SmashingConf Freiburg 2023

We are delighted to share with you our experience at SmashingConf Freiburg 2023, which took place from September 3 to 6. Known as one of the most dynamic and insightful conferences for web professionals, it certainly lived up to expectations once again this year. From the quality of the talks to the friendly atmosphere, and the broad range of topics covered, everything came together to make this event a real success.

The day opened with an inspiring keynote before diving into the first talk. Amy Hupe gave us plenty to think about with her session on “Systems of Harm”. She explored how we sometimes unintentionally build systems of exclusion—or even harm—and how we can work to avoid them. A powerful and necessary topic that set the tone for a day filled with learning.

The talks continued one after another, each more insightful than the last. We particularly enjoyed Slava Shestopalov’s session on accessibility. His practical approach to conducting product tests with visually impaired users was both moving and extremely valuable.

Jecelyn Yeen then took us deep into the complex world of modern web debugging. She highlighted the improvements made to developer tools and how we can use them to debug our applications more efficiently. A talk that was both technical and accessible—and one that taught us a great deal.

Our favourite talk, however, was Maggie Appleton’s session on designing with language models—those “Shoggoth-like” creatures: unpredictable yet fascinating. Her futuristic perspective and the way she approaches design truly impressed us.

Beyond the talks, what makes SmashingConf so special is its warm atmosphere and the many networking opportunities it offers. Whether during coffee breaks, the running sessions, or the evening at the planetarium, we had countless opportunities to connect with other passionate professionals.

The closing night at Café Pow was the highlight of these encounters. A relaxed ambiance, meaningful conversations, and lots of laughter made it an evening to remember.

SmashingConf Freiburg 2023 was an incredibly enriching experience, both professionally and personally. We learned a tremendous amount and met truly inspiring people. We’re already looking forward to the next edition and the new adventures it will bring.

In the meantime, we’ll make the most of all the knowledge gained during these four intense and exciting days. After all, that’s the aim of these conferences: helping us grow and continuously improve as developers.

And on that front, SmashingConf once again delivered brilliantly.