Stuff & Nonsense product and website design

Speaking information for conference organisers

So glad you’re interested in me presenting at your conference in 2022. To save us both a little time, here’s a some information about how I approach speaking. Each year I prepare two new talks, the first is a 20 minute talk for community events and meet-ups, the second is a longer talk for larger industry events.

This year’s talks

The short talk topic this year is ‘Inspired by CSS Grid.’ It’s an inspiring design talk which introduces people to using CSS Grid while making creative layouts.

The longer talk topic is ‘Success comes from standing out.’

Advertising legend Bill Bernbach said in the 1960s that “familiarity breeds apathy.” Today, on the web, familiarity has bred repetition, while frameworks, publishing platforms, and templates have created countless products and websites which are barely distinguishable from one another. Andy Clarke has spent the past decade studying layout. In his impactful talk, Andy will teach you layout techniques which will transform your approach to designing products and websites. He’ll show you how to leave framework grids behind and to embrace compound and modular grids. Then, he’ll demonstrate how to create outstanding layouts without sacrificing accessibility, performance, or responsiveness.

I normally write two versions of the longer talk, one running to 45 minutes, the other to 60 minutes. I’m happy to answer questions at community events and meet-ups but have never found Q&A sessions at larger events to be successful, so don’t include time for them. Presentation slides are available online and I’ll mention the URL at the start of my talk.


Speaking fees

I’m not backed by a large company, so I charge a fee to speak at larger industry conferences. That fee varies according to the ticket price. I charge a £1,000 non-refundable booking fee, and expect to be paid the balance within 30 days of an event. I waive fees for community or (nearly) free conferences but still require accommodation and transportation costs to be covered by an event.


I ask organisers to arrange and pay for accommodation one night before, during, and one night after an event, Economy class return airfare if the flight time is less than 5 hours, premium economy or business class if it’s over 5 hours. Reasonable transportation costs, including taxi fares or first class train travel to and from an airport. Hotel wifi and internet access.

Although it’s always nice to receive a gift, I’d prefer you donate an equivalent amount of money to Ape Action Africa to support gorilla conservation.


Setup information

I prefer a lavaliere/lapel or countryman/headset to a handheld microphone. I’ll let you and your technical team know well in advance if a presentation includes audio and will test the connection and volume at the technical check before the talk.

Presenting from my own laptop helps ensure there’s less time spent, are fewer issues, setting up for the talk. My M1 MacBook Pro supports Thunderbolt 4 and I provides his own presentation remote. I don’t provide slides for use on any other computer.

I realise that lecterns are convenient for hiding messy cables and putting conference branding on-stage, but they sometimes get in the way of delivering a great presentation. The best lecterns have low sides for reading notes at any angle. If they can be rotated slightly, they allow speakers to see their laptop screen without standing behind the lectern.


Introducing me

Here are several things you might say when introducing me to your audience:

“Our next/keynote speaker is Andy Clarke. Andy’s a well-known digital designer, speaker, and writer who’s based in the Republic of Wales.”

“Andy founded Stuff & Nonsense, one of the best-known web design studios, where he designed for Disney Store UK, Greenpeace, SunLife, and WWF.”

“Andy’s written several popular books on website design and development including Hardboiled Web Design, Transcending CSS, and his latest book, ‘Art Direction for the Web.’”

“Andy’s been called plenty of things since he started working on the web. His ego likes terms such as “Ambassador for CSS,” “industry prophet,” and “inspiring,” but he’s most proud that Jeffrey Zeldman once called him a “triple-talented bastard.””

He really, really, loves gorillas.


Biography

Please use the following biography on your conference website and in any programme.

Andy Clarke is a well-known digital designer, speaker, and writer, based in the Republic of Wales. His designs have helped companies around the world to increase their sales pipeline and revenue, and charities to increase the amount they receive through donations. Andy founded Stuff & Nonsense, one of the best-known digital design studios, where he designed for Disney Store UK, Greenpeace, SunLife, and WWF. He’s written popular books on website design and development including ‘Art Direction for the Web,’ ‘Hardboiled Web Design,’ and ‘Transcending CSS.’

Andy’s been called plenty of things since he started working on the web. His ego likes terms such as “Ambassador for CSS,” “industry prophet” and “inspiring,” but he’s most proud that Jeffrey Zeldman (the godfather of web standards) once called him a “triple-talented bastard.””

Please download my official publicity photographs. Oh. And don’t buy me a parrot.

Hire me. I’m available now to work on product and website design projects.