Conference sessions
Oct 18 - 19, 2024
Friday, Oct 18
9:20-10:00 am
KEYNOTE | Beyond Boundaries: Embracing Creative Exploration in Every Aspect of Life
with Darvill Rodriguez
In today’s ever changing world— the ability to think outside the box is more crucial than ever. Join us for an inspiring keynote, "Beyond Boundaries: Embracing Creative Exploration in Every Aspect of Life," let’s dive into the transformative power of creativity across various aspects of life— professional, societal, and personal. Learn to embrace and unleash your inner creative in all aspects of life. Whether you're an aspiring artist, a business professional, or simply someone looking to enrich your personal life, this keynote will provide you with inspiration to think outside the box and explore the limitless possibilities of turning your creative journeys into successful pursuits.
10:10-10:50 am
How Graphic Design Affects Environments And Human Behavior
with Ryan Kuwada (he/him/his)
Graphic Designer, MOSAC
For museums, positive visitor experiences drive design decisions. Discover the role graphic design plays within a museum context as Ryan Kuwada takes you behind the scenes of his experience at Sacramento’s MOSAC. Learn about the process of creating immersive and interactive graphic experiences that captivate museum visitors and how designers create graphics that encourage hands-on exploration, facilitate learning, and foster deeper engagement with scientific concepts and exhibits.
Beyond the Logo: What It Means To Build A Strategic Brand Identity
with Meghan Leno (she/her/hers), Marketing Director, Honey
and Angela Bode (she/her/hers), Senior Art Director, Honey
You know a brand is more than a logo but what’s the difference between brand, brand identity, and brand image? Find out as Meghan Leno and Angela Bode explore the nuances of building a creative and powerful brand identity that resonates and sticks in the minds of fans and future buyers. Learn what goes into a brand strategy, how it lays the groundwork for all aspects of the brand design process, and how to design a lasting strategic brand.
11:00 am-12:15 pm
GENERAL | Pitch Yourself: Interactive Pitch Workshop And Facilitated Networking
with Jennifer Bourn (she/her/hers), Brand Builder and Business Coach/Consultant for Freelancers
To win that job or land that client, you’ve got to get comfortable talking about your work and pitching yourself. On Friday and Saturday, join Jennifer Bourn for interactive pitch workshops and facilitated networking. In each workshop, you’ll learn two fill-in-the-blank pitch frameworks (four total), write your unique pitches, and test them out in structured networking exercises. No more wandering the room, hoping to meet someone new, and worrying about what to say. Instead, you’ll know exactly how to pitch yourself and what you do and have the opportunity to share the value and impact of your work with groups of creative professionals.
1:30-2:10 pm
Captivating Video: Think Like An Actor Or Director To Get More Views
with Jeff Fong (he/him/his), CEO, The Film Squad
Video is the future of marketing and infotainment. Pulling from his experience directing films, working with actors, and bringing stories to life through video, Jeff Fong will share valuable insights and practical tips to help you create videos that not only capture attention and stop the scroll but also effectively communicate your message. Learn how video content differs from written content, how to get comfortable using video to showcase your work, and of course, how to look and sound great on camera.
Portfolio To Profits: How To Build A Successful Career In The Design Field
with Landon Lee (he/him/his), Co-Founder and Creative Collaborator, Noble Creative Collective
Whether in-house or freelancing, competition for jobs and clients is fierce. Establishing yourself as a creative professional and building a successful design career is incredibly rewarding but not easy. Join Landon Lee for a frank discussion about what it takes to thrive in the design world and create a standout portfolio that makes businesses want to hire you and collaborate with you. Learn about networking and relationship building, ways to gain real-world experience, and the benefits of under-promising and over-delivering to exceed expectations.
2:20-3:00 pm
Navigating Creative Partnerships: Lessons From A Creative Business Breakup
with Michelle Trippi (she/her/hers), Owner and Designer, Empty Creative
As a freelance designer with an eye for business, Michelle Trippi joined forces with a friend — a freelance developer who no longer wanted to be bogged down with administrative work. Jumping in with both feet, their business partnership thrived at first. But then it didn’t. Join Michelle as she shares insight into what worked, what didn’t work, and what she would do differently. Get ready to laugh, maybe cringe a bit, and gain cautionary advice that will protect you and your business, as well as your clients, your revenue, and your sanity.
