TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. The project started in California in 1984, with a series of conferences in the lapse of four days, and ever since, they continue to hold events with the purpose of inspiring other people that want to change the world with new ideas. Leaders, thinkers, and entrepreneurs are invited to TED events. They share ideas, experiences, and projects in short 18 minute conferences.

TEDx was created in the spirit of TED’s mission: ideas worth spreading. The program is designed to give communities, organizations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level. At TEDx events, a screening of TEDTalks videos -or a combination of live presenters and TEDTalks videos- sparks deep conversation and connections. TEDx events are fully planned and coordinated independently, on a community-by-community basis.

A few weeks ago, I noticed that a TEDx event was going to take place in Guatemala at the Universidad Francisco Marroquín (UFM). And by early August, they announced that for a couple of days, they were accepting applications to be part of the first TEDx in Guate. I had to go! I sent my application, and a few days ago I got the email with a bright big Yes! -Ok not literally, but felt like it! So I’m ready for Saturday. Packed with Business Cards, plenty of chat and ideas to spread! The main subjects will be: Disruptive Technologies, Entrepreneurship and Freedom. The list of TEDxUFM speakers include: John Chisholm, José Raúl González, Grete Pasch, Quinn Stewart, Michael Strong, Magatte Wade and Luke Williams.

This post first appeared on Rookie Designer, May 27 2011

Michael Niness, VP of Content at Lynda.com was the one who gave the Keynote to kick start PePCon. This entire conference changed the way I see how I will approach (learn and enjoy) ePub creation. It’s not thinking of print or digital, is getting into print and digital. As content creators, we get to break apart the structure of publications and put them back together, in a way that will bend the rules of how us as designers from the print industry will challenge the reader of our creations. We have this great opportunity to experiment and innovate, pushing for new interactions.

He suggested that we all should buy the book Our Choice by Al Gore for both the iPhone and iPad to see what we can be capable of. That is a great example of what the device is capable of doing and how far we can push the lines. As well, as getting subscriptions to Martha Stewart’s Publications such as Everyday Food Magazine* and Martha Stewart Living Magazine.

As for every publication, we need a certain set of skills, such as typography, color, composition, be able to switch from our static background to create motion and  interactions, think of time in a much more flexible way, create stunning infographics, embrace online and offline collaboration, critical thinking and an entrepreneurial spirit that will make you push the boundaries.

The most important matter is to be able to put yourself in the shoes of the reader. You will create experiences, not just a publication that will give out information.  This last line I am quoting from Michael: Step up, embrace change, take risks and have fun.

*Make sure to double check when you purchase the Everyday Food Magazine that it’s for the iPad. That app is free to download but the In-App subscriptions are $2.99. There’s an iPhone version of the app, but it’s not a magazine/book as the one I’m linking in this article.

World Graphics Day is celebrated on April 27, the anniversary of the founding of the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (Icograda), the world body for graphic design, in 1963. It is a day to celebrate the profession of graphic and communication design. The day has been celebrated since 1995.

On this occasion, designers reflect and hope that an international network can contribute to a greater understanding between people and can help to build bridges where divides and inequities exist.

International Council of Graphic Design Associations (Icograda) was founded in London in 1963 and is the world body for professional communication design and visual communication. Icograda network members include professional associations, design promotion bodies, design media and design education institutions. Design media are affiliated through the Icograda Design Media Network. Individuals are affiliated through the Icograda Friends Network.

The Icograda Education Network (IEN) brings together the worldwide community of graphic design educational institutions. The IEN was inaugurated at a meeting in Brno, Czech Republic, in June 2002 attended by 73 delegates from 28 countries.

Happy World Graphics Day to you all!

I launched a Facebook Fan Page  for Design Backlash, where I’ll post interesting links and articles from other blogs to share with you! Hope to see you around and say hi! There are samples of my work, some daily thoughts, plugs to other designers on Facebook.

While I get some dust off this bog, please swing by The Foodies’ Kitchen, where we just wrapped up our Halloween Week, and soon we’ll post our Rhubarb Extravaganza!

