Confessions from an Impostor

You know what impostor syndrome is, right!? Most all of us have felt that nagging feeling that we're faking it and that we're sure to be found out by all the experts around us at any moment.

But before you go assuming this talk is the same ol' song and dance full of platitudes that encourage you to ignore that syndrome, let me clue you in on a little secret: there's no experts around you.

Impostorism is not a syndrome at all, it's a pragmatic mindset and perspective, one we should all embrace and be proud of. In fact, it's vital to us getting our jobs done.

Transcript

1. Confessions From An Impostor
   kyle simpson
   

   View Slide

2. View Slide

3. impostor:
   a person who practices
   deception under an
   assumed character,
   identity, or name.
   impostor:
   a person who practices
   deception under an
   assumed character,
   identity, or name.
   

   View Slide

4. (mal) intent
   Frank Abagnale
   “Catch Me If You Can”
   

   View Slide

5. impostor syndrome:
   a psychological occurrence
   in which an individual
   doubts their skills, talents…
   fear of being exposed as a
   fraud.
   impostor syndrome:
   a psychological occurrence
   in which an individual
   doubts their skills, talents…
   fear of being exposed as a
   fraud.
   

   View Slide

6. impostor syndrome:
   a psychological occurrence
   in which an individual
   doubts their skills, talents…
   fear of being exposed as a
   fraud.
   Disclaimer:
   I am not a doctor, nor
   a psychologist.
   

   View Slide

7. impostor syndrome:
   a psychological occurrence
   in which an individual
   doubts their skills, talents…
   fear of being exposed as a
   fraud.
   Disclaimer #2:
   Disproportionately affects
   people from under-represented
   groups.
   

   View Slide

8. impostor syndrome:
   a psychological occurrence
   in which an individual
   doubts their skills, talents…
   fear of being exposed as a
   fraud.
   Disclaimer #3:
   Many others have better articulated
   helpful, insightful advice than I.
   

   View Slide

9. View Slide

10. https://thelouisecurtis.medium.com/how-im-trying-to-
    combat-my-impostor-syndrome-48f0b4deb58
    Louise Curtis: "Concert Impostor Syndrome"
    TEDx https://youtu.be/o0a4LOR3R0c
    

    View Slide

11. "When I feel [impostor syndrome] start to bite, I
    know this means I’m passionate about something,
    and that I’m surrounded by the right people to
    help me improve…"
    "If you are feeling like an impostor, you’re probably
    in the best possible position to learn and grow — all
    you need to do is embrace the experience…"
    

    View Slide

12. View Slide

13. View Slide

14. -
    +
    

    View Slide

15. impostor
    

    View Slide

16. impostor
    actor imitator
    empiric
    empiric
    

    View Slide

17. empiric:
    a person who relies
    solely on practical
    experience rather than
    on scientific principles.
    empiric:
    a person who relies
    solely on practical
    experience rather than
    on scientific principles.
    

    View Slide

18. “I’m working on
    this _____ but
    it’s not good
    enough to show
    others yet.”
    

    View Slide

19. If you wait
    until you’re
    an ‘expert’...
    …you waited
    too long.
    

    View Slide

20. View Slide

21. algebraic topology
    manifold theory
    isotopy extension theorem
    

    View Slide

22. View Slide

23. sometimes, do ing is
    the best way to learn
    

    View Slide

24. it’s preferable to
    eventually understand
    how what you’re doing,
    works
    

    View Slide

25. but don’t wait for full
    understanding to
    get started
    

    View Slide

26. do
    learn
    

    View Slide

27. professional impostor
    passionate enough to do early and
    often, patiently evolving observed
    experience into expertise, curious
    and willing to ask how
    

    View Slide

28. https://impostor.ly
    #ImpostorProud #ImpostorNotASyndrome
    

    View Slide

29. Confession Time
    

    View Slide

30. View Slide

31. Web Design
    

    View Slide

32. View Slide

33. https://dwordly.fun
    https://flashmath.cards
    

    View Slide

34. View Slide

35. View Slide

36. View Slide

37. View Slide

38. Color Mode Selector
    

    View Slide

39. View Slide

40. View Slide

41. Color Mode Selector
    

    View Slide

42. View Slide

43. View Slide

44. Color Mode Selector
    #384047
    #384047 #999999
    #e3e3e3
    

    View Slide

45. Color Mode Selector
    #cccccc
    #384047
    #b59f3b
    #b59f3b
    

    View Slide

46. View Slide

47. View Slide

48. View Slide

49. View Slide

50. View Slide

51. View Slide

52. View Slide

53. View Slide

54. Accessibility (A11Y)
    

    View Slide

55. –Andreas Lopez
    

    View Slide

56. WCAG 2.x Principles
    https://www.mightybytes.com/blog/web
    -content-accessibility-guidelines/
    

    View Slide

57. View Slide

58. View Slide

59. https://contrast-ratio.com
    

    View Slide

60. Contrast: 2.62
    Fails WCAG 2.0 / 2.1
    Contrast: 3.97
    Passes AA, barely
    Contrast: 3.8
    Fails AA (text too small)
    Fails AA (text too small)
    Contrast: 1.85
    Fails WCAG 2.0 / 2.1
    

    View Slide

61. View Slide

62. View Slide

63. EmpowR/PG
    A live-action + RPG game where
    players select differently abled
    characters to tackle different
    game objectives, during which
    players must actually use
    accessible technologies to play.
    

    View Slide

64. Hi.
    

    View Slide

65. THANK
    YOU!
    #ImpostorProud
    #ImpostorNotASyndrome
    kyle simpson
    

    View Slide