How To Revamp The Spirit And Morale Of A Collective Organization
with Robby Gill (he/him/his), Manager, Emerging Technology Partnerships, Amazon Web Services
Culture is vital to the long-term success and sustainability of an organization. Culture is its DNA, its drive, and its reputation. But how do you build culture? And if it already exists, how do you uncover it? Join Robby Gill as he explores the process of building and uncovering culture within a collective organization. As leaders and emerging professionals, learn how you can use culture to revitalize and revamp the spirit and morale of your company and carry it forward into a better, brighter future.
3:10-3:50 pm
Effective Arts Policy Advocacy
with James Hackett-Little (he/him/his)
Gain insight into the policy landscape to more effectively emphasize the critical role of arts in a thriving economy, and advocate for funding arts programs and initiatives. Join James Hackett-Little to learn about developing persuasive arts advocacy communication strategies, influencing local funding decisions, building strong public-private partnerships, and how you can get involved and make a difference in our community.
From UI Kit To Design System: A Case Study From Blue Shield
with Carmen Zagazeta (she/her/hers)
Director of Digital Experience, Design & Content, Blue Shield of California
Like most companies, Blue Shield started with a UI kit guiding and supporting the design process. But when faced with a growing collection of disparate digital properties, they tamed the UI chaos with a comprehensive design system. Join Carmen Zagazeta as she explores the differences between a UI kit and a design system and shares how to build a design system one component at a time. Plus, get practical advice for gaining buy-in from the stakeholders and decision-makers within your company.
4:00-4:40 pm
GENERAL | Creative Harmony: Balancing Creativity And Work Without Burning Out
with Betsaida LeBron (she/her/hers)
Culture and Leadership Coach, ImprovEQ
Igniting creativity isn't as simple as flipping a switch. Maintaining your creative spirit while handling work demands is a delicate balancing act — and without caution, it might begin to dim. To prevent burnout, it's crucial to set boundaries that safeguard your creative heart and protect your creative energy. Join Betsaida LeBron as she highlights ways to establish 'playful boundaries' and shares practical tips to strike a balance between nurturing creativity and effectively meeting business requirements.
5:00 pm
MIXER
Join us for a mixer to close out the first day of our conference! Enjoy a complimentary beverage and charcuterie.
saturday, Oct 19
9:20-10:00 am
KEYNOTE | Radical Creativity Through Inclusion, Belonging, And Balance
with Megan Morgan (she/her/hers), Arts & Equity Advocate
In this keynote session, Megan Morgan will explore new ways to foster and facilitate inclusion, belonging, and balance for yourself and those around you. In a high-intensity world that fights for our attention, dollars, and precious labor, constant pressures can lead to real-life roadblocks in our creative pursuits, mental health, and community relationships. Join Megan as she introduces inspired approaches for staying aware, engaged, and radically creative, as the machinations of local, national, and global polarizing forces work to divide and distract our communities.
10:10-10:50 am
Behind The Curtain: The Strategy And Design Process Of A Website Build
with Patrick Boehner (he/him/his), Freelance Web Designer
A million details go into a successful website design. From mapping his ideal clients’ buying journey, writing the website copy, and crafting case studies that sell to designing the website, building purposeful forms, and establishing a structure for future content marketing, Patrick Boehner will take you behind the scenes of his strategy and design process as applied to his freelance design website. Get ready to be inspired and walk away with actionable tips you can apply to your own website or design process to drive the results you desire.
The Art Of Self-Care: Restore Your Creative Well
with Kim Felix (she/her/hers)
Success cannot come at the expense of self-care. Feeling overworked, overwhelmed, stressed, and exhausted stifles creativity, blocks new ideas, and drains joy from even your most beloved work. Join Kim Felix as she explores the importance of self-care for artists and how nurturing your physical, mental, and emotional health can enhance your creativity, productivity, and overall fulfillment. Learn how to prioritize your well-being and create space to relax, recharge, and refuel so you can sustain your creativity and engage in fulfilling artistic pursuits.
