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Press Info

The following information is provided as a copy/paste resource for conference organizers, podcast hosts, media professionals, and other interested parties.

Please feel free to use anything here as-is without checking with me first. If you have additional questions, you can email me directly at chris@gomakethings.com.

Details

  • Name: Chris Ferdinandi (pronounced FUR-din-an-dee)
  • Pronouns: He/Him
  • Company: Go Make Things
  • Job Title: The Vanilla JS Guy or JavaScript Educator
  • Website: GoMakeThings.com
  • Mastodon: @cferdinandi
  • Previous Talks: Speaking Page

Biographies

The Tiny Version

Chris Ferdinandi helps people build a simpler, faster, more resilient web.

The Short Version

Chris Ferdinandi helps people build a simpler, faster, more resilient web. His developer tips newsletter is read by thousands of developers each weekday. Learn more at GoMakeThings.com.

The Medium Version

Chris Ferdinandi helps people build a simpler, faster, more resilient web.

He creates courses and workshops and work with amazing clients. His developer tips newsletter is read by thousands of developers each weekday.

He loves pirates, puppies, and Pixar movies. Learn more at GoMakeThings.com.

The Long Version

Chris Ferdinandi helps people build a simpler, faster, more resilient web.

He creates courses and workshops and work with amazing clients. His developer tips newsletter is read by thousands of developers each weekday.

He’s advised and written code for organizations like NASA, Apple, Harvard Business School, Chobani, and Adidas. Chris Coyier, the founder of CSS-Tricks and CodePen, has described his writing as “infinitely quote-worthy.”

Chris loves pirates, puppies, and Pixar movies, and lives near horse farms in rural Massachusetts.

Photos

Click on any photo to download it.

Chris working on his MacBook Pro at a farmers table

Chris on stage at Artifact Conference, in a red striped sweater and gray shorts
Chris sitting at a farmer's table with a mug of coffee in his hand
A close-up photo of Chris in a purple gingham dress shirt
Chris, a white male with a short beard, wearing a light blue oxford shirt and Ray-Ban sunglasses. He has a small, fluffy white dog on his lap.

Sample Questions for Chris

  • Why do you say that, “JavaScript is breaking the web?”
  • Do you ever recommend using JS libraries for projects?
  • Doesn’t using vanilla JS mean writing your own mini-framework for every project?
  • What’s the best way to start learning JavaScript?
  • How did you transition careers from HR to web development?
  • How do you get things done as a developer with ADHD?

Facts about Chris

  • I’m obsessed with all things nautical.
  • I started my career as an HR guy, and taught myself how to code.
  • I have degrees in Anthropology and Human Resources. I don’t have one in Computer Science.
  • I think video games peaked with the SNES.
  • I believe WALL-E is one of the best movies of all time.