TED: Riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world. The annual TED conferences, in Long Beach/Palm Springs and Edinburgh, bring together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes or less). This section contains talks generally related to design.
Lee Mokobe: A powerful poem about what it feels like to be transgender
"I was the mystery of an anatomy, a question asked but not answered," says poet Lee Mokobe, a TED Fellow, in this gripping and poetic exploration of identity and transition. It's a thoughtful reflection on bodies, and the meanings poured into them. Watch a video of this talk here
6/17/2015 • 4 minutes, 21 seconds
Sarah Jones: One woman, five characters, and a sex lesson from the future
In this performance, Sarah Jones brings you to the front row of a classroom in the future, as a teacher plugs in different personas from the year 2016 to show their varied perspectives on sex work. As she changes props, Jones embodies an elderly homemaker, a “sex work studies” major, an escort, a nun-turned-prostitute and a guy at a strip club for his bachelor party. It’s an intriguing look at a taboo topic, that flips cultural norms around sex inside out. Watch a video of this talk here
6/11/2015 • 25 minutes, 32 seconds
Chris Burkard: The joy of surfing in ice-cold water
"Anything that is worth pursuing is going to require us to suffer, just a little bit," says surf photographer Chris Burkard, as he explains his obsession with the coldest, choppiest, most isolated beaches on earth. With jawdropping photos and stories of places few humans have ever seen — much less surfed — he draws us into his "personal crusade against the mundane." Watch a video of this talk here
5/26/2015 • 9 minutes, 42 seconds
Esther Perel: Rethinking infidelity ... a talk for anyone who has ever loved
Infidelity is the ultimate betrayal. But does it have to be? Relationship therapist Esther Perel examines why people cheat, and unpacks why affairs are so traumatic: because they threaten our emotional security. In infidelity, she sees something unexpected — an expression of longing and loss. A must-watch for anyone who has ever cheated or been cheated on, or who simply wants a new framework for understanding relationships. Watch a video of this talk here
5/25/2015 • 21 minutes, 34 seconds
Bill T. Jones: The dancer, the singer, the cellist ... and a moment of creative
Legendary dance choreographer Bill T. Jones and TED Fellows Joshua Roman and Somi didn't know exactly what was going to happen when they took the stage at TED2015. They just knew they wanted to offer the audience an opportunity to witness creative collaboration in action. The result: An improvised piece they call "The Red Circle and the Blue Curtain," so extraordinary it had to be shared ... Watch a video of this talk here
5/7/2015 • 6 minutes, 30 seconds
Chris Milk: How virtual reality can create the ultimate empathy machine
Chris Milk uses cutting edge technology to produce astonishing films that delight and enchant. But for Milk, the human story is the driving force behind everything he does. In this short, charming talk, he shows some of his collaborations with musicians including Kanye West and Arcade Fire, and describes his latest, mind-bending experiments with virtual reality. Watch a video of this talk here
4/23/2015 • 10 minutes, 37 seconds
Harry Baker: A love poem for lonely prime numbers
Performance poet (and math student) Harry Baker spins a love poem about his favorite kind of numbers — the lonely, love-lorn prime. Stay on for two more lively, inspiring poems from this charming performer. Watch a video of this talk
3/5/2015 • 14 minutes, 2 seconds
Helder Guimarães: A magical search for a coincidence
Small coincidences. They happen all the time and yet, they pass us by because we are not looking for them. In a delightfully subtle trick, magician Helder Guimarães demonstrates with a deck of cards, a dollar bill and a stuffed giraffe. Watch a video of this talk
3/3/2015 • 13 minutes, 15 seconds
Hannah Fry: The mathematics of love
Finding the right mate is no cakewalk — but is it even mathematically likely? In a charming talk, mathematician Hannah Fry shows patterns in how we look for love, and gives her top three tips (verified by math!) for finding that special someone. Watch a video of this talk
2/16/2015 • 17 minutes
Erin McKean: Go ahead, make up new words!
In this fun, short talk from TEDYouth, lexicographer Erin McKean encourages — nay, cheerleads — her audience to create new words when the existing ones won’t quite do. She lists out 6 ways to make new words in English, from compounding to “verbing,” in order to make language better at expressing what we mean, and to create more ways for us to understand one another. A video of this talk
1/5/2015 • 6 minutes, 56 seconds
Daria van den Bercken: Why I take the piano on the road … and in the air
Pianist Daria van den Bercken fell in love with the baroque keyboard music of George Frideric Handel. Now, she aims to ignite this passion in others. In this talk, she plays us through the emotional roller coaster of his music — while sailing with her piano through the air, driving it down the street, and of course playing on the stage. A video of this talk
10/6/2014 • 9 minutes, 34 seconds
Jill Shargaa: Please, please, people. Let's put the 'awe' back in 'awesome'
Which of the following is awesome: your lunch or the Great Pyramid of Giza? Comedian Jill Shargaa sounds a hilarious call for us to save the word "awesome" for things that truly inspire awe. A video of this talk
9/1/2014 • 6 minutes, 17 seconds
Ze Frank: Are you human?
Have you ever wondered: Am I a human being? Ze Frank suggests a series of simple questions that will determine this. Please relax and follow the prompts. Let's begin ... A video of this talk
7/21/2014 • 4 minutes, 33 seconds
David Kwong: Two nerdy obsessions meet -- and it's magic
David Kwong is a magician who makes crossword puzzles — in other words, a pretty nerdy guy. And for his next trick ... A video of this talk
7/15/2014 • 11 minutes, 42 seconds
AJ Jacobs: The world's largest family reunion ... we're all invited!
You may not know it yet, but AJ Jacobs is probably your cousin (many, many times removed). Using genealogy websites, he’s been following the unexpected links that make us all, however distantly, related. His goal: to throw the world’s largest family reunion. See you there? A video of this talk
6/18/2014 • 9 minutes, 45 seconds
Rives: The Museum of Four in the Morning
Beware: Rives has a contagious obsession with 4 a.m. At TED2007, the poet shared what was then a minor fixation with a time that kept popping up everywhere. But after the talk, emails starting pouring in with obscure, hilarious references—from the cover of "Crochet Today!" magazine to twin mentions in "The Flintstones" and "The Jetsons." A lyrical peek into his Museum of Four in the Morning, which overflows with treasures. A video of this talk
5/19/2014 • 14 minutes, 4 seconds
Sarah Jones: What does the future hold? 11 characters offer quirky answers
Sarah Jones changes personas with the simplest of wardrobe swaps. In a laugh-out-loud performance, she invites 11 "friends" from the future on stage—from a fast-talking Latina to an outspoken police officer—to ask them the questions all of us want answered. a video of talk
5/5/2014 • 18 minutes, 36 seconds
Joe Kowan: How I beat stage fright
Humanity's fine-tuned sense of fear served us well as a young species, giving us laser focus to avoid being eaten by competing beasts. But it's less wonderful when that same visceral, body-hijacking sense of fear kicks in in front of 20 folk-music fans at a Tuesday night open-mic. Palms sweat, hands shake, vision blurs, and the brain says RUN: it's stage fright. In this charming, tuneful little talk, Joe Kowan talks about how he conquered it. A video of this talk
1/27/2014 • 8 minutes, 3 seconds
Guy Hoffman: Robots with "soul"
What kind of robots does an animator / jazz musician / roboticist make? Playful, reactive, curious ones. Guy Hoffman shows demo film of his family of unusual robots -- including two musical bots that like to jam with humans. (Filmed at TEDxJaffa.) A video of this talk
1/21/2014 • 17 minutes, 38 seconds
Maysoon Zayid: I got 99 problems... palsy is just one
"I have cerebral palsy. I shake all the time," Maysoon Zayid announces at the beginning of this exhilarating, hilarious talk. (Really, it's hilarious.) "I'm like Shakira meets Muhammad Ali." With grace and wit, the Arab-American comedian takes us on a whistle-stop tour of her adventures as an actress, stand-up comic, philanthropist and advocate for the disabled. A video of this talk
1/6/2014 • 14 minutes, 13 seconds
Malcolm Gladwell: The unheard story of David and Goliath
