ConvergeSE 2013

Want to get your hands dirty with some truly interactive projects? Do you like to tinker? Interested in creative coding? Oh, and do you have a penchant for NERF? Designer, developer, business, n00b, padawan, it doesn't matter. Hands will be held until you unleash your own awesomeness.

The workshop breaks down into three portions:

• Creative Coding with Processing
  A crash course into Processing starting from the ground up. Learn about creative coding and the vast possibilities you can create with it.
• Physical Computing with Arduino
  Learn how to control motors, sensors, and other components with the small, but powerful Arduino controller board. We'll make a simple project to get you familiar with the ins and outs, and then we'll take that knowledge and look at...
• Processing + Arduino = Autonomous NERF Blaster
  Combining physical computing with creative coding, and some duct tape, we'll create an autonomous, as in running by itself, NERF blaster that will fire anyone it sees. From there we'll discuss the possibilities you can do to extend functionality on your own.

It's a BYOL(Bring Your Own Laptop) session, so it's mandatory you have one. And don't try to roll in with a Chromebook.

Goodies list (what you get as part of the workshop):
- NERF Blaster
- Arduino board, cables, and components
- Servos
- Webcam
- Panning system for blaster movement

A hands-on workshop about responsive web design. We will cover web design and development techniques which embrace the fluid nature of the web, allowing a site to adjust its layout based on the size of the browser. We'll cover the theory, the process, and get our hands dirty in some HTML and CSS.

This workshop will cover:
Responsive Web Design, 101
Responsive Planning & Design
Getting a Good Start
The Nitty Gritty Coding
Business of RWD
The Why and How to of Responsive Retrofitting
Role of JavaScript
Responsive JavaScript
Emerging Patterns
What's Next: The Future of RWD

You'll leave the day being a RWD master!

Too often, we jump into a new endeavor focused on making money instead of on creating the life we want to live. In this hands-on workshop, Carl will help you envision a company that is built around your needs, personality and lifestyle. We'll talk about everything from setting realistic business goals to figuring out an exit strategy if you're ever ready for the next challenge. You'll leave the workshop with a solid plan to get your business on track!

You'll learn about:
Setting goals and defining your objectives
Establishing your services
Finding clients you like, firing ones you don't
Creating a work process that's right for you
Hiring great people
What to do when it all goes to hell

Now that Carl has inspired you to make the kind of business you want to make, we'd like to talk about practical tactics to stay profitable. Freakishly profitable. Are you getting worn out on small processes and tasks? Not making enough money? Getting lost in tedious client work? Have cashflow problems? We've been there, too and we want to help. We'll give you practical tips for turning pain into profit - and we'll have lots of fun doing it.

We'll cover:

• Using side projects to increase your brand and land better jobs
• Using your brand & contact form to pre-screen clients
• Streamlining your workflows
• Pricing for profit
• Invoicing for better cash-flow