Andrea Rosen - Adobe 99U Conference 2019: The Creative Future

Creativity is futureproof. It’s human. It’s global. It’s technology-agnostic. It doesn’t discriminate.

From people working at the bleeding edge of their fields to others bringing more humanity to technology and business, the program for the 11th Annual 99U Conference was a call to action for creatives to take control of our tomorrow. Because we believe that when creatives take their rightful seat the table, the future is bright.

I Have Seen the Future

Inspired by some vintage swag from the 1939 World's Fair, we set out to strike an optimistic -- not fearful -- tone about the future of work. Enamel pins declaring "I Have Seen the Future" were mailed out to conference attendees a month before the event on a gold-debossed card detailing the conference theme and giving them a taste of what to expect. It was a surprise and delight moment that helped set the tone and drive anticipation for the live event to come.

The Main Stage

The multisensory three-day program included talks on the future of creative work, with featured speakers including IDEO Chairman Tim Brown, Writer Ashley C. Ford, Google's Kat Holmes, Slack's Anna Pickard, Adobe's Kyle T. Webster, as well as a performance by Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards and a 'sonic keynote' by Man Made Music's Joel Beckerman, accompanied by the Kaufman Music Center's children's choir.

IDEO's Tim Brown

Ashley C. Ford

Man Made Music's Joel Beckerman

Tune-Yards' Merrill Garbus

Slack's Anna Pickard

Workshops, Master Classes, and Open Studios

99U doubled the number of breakout sessions in 2019, with 41 insightful and inspiring workshops and master classes hosted over two days. Speakers and facilitators included organizations like COLLINS, Wolff Olins, IDEO, Harper Collins, Dropbox, WeTransfer, Local Projects, and HUSH, as well as independent creatives like Tina Essmaker, Meg Lewis, Ivan Cash, and Irene Pereya.

99U also partnered with New York's top creative organization for an evening of open studios across the city that included exclusive access to the offices of Pentagram, Shake Shack, R/GA, Deloitte, NeueHouse, and more.

Local Project's Jake Barton

Wolff Olins' Forest Young

Illustrator Temi Coker

Yours truly, introducing a master class from Brian Collins

Paula Scher welcomes 99U guests at the Pentagram offices

Parties

The Creative Future came to life at 99U's opening reception, hosted at former Chelsea dance studio Cedar Lake. Attendees were treated to hands-on creation with Adobe Fresco, Mama's Sauce, the Hamilton Wood Type Museum. Our always highly anticipated closing party at MoMA featured a DJ set by Merrill Garbus, tarot card and palm readings by Raven & Larry, and aura photography by Halo Auragraphic (my aura is a bluish-purple if you're curious).

An interactive letterpress installation by the Hamilton Wood Type Museum

Palm and tarot readings at the MoMA Closing Party

Merrill Garbus at the MoMA DJ booth

Guests at MoMA

The Creative Future Report

99U released a special report at this year's conference that included results from a survey of 3,600+ creative community members, and expert input from leaders at organizations including Pentagram, Automattic, and Adobe XD. Conference attendees received a print copy of the report in their welcome bags, and a digital version was released free on the 99U website to much industry attention.

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 & Jenny Cavaioli
Editorial & Social: Chrysanthe Tenentes, Lauren Jacobs, Emily Ludolph & Andrea Huspeni
Additional Production: Pollyanna Macchiano
Fabrication: Sunbunker
Motion Graphics: OddFellows
Video Direction & Editing: An Films
Photography: Ryan Muir
The Creative Future Report Graphics: Script & Seal