Last week a few of the team went to check out the annual Semi-Permanent Design Conference. It always has a varied range of speakers talking about anything from illustration to film. Although sometimes the speakers can be a bit hit or miss its a great event to go and hear different experiences, soak up the creativity and generally just get inspired by all the amazing work on show.
This year was no different. Amongst all the speakers a few really stood out and definitely got me inspired to get out the old pencil and paper, or wacom and photoshop these days.
Frankie Magazine
http://www.frankie.com.au/
Although not exactly my sort of magazine, it was wonderful to hear from the editor Louise on how a small idea she had with friend/collague Lara turned into a hugely successful magazine. How they disregarded certain magazine rules (like never use green on the cover?) and the journey the magazine has taken and how it has still kept strong to their original idea. They even had the cutest little cook book “Afternoon Tea” plus a new version “Sweet Treats”. Beautiful work.
Travis Millard & Mel Kadel
http://www.fudgefactorycomics.com/, http://www.melkadel.com/
Absolute classics! Funniest speakers on the Friday. When one of the speakers starts by snapping open a six-pack of beers you know you are in for something interesting. This couple from LA are well known artists who talked about their love of drawing from an early age and how over the years found themselves always drawn back to illustration and were able to find a market for their passion. From a personal point, I loved the studio they had set up at their home, it seems all they do is draw all day and they have paper and art supplies strewn all over their house (or treehouse as they called it).
Ashley Gilbertson
http://www.ashleygilbertson.com/
The final speaker on the Friday and what a way to end off. A photo-journalist who has focused on the war in Iraq since 2002. From the way he spoke about his time there you could see how much it had affected him and how much emotion and passion he had invested into his work. He mentioned a story of one soldier who had given his life to save his whilst on assignment which is something that is really hard to grasp when you spend each day in an air-conditioned office. He spoke of the soldiers he met and worked with in the highest regard and felt that the general public doesn’t understand or respect the sacrifices these young man and women face and it was this that lead him to do a series of work detailing the rooms of dead soldiers back home. From each photo you could pick up so much about each soldier’s life and the collection was extremely emotional. Truly inspiring work.
Although all the speakers had their own style of presentation, one thing was clear. They all have a huge passion for what they do and even if the work was not to your taste it was hard not to walk out of there inspired. Unfortunately I couldn’t make Saturday, but heard from others that it was well worth going(there was free t-shirts, DAMM!).
Now if you’ll excuse me I have to go and start setting up my new studio 
