VizThink Blog

Session Formats

We’re designing this conference to be different from any other conference you’ve ever experienced.  You’ll not just be hearing or seeing new ideas, but experiencing them and talking about them with your colleagues.  We’ll explore new ideas, approaches, and concepts using a variety of formats.  Each pre-conference workshop, general session, and breakout session will use one or more of these types:

	Hands On:Active participation in the concepts, ideas, approaches, and styles presented by the facilitators. We’ll supply all the writing utensils and paper you need. Be sure to bring your laptop for any of the computer-based sessions.		Discussion:Networking and discussion are the primary goals of VizThink. We’ll bring the community together with both small and large group discussions on topics presented by the facilitators. The general session room and all of the break outs will be set up in rounds to encourage discussion throughout the event.
	Debates: We’ll place opposing views or approaches on the stage to field questions from you to show both shared and differing views. How far can the concept of a global visual language go? How does online approaches differ from in person methodologies? And many more…		Quick Hits: During the general sessions, we’ll cover a bunch of topics providing quick exposure to a bunch of new ideas and research. Some will be technology based and some will be new ideas or approaches. Some of the quick hits will be used as teasers for the more in depth follow up sessions later in the day.
	Interviews: Part talk show, part audience participation…we’ll get your favorite facilitators up on stage and ask the tough (and maybe a few easy) questions about their area of expertise.		Panels: Teams of experts and practitioners will field your questions on a variety of topics. The panels will be seeded with people from various sides of an issue to expose similarities and differences on topics.

Notice what’s missing?  Presentations or lectures.  Certainly, you’ll hear from and learn from these industry experts, but the majority of time will be spent trying out and discussing each of their ideas.

The community and conference wiki will be launched next week.  Each session will have one or more of these icons to help you identify the format of the session.  Soon we’ll be adding icons for art style and application as well.

Subscribe to the blog or check back often for all of the exciting updates.  Also, be sure to register soon, before the early registration discount ends.