talks

I have been publicly speaking on design since 2016. I'm proud to have been part of worldwide events like interaction, SXSW, and World Information Architecture Day. I am a proud member of Tokyo Rainbow Toastmasters, a bilingual English/Japanese speech club for LGBTQIA+ folks and allies.

Talks are chronologically organized. Use the buttons below to filter by subject.

2023.06.22
Code Chrysalis in Tokyo, Japan

How Technology Spreads Bias: And What You Can Do To Stop It

An interactive workshop centered around small-group discussions tailored to digging in deep about racism, homophobia, transphobia, and other kinds of biases prevalent in tech.

  • lgbtqia+
  • workshop
CJ speaking to a group of people who are seated.
2022.12.16
Tokyo Nerd Nite in Yokohama, Japan

Interface Drama: A New Way of Telling Stories Through Software

Our generation grew up online. So it's only natural that stories told by our generation are, by their nature, defined by the online spaces they inhabit. In this talk, CJ and mabbees talk about a new genre of games; interface dramas, and why they redefine the way our generation and younger will tell stories.

  • games
CJ and mabbees looking up on stage.
2022.06.24
FujoCon 2022 online

How to Tell Interactive Stories that Pack a Punch

CJ and mabbees, the developers of Terranova, show participants how to plan and write their own branching stories and how to pack emotional punches that will leave their players wanting more.

  • games
  • workshop
The characters of Terranova, lined in a grid.
2022.01.06
RGST 2022 in Tokyo, Japan

Why I Made a Design Division in an Agile Company

My own personal journey as a designer at yamaneco, and what I learned about mixing design thinking with scrum and agile principles. The talk was originally done in Japanese and has been translated into English.

  • agile
  • design
A stark black and white photo of CJ's face in profile.
2022.01.06
RGST 2022 in Tokyo, Japan

「どうしてアジャイル会社でデザイン部が必要なのか?」

yamanecoのデザイナーとしての私自身の旅、そしてデザイン思考とスクラムの原則をミックスすることについて学んだこと。

  • agile
  • design
A photo of CJ standing at a podium in front of a presentation that reads, 'Your product sucks.'
2021.10.26
Japan SciCom Forum 2021 online

Learn How to Sketchnote—No Art Degree Required!

A workshop aimed at beginners with no experience in art to build the basic listening and drawing skills needed for sketchnoting academic talks and papers. At the end of this interactive workshop, participants were able to apply the fundamentals of drawing and breaking down complex concepts to communicate their ideas simply through visuals.

  • workshop
Slide text that reads: Learn How to Sketchnote—No Art Degree Required!
2021.05
Toastmasters International District B Competition online

"It"

"It" is a story of coming out and embracing labels that previously scared you. "It" won first place in the Tokyo Rainbow Toastmasters Club, first place in the Area Contest, then went on to Division B and won second place.

  • lgbtqia+
CJ, holding a hand on their heart and looking into the camera.
2021.06.11
FujoCon 2021 online

Digital Fanthropology: A Deep Dive into Early 00's Era Fan Communities

From the webrings and blogs of the early '00s to the Discord servers of modern fandom, technology has been an invisible force in shaping communities and the way we interact online.

  • fandom
A sexy image of a young Jeff Goldblum with his shirt open - text says, 'fandom finds a way.'
2020.12.09
Fuck Up Nights Tokyo in Tokyo, Japan

Hello!Rainbow

Talking about our failure trying to launch an LGBTQIA+ meetup app in Tokyo.

  • lgbtqia+
  • design
An image of an application with text that says, 'Hello Rainbow'
2020.01.24
AQ's Ride the Lightning Talks in Tokyo, Japan

The Hidden Challenges of Design and Agile

Understanding why design and agile have a hard time getting along.

  • agile
  • design
An image of CJ and Davide in front of a slide.
2019.12.10
Code Chrysalis x IDEO in Tokyo, Japan

“Is the Design Done?”: Integrating UX and Agile Intentionally

A talk done about integrating design in teams.

  • agile
  • design
An image of CJ standing in front of a slide that says, 'Code is an Inflexible Medium.'
2018.03.12
SXSW panel guest in Austin, Texas

How Gender Fluidity Recasts Brand Engagement

  • design
  • lgbtqia+
[Image here.]
2018.02.24
World IA Day in Tokyo, Japan

小さなデザインがもたらす大きな影響:LGBTQのためのデザイン

  • design
  • lgbtqia+
[Image here.]
2017.11.30
UX Talk Tokyo in Tokyo, Japan

Becoming an Ethical Designer

  • design
A diagram of a a circle, starting with business needs in the center, then user needs, then societal needs, then environmental needs.

Video Games Replaces Voting

  • design
  • games
  • workshop
CJ, on stage at an outdoor auditorium at night with dramatic lighting, talking.
2016.03.03
interaction 16 in Helsinki, Finland

Designing for Play: What Interaction Design Can Learn From Video Games

We were video game fanatics before we were interaction designers. Years later we can’t stop seeing the many parallels between interaction design and video game design. In fact we keep seeing the future of interaction design coming closer and closer to the field of video games. We see the future of interfaces that allow us to play, discover, and connect to people in a positive and wonderful way.

  • design
  • games
[Image here.]