THAT WAS
SOMETHING SPECIAL
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Creative Works WEST. We laughed, we learned, we connected, and we left inspired. It was an unforgettable few days with some of the most talented and thoughtful creative professionals we know. We’re already looking forward to the next one. Until then, relive the moments with our official recap below.
VIDEO RECAP
PHOTO GALLERIES
Meet the masters of their craft—designers, artists, and creative leaders ready to inspire and empower you. Each speaker and instructor brings a unique perspective and deep expertise to the stage. Connect with them in person this spring, and explore their work below!
Presenters & Instructors
Lineup
Be captivated by heartfelt presentations, infused with vulnerability and conviction offering profound insights into the impact of thoughtful design on economy and culture. Also, sharpen your skills as our leadership shares powerful software demos packed with insights and tools to elevate your creative workflow.
Inspiring & Insightful
Sessions
PRESENTATIONS
Talkin' Loud & Sayin' Nothin':
A Tirade by Amos Kennedy Jr.
Amos Kennedy Jr.,
Printer, Book Artist & Papermaker
Artist vs CEO: Keeping Your Creative Spark Alive
Lauren Hom,
Designer & Lettering Artist
Nothing Personal: The Art of Picking Creative Battles
Barry Ament & Coby Shultz,
Partners at Ames Bros
Worst Practices: How Doing the Dumbest Thing Can Lead to Breakthrough Ideas
Andy Pearson, VP of Creative at Liquid Death
Shaping a Brighter Future:
The Creative’s Role
in What Comes Next
Meg lewis,
Artist & Designer
Living on the Hyphen: A
Multi-Passionate Journey in Design, Leadership, & Voice
Alex Medina,
VP, Creative Director, Design at The SpringHill Company
Serving the Story:
Defining the Narratives
that Drive Your Career
Ty Mattson,
Creative Director at Mattson Creative
Crafting Resistance: Igniting Social Change Through Art
Tracie Ching, Illustrator & Artist
Creativity is a Sport: Perspectives for your
Creative Playbook
Keri Zierler,
Creative Director at Seattle Mariners
Main Stage Kickoff:
Community Updates
Josh Horton,
Founder at Creative Works
SOFTWARE DEMOS
Combining Vector Images & Hand Lettering in Illustrator
Clinton Campbell, Miné Day, & Brad Hodgkiss, Partners at MUTI
Photoshop & AI: Empowering the creative professional
Davis Brown, Sr. Experience Design, Adobe Design
Get hands-on with 10 expert-led sessions designed to sharpen your skills in branding, illustration, hand lettering, printing, and more. These three-hour workshops offer practical, real-world learning you can apply immediately. Seats are extremely limited and sell out every year—register now.
Skill-Building
Workshops
AM BLOCK
SAT 9AM - 12PM
#LETTERING
The Art of The Hand-Lettered Magazine Cover
Lauren Hom,
Designer & Lettering Artist
Learn how to create stunning hand lettering fit for a magazine cover in this three-hour workshop led by designer and lettering artist Lauren Hom. With over 20 hand-lettered magazine covers to her name, Lauren will guide you through designing a fully hand-lettered cover—what she lovingly calls the ‘Oops, All Lettering!’ style of editorial design. This workshop will teach you how to craft illustrative lettering that serves as key art and instantly grabs attention on the newsstand.
#ILLUSTRATION
Tiny Canvas, Big Impact: The Art of Illustrated Stamp Design
Clinton Campbell, Miné Day,
& Brad Hodgkiss, Partners at MUTI
Master the art of storytelling in a small format by designing your own set of vintage-inspired stamps in this hands-on, three-hour workshop led by the partners at South African illustration studio MUTI. Stamp design requires a keen understanding of composition, scale, and detail. This workshop will guide you through crafting impactful compositions, integrating basic hand lettering, applying authentic textures, and selecting a compelling color palette. Through thoughtful conceptualization and careful refinement, you’ll create miniature masterpieces that leave a
lasting impression.
#BRANDING
A Designer's Guide to Crafting People-Centric Brands
Ash Phillips & Miro Laflaga,
Founders at Six Cinquième
Learn how to help brands make deeper connections with their customers. Join Miro and Ash in this hands-on workshop as they guide you through the designer’s role as a facilitator of creative insights. This session will equip you with strategies to foster brand advocacy, loyalty, and trust by designing authentic interactions that build meaningful and lasting relationships.
