UXcamp Europe is a one-of-a-kind event with a one-of-a-kind community. What makes it special are the contributions from the community. In true Barcamp fashion, our program is completely created by the community for the community, every morning, on the spot.
If you are planning to give a session, or think about planning to give a session, or are on the fence about thinking about planning to give a session, here are a few tips to get you started.
Try something new: UXcamp Europe is a great place to try public speaking when you don't normally do it. It's also a great place to try talking about something you don't normally talk about. We value our diversity of speakers and topics and encourage everybody to get involved.
Choose a topic: Talk about something that inspires you or that you are passionate about. You’ll be surprised how many people might feel the same.
Choose a format: You know best what works well for your session topic. However, these three types of sessions are common at UXcamp Europe:
Structure your session: If you can't find a structure for your session, try this simple outline:
Include your audience: Plan for sufficient discussion time (about 15min) in your session. People like to add their own experience to the topic that you prepared and make your session even more insightful for everybody.
Choose a language: We welcome all languages at UXcamp Europe. Keep in mind, however, that almost all sessions are held in English and no one will judge your English skills.
Bring your session: Every morning we will all put together the program for the day. We have space for more than 100 sessions over two days, so every session is welcome at UXcamp Europe.
Write the session template: For the pitch we have prepared a template for you to fill out. It will help you to give a compelling and concise pitch, and it will also be the basis for the session board.
Pitch your session: Tell us what your session is about and what we will learn. Tell us if you want to do your session for beginners with the topic or for more experienced people. You have 30 seconds for the pitch.
Do it for the community: No need to advertise yourself, your services, or your product. The same goes for your employer. ;-)
Prepare yourself: The best way to combat stage fright is to be prepared. If you plan to use presentation slides for your session, make sure your computer is charged and you have a backup of your presentation somewhere.
Prepare the room: Bring everything you need for your session. All rooms in the venue are equipped with a projector and blackboard (the one with white chalk); there are no flip charts, whiteboards, sticky notes, pens, etc. The projectors have connectors for HDMI – bring adapters, then bring some more.
Keep the time: Every session is max 45 minutes. They are followed by a break to meet and network with your fellow attendees. Make sure your audience gets to enjoy these breaks.
Have respect and have fun: UXcamp Europe is a one-of-a-kind event with a one-of-a-kind community. Don’t take this for granted and don’t forget to enjoy every moment of it!
