Circles Conference 2016 by Circles Co.

What is Circles?

The heart and soul behind Circles Co. is simple: to craft experiences for creatives, makers, and adventurers. Our hope is that through these unique experiences, there will be a spark within you to make better art, live more authentically, and use your creativity to inspire the world around you.

As creators ourselves, we never want to cap out — but, we want to constantly push the limits of our creativity. We strive to create an environment where we can experience the thrill of pushing through creative boundaries, not only for ourselves, but for all creatives. Our mission is to empower creatives to be their best creative selfs though building experiences that will enhance their lives + creativity. Here at Circles we are celebrating five amazingly rad years. To celebrate, we are throwin' it back to the '80s. We wouldn't be where we are without you, the Circle Makers! We thank you for five great years and hope for many more!

Speakers

Here at Circles Co. we strive to bring you the best of the best to share their knowledge and process. Whether they are the up-and-comers whose work you need to be watching, or the design leaders whose portfolios you’ve long admired; you will leave inspired and ready to create.

Ashleigh Axios

Former Creative Director at The White House

Allan Peters

Former Creative Director at Target

Jessica Walsh

Partner/Art Director at Sagmeister & Walsh

Aaron Draplin

Founder at Draplin Design Co.

Mikey Burton

Designy Illustrator

Brooke & Tyler Eide

Flint Co.

Joshua Blankenship

Creative Director at NewSpring Church

Mary Kate McDevitt

Hand Letterer & Illustrator

Sean McCabe

seanwes

Luke Stockdale

Sideshow Sign Co.

Micah Davis

Circles Official Emcee

The Talks

Play by your own rules

Jessica Walsh

Jessica will speak about the value of play, and it's importance biologically and historically. She will discuss how play is at the heart of any creative process which requires innovation, and how one can enter this state mind. Play was crucial to her own development, and she shares how it influenced her career path. Every great game has a strict set of rules, and she thinks the same goes for design. I think limitations helps creativity thrive. It’s difficult to do something great when the possibilities are endless. Through her recent work at Sagmeister & Walsh she shows how she creates her own rules which helps guide her to the concepts, and when it’s a good time to break them.

#badgehunting

Allan Peters

Before the advent of computers, social media and the internet design took time. The best way to move our visual culture forward is to learn from the great craftsmen of the past. Learn why digging through old broken down shacks, collapsed barns and obscure museums can lead to revolutionary visual inspiration and unearth decades of lost trends. This is what we lovingly refer to as #badgehunting. In this session you will learn how digging through relics of the past has inspired a fresh way to brand companies and design logos. You’ll hear stories about #badgehunging. You’ll see how work inspired by the past doesn’t feel old, but is instead refined and thought provoking. Learn how you can get involved in the future of #badgehunting.

Supercharge Your Writing

Sean McCabe

If you want to build an audience, if you want to sell products, if you want to attract great clients, you need to learn to write. Whether it's a blog post, video, podcast, speech, or course, it all starts with writing! Honing your writing skills is one the best investments you will make in your professional career. Learn to build a writing habit, increase your writing speed, and eliminate writer's block forever.