#benddesigncon

Not a Designer? That’s okay… 10 People Who Should Attend Bend Design Conference

“I wish I could design something amazing like this.”

Have you ever mumbled these words to yourself as you stood in front of a soulful sculpture, scrolled through a flawless website or held a beautiful pen between your fingers? We marvel at the creativity surrounding us in the world, yet often perceive design as “something other people do.”

But what if you could design? It might not be a rejiggering of the spoon or the next mind-blowing MoMA art installation… but that’s okay. Instead of believing that design is simply what things look like, what if design could be celebrated as a way of thinking? A way of being?

These are the questions the Bend Design Conference is eager to answer.

Who should attend this conference that explores, embraces and engages the dynamic (and often misunderstood) concept of design?

1. Professionals driving the “This is How You Get Things Done” bus

At its core, design is about problem solving. As a city planner, banker, architect, mechanic or person taking care of business and keeping people happy, your day is filled with the wash/rinse/repeat cycle of making decisions and solving problems. Whether you work with people, products or ideas, the Bend Design Conference will explore how to look at challenges from a new perspective and determine innovative ways to solve them.

Do not miss: Molly McLeod’s October 21 workshop, Design: Your Civic Duty

2.  Entrepreneurs disrupting that pesky little thing called “the norm”

Status quo has never really interested you. You’re all about changing the world and making a ruckus in the process. The Bend Design Conference will provide you with creative tools and ideas to merge design with ambition.

Do not miss: John C Jay’s October 20th keynote address

3.  Students planning for tomorrow

Life is moving at warp speed and it’s a white-knuckle ride. Change… like bad hair days… is inevitable. Design is a process that embraces change and manifests as reinvention. Whether it’s designing your living space, your education or your future, the Bend Design Conference will inspire you to embrace change as a catalyst for growth and transformation.

Do not miss: April Soetarman’s October 20th keynote + October 21st workshop, Introduction to Sound

4.  Writers seeking a fountain of ideas

Where do ideas come from? How can you bring them to life? How can you get people to embrace new ways of thinking through the power of words? And how do you leave the “meh” behind and do it with passion and originality? The Bend Design Conference will plumb the inner depths of your writer’s soul and sharpen your word-slinging process.

Do not miss: Ann Friedman’s October 20th keynote address.

5.  Creative professionals expanding their imagination

Whether you’re a web developer, a game designer, an inventor or simply a person who creates better experiences for the world, the Bend Design Conference is the perfect place to stretch your imagination. The conference offers opportunities for conversations, tours, interactive workshops and hands-on exhibits, all designed to inspire new ways of thinking.

Do not miss: Evan Clabots’ October 20th keynote + October 21st workshop, Does the World Really Need Another Chair?

6.   Non-profit crusaders needing inspiration

Getting people to care is one of the toughest parts of your job. Design involves morphing the old into the new and creating “aha” moments that open people’s minds… and wallets. The Bend Design Conference is the perfect opportunity to course-correct and find inspiration in unexpected places.

Do not miss:  Niko Courtelis’ + Joshua Berger’s October 21st workshop, Come Fail With Us.

7.  Educators molding minds

The Bend Design Conference embraces creativity in anything and everything. Design shapes and translates ideas, opening up a world of profound possibilities. Take this newfound inspiration and insight back to your students.

Do not miss:  Victor Saad’s October 20th keynote and October 21st workshop, Leap! An Experiment in Learning Anything Through Experience

8.  Marketing managers handling All The Things

At the Bend Design Conference, you’ll learn how to ask better questions so that you can design better answers and shape outcomes. Start with why…  then what… then how. Explore ways to ignite your crowd’s curiosity and make your brand stand out in a crazy, crowded world.

Do not miss: Ashley Shaffer’s October 20th keynote address

9.  Retirees wanting to make a difference

Design has a way of making the world work better. How can you use your life experiences and talents to create new ways of thinking and being? The Bend Design Conference will stoke your creative fire.

Do not miss: Beth Duckles’ October 21st workshop, Ethnography for Everyone

10.  Curious and passionate people exploring the world

How will you make your mark? How can you design a better experience not only for yourself, but for the world you love? The Bend Design Conference embraces those questions and does a deep dive into design as an artful and innovative approach to whatever challenges and opportunities life offers.

Do not miss: Daniel R. Smith’s October 21st workshop, How to Give a Sht

Look around. Design is everywhere. It is electrifying and ever-changing. And people like you belong in the center of it. Be inspired by possibilities and celebrate design thinking and design doing in the stunning mountain town of Bend, Oregon this October 20 + 21.