Designers and developers don’t often speak the same language — except at SmashingConf, which turns the two disciplines into one dialogue.
I wouldn’t call myself deeply connected to the web design community. My roots are in graphic design, and only in recent years have I begun expanding into the digital space. I’d heard of Smashing Magazine before, a familiar name floating through design circles, but I didn’t know much about it, and I certainly didn’t know about SmashingConf. After attending the New York edition last week, I can honestly say: I won’t soon forget it.
There’s something rare and refreshing about an event that reminds you why you fell in love with design in the first place. Last week at SmashingConf New York, I felt that spark again; an intoxicating mix of curiosity, connection, and pure creative joy.
Founded by Vitaly Friedman and Marc Thiele, SmashingConf grew out of Smashing Magazine, a beloved publication that has been the trusted voice for designers and developers seeking not hype, but honesty. For nearly two decades, Smashing Magazine has stood for practicality over pretension, serving as a space where real-world lessons matter more than fleeting trends. That ethos carries through every aspect of SmashingConf, now hosted in cities around the world from Freiburg to Barcelona, San Francisco, and New York.
There’s something rare and refreshing about an event that reminds you why you fell in love with design in the first place.
The New York edition was a perfect reflection of that spirit. It didn’t feel like a business conference; instead, it felt like a reunion of friends. The energy in the room was electric and entirely human. Host Vitaly Friedman was the heartbeat of the event, moving effortlessly between sessions, cracking bad jokes, and bringing the speakers in on the fun. There was an intimacy to it all; no lofty keynote posturing, no sales pitches, just designers and developers sharing how they actually work.
Each talk offered something distinct yet deeply interconnected, all circling the shared challenges of communication, whether between people or between disciplines. Christine Vallaure’s “The Invisible Divide” explored the subtle but consequential gap between designers and developers, showing how different mental models of layout, grids, and responsiveness can lead to friction and how mutual empathy can bridge that gap. Andy Welfle’s “Writing is Designing” reminded us that words are as vital to UX as color or composition; he asked us to imagine a web without labels or messages, just shapes and vibes, to illustrate how language quietly carries the user experience from the smallest tooltip to the biggest brand story. And in one of the conference’s most delightful surprises, Yiying Lu, the mystery speaker, took the stage with “Life is a Mystery,” urging us to embrace curiosity as a creative compass; a reminder that in both design and life, the unknown is often where the magic happens.
Between talks, the attention to detail was impossible to miss. Even the nametags were thoughtfully designed; with a simple flip, attendees could reveal each day’s schedule without having to fumble around in their bags for their phones or printed brochures. Interactive installations dotted the space, encouraging play and connection. Conversations spilled into hallways and over coffee cups as people shared notes, sketches, and ideas. It was a masterclass in user experience, not only in theory, but in practice.
It reminded me that design at its best isn’t just about pixels or performance; it’s about people. It’s about building systems and stories that make this world and its myriad of disciplines feel a little more human.
What struck me most was the joy that permeated everything. There was a sense that everyone — from speakers to attendees — genuinely cared about the craft and about each other. It reminded me that design at its best isn’t just about pixels or performance; it’s about people. It’s about building systems and stories that make this world and its myriad of disciplines feel a little more human.
As I left the venue, my notebook was full of ideas: a page of accessibility reminders, a doodle inspired by a motion design demo, and a note to try out a new CSS technique. But more than that, I left with a renewed sense of why we do this work. SmashingConf New York wasn’t just about front-end frameworks or design systems; it was about community, curiosity, and care. And in an industry that moves at lightning speed, that kind of grounded, joyful connection is, well, truly smashing.
Imagery courtesy of Marc Thiele and Amelia Nash.
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