October 14-19, 2024

DWS Partners

Design Week Sacramento is an annual event that celebrates and showcases the creative spirit of Sacramento’s design community. Throughout the week, we connect, engage, and celebrate the diverse talents that contribute to the rich design landscape of the region.

Design Week can be experienced through two different formats: Community Events and our Conference.



Design Week Sacramento is an opportunity to not only explore new ideas, perspectives, and concepts but also play creatively together.

Conference

On Fri, Oct 18 and Sat, Oct 19, we convene the local creative community for two days filled with workshops, lectures, and inspirational stories, bringing together thought leaders, industry experts, and community members to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the world of design and its impact on the Greater Sacramento region.

Keynote Speakers

Positioning. Impacting your world as a 
brilliant creative soul

Fri, Oct. 18 @ 9:00am

David C. Baker

Practice Lead, Advisory Services, Punctuation

David C. Baker is an author, speaker, and advisor to entrepreneurial creatives worldwide. He has written 6 books and advised 1,000+ firms. His work has been discussed in the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Forbes, USA Today, BusinessWeek, CBS News, Newsweek, AdWeek, and Inc. Magazine.

Presented by Page Design Group

Radical Creativity Through Inclusion, Belonging, And Balance

Sat, Oct. 19 @ 9:00am

Megan Morgan

Race & Equity Manager, California Arts Council

Megan Morgan is a writer, artist, speaker, yoga teacher, and podcast host. Passionate about being active in and promoting inclusivity in the arts, and beyond, she graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute with an MFA in photography, and the University of Toronto with a BA in Art & Art History. Megan’s book, The End of Me, was published in 2019.

Conference Schedule

Friday
Oct 18

  • Positioning with David C. Baker, Practice Lead, Advisory Services at Punctuation

  • How Graphic Design Affects Environments And Human Behavior with Ryan Kuwada, Graphic Designer, SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity

    Beyond the Logo: What It Means To Build A Strategic Brand Identity with Meghan Leno, Marketing Director, and Angela Bode, Senior Art Director, Honey

  • Pitch Yourself: Interactive Pitch Workshop And Facilitated Networking with Jennifer Bourn, Brand Builder and Business Coach/Consultant for Freelancers

  • Captivating Video: Think Like An Actor Or Director To Get More Views with Jeff Fong, CEO, The Film Squad

    Portfolio To Profits: How To Build A Successful Career In The Design Field with Landon Lee, Co-founder and Creative Collaborator, Noble Creative Collective

  • Navigating Creative Partnerships: Lessons From A Creative Business Breakup with Michelle Trippi, Owner and Designer, Empty Creative

    How To Revamp The Spirit And Morale Of A Collective Organization with Robby Gill, Manager, Emerging Technology Partnerships, Amazon Web Services

  • Advocacy Workshop with James Hackett-Little, Chair of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at Capitol Creative Alliance

    From UI Kit To Design System: A Case Study From Blue Shield with Carmen Zagazeta, Director of Digital Experience, Design & Content, Blue Shield of California

  • Creative Harmony: Balancing Creativity And Work Without Burning Out with Betsaida LeBron, Culture and Leadership Coach, ImprovEQ

  • Additional connecting and networking

SATURDAY
Oct 19

  • Radical Creativity Through Inclusion, Belonging, And Balance with Megan Morgan, Race & Equity Manager, California Arts Council

  • Behind The Curtain: The Strategy And Design Process Of A Website Build with Patrick Boehner, Freelance Web Designer

    The Art Of Self-Care: Restore Your Creative Well with Kim Felix

  • Pitch Yourself: Interactive Pitch Workshop And Facilitated Networking with Jennifer Bourn, Brand Builder and Business Coach/Consultant for Freelancers

  • Ready, Set, Trails! Elevating Creativity in Government Campaigns
    with:
    – AJ Tendick, Communications Group Manager, Sacramento Area Council of Governments;
    – Mia Lopez, Communications Analyst, Sacramento Area Council of Governments;
    – Zuza Hicks, Owner, Nicely Made

    Understanding The Creative Industry And Positioning The Value You Create with Eric Howard, Co-founder and Head of Interactive, Fathom

  • Make It Matter, with Tamara Lawrence (she/her/hers), Creator, coach, strategist, storyteller, and global creative director

    Get Hired AMA: Pick The Brain Of A Pro To Improve Your Brand And Portfolio, with Stacy Thal, Brand Strategist, True North Branding

  • Post-Perspective: Looking Past The Point-Line-Plane, with Aaron Winters,Brand experience designer, artist, writer, and educator

    Level Up Your Career: A Peek Into CCA's Ascenders Academy, with Amanda Sebastiani, Creative Director, Sebastiani Design and Will Rodriguez, Vice President of Creative, WeidnerCA

  • Closing Remarks and Hugs

Community Events

From Mon, Oct 14 through Thurs, Oct 17, we partner with local community organizations and businesses to host events, including tours, workshops, talks, and networking events. All Community Events are free and open to the public, unless noted.

  • The beauty of objects

    Mon, Oct 14 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm
    @ ALMa Design Studio

    ALMa Design Studio is presenting a sensory experience workshop in their studio about designing objects, and how we navigate our preferences for items we use in our everyday life.

  • CCA Member Workshop

    Tues, Oct 15 | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
    @ Made Studios

    CCA Members will gather at MADE to make their own tote bags and buttons that are branded in this year's theme - Explore.

  • Fashion Design; Group Lookbook

    Wed, Oct 16 | 10:00 - 11:30 am
    @ Topstich Production

    Each participant will design a look on paper using fabrics and other mediums. Then we will photograph all the looks and create a digital lookbook.

  • Yellow Brick Group Studio Tour

    Wed, Oct 16 | 12:00 - 1:30 pm
    @ Yellow Brick Group

    We will be touring the studio of local creative agency Yellow Brick Group.

  • "Because I Wanted To" Exhibit and Talk with Kathy Dana

    Wed, 10/16 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm
    @ Twisted Track Gallery

    Experience the uplifting and transformative power of contemporary art at Kathy Dana's solo exhibition at Twisted Track Gallery.

  • Exploring Artist Residencies with Art Tonic

    Wed, 10/16 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm
    @ Lucid Winery

    Join us for a panel discussion about artist residencies with 2-3 artists who have attended residencies nationally and internationally.

  • Museum Exhibit Design: A Look Inside the California Museum

    Thurs, Oct 17 | 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
    @ California Museum

    Meet the exhibitions director and graphic designer/digital communications specialist at the California Museum and learn how graphic design and exhibit development come together to create dynamic and accessible exhibits centered on storytelling.

  • Comic Book Meetup

    Thurs, Oct 17 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm
    @ New Helvetia Brewing

    Creators, Artists, and Comic Shop owners come together to explore the creativity of independent comics and graphic novels.

Our Sponsors