Level Up Your OutSystems UI: A Recap and Beyond

Ever dreamed of presenting at a conference? This year, I took the leap and presented at the OutSystems One Conference in Amsterdam! My session, titled "Level Up Your OutSystems UI: Themes, Live Style Guides, and a Foundation That Slays," explored strategies for building exceptional user interfaces.

I recently returned from the OutSystems One Conference, held in Amsterdam. It was an incredible experience filled with knowledge and inspiration.  

Last year, my colleague Kim and I attended the OutSystems One Conference in Portugal. You can check out my previous blog post about that experience here.

At the conference in Portugal, something truly inspiring happened during a front-end session. It sparked the idea that we, too, could share our expertise and the challenges we've faced in projects. We wanted to discuss how we overcame those hurdles and how to prevent them in the future.

Then, the call for speakers opened! This was the push I needed. Our CEO announced that JustSolve would cover flights and accommodation for any employee who applied and got accepted. Suddenly, the stakes were raised in a fantastic way:

• A chance to travel to Europe for free!
• The personal challenge of stepping outside my comfort zone.

With these motivations in mind, I couldn't let this opportunity slip away.

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How I Created my Session.

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1. Brainstorming the Topic:

• Leveraging personal experience: I drew on my daily work as a front-end developer at JustSolve to identify key areas where I could share valuable insights.
• ‍Focusing on practical tips: I wanted to provide actionable advice that attendees could immediately apply to their own projects.
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2. Collaborating with our Head of UX:

• Seeking expert guidance: Kimberleigh's extensive UX design knowledge significantly improved my presentation. ‍
• Benefitting from her support: Kimberleigh provided invaluable guidance throughout the process, from initial brainstorming to final rehearsals.
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3. Overcoming Nervousness:

• Practicing regularly: I rehearsed my presentation multiple times to build confidence and familiarity with the material. ‍
• Seeking support from colleagues: I discussed my nerves with colleagues who had experience presenting at conferences, and they provided encouragement and advice.
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4. Creating a Compelling Session:

• Structuring the content: I organised my presentation into clear sections, focusing on key themes and providing practical examples.
• ‍Using visual aids: I incorporated slides and diagrams to enhance understanding and engagement.
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5. Rehearsing and Refining:

• Practicing with a test audience: I presented my talk to colleagues to get feedback on content, delivery, and pacing. ‍
• Addressing potential questions: I anticipated questions from the audience and prepared answers in advance.

By following these steps, I was able to create a presentation that I felt confident delivering and that resonated with the audience.
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Preparing for this presentation was quite a journey. I faced moments of self-doubt, but with practice and the support of my colleagues, I gained the confidence to deliver my talk. This experience has not only strengthened my public speaking skills but has also reinforced my passion for front-end development and sharing knowledge with the community.
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During my presentation, I discussed the importance of bridging the gap between design and development. By leveraging reusable components, adhering to best practices, and utilising live style guides, we can create user interfaces that are not only beautiful but also maintainable and scalable.

These were my Key Takeaways for a Successful Project:

• Bridging the gap between design and development: Effective collaboration is essential for creating exceptional user interfaces.
• ‍Leveraging reusable components: Custom components can streamline development and improve code maintainability. ‍
• Adhering to best practices: Following coding standards and avoiding common pitfalls ensures a high-quality front-end. ‍
• Utilising live style guides: A centralised design system promotes consistency and streamlines collaboration.

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I recently also joined fellow front-end experts at the OutSystems User Group on November 7th, sharing insights from the One Conference’s top talks. Watch the recording here.

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This experience has been incredibly rewarding. It's pushed me outside my comfort zone and helped me grow as a developer. I'm grateful for the support of my colleagues at JustSolve and the opportunity to share my knowledge with the OutSystems community.

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