In the spirit of reconciliation the Designer Boss Summit & Design Prom acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today
et ready to turn up the neon and pump up the jam! This Valentine’s Day, saybuh-byeto ishy-washyfreelancingandhellotoleveling up your design career with Design Prom!
Say goodbye to burnout and imposter syndrome and hellotoreclaimingyourtime, chargingwhatyou’reworth,andgrowing yourdesignbizlikeatotalboss all without blowing $100k on maybe-it’ll-work courses.
So slip into your most synthetic outfit, tease that hair sky-high with ALL the hairspray, and prepare to learn, grow, and totally rock out with 20+ design experts from around the globe.
DESIGNER BOSS SUMMIT CO-FOUNDERS DESIGNERBOSS.CO
GETYOUR FREETICKET
SavetheDate:Block out 3 days for the ultimate '80s prom vibes!
DressUp: Rock an '80s-inspired outfit or accessory - neon, leg warmers, or bow ties encouraged!
TechCheck: Internet-connected device + headphones = ready to roll.
FGETYOUR REETICKET
Snacks&Sips:Fuel up with your fave treats. Bonus: heart-shaped anything!
Pen&Paper:Jot down all the genius design inspo.
ValentineVibes:Set the mood think candles, confetti, or a killer playlist.
WARNING: pTheseyearbook hotosaresorad, theymightmakeyou snortyourcoffee andmoonwalk with
most likely to be hiding in plain sight in his army jacket
most likely to be ripping it up on the dance floor
most likely to answer in an Excel formula
ANNIEATKINS
most likely to leave and never come back
most likely to fail as a musician
VIVIANAGRAPHICS
most likely to become a tv addict
most likely to cut her own ear off
most likely to be in a band
KELSEYS
most likely t my own tv
AARONDRAPLIN
KRISTYCAMPBELL
MEGLEWIS
JAMESBARNARD
JOSHHALL
MORGANHASTIE
most likely to become an artist
most likely to become famous
most likely to be a walking exclamation mark
most likely to quietly take over the world
DRMARIONPIPER
most likely to become a weird eccentric Artist
most likely to be a public speaker
most likely to start a gossip column
most likely to become a crazy dog lady
most likely to be arrested for stalking the backstreet boys
most likely to star on a reality game show
t likely to become professional lego collector
most likely to walk the red carpet
SHAYSTARRENBURG
WILLPATTERSON
ANNADOWER
LIZMOSELY
ANKIEHARR KATIE&ILANA
CALLUMMCHUGH EMMAKATE
LAURENDEVANE
JENNCORDORVA
WHAT YOUR FAVE PROM SONG SAYS ABOUT YOU AS A DESIGNER....
ChooseyourTune!
"MATERIAL GIRL" BY
BYMICHAEL JACKSON
"DON’TSTOP BBELIEVIN’" YJOURNEY
ON ME" BY A-HA
“GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE
FUN" BY CYNDILAUPER
If you were born in the 2000s, you might not recognise any of these bangers- and that’s okay! We’ve got your back with a DesignPromSpotify playlistto bring you up to speed. Time to channel your inner 80s icon and hit the (virtual) dance floor like it’s 1985!
"TAKE
"THRILLER"
MADONNA
A)"Don’tStopBelievin’"byJourney
You’re the eternal optimist of the design world. No matter how tight the deadline or tough the client, you power through with passion and persistence. Your work screams hopeful creativity, and you’re never afraid to chase the big ideas.
B)"MaterialGirl"byMadonna
You’re all about high style and luxury vibes. Clean lines, bold typography, and a love for the finer things in design define your work. You know your worth and aren’t afraid to flaunt it your designs are as iconic as Madonna herself.
C)"TakeOnMe"byA-ha
You’re a dreamer and a trendsetter. With a love for bold experimentation and quirky concepts, you constantly push the boundaries of what’s possible. Your designs are like the "Take On Me" video: a perfect blend of artistry and innovation.
D)"Thriller"byMichaelJackson
You’re the master of drama and detail. You thrive on storytelling and creating designs that grab attention. Whether it’s a spooky rebrand or an epic website layout, your work is always unforgettable just like the Thriller choreography!
E)"GirlsJustWanttoHaveFun"byCyndiLauper
You’re the life of the creative party! Your designs are playful, colourful, and unapologetically bold. You love breaking rules and infusing everything you create with energy and joy. If it’s not fun, it’s not worth doingyour work always brings a smile.
WARNING: Design Prom may cause your creativity to go full throttle like an 80s power ballad.
