The first ever Austin Design Week begins on Monday, November 7, 2016. What is it? ADW is a week-long celebration of Austin’s design economy with workshops, talks, studio tours and events. Over here at Left Right Media, we’re planning our schedules for next week, trying to hit as many events as we can. Read on for our staff’s top picks.[mk_fancy_title color=”#1eab92″ size=”25″ txt_transform=”uppercase” font_family=”Oswald” font_type=”google”]The Schedule[/mk_fancy_title][mk_custom_list style=”mk-moon-plus”]
- Austin Design Week is from November 7 to November 11.
- Lunchtime each day (12-1:30) is for talks and workshops. Think everything from how to tap into the creative community in town, to design in government and city planning, to hand-lettering and metal-working workshops.
- Afternoons (3-5pm) are for studio tours. Hit one a day or all of them. Stay the whole time or for five minutes. Call us nosy, but we think its always interesting to see how other studios work and live day-to-day. Don’t forget your business cards.
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- See the full schedule here or download our daily PDF schedules (listed below) to your phone and take it on the go.
[/mk_custom_list][mk_fancy_title color=”#1eab92″ size=”25″ txt_transform=”uppercase” font_family=”Oswald” font_type=”google”]+ Day One + Day Two + Day Three + Day Four + Day Five[/mk_fancy_title]
I also had a chance to ask founder Candice Digby some questions about how Design Week started and what she’s most looking forward to. Candice and co-founder Danielle Barnes both work for General Assembly here in town.
1. What will be happening at the Design Week Hub? IBM Design has turned the Hub into one giant interactive installation around what it means to be a designer. This is your chance to experience a taste of Austin Design Week at any point from 10AM – 6PM throughout the week. (The schedule will also be projected and printed there)
2. Can you tell me a little about how Design Week started? My co-worker, Danielle Barnes sent me a late night email that just said, “we should do this” with a list of all the other major cities that have Design Weeks. She’s lived in New York and San Francisco and was looking for a Design Week here in Austin for our company to get involved with, when she realized there wasn’t already one. With the idea of starting Austin Design Week, our focus was to bring together the whole of the design community. We knew we wanted to involve Amber Atkins of IBM Design early on. She’s a powerhouse and her passion for the mission behind Design Week is unmatched.
3. What events are you most excited for? 1) I am really excited about The Hub and the incredible work the IBM Design team has put into it. 2) The Mueller Parks tour will have 14 designers who were involved with the design of the parks including a presentation by the head landscape architect and the urban planner who developed the parks. 3) And finally, I can’t wait to see the Design Debates and Election Viewing party on Tuesday, we have a few surprises in store and I think that will be a wild night.
[mk_fancy_title color=”#1eab92″ size=”25″ txt_transform=”uppercase” font_family=”Oswald” font_type=”google”]Left Right Media’s Staff Picks for ADW[/mk_fancy_title][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”550″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text align=”center”]
Callie
UI Designer /
Art Director
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frogJam: Unifying Austin’s Creative Community
NOVEMBER 8, 2016 12PM – 1:30PM
frog design
101 W 6th St # 200
Austin, TX 78701
If I could make a living solely off of talking to people, I would be rolling in it. (Not surprisingly, I was that girl who got in trouble for talking too much in every class ever.) Having personally moved to our great city seeking kindred spirits in the design community and a more balanced way of life, this particular discussion holds a lot of meaning for me. I’m hopeful that we can come together as a tremendous force for good to help bolster Austin’s creative spirit, not just for designers but for the arts as a whole. Is it too soon to say let’s make Austin great again?
The Foundry Studio Tour
NOVEMBER 10, 2016 3PM – 5PM
Fine Arts Library, the University of Texas at Austin
510 E 23rd St
Austin, TX 78712
As a former studio art major who spent most of my time in college using all the things (dark rooms, print studios, etc.), I’m really excited to check out the new UT productivity space. More and more I find myself interested in creating tangible goods and making with my hands, probably as a byproduct of working in an ever-evolving digital landscape. I’m also probably the one person in Austin who didn’t find my way here through UT, so I’m looking forward to playing tourist for the afternoon while simultaneously getting my design-nerd fix. And hello, laser printing. 3D printing. VIRTUAL REALITY. This is the future, y’all![/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider style=”thin_solid”]
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Olivia
Front-end Developer /
Lead Designer
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ADW Kickoff Party
NOVEMBER 7, 2016 6PM – 9PM
Austin Beerworks
3009 Industrial Terrace,
Austin, TX 78758
If you’re anything like we are, you’ll sit in Quickie Pickie for an hour analyzing wine labels, beer can designs, and chocolate bar branding. What pops? What falls short? I’m excited about the kick-off party for ADW and to hear from the designers who branded some of our local breweries. I’m also looking forward to Doreen Lorenzo’s keynote on Austin’s design history.
