Where do inspirational people find inspiration? Our Config speakers share their favorite talks from 2024, offering up a blueprint for crafting sessions that truly stand out.
Illustrations by Haik Avanian.
Early bird tickets to Config Global in San Francisco, and Config London are now available.
As we shape the lineup for Config 2025 and open our call for speaker proposals, we’ve asked some of our favorite speakers to share which talks left them buzzing. This best-of-the-best list also serves as a rubric for future presenters eyeing the Config stage. Whether you’re mulling over submitting a proposal or simply seeking creative inspiration to revitalize your work—buckle up. We’re about to dive into the presentations that left a lasting impact.
1. Show how you took a risk
Great talks don’t just inform; they flip our assumptions on their head. Software engineer and Wordle creator Josh Wardle’s talk “Opting for the opposite” exemplifies this approach, sharing how he defied typical best practices during the development of the popular word-guessing game. Many Config speakers cited it as their favorite talk.
Contrary to convention, Josh created a web-based game that limited play to once per day and didn’t link back to itself when shared—contrary to the well-trodden path of many mobile-first games that maximize growth and engagement. Josh built the game simply as a loving gesture for his partner, with no intention of creating a viral hit.
Linda gave a talk with Mike Stern titled “An Infinite Canvas,” which focuses on the spatial computing design landscape, while George joined Humane Co-founder and Chairman Imran Chaudhri to discuss the development and vision behind the Ai Pin.
Apple Design Evangelist Linda Dong notes, “It’s a refreshing reminder that you don’t have to follow conventional wisdom to create something millions love. Even in our metrics-obsessed industry, sometimes simplicity and creativity are enough.”
George Kedenburg III, Lead Product Designer at Humane, echoes this sentiment: “It’s a wonderful story about making something great by doing everything the ‘wrong’ way. I loved how his process distills down to deeply caring about the user you’re building for.”
Linear’s Head of Product Nan Yu found a similar vein in the conversation between teenage engineering Founder and CEO Jesper Kouthoofd and Figma Co-founder and CEO Dylan Field. “It was great to see how you can build amazing products driven by vibes and taste instead of metrics,” notes Nan.
Ableton Note is a playable iOS app for forming musical ideas.
2. Inspire new ways to collaborate
Nothing great is made alone, and talks highlighting teamwork—especially across diverse roles and skill sets—resonate strongly.
Barron Webster, former Product Design Manager at Replit, enjoyed hearing from Ableton teammates Oliver Sommermann and Pablo Sánchez about their collective approach: “It was really nice to hear how they figured out the custom touch interactions in Ableton Note as a team, iteratively, and how they emphasized the contributions of all the different team members (not just designers) in the process.”
Apple Design Evangelist Mike Stern adds, “Coming from a place of deep introspection, humility, and candor, Oliver and Pablo offer a well reasoned, easily understandable, and highly persuasive vision for how teamwork benefits when people are allowed to pursue their passions, develop new skills, play and experiment, and given trust and responsibility.”
3. Follow a framework
Structuring your talk around a clear framework can make complex ideas more digestible. Peter Yang’s “How to bring the craft back to product management” demonstrates this approach. Peter, Product Lead at Roblox, presents 10 practical tactics for product managers to craft products they’re proud of. His framework covers everything from building with community to leveraging AI as a “helpful intern.” By organizing his insights into a numbered list, Peter makes his advice easy to follow and remember. This structure also allows him to dive into specific examples for each point, balancing high-level concepts with actionable tips.
4. Highlight the human element
In an era of polished presentations and rehearsed soundbites, raw authenticity stands out. Divinate Co-founder and Designer Tregg Frank observed this theme throughout the two-day conference: “From the Browser Company’s session to New Computer talking about Dot—the common thread is that everyone wants more authenticity.”
The common thread is that everyone wants more authenticity.
The importance of soft skills and empathy were present in several talks, including Reginé Gilbert’s talk on the design renaissance, Joyce Croft on design as therapy, and Jiaona Zhang on building for (and with) Gen Z. “As I walked away from Jiaona’s session, I felt inspired to build authentic products for everyone,” says Tregg.
Barron found this quality in Zulhilmi Icksan’s “How pigeons led to emergency room optimizations,” which takes on the topic of building effective and impactful products within the public sector. “It demonstrated the massive impact working on core social infrastructure can have,” he says. “Zulhilmi showed how even basic changes like messaging tone can have a measurable impact, and that policy doesn’t have to be impossible to change.”