DESIGN PROM SCHEDULE
ADDTHESCHEDULETOYOURCALENDARNOW
DAY ONESESSION 1
DAYONE-12THFEBRUARY2025
DAY ONESESSION 2
JAMES BARNARD
KRISTYCAMPBELL
JOSHHALL
ANNADOWER
MICHELLELEE
EMMAKATE
DESIGN PROM SCHEDULE
ADDTHESCHEDULETOYOURCALENDARNOW
DAYTWO-13THFEBRUARY2025
Upgrade to the Boss Bundle and get$2,000+ worth of resources for designers PLUS access to these VIPProm Speakers.
DAY TWOVIP SESSION DAY TWOFREE SESSION 2
MEG LEWIS
ANNIEATKINS
AARONDRAPLIN
LAURENDEVANE
DESIGN PROM SCHEDULE
DAYTHREE-14THFEBRUARY2025
Just a heads-up!
This schedule is tentative and might change. The final summit schedule will be posted on designerboss.co as we get closer to the event.
Each presentation will be available for viewing for 48hrsonly. If you would like lifetime access to replays we will need to upgradetotheBossBundle.
After each presentation, there will be a live Q&A session with the speaker. Ticket holders will receive details on how to join these sessions closer to the summit date.
FREELIVEMASTERCLASSWITHANNADOWERAFTERTHESUMMIT
NAILING YOUR NICHE AND CULTIVATING A KILLER BRAND AS A DESIGNER
WHILE KEEPING YOUR AUDIENCE PRIMED AND YOUR CREATIVE SANITY IN TACT.
SAVE YOUR SEAT NOW >
SCHOLARSHIPOPPORTUNITYWITHEMMAKATE
DESIGN
MEETOURVIP KEYNOTESPEAKERS
MegLewisis an artist, performer, and educator spreading joy through playful design. Known for bold, colorful work with brands like Dropbox, Meta, Target, and Pinterest, Meg sparks inspiration through workshops and talks. They help individuals and companies embrace creativity, joy, and career strategy to tackle life's big questions.
AaronDraplin, based in Portland, Oregon, creates for bands, comedians, restaurants, festivals, and leftist politicians. Co-creator of Field Notes, he’s delivered 550+ talks worldwide and teaches design through eight popular Skillshare courses. His DDC Fonts features three typefaces, and his book Pretty Much Everything is in its 13th printing. He credits it all to his parents.
AnnieAtkins,a graphic artist for Oscar-winning films like The Grand Budapest Hotel and Indiana Jones, also teaches designers to adapt their skills for the screen. Her book, Fake Love Letters..., earned praise from Jeff Goldblum for making the unreal feel magical.
renDeVane, founder of The Bemused Studio, is your Auntie and branding bestie. A former Ulta Beauty ative director, she now helps creatives harness tools ChatGPT and Midjourney to craft bold, standout nds with smart strategy, dope design, and AI magic.
OVER $2KWORTH OFRESOURCES FORDESIGNERS
BOSSBUNDLE
ALIFETIME SCCESSTO RUMMIT EPLAYS
ACCESS TOVIP WORKSHOPS &EXTENDED Q&ASESSIONS
PDESIGN ROM TRELLOBOARD C&VIPSLACK OMMUNITY
Celebrating our 10th Designer Boss Summit!
Back in 2020, right in the midst of pandemic chaos, we - Anna and Emma- launched Designer Boss Summits because the designer community was in a state of panic.
Our summit quickly became amuch-neededlifelineduringthose uncertaintimes. Fast forward to today, we’ve hosted 10 incredible live digital summits, and this year, we’re celebrating 5amazingyears of Designer Boss!
It’s been a rollercoaster of highs and lows, but we’ve cherished every moment. We’re so proud of the impact we’ve made on the design industry and are dedicated to continuing to provide free knowledge, inspiration, and motivation to designers around the world.
We adore our speakers and love our audience - you! Thankyouforbeingpartofthisjourney.
Here’s to many more years of Designer Boss! ❤
Some super impressive summit stats!
150+Speakers
Kristy has been in 4summits
Inspiring humans dropping knowledge bombs.
�� 60,000+ TicketHolders
Our very own design nation!
�� Over123techissues
�� 3,000+positiveemails
“This summit changed my life!” vibes.
�� 77negativeemails
...and more than one was about a typo.
All fixed with a pinch of patience and a lot of coffee.
☕ 3,421cupsofcoffeeconsumedbyEmmaandI
We don’t run on sleep; we run on caffeine!
�� 1livetantrumfromahigh-profilespeaker morable? Yes. Funny in hindsight? Also yes. nfinitelovefromthedesigncommunity e fuel for our creativity.
