11:15 AM – 12:15 PM Concurrent Sessions (Breakouts)

Building Content-First Workflows that Support Multi-Channel Publishing with Kilian Schalk
In this eye-opening session, workflow design expert Kilian shows you how and why magazine brands must build change into their process, including how to identify needs by reviewing technical, cultural and commercial indicators. He’ll spotlight some common barriers to change, explore how teams working remotely can both block and enable progress, and workshop possible solutions to show how financial, organizational and audience benefits can accrue when a magazine takes the plunge. Come prepared to visualize change!

Kilian Schalk. An expert in workflow design and an “energetic, passionate devotee of continuous improvement,” Kilian has been working miracles in a multi-channel environment for decades. Most recently he positioned America Media, one of the oldest periodicals in the U.S., to “lead the conversation about faith and culture,” and in 2018 he created the blueprint for a workflow overhaul of Vanity Fair. Before founding PurpleGray Consulting in 2014, Kilian was Managing Editor for Editorial Development at Condé Nast, where he helped to define and implement cultural change across 18 titles. Prior to that he spent 11 years as Technical Director of Digital Projects for The New Yorker, where he was integral to the launch of the magazine’s website, digital archive, and kindle, nook, audible.com and iPad editions. He was also the youngest Production Manager in Rolling Stone history.

Mobile First Web Strategy: Making Your Website Great on Every Platform
Your website looks great on desktop, but is it fast enough and legible on all the devices your audience are reading you on? In this session, web and web marketing expert Dana DiTomaso will cover all the things you need to consider for your mobile visitors — who are likely more than half your daily visitors! Starting with improving site speed, and covering pesky attachments like PDFs and flipbooks, this session will also look at design decisions like font size and thinking about social sharing first

Dana is President & Partner at Kick Point, where she helps people and teams do better marketing. Alongside the team at Kick Point, Dana pushes people and teams to set goals and track data so that they understand what strategies and tactics bring value and what is just a waste of money. Dana speaks at conferences around the world about reporting and analytics, SEO, and brand building. In her spare time, Dana is the weekly technology columnist on CBC Edmonton AM. She also enjoys drinking fancy beer and yelling at football players.

THE ART OF THE COMMISSION: SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION BETWEEN ART DIRECTORS AND ILLUSTRATORS WITH PETE RYAN
Award-winning illustrator Pete Ryan has had many creative roles – from former art director to former college professor – he now makes his living as an illustrator. In this session Pete shares his unique perspective on how to troubleshoot collaborations between art directors, designers and illustrators (hint: a solid creative brief doesn’t hurt). Get Pete’s tips for perfecting the process from inception to finished illustration, and learn why he considers failed ideas sources of valuable data.

Pete Ryan was raised on a farm in the middle of nowhere. He’s a former college professor, former art director and former Ontarian who currently calls Nelson, BC home. Pete makes illustrations for Time, the New York Times and a variety of publications in Alberta. A global warming alarmist, golden retriever enthusiast and late ‘90s hardcore punk survivor, Pete can be found on a trail, in his garden or inside his studio.

Posted in: