Firehead SAS

I’ll be there! Will you?

Registration is now open! 🎉

The Symposium on Usability and Design in collaboration with will take place on April 29–30, focusing on: “Re-thinking Usability and UXD: Examining Connections to Global Content Design, Technical Communication, and Localization”

What to expect ?💡 Inspiring talks, insightful discussions, and opportunities to connect with UX and design professionals.

You’ll explore the role of technical communication in usability, data-driven approaches to documentation, and how digital practices are influencing technical communication, with speakers including:

▪️Birgit Fuhrmann & Martin Schuler (ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences) — How Digital is Technical Communication? Insights from the first Tecom Report Switzerland

▪️Leonie Saremba (User Assistance Expert) — From Vibe to Evidence: Metrics in Software Documentation

▪️Jonatan Lundin (Mälardalen University) — Prior Knowledge as a Precondition for Usability: Re-examining the Role of Technical Communication

Explore the full program and event details here:
👉 https://usability-conference.unistra.fr/program/

Whether you’re a student, a professional, or simply curious, our symposium is your opportunity to discover the latest trends and share your ideas !

It’s free so don’t miss out. Register now and save the date!
👉 Register here : https://evento.renater.fr/survey/registration-symposium-usability-and-design-1fj2mlb0

📘 Free Download: Science Communication Explainer — your quick guide to making complex science clear and compelling.

Whether you’re a researcher, engineer, or technical communicator, this resource helps you bridge expertise → understanding.

👉 Grab it here: https://firehead.net/free-resource/science-communication-explainer/

Science Communication Explainer Are you working on a scientific project team that requires your communication skills to create content deliverables for the public? Our Science Communication Explainer will help you take your communication skills to the next level. Annie Malinda breaks it down for you in our most in-depth free resou...

Ever wondered why AI seems obsessed with the details — even something as silly as what’s in your sandwich? 🥪

Our latest blog post breaks down how semantics and classification are at the heart of how AI understands content — and why defining meaning matters more than ever for technical communicators.

👉 Discover how clear definitions and structured vocabularies help both humans and machines speak the same language: 🔗 https://firehead.net/2026/01/why-does-ai-want-to-know-whats-in-your-sandwich/

Why does AI want to know what’s in your sandwich? Why does AI want to know what’s in your sandwich? Or, a culinary explanation of what’s going on with semantics.

✨ Communicating science clearly is one of the most valuable skills you can have — whether you’re publishing research, teaching, or sharing your work with the world.

Our Scientific Communication course will help you:
• Break down complex ideas
• Write & speak with clarity
• Connect with any audience

Register today ➡️ https://www.firehead-training.net/course/scientific-communication

Science Communication Fundamentals Science Communication Fundamentals, or Science Communication Basics, is designed to introduce you to the principles and practices of effective science communication. Whether you're new to the field or looking to exercise your skills, this course will help you learn how to translate complex scientifi...

Firehead's latest article breaks down how semantic services — like meaning-aware search, guided recommendations, quality checks, and evidence-backed assistants — are transforming documentation into user-centric services and opening new career opportunities.

👉 Dive in ➡️ https://firehead.net/2026/01/unlocking-new-career-paths-how-semantic-services-empower-technical-communicators/

Semantic Services Empower Technical Communicators Semantic services put truth to work for users: search understands intent, recommendations through context, QA prevents errors, and assistants cite provenance.

Build content with purpose—not guesswork.

The Content Strategy Overview course from Firehead Training gives you a clear framework to plan, create, and manage content that supports real business goals. Learn how to align content with strategy, audience needs, and measurable outcomes.

👉 Enroll now and strengthen your content strategy foundation:
https://www.firehead-training.net/course/content-strategy-overview

Content Strategy Overview This course enables you to understand what a content strategy is, how it can help your organization, the work involved in creating and executing a content strategy, and how to sustain it over time. Learn best practices for crafting useful, usable, effective content for your organization’s top-prio...

💡 Master the Fundamentals of DITA with

If you work with technical content, structured authoring, or content management systems, understanding DITA is essential.

In this self-paced, 10-lesson workshop, Dr. Tony Self — one of the world’s leading DITA experts — guides you through the core concepts behind this powerful open standard for structured content.

📘 You’ll learn:
✅ The basics of XML and structured authoring
✅ How topic-based architecture supports content reuse
✅ The role of maps, metadata, and semantic markup
✅ How DITA specialisation and conditional publishing work in practice

⏱️ Around 10 hours of learning, completed over four weeks — at your own pace.
Build a strong foundation in DITA and take your technical communication skills to the next level.

👉 Register today: https://www.firehead-training.net/course/dita-concepts

🎯 Ready to level up your content game?
Start with the basics that matter most.

🧾 *Download your FREE checklist:*
5 Things You Need to Know Before You Get Started with Content Operations

Written by content strategy expert Rahel Anne Bailie, this guide breaks down the essential areas to focus on when stepping into the world of ContentOps.

✨ Simple. Actionable. Strategic.

👉 Perfect for digital communicators, content strategists, and teams looking to get organized and scale smart.

🔗 Grab your copy now! https://firehead.net/free-resource/content-operations/

Content Operations Content strategy expert Rahel Anne Bailie has written this checklist to help digital communicators like you, make the leap into content operations.

🚀 Level up your content game in 2026!�

Firehead’s upcoming courses—UX Writing Patterns, TechComm Bootcamp, Accessibility Writing Bootcamp, and Writing for AI—are almost here.�

Want first access? Join the notification list and be ahead of the curve.

Home

🎉 Happy 2026 from Firehead!

As we kick off the new year, Firehead’s founder CJ Walker sends warm wishes and invites the community into a thoughtful conversation about the evolving language of semantic tech in knowledge work.

The big question: What should we call the emerging field of semantically-powered services that deliver real business outcomes—without hype or “magic AI” expectations?
Terms like “semantic services,” “content engineering,” and “knowledge-powered services” all have pros and cons. CJ is asking YOU to help name this work in a way that’s clear, outcome-focused, and accessible to non-specialists. 💬

📣 Join the discussion: Share your suggestions in the comments or by email — the best ideas may be featured in a follow-up post! https://firehead.net/2026/01/happy-2026-and-a-question/

Happy 2026! And a Question Which term for our semantic services would help your organisation adopt the practices, without inviting “magic AI” expectations and stay portable across tools?

Planning a content audit? 📋

Download our free guidelines to help you:
• Define objectives
• Decide what to capture and prioritise
• Set your audit up for success

Get it here 👉
https://firehead.net/free-resource/content-audit-planning/

Content Audit Planning

📘 Introduction to Content Design — by Vinish Garg

Content design lives at the intersection of strategy, UX, and product design. This self-directed course uses real-life examples to show how content directly impacts product success.

⏱ ~10 hours | 🎥 Videos | 📖 Readings | 📝 Quizzes

Learn at your own pace—your progress is saved.
🔗 https://www.firehead-training.net/course/content-design

Introduction to Content Design In this course, we will discuss how content design sits on the intersection of content strategy, UX, and design. The course is designed around using real-life products examples to help you understand how content design plays such an important role in design, UX, and the product’s success. In this ...