W TO HAVE A shitty TIME AT ESIGN PROM
Readytocrashandburnlikeatr
to ensure your Valentine’s Day-themed 80s Design Prom is a total disaster and by disaster, we mean the opposite of fun. Let’s dive in!
1.ForgettheThemeCompletely
Who cares about the 80s or Valentine’s Day? Show up in your everyday designer uniform (black turtleneck, anyone?) and scoff at the idea of puffy sleeves or pastel tuxedos. Ignore the neon lights, glitter, and heart-shaped decor you're above it all.
2.BetheAnti-Cupid
Valentine’s Day vibes? No thanks! Roll your eyes at anyone embracing the romance or love-themed fun. If someone suggests a group activity, grumble about how cliché it is. Refuse to wear anything pink or red instead, declare that monochrome is the only valid aesthetic.
3.OverloadonDesignInspiration
Instead of enjoying the event, spend all your time scrolling through Instagram, Pinterest, and Dribbble looking for "better ideas" for prom themes. Don’t actually engage with the prom just get lost in inspiration until you’re completely overwhelmed.
4.CritiquethePlaylist
"Another Whitney Houston song? How basic." Make sure you’re loudly disappointed by every track, even the iconic ones. Suggest they replace the 80s hits with ambient lo-fi beats, because that’s what you’d want to dance to.
5.AvoidNetworkingLikethePlague
Design Prom is the perfect chance to mingle with other creatives, but why bother? Stick to the edges of the room, avoid eye contact, and ignore anyone who tries to start a conversation. If someone asks about your work, mutter something vague and change the subject.
6.BetheOverworkedDesigner
Bring your laptop to the prom and spend the whole evening tweaking a client project. Make sure everyone knows how busy and in-demand you are by sighing dramatically and saying, "I really shouldn’t even be here, I have so much work to do."
Don’t be that designer! This is your chance to let loose, have fu embrace your inner 80s rom-com star. Put on those ruffled slee grab a corsage, and hit the dance floor like nobody’s watching (even if they are).
Nochanges— it 'sperfectasis!"
Itrustyourcreative visioncompletely.
LOVE LETTERS TO DESIGNERS
Takeyourtime,norush onthisproject.
We’llstcktothescope— noscopecreephere!
Youdontneedtoexplain it;yourworkspeaks foritself.
80s Rom-ComColour Inspo
PRETTY IN PINK #FF88AA
SAY ANYTHING #243C6A
DIRTY DANCING
#8B5287
THE PRINCESS BRIDE
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY #79374c #79374c
Thank You
TO OUR SPONSORS
Moxieis an all-in-one app for small businesses and freelancers, offering tools for project management, invoicing, time tracking, and client communication Its intuitive interface and customisable features simplify admin tasks, helping users stay organised and focused on their creative work Whether you're a solo entrepreneur or part of a small team, Moxie streamlines workflows and boosts productivity withmoxie.com
Flodeskis an email marketing platform that helps small businesses and creatives craft stunning campaigns with ease. With customisable templates, automation tools, and advanced analytics, it simplifies email marketing so users can focus on connecting with their audience and growing their brand flodesk.com
KateScottis a Squarespace web designer and mentor who helps designers scale their businesses, escape the feast-or-famine cycle, and enjoy creative freedom. With expertise in building and selling premium Squarespace templates, she teaches designers how to create sustainable, scalable income streams. Ready to stop trading time for money? Watch Kate’s free masterclass to learn how to launch a successful Squarespace template shop from design to marketing and beyond! katescott.co
PROM MINGLE Ettiquette
RespecttheKerning:Maintain a healthy distance during virtual chats just like typography, no one likes conversations that feel too squished or awkwardly close.
ComplimentFonts,NotFlaws:It's a prom, not a critique session. Gush over someone's typeface choices or their rad neon eyeliner, not their alignment issues.
NoGhosting...Literally: If you’re leaving a convo, don’t just fade into the background like an overused drop shadow. Say goodbye with flair!
MindtheMoodBoard:Match the energy of the roombe upbeat, friendly, and collaborative And remember the only thing that should clash is you 80s colour palette.
HOW TO ENTER
1.DownloadtheCanvatemplate
2. Drop in your prom photo
3. Share it online and tag us!
Foryourchancetowin,besuretotag:
�� @designerboss.co
�� @hiemmakate
�� @annacreativementor
...and use the hashtag #DesignProm
What’stheprize?
We’re giving away 5 Design Prom Merch Packs to lucky prom enthusiasts who share, tag, and hashtag! Don’t miss out!
A huge thank you for supporting our 10th Design Boss Summit. We know the summit scene is getting a bit crowded, so we truly appreciate yo choosing to be here with us. We'll keep showin up for our amazing community as long as you want us around!
