I'm now a week and a few days out from the whirlwind that was Alt Summit. To state that I'm still digesting all the information and takeaways from the conference is an understatement. My priority since Alt has been to diligently visit the blogs and social media of the owner of every wonderful business card I was gifted. What a vast array of inspiring ladies I was lucky enough to rub shoulders with.
The highlight, by far, of the conference was the connections made. Again I'll reiterate how putting a goal out into the "universe" really does seem to help with its manifestation. Not to get all gushy, but the girls I connected with are an inspirational uber talented group. I don't know how I got lucky enough to discover such gems at a conference of 700.
Here is a round up of some of the wonderful ladies that made Alt beyond memorable.
- Located in Seattle, Washington, Kathy (aka Krafty Kath) is a designer at Microsoft by day, and a crafter by night…and on the weekends too!
- Sparrow Soirees, was founded on the belief a fantastic and well executed event partnered with solid marketing creates an incredible experience for all involved. Asia, Owner & Creative Director, has 17 years of event planning and management experience.
- Amy, of Commona My House, uses her blog to provide savvy, chic, and timeless inspiration from her house to your house.
- Ali believes that chic is forever and inspiration is everywhere. Following in the footsteps of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, women can be stylish, worldly, and fascinating all the days of their lives. With an eye toward design, fashion, food, music, pop culture, and so many other things, In Jackie's Shoes is about cultivating a beautiful life.
- Rosa Beltran Design is a small design firm in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles where Rosa designs locally-made, affordable custom furniture; because she doesn't believe good design should be out of reach. She has a penchant for combining old with new, high-end with thrifted, vintage objects with modern finds to create a juxtaposition that is all about contrast.
- Andrea, of Legal Miss Sunshine, uses her blog to inspire people to find some fun things to do in and around Los Angeles. Think of her blog as a travelogue, even if she's not traveling very far away from home. The definition of travel is “to go on or as if on a trip or tour.” Plus, she throws in some good DIYs, recipes, and miscellaneous fun stuffs just because. Andrea also has a wonderfully curated shop on Etsy called, naturally, Legal Miss Sunshine.
- My roommate was Audrey, the supremely talented designer of French Knot Studios, who I met years ago in Savannah. With a background in design for the theater and an MFA in Fibers, she excels at working with a variety of materials and designing new event details. Her love of all things wedding and event (graphic design, floral design, space planning, music, lighting, menu selection, et cetera) offers a unique opportunity to work on every detail for an event that is truly special and reflects the couple's love story through both its design and her impeccable styling aesthetic. French Knot Studios is also Audrey's lovely shop on Etsy.
Then there were the panels, the round tables, the keynote speakers, the parties, and the hosted dinner the first night.
Highlights for me, aside from the connections, were:
- Garance Dore's opening keynote.
- Christy Turlington, et al, speaking on Every Mother Counts.
- Ben Silbermann's closing keynote.
- Erica Domesek, from P.S. I Made This', engaging talk.
- The first night dinner hosted by Jamie Meares, of Furbish Studio, at Caffe Niche.
- The chance to have a one on one consult with a talented designer about the design of my blog.
- And of course the over the top parties.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Garance Doré
- It is of the utmost importance to have a point of view.
- Don't just describe life, but experience it.
- Present your unique perspective. Your work should talk for you.
- We're all mini brands.
- Picking a small subject (i.e. fashion) is a great way through which to discuss big concepts.
Erica Domesek of P.S. I Made This
- Well branded is the new well rounded.
- Your network is your net-worth.
- Everything is evergreen; revisit old trends, everything has relevancy now.
- Emotional responses engage people.
- Talk once, listen twice.
Ben Silbermann of Pinterest
- Double down on what's going well.
- You need a north star, a destination for your brand, but be flexible about how you get there.
- Wake up and say "what's not wrong today".
- Progress not perfection.
Mélange
- Work really hard, but be kind.
- Be authentic, intentional, gracious, and grateful.
- Culture is most important to your brand.
- Do one thing extremely well and make it your brand.
Oh yeah, and last but not least, The Girls with Glasses were there too! #adorethosetwo
Next year can't come soon enough.
l Justin Hackworth Photography by ALT Summit, via Flickr l
