HTML5 and CSS3

Current web technologies are changing, whether we’re ready for it or not. As web designers, it’s our responsibility to stay up to date on industry changes. The first meeting of the Web Design Lunch group will focus on two of these new technologies, HTML5 and CSS3. We will discuss what’s new in HTML5 and CSS3, current browser support and the expected adoption rate. This will be an open discussion, so please bring your questions and insight.

One of the goals for this group is to facilitate sharing of knowledge amongst local web designers. Open communication is key to this and to spur this on, I would like to have different “segments” of the meeting each requiring group participation.

Agenda

1. Topic Discussion (main meeting topic): ~20 minutes
2. Link Share – discuss links that have come up between meetings that may be beneficial to the group: ~10 minutes
3. Website Review – one website will be reviewed each meeting. We will discuss every aspect of the website (potential for monetization, color application, optimization, accessibility, etc.): ~10 minutes
4. Tool Review / Tool Suggestion – do you use a piece of software or hardware that makes your work better, easier or faster? If so, please share. This segment will last between 5 and 10 minutes.
5. Web Design Game Show – everyone participates, points awarded, highest point total gets a trip to the Bahamas or some other less valuable prize: ~10 minutes

Video

The meetings will be videoed for posterity’s sake and for making fun of people that say something stupid. The videos will be available on the WDL website shortly (or not so shortly) after the meeting.

First Meeting Specifics

Website Review: For the first meeting, we will critique the African Budget Safaris website, so please take a look at it before the meeting and come prepared with questions and comments.

Tool Review: A piece of software that I use everyday for various aspects of design, Adobe Fireworks, will be discussed. I’m not looking to sell you guys on this tool. I’m also looking for reasons why it’s not the best product for a given task. So put on your debate hat

Important: This group is for designers (and yes, developers), by designers (yes, and by developers). It is very important that each of you give back to the group and contribute when you feel comfortable. The group will evolve into whatever we all need it to be.

Logistics

Location: Shift Workspace* (2308 2nd Ave. North, Birmingham, AL)
Time: 11:30AM for mingling, topic discussion to begin at Noon
Date: Tuesday, August 4th, 2009
Bring your own lunch.

*Special thanks goes out to Shift Workspace for hosting this group. If you haven’t checked it out yet, have a look at their website for more information. Shift is a great asset to the Birmingham area.

UPDATE: The HTML5 and CSS3 slides are now available from the presentation.