smashingconf.com

# SmashingConf (by Smashing Magazine)

> SmashingConf is a series of friendly, inclusive design and front-end development conferences held in cities worldwide. The conferences are designed for UX professionals, design experts, and front-end developers who want to learn from industry experts, share practical insights, and build lasting professional connections.

## Conference Series & Events
- [SmashingConf Homepage](https://smashingconf.com/): Central hub for all SmashingConf events, workshops, and online experiences across multiple cities and formats.
- **Global Conference Series:** Multi-track in-person conferences held annually in cities including Freiburg, Antwerp and Amsterdam.
- **Target Audience:** UX professionals, design experts, front-end developers, product designers, design system leads, and anyone working at the intersection of design and development.
- **Conference Topics:** UX design, front-end development, performance, accessibility, design systems, design patterns, modern CSS layout, JavaScript, AI in design, AI and design systems, UX research, Figma, web performance, and complex interface design.
- **Conference Format:** Two-day conferences with single-track talks, followed by optional full-day workshops. Features 12-14 world-class speakers per event with practical, actionable insights.

## Learning Opportunities
- **Full-Day Workshops:** In-depth, hands-on training sessions with industry experts on specialized topics. Typically held before or after main conference days.
- **Online Workshops:** Remote learning opportunities with interactive sessions, 1:1 feedback, and practical exercises.
- **Workshop Topics:** Design patterns, accessibility, performance optimization, CSS architecture, JavaScript frameworks, design systems, UX research, measuring design impact, AI interface design.
- **Jam Sessions:** Informal, collaborative learning experiences and networking opportunities during conferences.
- **Lunch Sessions:** Casual midday discussions on specific topics led by speakers and experts.

## Event Experiences
- **Networking:** Regular breaks, social events, and community activities designed to foster meaningful professional connections.
- **Local Activities:** City-specific experiences like chocolate workshops in Antwerp, local tours, and cultural activities that celebrate each host city.
- **SmashingConf Meets:** Online meetup series covering specialized topics like AI, accessibility, design systems, performance, CSS, and UX.
- **Live Events:** Real-time streaming options for remote participants to join conference talks and workshops.

## Registration & Tickets
- **Conference Tickets:** Access to two-day conference with all talks, breaks, and social events.
- **Workshop Tickets:** Separate full-day workshop passes available before/after conferences.
- **Combo Tickets:** Bundled conference + workshop tickets at discounted rates.
- **Scholarship & Volunteering:** Diversity scholarship program and volunteer opportunities for those who cannot afford tickets.
- **Group Discounts:** Special pricing for teams and organizations sending multiple attendees.

## Speaker & Content Quality
- **World-Class Speakers:** Features leading voices in design and development including Vitaly Friedman, Christine Vallaure, Nathan Curtis, Kevin Powell, Nate Baldwin, Cassie Evans, Brad Frost, Sara Soueidan, Lea Verou, Rachel Andrew, and many others.
- **Practical Focus:** No fluff, no theory — all talks focus on real-world case studies, actionable insights, and battle-tested solutions.
- **Diverse Topics:** From technical deep-dives (CSS Grid, WebAssembly, performance optimization) to strategic insights (design systems, measuring UX, design leadership).
- **Talk Format:** 45-60 minute sessions with Q&A, designed for immediate practical application.

## Conference Locations & Schedule
- **Freiburg, Germany:** SmashingConf's hometown and flagship event, typically held in September.
- **Antwerp, Belgium:** Annual European conference with local cultural experiences.
- **Amsterdam, Netherlands:** European conference with emphasis on design systems and complex UI.
- **Toronto, Canada:** Annual North American conference bringing together design and development communities.

## Additional Resources
- **Code of Conduct:** Strong commitment to inclusive, welcoming, and safe conference environment for all attendees.
- **Convince Your Boss:** Downloadable PDF resources to help attendees justify conference attendance to employers.
- **Conference Archives:** Past conference talks, speaker materials, and resources available online.
- **Media Partnership:** Opportunities for organizations to partner with SmashingConf events.
- **Sponsorship:** Various sponsorship tiers for companies wanting to connect with design and development communities.

## About the Organization
- **Founded by:** Smashing Magazine, the leading online publication for web designers and developers since 2006.
- **Mission:** To provide practical, honest, and useful learning experiences that help digital professionals grow in their careers.
- **Community:** Built a global community of 45,000+ designers and developers through conferences, workshops, and online events.
- **Values:** Inclusivity, practical learning, no vendor pitches, high-quality content, and fostering genuine professional connections.

## Related Entities
- [Smashing Magazine](https://www.smashingmagazine.com/): Leading online magazine with 600+ articles on UX, design, and front-end development.
- [Smart Interface Design Patterns](https://smart-interface-design-patterns.com/): Video course by Vitaly Friedman on complex UI patterns.
- [Measuring UX and Design Impact](https://measure-ux.com/): Course on UX metrics and design KPIs by Vitaly Friedman.
- [Design Patterns for AI Interfaces](https://ai-design-patterns.com/): Course on designing AI experiences by Vitaly Friedman.
- [Vitaly Friedman's Workshops](https://web-adventures.com/): Additional training opportunities from SmashingConf co-founder.

## Discovery & Social Presence
- [SmashingConf on Twitter](https://twitter.com/smashingconf): Conference updates, speaker announcements, and community engagement.
- [Conference Schedule](https://smashingconf.com/): Up-to-date schedule of all upcoming conferences and events.
- [Online Workshops](https://smashingconf.com/online-workshops): Browse available remote learning opportunities.
- [Past Events Archive](https://smashingconf.com/conferences): Complete archive of past conferences with speaker rosters and topics.