2010 Conferences for Web Designers
Conferences are great for networking and keeping up to speed on technology. Don’t you find, though, that it’s hard to actually take a step back from the designing and coding to go learn about designing and coding? 
I made it my goal this year to break away and get to a conference, and I reviewed several great options online. See the dates and cities below, along with my impressions of each from their websites. Did I miss any good ones? Let me know!
UPDATE, 2/18/2010: I found some more to add, courtesy of SitePoint, listed below…
Adobe Max, Los Angeles, October 24 -27
Impressions… Focus on Adobe products (understandably). Personally can’t afford to spend this much time on all Adobe. To repeat a quote I heard recently: “Real developers use notepad!” 
An Event Apart, Seattle, April 5 – 7 (other cities offered)
Impressions… Corporate, perhaps even stuffy, though I would love to be a fly on the wall to hear Microsoft Product Manager’s topic: Microsoft: Help Us Kill IE6. I’ll do my part, Pete!
A Day Apart, Seattle, April 7
Impressions… Spend a day getting the latest on HTML5 and CSS3. Can I say goodbye to Verdana and Tahoma? I may attend just for that!
Future of Web Apps, Miami, February 22-24
Impressions… Cutting edge, beach parties and so forth; focus on application development.
In Control, Orlando, February 22-23
Impressions… Good coverage on a wide range of topics; perfect for a freelance generalist such as myself. *my choice*
Internet Week, New York, June 7 – 14
Impressions… Can’t tell, because the schedule is not online, but I don’t think I could do any conference for a whole week: overload!
MinneWebCon St. Paul, April 12
Impressions… Focus on education, though the topics seem to be a great overview in one day.
Microsoft MIX10, Las Vegas, March 15-17
Impressions… Not as product-centric as I expected, but probably still not for someone (like me) who is determined to remain product-agnostic…
SXSWeek, Austin, March 12-21
Impressions… Focus on music & film.
Usability Week, Various cities/dates
Impressions… Focus on usability.
Web Directions, Atlanta, Date TBA
Impressions… Based on a brief look at past events, seemed high on theoretical, low on practical.
WebVisions, Portland, May 19-21
Impressions… Only 1 of 3 days are currently scheduled, but what is there looks intriguing: HTML5, CSS3, iPhone Apps, and Photography tips.
International
I can’t justify heading off to New Zealand or London, as much as I would love to, but here are some International web conferences if these countries are closer to home for you.
- @media: London, June 8 – 11
- Design It, Build It: United Kingdom, April 28
- Form,Function & Class: Philippines, July
- UX London: London, May 19 – 21
- Webdesign International Festival: France, June 4 – 5
- WebhostingDay: Germany, March 17 – 19
- Webstock: New Zealand, February 15 – 19
February 4th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
Doode, I am drooling over “An Event Apart”. I would LOVE to go in any capacity, but DANG it’s expensive!
February 4th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
I know, right? It’s tax deductible, but who pays for the other 72% of the bill?