Design, Technology, & Innovation Fellows, City of Austin Studio Tour
NOVEMBER 10, 2016 3PM – 5PM
City Hall
301 W 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78701
I’ve been fascinated with Austin city planning and other goings-on since my days as a journalism student. Back then, we were expected to attend city council meetings monthly, and I focused much of my writing on city zoning and transportation problems. I love that ADW is bridging the gap this week between Austin’s creative community and those in government positions. As a city with such a strong design community, I believe it is imperative that we begin to be more involved in the future of Austin.[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider style=”thin_solid”]
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Chris
Co-Founder /
Creative Director
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From Tangible to Intuitive: The Abstraction of Products & Design
NOVEMBER 7, 2016 12PM – 1:30PM
General Assembly Austin
600 Congress Ave., 14th Fl
Austin, TX 78701
This workshop is interesting to me because I discovered my love for design through the products of Ray + Charles Eames and Dieter Rams. Later as computers became more a part of my life, I saw that love for design transfer to the digital space, just as those functional everyday products began to blend the two ().
With design, media, and data all around us. It’s become a rule that the more we use a product, the more simplicity lends itself to the joy of using it. I’m interested to hear the history and trends discussed in this workshop and how the people at argodesigns apply some of that thinking to their innovative projects.
Up With The System!: How and Why We Build Design Systems
NOVEMBER 8, 2016 12PM – 1:30PM
General Assembly
600 Congress Ave, 14th floor
Austin TX 78701
I’m looking forward to this talk from the folks at Austin UXPA who maintain a sizable number of meetups every year and an even more sizable number of UX professionals as members.
Design systems are interesting to me, not only in the work we do at Left Right, but also in how they influence the media and websites we read as consumers.
This talk should provide a great depth of knowledge from a variety of professionals across a multitude of disciplines. I’m sure some of the ideas and practices will lead to some good brainstorming and thought exploration for design systems we build for our clients.
Pentagram Studio Tour
NOVEMBER 11, 2016 3PM – 5PM
Pentagram Design Inc.
1508 W 5th St. #100
Austin, TX 78703
The firm responsible for the new logo and identity for MasterCard (which we all are gaga for), definitely deserves a visit.
We’ve had the privilege of meeting a few of the Pentagram folks, and you don’t have to go very deep into a conversation to be impressed by their scholarship of the craft. I’m looking forward to seeing more of their latest work and use cases that span across digital and print.
ADW 2016 Closing Party: Keynote + Designers on the Verge
NOVEMBER 11, 2016 6PM – 9PM
Canopy/invenio studios
916 Springdale Rd.
Austin, TX 78702
If James Victore’s keynote speech is any part as entertaining as his Behance byline, we should all be in for a good time. Not to mention that this event will be held at Canopy, which is basically the arts + culture mecca of Austin, and always my first stop for E.A.S.T. – which, coincidentally, will also be going on that day.
I’m also looking forward to getting to know some of the people that organized this fantastic inaugural Design Week.
Art, music, drinks, and smart conversation? Count me in.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider style=”thin_solid”]
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Bo
Co-Founder /
Creative Director
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Business Strategy 101 for Designers
NOVEMBER 9, 2016 12PM – 1:30PM
General Assembly
600 Congress Ave., 14th Fl.
Austin, TX 78701
We like to say that Austin is the town where dreams drive business, and great design is the new brand currency. At Left Right Media, one of my responsibilities is to market our design services by effectively communicating the truth in that statement. I am looking forward to hearing Jannis Hegenwald’s talk and am hoping to gain a new perspective on how to communicate the importance of great design as an essential component of any business plan.
I’m going to have my whole team stop by for this one, because I think its important for all of us to have a good understanding of the topic since we each serve as client-liaisons in our individual roles. I personally know it can be a challenge to be the bridge of communication between artists and clients, and I’m always learning new ways to do that.
Intro to Hand Lettering
NOVEMBER 11, 2016 12PM – 1:30PM
General Assembly
600 Congress Ave., 14th Fl.
Austin, TX 78701
One of my first memories that involved art is of my mom teaching me calligraphy. We would sit for hours in her bed, at the kitchen table, or on the porch tracing and writing our names, love notes and the alphabet over and over. Later, when I studied art in college, I loved incorporating lettering into my work. Handlettering is big in Austin. From craft beer to coffee shops, it seems like every brand is on board with the trend. I’m looking forward to this workshop to hone in on my own skills and learn how the hosting artists made this craft into their career.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][mk_divider style=”thin_solid”]
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