5. Tackle industry challenges with fresh perspectives
To make your talk resonate, identify pain points, share candid observations, and propose new paths forward. Claire Vo’s presentation on “Hard truths about the future of product management” did just that, sparking discussion among attendees and speakers alike.
Her introduction of the “Super IC” (Independent Contributor) archetype illuminated an emerging trend in tech leadership—the rise of vice president-level individual contributors who push product innovation forward without managing large teams. “Despite their presence in many companies already, [these] roles are seldom discussed publicly, so I really appreciated Claire’s insights,” says Cemre Güngör, Product Manager at The Browser Company. At a time when generative AI is transforming how we build software, Claire delivered sharp analysis and practical advice.
Nan Yu’s “The heirloom tomato org chart” was another favorite among product builders. Rather than accepting traditional hierarchies, Nan challenged conventional wisdom by presenting a more organic approach to company structure. His framework emphasized adaptability and focused execution—critical qualities for modern technology organizations navigating rapid change.
George adds, “No one wants to ship an org chart, but as companies grow it begins to feel inevitable. This talk provides a very fresh take on a traditionally boring topic.”
No one wants to ship an org chart, but as companies grow it begins to feel inevitable.
6. Don’t shy away from the details
A talk can be a great opportunity to go deep into a topic and nerd out in the details. What story are you uniquely equipped to tell? For Figma Design Director Marcin Wichary, that was the story of the pixel.
Mike praised Marcin’s talk: “I just can’t fathom how many hours went into researching, crafting, and honing this talk. There were so many surprising moments and fascinating tidbits. I learned a lot. Marcin’s passion, enthusiasm, and curiosity were truly inspiring and infectious.”
Figma Design Manager Jenny Wen adds, “Marcin’s talks are singular. They’re not ordinary conference talks; there are no three top takeaways. He just leaves you with a feeling of hope and wonder for technology.”
Barron identified this trait in Letter and Artist Jessica Hische’s talk as well: “It was great to hear her perspective on the wider cultural causes of brand trends. Plus, it’s so nice to hear about nerdy typographic details like optical corrections for stroke angle based on height.”
Karla and Nashilu discuss what Zadie Smith, A24, and sunspots have to do with building a product in The Prompt, a magazine by Figma.
7. Connect emerging trends to potential futures
Some of the most impactful talks were those that offered insights into emerging trends and how they could influence future directions. The Browser Company’s Karla Mickens Cole and Nashilu Mouen cited Reginé Gilbert’s talk on the changing landscape of design as one of their favorites: “It reminded us that we should still continue to challenge what we see, especially in a world of AI-driven content. It was refreshing, and she brought so much intentionality and warmth to the space.”
Karla and Nashilu also enjoyed the conversation between George and Humane Co-founder Imran Chaudhri: “We loved hearing the questions the Humane team are asking and seeing how they’re challenging the [conventional] path.”
8. Leave them with something to think about
A talk is an opportunity to mobilize your captivated audience. Ask yourself what feeling or thought you want to leave them with. A new perspective about their work? A new tool to try? A feeling of optimism?
George left “Infinite curiosity: what the Eames legacy can teach us about approaching design,” amped about the power of design. The conversation between Figma Story Studio Director Amber Bravo and Eames Institute Chief Curator Llisa Demetrios was “a magical deep dive into the world of Eames, including how they prototyped and explored ideas, their approach to curiosity, and more,” he says. “Let this talk re-energize you about all the possibilities design has to offer the world.”
Your turn to speak
These insights offer a glimpse of Config 2024’s highlights. More importantly, they serve as a guide for future speakers. As we prepare for Config 2025, we’re seeking voices that will challenge and inspire. Do you have a story that embodies these qualities? A unique perspective on design? An approach to coding that challenges the norm? We want to hear from you. Whether you’re a designer, developer, product manager, or any maker using Figma, there’s a place for your voice at Config 2025.
Ready to throw your hat in the ring? Apply to speak via the Config website by December 13. Help shape the future of product development.
And for those still basking in the afterglow of this year’s conference, remember: Config 2024 talks are available on demand. Dive back in, find your own sparks of inspiration, and start dreaming up the talk that could set this year’s conference ablaze.
Related articles
