How Design Live: A Design Conference Unlike Any Other

The biggest thing that sets HOW Design Live apart from other design conferences?

We’ve got range.

To prove it, we just released our 2020 lineup for the big show in Boston, May 4–7.

If you think you know design conferences, think again. We’re out to help redefine them for the 21st century. Our 2020 program brings the brightest minds from some of the world’s top brands — this year’s line-up includes IBM, Amazon, eos, Invision, Terracycle, and more. Here are five standout sessions that we’re elated to feature this year.

Rewire Your Team: Nurturing a Neurodiverse Workplace

Amy Johnson reveals a startling figure: 80% of autistic individuals can’t get jobs because of unconscious bias. Johnson, senior mobile visual designer at Arity who previously worked on design teams at Allstate, NextRadio and Motorola Mobility, learned she was autistic at the age of 27. Ever since, she’s been on a journey of self-discovery as she navigates the design world, and has been sharing her observations—observations that can benefit designers, creative directors and managers of all stripes.

As she says, “Growing a neurodiverse design team has its hurdles, but the pros far outweigh the cons. Learn how small changes to your hiring practices, work environment and team culture can make your company more inclusive.”

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The Art & Design of Hip Hop

Cey Adams is a legend. Born from New York City’s graffiti scene and pals with the likes of Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, Adams found his way to Def Jam records and was a pioneer in branding the emerging hip hop movement.

From Run DMC to Public Enemy, Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z and his brilliant work with the Beastie Boys, you’ve no doubt seen his creations, or witnessed their visual reverberations in the years since. Now a working artist who has collaborated with IDEO, Apple, Google and so many other companies, in this session Adams looks back on the evolution of the hip hop movement, and offers his approach for not only interpreting pop culture but executing meaningful collaborations with major brands.

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Through the Never: Rock ‘n’ Roll Insights on Creativity and Leadership

On a similar musical note, the brilliant Marc Reiter, chief creative at Blackened Recordings, is coming to HOW Design Live. Though he spent time at CBS Records and Epic Records and has worked with such bands as Pearl Jam and Spin Doctors, the relationship that has defined his career is with Metallica. Having dedicated more than 25 years to collaborating with the band, at HOW Design Live Reiter will give a behind the scenes view of what it’s like to work with them—and give attendees takeaways they can employ in their work to light their creative process on fire, no matter who they’re creating for.

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The Introvert’s Guide to Career Progression

Some of the most impactful leaders in our industry self-identify as introverts, as do so many leading designers in our community. So how have those individuals become so successful in a world that seems to celebrate and focus on our extroverted counterparts?

If you’re an introvert struggling to find your creative voice in this loud, crowded world, we’ve got just the session for you. Jennifer Aldrich is a designer and blogger who will be sharing actionable tips for introverts to use when navigating industry events without burning out. In addition to networking tips, she’ll also share ways to effectively work with, manage, and mentor introverted designers to help them use their introversion as a career propelling super-power.

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Make it Awesome: Rebooting the eos Brand in One Year

Of course, if you’re looking for classic design case study sessions, we’ve got you. In this insightful talk, Julia Beardwood, founding partner of Beardwood&Co. and Soyoung Kang, Chief Marketing Officer of eos will walk attendees through all the nitty, gritty, amazing details of the eos rebrand. A vet of Landor and P&G, Beardwood masterfully utilized social media, experimentation and execution to bring fresh life to a beloved balm, driving double-digit growth. At HOW Design Live, Beardwood and Kang will break down how.

Right now, we’re still adding amazing new sessions to HOW Design Live. Give us a follow to stay up to date with the latest, and if you’re ready, register with code GDUSA10 for 10% off your big ticket registration. We can’t wait to see you in Boston!

It’s time for a different type of design conference.