A good talk is the one people still use on Monday.
I speak about brand, design and how people actually move through the things we make. Your audience might be entrepreneurs, technologists, designers or a community. I shape the talk to them, and I want them to leave with something they can use before the week is out.
On the record
- 20+
- years in design, brand and code
- 4
- talks to choose from
- 2014
- author of Explore
“David Yarde is full of knowledge and a natural educator.”
- Gold Award of Excellence, The Communicator Awards, 2016
- People’s Champ (Experimental), Pixel Awards
- CSS Awards ×5, CSS Garden and CSS Light
- IBM Design Thinking Practitioner
- Scrum Foundation Professional, CertiProf
- Google Digital Marketing, Grow with Google
What it’s like in the room.
I talk with the room, not at it. The people who were there say it better than I can, further down.
Four places I usually start.
01
Building and Maintaining a Lovable Brand
Building brands people want to champion
Most brands look great and run on empty. The logo’s polished, the team’s tired, and what the website promises isn’t what happens inside. This talk is about building the inside first. A minimum lovable brand, not a performance.
02
The Supercharged User Journey
Applying service design thinking to digital marketing for brand growth and community engagement.
03
Maximum Effort
Maintaining momentum, sanity and focus in an always-on world
Effort isn’t the problem. You’ve probably got plenty. What runs out is everything underneath it: the routine, the boundaries, the room for a bad week. This talk is about building that, so your best work doesn’t depend on you having a good day.
04
Designing Connections
Leveraging community and collaboration for growth
Leading people through a messy stretch doesn’t take a louder voice. It takes a calmer one. This talk is about leading through complexity without the hustle: clearer structure, fewer meetings about meetings, and hard things explained in plain words.
Keynotes, Q&A, fireside chats and workshops.
Same subject, different shape. A keynote points a whole room in one direction. A Q&A or a fireside chat is a conversation you steer. A workshop is where people leave with something they made.
Tell me which shape your event has room for, and I’ll build to it.
Keynote: 45 to 60 minutes.
Q&A or fireside: 30 to 45 minutes.
Workshop: 90 to 120 minutes, for up to 30 people.
Some of the rooms so far.
WordCamp US
TalkThe Nexus of Design and WordPress (workshop)
Where and whenSan Diego, 2022
WordCamp NYC
TalkMarried to the Job: Building a Business and Family (with Angelica Yarde)
Where and whenNew York, 2017
php[world] 2018
TalkThe Art of Working With Non-Developers
Where and when2018
Little Rock Tech Fest
TalkThe Art of Working with Non-developers
Where and whenLittle Rock, 2016
See every room
WordCamp Miami
TalkRaising The Creative Generation
Where and whenMiami, 2020
PechaKucha Night Orlando
TalkBecoming a hero
Where and whenOrlando, 2020
AIGA Orlando
TalkDesign Thinking and Empathy (interview)
Where and whenOrlando, 2019
Credo Conduit
TalkFor the Love of the Brand
Where and whenOrlando, 2018
MiamiVR Expo
TalkSpeaker
Where and whenMiami, 2018
WordCamp Orlando
TalkYour Strategy Guide to Managing Project Scope (with Matthew Hunt)
Where and whenOrlando, 2016
WordPress Orlando
TalkBranding Yourself and Your Business as a WordPress Practitioner
Where and whenOrlando, 2016
WordCamp Miami
TalkHow To HandOff a Project To a Client
Where and whenMiami, 2016
WordCamp Orlando
TalkManaging Project Expectations and Roadblocks
Where and whenOrlando, 2015
WordCamp Orlando
TalkUX Panel (panel)
Where and whenOrlando, 2015
WordCamp Orlando
TalkBranded Content strategies using WordPress
Where and whenOrlando, 2014
WordPress Meetup Orlando
TalkPanel Discussion: The Business of Plugins (moderator)
Where and whenOrlando, 2014
You’ll hear from me before the event, not only at it.
- Clear communication and a prompt reply, from first message to event day.
- A personal conversation before the event, so the content fits your audience.
- Promotion of your event across my blog and social channels.
- A custom resource page created for your attendees.
- An immediate follow-up after the event.
David Yarde is full of knowledge and a natural educator.
He was a guest speaker in my dual enrollment HTML & CSS Course and was really able to relate to my high school students.
Full quote
David Yarde is full of knowledge and a natural educator. He was a guest speaker in my dual enrollment HTML & CSS Course and was really able to relate to my high school students. He provides real world experience and application for them to learn from. I confidently send potential clients to him and have enjoyed the ever evolving array of talents and skills he brings to projects he works on.
Annette Lilly
Guest speaker, dual-enrollment HTML & CSS course
… As most of us know, coordinating events can be very time consuming and overwhelming, but David always managed to bring a level of clarity and creativity to solve complex problems.
I also reach out to David whenever I want to talk about the latest trends in tech.
Full quote
I've had the privilege of working with David to organize many meetups and conferences together. As most of us know, coordinating events can be very time consuming and overwhelming, but David always managed to bring a level of clarity and creativity to solve complex problems. I also reach out to David whenever I want to talk about the latest trends in tech. I've gotten the inside scoop on many industries because of our discussions. I look forward to working together again down the road!
David P.
Co-organising meetups and conferences
… He is able to guide and consult others with his many years of experience by asking the right questions to get to the bottom of what you have in mind and how it will serve your audience.
I highly recommend David as a content creator, consultant, brand expert, and speaker.
Full quote
For the past 5 years I have had the pleasure of learning from David within the Orlando Tech, Black Orlando Tech, and WordPress communities. He is a branding expert and overall amazing creative who has provided valuable speaking and teaching efforts from novice to expert level professionals and entrepreneurs. He is able to guide and consult others with his many years of experience by asking the right questions to get to the bottom of what you have in mind and how it will serve your audience. I highly recommend David as a content creator, consultant, brand expert, and speaker.
Emily Walker
Consulting
Fees are scoped on a call.
Every room’s different, so I price it once we’ve talked. The form asks for a budget range so I can reply with the right shape.
Travel
I travel from Orlando, Florida. Travel and accommodation are scoped with each booking.
Virtual or in person
Virtual talks get live Q&A and the same participant resources.
Lead time
Book four to eight weeks ahead where you can.
What I need from you (AV, room, recording)
A wireless lapel or headset mic, HDMI for my own laptop, a clicker, and a short tech check before we start.
Everything to forward on.
Talks and formats
Before you ask.
Can you customise a talk for our audience?
None of these is fixed. If your event needs a different angle, that’s a normal thing to ask for.
Which formats do you do?
Keynotes, Q&A, fireside chats and workshops. Same subject, different shape.
Can you speak virtually?
Yes, I do. Virtual sessions get live Q&A and the same participant resources as a room.
Can the session be recorded?
Yes, if we agree it first, including where the recording goes.
How far ahead should we book?
Four to eight weeks, so the talk has time to fit your room.
How quickly will I hear back?
Within two working days.
What do you need from us?
I want a proper conversation before the event, so the talk fits your audience. On the day: a wireless mic, HDMI for my laptop and a quick tech check. I arrive an hour early.
Tell me about the room.
Who’s in it, what they’re up against, and what you’d like them to leave with. That’s all I need to start.
I’ll reply within two working days.