#BUSINESS
Punch Above Your Weight: How to Overdeliver as a Small Studio or Freelancer
Jesse Mackenzie & Hannah Smith,
Partners at Trust Design Shop
Great work isn’t about the size of your team—it’s about strategy. In this three-hour workshop, Hannah and Jesse share how their two-person studio consistently overdelivers. Learn how to turn client interviews into real strategy, invest in discovery and research before pen meets paper, and make every presentation count. Discover the power of great collaborators, how to divide and conquer efficiently, and when to expand your capabilities. Whether you’re a small team or a solo freelancer, this workshop will help you maximize impact and deliver work that punches above
its weight.
#LETTERPRESS
Bad Printing Fundamentals: Embracing Imperfection in Letterpress
Amos Kennedy Jr.,
Printer, Book Artist & Papermaker
Perfection is overrated. In this unconventional letterpress workshop, Amos Kennedy Jr. challenges traditional notions of “good” printing by celebrating the raw, the unpolished, and the beautifully imperfect. Learn the art of embracing happy accidents, breaking the rules, and finding authenticity in the printing process. Through hands-on experimentation with wood type, ink, and pressure, you’ll discover that the best prints aren’t always the ones that come out perfect—they’re the ones that tell a story.
PM BLOCK
SAT 2 - 5PM
#LETTERING
Digital Lettering Effects: Adding Depth & Personality to Type
Kyle Letendre,
Letterer, Illustrator & Type Designer
Letters are vessels for expression, and this three-hour workshop focuses on adding dynamic digital effects to your custom type. Led by Kyle Letendre, you’ll learn how to enhance letterforms with dimension, texture, shine, and personality. Pick up workflow tips to keep your designs editable and practical for real-world use. Stand out with striking letterforms perfect for editorial design, packaging, and branding.
#ILLUSTRATION
Illustrated Maps: Bringing Places to Life
Doug Fuchs,
Designer and Illustrator
An illustrated map isn’t just about accuracy—it’s about perspective. Join Doug in this three-hour workshop where you’ll choose a location and transform it into a stylized, illustrated map. Using Google Maps, Procreate, and Illustrator, you’ll simplify complex details, refine compositions, and create a compelling design that tells a story. Whether for editorial illustration, branding, or personal projects, this session will equip you with the tools to create maps that are both informative and beautiful.
#BRANDING
The Tangible Brand: What Lies Beyond the Logo—SOLD OUT!
Elliott Snyder & Jesse Morrow,
Partners at Old Friend
Join Old Friend for this immersive three-hour workshop on creating a brand that feels both expansive and engaging. Jesse and Elliott will guide you through their entire branding process—from the initial client call to the final file export (or final_final_final, if you know what we mean). In this workshop, you’ll learn how to ask the right questions, conduct meaningful research, and explore creatively to not just make a logo but an entire identity ecosystem with plenty of room to play.
#CREATIVEPRACTICE
From Chaos to Clarity: Build an Action Plan for Your Creative Practice
Andy J. Pizza,
Author & Illustrator
If you feel like you’re running in ten different directions and getting nowhere, this three-hour workshop with Andy J. Pizza is for you. Work through three strategic frameworks designed to help you organize your creative efforts, align your goals, and make steady progress with clarity and purpose. Step back from working IN your practice and start working ON your practice—eliminating wasted effort, defining new goals, and crafting a clear action plan.
#IDEATION
Create Outside the Box: Thinking Beyond Constraints
Meg Lewis,
Artist & Designer
Join Meg in this playful, three-hour workshop designed to break creative boundaries and unlock new possibilities in your work. Through a series of interactive exercises, you’ll tap into spontaneity, silence your inner critic, and explore new ways to approach creative challenges with confidence. Whether you feel stuck in a creative rut or want to refresh your approach, Meg’s workshop will leave you with a renewed sense of exploration
and excitement.
Creative Works Pop-Up
Market
The Creative Works Pop-Up Market brings designers, makers, and brands from all over the country to one place. And we open the whole thing up to the public. Join us Friday & Saturday (May 2 & 3) at the Cornish Playhouse from 10am - 5pm.
DETROIT, MI
SEATTLE, WA
SEATTLE, WA
SEATTLE, WA
SEATTLE, WA
PORTLAND, OR
PORTLAND, OR
SEATTLE, WA
PORTLAND, OR
PITTSBURGH, PA
SEATTLE, WA
SEATTLE, WA
SEATTLE, WA
PORTLAND, OR
SEATTLE, WA
SEATTLE, WA
PORTLAND, OR
SEATTLE, WA
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Creative Works WEST II
SPONSORS
A heartfelt thank you to all of our sponsors for supporting our community. Please take a moment to visit their websites and show your support. If you're interested in becoming a Creative Works sponsor, we'd love to hear from you. Don't hesitate to reach out and connect with us.
COMMUNITY & EDUCATION PARTNERS
Interested in supporting Creative Works WEST II? Reach out to us.