I can’t remember when was the last time I went to a fast food restaurant, even more with The Foodies’ Kitchen launch back in May. Today, after driving back from running some errands for a project I drove in front of a McDs and saw a bunch of employees waving flags and trying to get people in. As soon as I turned on my blinker to take a right turn into the restaurant, you could see them all being excited about it! It didn’t take me more than 15 minutes to get by the drive-in and head back home.

All Big Mac sales this year will go to: Both Ronald McDonald Houses, a 1,500 hearing aid donation, building 50 houses for families living in extreme poverty and donations for Unicar, to allow heart surgeries for kids and the maintenance of the family lounge of that association.

Skip cooking lunch or dinner and make some good

Last week, I was catching up on the Reflex Blue Show -Nate Voss and Donovan Beery from 36point. They were interviewing Dyana Valentine. She helps designers create and perfect the elevator pitch for their business. So, there it occurred to me, how can I listen to myself say the elevator pitch? Aha! The iPhone. There’s this lil iPhone app called Voice Memos.

I dread listening to myself speak, but surely this should help me get it better. I think it did. It’s not the same as reading it out loud, it’s recording it as you would tell it to someone else!

Make sure you listen to The Reflex Blue Show, and follow them on Twitter @36Point

Yesterday I got an email from Bailey Digger, the creative mind behind Web Design Degree. This site is a class project on web traffic acquisition and it’s effects of Design.

The idea behind this website was that excellent and informative content will be recognized as such best through straightforward and simple design elements rather than complex and cutting edge that is typically espoused to be the most effective.

So far there are a few posts on the site, all of them really cool lists:

• 50 Web Designers Whose Blogs You Should Be Reading
• 50 iPad Apps for Web Designers
• The Top 90 Web Design Blogs
• 100 Great Graphic Designers to Follow on Twitter

I was thrilled to learn that I was on the last one! Growing quality content. Bailey is looking for comments and feedback on the site, so make sure you swing by and leave a note!

About a year ago, I read some tweets about this great Design workshop held in Guatemala. I was surprised! Not only kids around the world need words of encouragement to pursue their dream careers, but this was in my home country. I started digging around and started following @inspiritu, the mastermind behind Design4Kids. They do a great deal of work: throughout retreats for creative professionals, they connect with talented but under served teens in educational and cultural exchanges. Right when I heard about the workshop, it was the second one and I just couldn’t fit it in my schedule: 2009 was a busy year and a very much traveled one! I wrote down the date for the Third workshop and hoped I could make it for that one.

Last December, since I was traveling again, I was able to be part of the guest judges to the Design4Kids program, getting some feedback to the kids on their designs for their client, the Atitlán Hospital and the Diabetes campaign. Come 2010 and I was really happy to be part of Design4Kids once again. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to be in Atitlán during the workshop, but did get to work with the students, along with Vanesa Juarez, teaching them about blogging, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and what Social Media can mean for them.

This has to be one of the best experiences ever. During the workshop I got the opportunity to invite some of my friends and collegues: Rodrigo Zarco, Von Glitschka, Jacob Cass, Neto Gonzalez, Donovan Beery, Nate Voss and Telva Mejía Tefel, who joined other big names in the industry to give out critiques to their work. Thanks once again to all of you for your time. Trust me, you’ve made a difference in the lives of these students.

The coolest thing… the students made a video  introducing themselves and saying thanks to the volunteers:

Look for Design4Kids work at:

• Twitter: @Design4Kids
• Flickr: Design4Kids Photostream
• YouTube: Design4Kids Channel
• Facebook: Design4Kids Fan Page

Today Adobe announced that on April 12 (8AM PDT/11AM EDT, 5PM CEST) they will have an event to launch the fifth version of their Creative Suite.

Make sure to sign up here and mark your calendar. If you’re a bit confused about what time zone you’re in, don’t worry, Adobe (after you sing in) points you to a download so you can add it on your calendar (iCal, Outlook, etc.) or go here and just fill out your info and it will display the correct time according to your location.

I’m flying to Mexico City later this month for the Creative Suite Live Conference. Come join me for two days of fun and exciting workshops, with sessions by Rufus Deuchler, Greg Rewis, Jorge Barrigón, Mariana Cabral, Aldo de la Fuente and Ramón Villarreal Ramírez. The Conference is going to be held at Centro Banamex.

This is a MoGo Media event, more information on the speakers, schedule, sponsors and tickets go here.