In 2018, 99U celebrated a decade of bringing actionable insights and inspiration to creative professionals. The 2018 edition of the conference was focused around the theme Challenge Everything, looking at creative challenges from a range of product leaders, company founders, independent artists, and creative agencies.
The Main Stage
The 2018 main stage program included 14 talks over two days, exploring topics like leading with compassion, creating otherworldly experiences, and effecting social good. Featured speakers included design legend John Maeda, artist Adam J. Kurtz, Netflix's Todd Yellin, The Guardian's Mona Chalabi, and and Google's Tea Uglow. 2018 also marked the first-ever 99U talk in American Sign Language, by artist Christine Sun Kim.
Artist Adam J. Kurtz
Adobe's Scott Belsky
Author Tiffany Dufu
Adobe's Jamie Myrold and John Maeda
Data Journalist Mona Chalabi
Artist Christine Sun Kim
Google Creative Lab's Tea Uglow
Workshops and Master Classes
99U focused heavily on the conference's popular breakout sessions this year, curating 21 unique sessions over two afternoons with some of our favorite creative individuals and organizations, including Google, R/GA, Red Antler, Facebook, Girls Who Code, General Assembly, Donors Choose, and SYPartners. The hands-on sessions explored everything from animation and hand-lettering to effective feedback and innovative thinking.
Illustrator Jon Burgerman
Attendees work with a Girls Who Code student at a workshop hosted by The Design Gym
A workshop by animation studio A Mighty Oak
Parties
99U's Kickoff Party set the tone with social challenges, from VR Pictionary to an AR scavenger hunt. Our legendary MoMA closing party featured a DJ set by Twin Shadow and cocktails in the museum's iconic sculpture garden.
Guests at MoMA
Twin Shadow
Guests at the Kickoff Party
Guests at the Kickoff Party
Guests at the Kickoff Party
Event Credits:
Event Direction: Andrea Rosen
Creative Direction & Graphic Design: Mark Brooks
Production Partner: Preview Events (Nickey Frankel, Executive Producer)
Event MC: Will Allen
Speaker Curation: Andrea Rosen
Editorial & Social: Matt McCue & Emily Ludolph
Additional Production: Pollyanna Macchiano
Fabrication: Sunbunker
Motion Graphics: OddFellows
Video Direction & Editing: An Films
Photography: Ryan Muir
Event Direction: Andrea Rosen
Creative Direction & Graphic Design: Mark Brooks
Production Partner: Preview Events (Nickey Frankel, Executive Producer)
Event MC: Will Allen
Speaker Curation: Andrea Rosen
Editorial & Social: Matt McCue & Emily Ludolph
Additional Production: Pollyanna Macchiano
Fabrication: Sunbunker
Motion Graphics: OddFellows
Video Direction & Editing: An Films
Photography: Ryan Muir