11:00 am-12:15 pm
GENERAL SESSION | Pitch Yourself: Interactive Pitch Workshop And Facilitated Networking
with Jennifer Bourn (she/her/hers)
Brand Builder and Business Coach/Consultant for Freelancers
To win that job or land that client, you’ve got to get comfortable talking about your work and pitching yourself. On Friday and Saturday, join Jennifer Bourn for interactive pitch workshops and facilitated networking. In each workshop, you’ll learn two fill-in-the-blank pitch frameworks (four total), write your unique pitches, and test them out in structured networking exercises. No more wandering the room, hoping to meet someone new, and worrying about what to say. Instead, you’ll know exactly how to pitch yourself and what you do and have the opportunity to share the value and impact of your work with groups of creative professionals.
1:30-2:10 pm
Ready, Set, Trails! Elevating Creativity in Government Campaigns
with AJ Tendick, Communications Group Manager, Sacramento Area Council of Governments
Mia Lopez (she/her/hers), Communications Analyst, Sacramento Area Council of Governments
and Zuza Hicks, Owner, Nicely Made
Creativity plays an important role in creating a successful public outreach campaign, like the "Ready, Set, Trails!" initiative by the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG). Join AJ Tendick, Mia Lopez, and Zuza Hicks as they share a behind-the-scenes look at the strategic planning, creative process, and collaborative efforts that made this public agency’s outreach campaign a success. Plus, learn how the agency leveraged external partnerships to enhance the campaign's reach and impact.
Understanding The Creative Industry And Positioning The Value You Create
with Eric Howard (he/him/his), Co-founder and Head of Interactive, Direct Message
You have talent, skills, experience, and knowledge. You have value to contribute to an organization, your clients, and the world around you. But, if you’ve ever wondered how your unique skill set and value fit into the creative industry, or how to best position yourself for success, you’re not alone. Join Eric Howard as he explores trends in labor and technology, the juxtaposition of productivity and creativity, and a framework for understanding your creative value and individual goals within the context of broader business.
2:20-3:00 pm
Make It Matter
with Tamara Lawrence (she/her/hers), Creator, coach, strategist, storyteller, and global creative director
Tamara will share her journey to success, driven by her relentless pursuit to "make it matter." She’ll inspire you to trust your path, embrace uncertainty, and show up authentically. Drawing from her experiences with failure, self-doubt, and imposter syndrome as a diverse woman in tech, Tamara will reveal how being audacious, present, and intentional has helped her overcome obstacles, achieve success, and build a purpose-driven foundation for her life and career.
Get Hired AMA: Pick The Brain Of A Pro To Improve Your Brand And Portfolio
with Stacy Thal (she/her/hers), Brand Strategist, True North Branding
You have all the confidence in the world working on client projects, but when it comes to your branding, marketing, and portfolio, it’s easy to second-guess every decision. It’s also hard to know what to say, what to include, and what companies reviewing your portfolio are looking for. If you’ve ever wished for the opportunity to pick the brain of a pro who has been hiring people like you for 20+ years, this is your chance. Stacy Thal is ready to answer your most pressing questions about positioning yourself as the ideal candidate or creative partner.
3:10-3:50 pm
Level Up Your Career: A Peek Into CCA's Ascenders Academy
with Amanda Sebastiani (she/her/hers), Creative Director, Sebastiani Design
and Will Rodriguez (he/him/his), Vice President of Creative, WeidnerCA
Mentorship is more than a professional relationship; it’s a partnership. For creative professionals, a mentor provides guidance, insights, and constructive feedback while helping you navigate career dynamics, overcome obstacles, and drive meaningful personal and professional growth. And mentors benefit from fresh perspectives and new challenges that stimulate creativity and innovation. If you’re seeking a mentor or considering becoming a mentor, join Amanda Sebastiani and Will Rodriguez for a peek into CCA’s creative mentorship program Ascenders Academy.
Post-Perspective: Looking Past The Point-Line-Plane
with Aaron Winters (he/him/his), Brand experience designer, artist, writer, and educator
Nothing exists in a vacuum. As creative communicators, we wrangle chaos with the best methods money can buy, but yet ... context finds a way. Not even the clearest message is immune from misinterpretation, but subjectivity also provides us its own antidote. In this workshop, Aaron Winters will guide attendees through real-world examples and lo-fi interactive exercises to discover an unconventional, holistic model of perception. Learn to leverage chance, identifying possibilities for greater access and inclusivity in our work.