2025
Don't pour me
bad design
bad design
about
In summer 2025, I gave a talk at DrinkUp – a series of informal meetups for developers, with three speakers per event covering a wide range of topics relevant to the audience.
I, of course, spoke about design.
I, of course, spoke about design.
Project specifics
Each speaker gets 30 minutes. Have you ever tried holding a large group’s attention for half an hour – when everyone is tempted to grab food or chat with their neighbor? It’s a serious responsibility. I prepared more thoroughly for this than for some academic conferences.
It’s a paradox: the moment entertainment becomes part of the experience, the preparation gets significantly harder.
It’s a paradox: the moment entertainment becomes part of the experience, the preparation gets significantly harder.
Talk structure
I walked the audience through the basic principles of good design practice. Many developers work on side projects without a dedicated designer – so they have to figure it out themselves. Even with AI tools, it’s not always easy if you’re far from the design world (as many believe
they are)
they are)
Presentation concept
The presentation had a rhythm of its own – I call it the "Ole Lukøje method". More serious segments appeared on a black background, while lighter ones were set against color. I didn’t use cats to explain digital design rules – I used beer cans, showing that design is actually closer than it seems
Speaking experience
My experience speaking at a wide range of events has been invaluable as a teacher. Despite the informal nature of this one – closer to stand‑up than a lecture – my goals as a speaker remained the same: capture the audience’s attention, hold it, stay on time, and never lose sight of the core
message
message
Process
- 01Defined the talk topic together with
the organizers - 02Created the presentation and rehearsed the talk
- 03Delivered the talk, promoted collaboration opportunities with students
"Some typefaces we still use today date back to the 16th century — Garamond, for example. The thing about these old‑school typefaces is that they were designed for print — for paper and other physical media. Their creators had no idea that a few hundred years later, someone would invent the personal computer — and then, on top of that, a graphical operating system"
Outcome
Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to your health.
This talk does not promote beer – it uses beer cans as a metaphor to explain basic design principles. You can take the beer out of the can, but you can’t take the can out of the beer
This talk does not promote beer – it uses beer cans as a metaphor to explain basic design principles. You can take the beer out of the can, but you can’t take the can out of the beer