It's a classic underdog tale: David, a young shepherd armed only with a sling, beats Goliath, the mighty warrior. The story has transcended its biblical origins to become a common shorthand for unlikely victory. But, asks Malcolm Gladwell, is that really what the David and Goliath story is about? A video of this talk
10/2/2013 • 15 minutes, 40 seconds
Apollo Robbins: The art of misdirection
Hailed as the greatest pickpocket in the world, Apollo Robbins studies the quirks of human behavior as he steals your watch. In a hilarious demonstration, Robbins samples the buffet of the TEDGlobal 2013 audience, showing how the flaws in our perception make it possible to swipe a wallet and leave it on its owner’s shoulder while they remain clueless. A video of this talk
9/16/2013 • 8 minutes, 47 seconds
Adam Spencer: Why I fell in love with monster prime numbers
They're millions of digits long, and it takes an army of mathematicians and machines to hunt them down -- what's not to love about monster primes? Adam Spencer, comedian and lifelong math geek, shares his passion for these odd numbers, and for the mysterious magic of math. A video of this talk
9/4/2013 • 17 minutes, 16 seconds
Julie Taymor: Spider-Man, The Lion King and life on the creative edge
Showing spectacular clips from productions such as Frida, The Tempest and The Lion King, director Julie Taymor describes a life spent immersed in theater and the movies. Filmed right as controversy over her Broadway production of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark was at its peak, she candidly describes the tensions inherent within her creative process, as she strives both to capture the essence of a story--and produce images and experiences unlike anything else. A video of this talk
8/1/2013 • 18 minutes, 28 seconds
Camille Seaman: Photos from a storm chaser
Photographer Camille Seaman has been chasing storms for 5 years. In this talk she shows stunning, surreal photos of the heavens in tumult. A video of this talk
6/25/2013 • 3 minutes, 26 seconds
Lisa Bu: How books can open your mind
What happens when a dream you've held since childhood … doesn't come true? As Lisa Bu adjusted to a new life in the United States, she turned to books to expand her mind and create a new path for herself. She shares her unique approach to reading in this lovely, personal talk about the magic of books. A video of this talk
6/3/2013 • 6 minutes, 16 seconds
Kees Moeliker: How a dead duck changed my life
One afternoon, Kees Moeliker got a research opportunity few ornithologists would wish for: A flying duck slammed into his glass office building, died, and then … what happened next would change his life. [Note: Contains graphic images and descriptions of sexual behavior in animals.] A video of this talk
4/2/2013 • 11 minutes, 52 seconds
Amanda Palmer: The art of asking
Don't make people pay for music, says Amanda Palmer: Let them. In a passionate talk that begins in her days as a street performer (drop a dollar in the hat for the Eight-Foot Bride!), she examines the new relationship between artist and fan. A video of this talk
3/4/2013 • 13 minutes, 46 seconds
Colin Stokes: How movies teach manhood
When Colin Stokes’ 3-year-old son caught a glimpse of Star Wars, he was instantly obsessed. But what messages did he absorb from the sci-fi classic? Stokes asks for more movies that send positive messages to boys: that cooperation is heroic, and respecting women is as manly as defeating the villain. (Filmed at TEDxBeaconStreet.) A video of this talk
1/24/2013 • 12 minutes, 56 seconds
Julia Sweeney has "The Talk"
Despite her best efforts, comedian Julia Sweeney is forced to tell a little white lie when her 8-year-old begins learning about frog reproduction -- and starts to ask some very smart questions. A video of this talk
12/13/2012 • 9 minutes, 25 seconds
Dan Dennett: Cute, sexy, sweet, funny
Why are babies cute? Why is cake sweet? Philosopher Dan Dennett has answers you wouldn't expect, as he shares evolution's counterintuitive reasoning on cute, sweet and sexy things (plus a new theory from Matthew Hurley on why jokes are funny). A video of this talk
12/13/2012 • 7 minutes, 45 seconds
Maz Jobrani: A Saudi, an Indian and an Iranian walk into a Qatari bar …
Iranian-American comedian Maz Jobrani takes to the TEDxSummit stage in Doha, Qatar to take on serious issues in the Middle East -- like how many kisses to give when saying “Hi,” and what not to say on an American airplane. A video of this talk