10 am, KEYNOTE

Changing Brands, Branding Change
Debbie Millman, Design Matters

Branding is everywhere. We mark, name, signal, organize, and reinvent things: from ancient artifacts and religious symbols to sneakers, pharmaceuticals, nations, and social movements.

Why?

This session explores the surprisingly human forces behind branding and change: why we make and mark things, why brands become so deeply embedded in our identities, and why even the most necessary redesigns can trigger resistance. It traces the evolution of branding from early human expression through technological innovation and into the age of AI, revealing the patterns that connect seemingly unrelated forms of influence and identity.

Changing Brands, Branding Change offers an entertaining sociological, scientific, and anthropological look at why we create brands, why we cling to them, and what happens when they change.

11 am, BREAKOUT SESSIONS‍ ‍
(Pick One)

1. Let’s Solve It: E-Commerce
   Kim Robinson, 3pts

   Building a successful E-Commerce business isn't about having all the answers. It's about asking the right questions and learning from others who are figuring it out alongside you. In this interactive workshop, we'll tackle the common challenges artists and makers face when selling online, from improving websites and increasing conversions to building customer trust and driving more sales. Through guided discussion, small group breakouts, and collective problem-solving, we'll identify practical ideas and actionable next steps that you can apply to your own business right away.

2. From Idea to Asset: Intellectual Property 101
   Derrick Davis, Trust Tree Legal, P.C.

   This session breaks down the fundamentals of intellectual property and explores how ideas become assets. From trademarks & copyrights to patents, licensing, and ownership, we'll demystify the rules that shape protecting creative work. Learn what you can protect and what is worth protecting and how to do it. 

3. What Your Work Is Worth: Pricing With Confidence
   Bryana Ezell, Sweet Busy B.E. Shop

   This session explores the forces that shape creative pricing, from time and talent to experience, demand, scope, quality, and value. It offers practical frameworks for setting prices, navigating negotiations, and communicating your value without getting pulled into a race to the bottom.

   You'll receive the tools to recognize the value of what you create, price more strategically, and build a business based on confidence, not comparison.

2:30 pm, BREAKOUT SESSIONS
(Pick One)

1. The Alignment Lab: How to Reduce Burnout and Increase Ownership in 60 Minutes
   Kevin Greene, Kevin Green Elevates
   
   A sharp chef's knife makes effort easy. A dull one makes even simple tasks exhausting. Most makers don't struggle from lack of effort; they struggle because priorities compete, vision becomes unclear, and execution slows under pressure, like trying to cook with a dull blade.

2. The Real You: Why Authenticity Matters
   Rhea Carmen, RheaSunshine Poetry

   Poet, educator, and arts administrator Rhea unpacks what authenticity really means when your craft spans multiple identities. Through story and an interactive exercise, this session helps creative entrepreneurs find the through line connecting their many practices and own it.

3. Tips, Tricks, Techniques, Tales & Threats with the DDC
   Aaron Draplin, Draplin Design Co.

   A behind-the-scenes look at what makes the DDC tick, from the creative process to the systems that keep things moving. He will unpack how the team approaches projects, solves problems, and keeps creativity flowing when the work gets messy.

   Along the way, he’ll share pragmatic tips and tricks you can put to work right away to make your own workflow more efficient and flexible.

3:30 pm, KEYNOTE‍ ‍

The Rituals of Creative Success
Kim Robinson, 3pts

Explore how artists and makers can build sustainable businesses by creating simple, repeatable rituals that make it easier to do the work they don't always feel like doing. Rather than relying on motivation alone, this keynote reframes operations as a creative practice, showing how thoughtful systems can reduce overwhelm, build momentum, and create more space for meaningful work.

Through relatable stories, practical examples, and actionable exercises, attendees will leave with a practical framework for building rituals that support both their business and the life they want to create.