I arrive alone and quickly find my name tag. A brief stop at the swag table nets a few Dribbble stickers for my daughter and a free shirt for me. Through the crowd, between pinball machines, I recognized an old friend. Open Bar. Anchor steam in a bottle and I am on my way.
I’m at the Dribbble Meetup at the Adobe XD headquarters, surrounded by some of the most well-respected web designers from the best companies in world, and I, a freelance designer from the North Bay, know zero people. (Can’t breathe.)
I take a lap around the 100 person gathering hoping for a glance of familiar face or that loner ready to open up. No one. Lap #2 I pass another nervous pacer and joke about alone-ness. She relocated with her husband to the Bay Area within the last year as well. “From Where?” I ask. “Dallas.” Standard.
A few broad generalizing questions about work* and having ever been in the Adobe building, then it’s on to the free food.
*As an aside, I will note we each asked a question that I heard too many times all night, always with the exact same answer. “What do you do?” “Web design.” It’s a natural reaction question to ask, I did so 5+ times myself.
Next up, those garlic fries and pulled pork sliders I passed. My brain gives me a reprieve from anxiety and I effortlessly engage the food server in a pleasant conversation. I caught him eyeing the pinball machine, and we joke about a competition. We won’t play.
Two more nervous laps and I have resigned myself to the corner, middle school dance style. Sweet. I found my area, back-left between the bar and food tables.
This will be different, I resolve. No more aimless pacing. The guys in the corner will be like me. They won’t know how all the others know so many people, or recognize each other’s Twitter handles either.
[fountain] INT. ADOBE XD – NIGHT
ZACK
Soo, is this the awkward shy guys who don’t know anyone corner?
*Charitable laughs*
30s business casual clean cut DOUG extends hand to shake:
DOUG
I’m Doug. Nice to meet you, ZACK.
ZACK
(To himself)
Pre-shake name tag glance, pro move.
STEVE, twenties open plaid shirt and contented smile introduces himself.
[/fountain]
They are “at Twitter” and have been in the industry “more years than can count on his hands”, and “for a few years, since getting my masters* from Wren,” respectively. (*could be doctorate, but we will go with masters to prevent sensationalism) Could not have been nicer gentleman. They entertained my admittedly nervous line of questioning, expounded on their experiences, and followed up with inquiries pertinent to my situation. After a few minutes, I excused myself and thanked them for their hospitality.
[fountain]
DOUG
Nice meeting you, Zack.
ZACK
(To himself)
Woah, repeat my name back to me so you remember, and I feel important and memorable. Boss.
[/fountain]
Luckily, I was innocent as to the gravity of the past exchange, else my embarrassment might have subdued what little gumption I had for the rest of the night.
Only a few minutes left until the social relief of the keynote speech. I heard about this event by following Riley Cran (@rileycran) on Twitter and was looking forward to his presentation, social awkwardness aside.
Groups of people hoard to seats and cluster together. I navigate my way close-ish and to the left. I have the row to myself, but sit in the middle seat with the hope others will join on either side.
I am content to stare blankly at the darkened screen until Riley starts, but am distracted by the row behind me. I hear a soft spoken man mention he designed P.O.P. in passing. I politely turn around and compliment him on the elegant in its simplicity Prototyping on Paper app, for which he is quite gracious.
A fresh face joins the aisle and subsequently the conversation upon the realization of its topic. “I love POP app!” –@bradee. Shy and humbled Carlos (@morita7453 ) enjoys the feedback. The look on his face when she mentions she’s 1 of the 2 designer at Photoshop was classic. We share a brief, but insightful conversation as to the makeup, dynamics, and direction of Photoshop and the whole Adobe XD team. Riley started just as a question popped in my head. It would get answered via Twitter. Yes, they do use Photoshop to design Photoshop.
Later that evening I would search Twitter to find some of the designers I met that night. Doug is one of the first guys I find. Cool, that guy I thought was awkward like me, I wonder what he does “at Twitter”.
Creative Director.
Part 2 of 3 – How Riley Cran made me a better dad Coming Soon
TL;DR: Be careful who you insult at networking events, they could be the Creative Director at Twitter, not Sayin’, just sayin’.
Big thanks to Doug (@stop) and Steve (@DSGNRSteve) for not big timing a nervous guy, at his first designer’s event, talking to you about making local business web pages.
