, and Affective: A Three-Pronged Approach to Information Design

As “content becomes king” on the World Wide Web, information is no longer “presented,” it is designed. But what exactly is information design? How does it relate to document design, instructional design, and graphic design? What does it really refer to: visual design? structure of the content? navigation? Something else? This session addresses these issues. It first defines information design and contrasts it with other types of design. Then, it introduces the three classes of issues that information designers address. Then, it explores the implications of this broadly focused model to technical communicators, instructional designers, and other content specialists.

Technical communicators, instructional designers, corporate communicators, their managers, consultants, and others with experience in the field.

Classic
Design a Wizard (and Make Magic Performance)

What exactly is an electronic wizard and how can it support users? Find out in this session. Through an interactive exercise, you design an electronic wizard and, in the process, learn about a variety of design challenges, including when to use a wizard, some of the usability issues to consider when designing a wizard, how to design the screens in a wizard, and the technical issues to address when designing a wizard.

Technical communicators, information designers, and others who have produced at least two online projects.

Classic
25 Tips for Communicating Online

A fast-paced and interactive tour through the basics of communicating online. Learn how to structure sites for easy access to content. Learn how to engage readers through visual variety and interaction. Learn how to overcome the limitations of the computer screen through effective organization and tight writing. And learn about the little last-minute things that meant the difference between success and failure for your online efforts.

Technical communicators, information designers, and others who have have not yet prepared material for presentation online. Experienced communicators might also find this presentation a helpful refresher.

Taking a Campaign Approach to Information Design and Development

Because individual manuals or online modules often lack impact, technical communicators increasingly develop coordinated series of communication products¾called a campaign¾to help users master a topic. Through a discovery learning exercise, you’ll identify the characteristics of a campaign, learn about the process and tools for designing campaigns, and which types of interventions (such as wizards) to use when. You’ll also see examples of successful campaigns.

Technical communicators, information designers, information planners, and others who develop plans forlibraries of communication products.

Creativity in Information Design and Development

Is an interactive session that provides examples of creative work in the field, explores creative approaches to training and technical communication projects, and helps participants re-connect with their creative instincts.

Technical communicators at any level of experience.

Documentation Therapy: Identifying Communication Issues Beyond Misspelled Words and Dangling Participles

As information designers and developers document products, services, and policies, we wittingly--and often, unwittingly-expose the "warts" in them. We unearth problems ranging from unnecessary paperwork and incorrect technical information to insensitivity to particular customer groups and serious organizational mismanagement. Sometimes the problems sometimes surface during the information development process, sometimes afterwards. Using self-assessments and case studies, this session sensitizes you to the types of communication problems you might otherwise overlook and suggests ways for bringing these matters to the attention of the internal and external clients we serve.

Technical communicators, information designers, and others who have at least 3 war stories to tell about a technical communication project.

Seven Ideas for Sprucing Up Help

Bored with systems that take the same tired approach to Help? Are you looking to spice up your Help system with some fresh new approaches to information? Explore seven different alternatives to traditional Help, such as guided tours, wizards, and webzines, and what you need to effectively design and develop them.

Authors of user assistance who are seeking a change of pace from the "same old, same old."

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How to Schedule a Speech or Request More Information

Please contact me.

