The pandemic called for a pivot to virtual events, so we took the opportunity to open up 99U completely free to all, for the first time ever. The virtual conference drew over 75MM unique live viewers and was hugely influential as more creative conferences began to migrate their programming from live to online.
The 2020 conference theme, The Creative Self, was a call to unpack our creative identities, exploring how to establish our purpose, nurture our talent, and define success on our own terms.
The 2020 conference theme, The Creative Self, was a call to unpack our creative identities, exploring how to establish our purpose, nurture our talent, and define success on our own terms.
Kelli Anderson hosting a live workshop from Founders Lab
Behance's Jeannie Huang emceeing the afternoon broadcast from Founders Lab
The Creative Specimens
For the event's visual identity, a menagerie of "creative specimens" were created to illustrate the uniqueness of our creative selves. The specimens were illustrated by Mark Brooks and alademosca, and brought to life in animations by HIDE Studios.
A limited run of prints were made available through our partners at Paper Chase Press in Los Angeles, with profits benefitting Feeding America and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
A limited run of prints were made available through our partners at Paper Chase Press in Los Angeles, with profits benefitting Feeding America and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
The Program
A lineup of stimulating keynotes, master classes, and workshops were remotely pre-recorded for viewers to choose their own experience, and for those who preferred a linear viewing experience, a daylong livestream hosted by MC Will Allen and featuring live-only workshops and Q&As aired on Adobe Live on June 17.
The Production
As the Covid-19 pandemic progressed, event production was quickly adapted to pare down our onsite team, socially distance and follow other CDC protocols, and still ensure a cohesive experience for our audience of millions around the globe.
Yours truly, socially distancing
Executive Producer Nickey Frankel and Technical Director Andy Mellon of Preview Events/Founders Lab
Audience members shared their viewing setups. For many it was their first-ever virtual conference experience.
The Creative Self Workbook
When was the last time you felt connected to your creative self? 99U partnered with creative coach Tina Essmaker and Document Cloud to produce an interactive workbook engage with your creative self as a practice, over five days of exploratory exercises. See the workbook here.
Event Credits:
Event Direction: Andrea Rosen
Creative Direction & Graphic Design: Mark Brooks
Production Partner: Preview Events (Nickey Frankel, Executive Producer)
Speaker Curation: Andrea Rosen & Andy McMillan
Editorial & Social: Chrysanthe Tenentes, Mia Pinjuh, Eunsan Huh & Tina Essmaker
Illustration: Mark Brooks & alademosca
Motion Graphics: HIDE Studios
Video Direction & Editing: An Films
Livestream Production: Adobe Live
Livestream Set: Founders Lab
Website Development: Behance
Event hosts: Will Allen, Jeannie Huang, Jinjin Sun
Set Photography: Rob Morris
Event Direction: Andrea Rosen
Creative Direction & Graphic Design: Mark Brooks
Production Partner: Preview Events (Nickey Frankel, Executive Producer)
Speaker Curation: Andrea Rosen & Andy McMillan
Editorial & Social: Chrysanthe Tenentes, Mia Pinjuh, Eunsan Huh & Tina Essmaker
Illustration: Mark Brooks & alademosca
Motion Graphics: HIDE Studios
Video Direction & Editing: An Films
Livestream Production: Adobe Live
Livestream Set: Founders Lab
Website Development: Behance
Event hosts: Will Allen, Jeannie Huang, Jinjin Sun
Set Photography: Rob Morris