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Back to the Speeches

Speech	Description	Intended Audience
New! Storytelling as an Information Design Technique	Although technical communication is often characterized as “objective,” and limited in narration, the reality is that storytelling has many powerful uses in our work. This interactive session surveys uses of storytelling throughout the information design and development process: in research, design, and communication. Specifically, learn how to apply such storytelling techniques such as “A Day in the Life,” “archetypes,” and “the war story.”	Technical communicators, information designers, information planners, and others who develop plans for communication products.
New! Information Design in Three Dimensions--Lessons Learned from Museums	Sometimes the best design tips come from outside of our field. Information designers have learned that visitors to web sites have short attention spans, are easily susceptible to distractions, and need to be enticed to continue onward. Museum exhibit designers learned these lessons years ago and have adapted their design practices in response. In this experiential session (based on research into the exhibit design process), you'll experience some of these design challenges, brainstorm solutions (and hear how exhibit designers have responded), then learn how to adapt the best practices of exhibit design to the web design. (Based on the concepts underlying the presenter’s 2001 article on museums and web design, which won the Best of Show in the Frank R. Smith competition. )	Technical communicators, information designers, and others seeking alternative perspectives on design.
New! Inconspicuous Consumption: Lessons for Web Design from Mall and Retail Design	Although e-commerce sites can provide much insight into the design of functional websites (websites with technical support, training, or employee information), their ancestors--the bricks and mortar store and mall--offer additional insights. This session presents them. The insights address such issue as layout of the site, content sources, and the effective launch of online communities.	Technical communicators, information designers, and others seeking alternative perspectives on design.
Classic Physical, Cognitive, and Affective: A Three-Pronged Approach to Information Design	As “content becomes king” on the World Wide Web, information is no longer “presented,” it is designed. But what exactly is information design? How does it relate to document design, instructional design, and graphic design? What does it really refer to: visual design? structure of the content? navigation? Something else? This session addresses these issues. It first defines information design and contrasts it with other types of design. Then, it introduces the three classes of issues that information designers address. Then, it explores the implications of this broadly focused model to technical communicators, instructional designers, and other content specialists.	Technical communicators, instructional designers, corporate communicators, their managers, consultants, and others with experience in the field.
Classic Design a Wizard (and Make Magic Performance)	What exactly is an electronic wizard and how can it support users? Find out in this session. Through an interactive exercise, you design an electronic wizard and, in the process, learn about a variety of design challenges, including when to use a wizard, some of the usability issues to consider when designing a wizard, how to design the screens in a wizard, and the technical issues to address when designing a wizard.	Technical communicators, information designers, and others who have produced at least two online projects.
Classic 25 Tips for Communicating Online	A fast-paced and interactive tour through the basics of communicating online. Learn how to structure sites for easy access to content. Learn how to engage readers through visual variety and interaction. Learn how to overcome the limitations of the computer screen through effective organization and tight writing. And learn about the little last-minute things that meant the difference between success and failure for your online efforts.	Technical communicators, information designers, and others who have have not yet prepared material for presentation online. Experienced communicators might also find this presentation a helpful refresher.
Taking a Campaign Approach to Information Design and Development	Because individual manuals or online modules often lack impact, technical communicators increasingly develop coordinated series of communication products¾called a campaign¾to help users master a topic. Through a discovery learning exercise, you’ll identify the characteristics of a campaign, learn about the process and tools for designing campaigns, and which types of interventions (such as wizards) to use when. You’ll also see examples of successful campaigns.	Technical communicators, information designers, information planners, and others who develop plans forlibraries of communication products.
Creativity in Information Design and Development	Is an interactive session that provides examples of creative work in the field, explores creative approaches to training and technical communication projects, and helps participants re-connect with their creative instincts.	Technical communicators at any level of experience.
Documentation Therapy: Identifying Communication Issues Beyond Misspelled Words and Dangling Participles	As information designers and developers document products, services, and policies, we wittingly--and often, unwittingly-expose the "warts" in them. We unearth problems ranging from unnecessary paperwork and incorrect technical information to insensitivity to particular customer groups and serious organizational mismanagement. Sometimes the problems sometimes surface during the information development process, sometimes afterwards. Using self-assessments and case studies, this session sensitizes you to the types of communication problems you might otherwise overlook and suggests ways for bringing these matters to the attention of the internal and external clients we serve.	Technical communicators, information designers, and others who have at least 3 war stories to tell about a technical communication project.
Seven Ideas for Sprucing Up Help	Bored with systems that take the same tired approach to Help? Are you looking to spice up your Help system with some fresh new approaches to information? Explore seven different alternatives to traditional Help, such as guided tours, wizards, and webzines, and what you need to effectively design and develop them.	Authors of user assistance who are seeking a change of pace from the "same old, same old."