WORK is a pop-up conference exploring creative and entrepreneurial approaches to work.
WORK 2024
GET THE SCHEDULE! ✻
GET THE SCHEDULE! ✻
Curated by Future Front. Powered by Texas McCombs, Love Tito’s + more!
10 AM ⭑
CHECK-IN
Rowling Hall Lobby
In the Rowling Hall lobby, you'll find check-in. We'll scan your ticket, compliment your outfit and get you settled in with a cup of coffee.
Here, you’ll plan out what you’d like to do for the day—from picking your sessions to finding your lunch spot.
You can also grab your complimentary portrait with this year’s photographer, Yvonne Uwah. Our hosts at Texas MBA will have a few goodies ready for you, too.
*Please bring your own laptop, notepad or other device to write with / take notes on.
✹ YVONNE UWAH, EDITORIAL AND EVENTS PHOTOGRAPHER ✹
11:00 AM ⭑ coffee & CREATIVE JOURNALINg
Rowling Hall Auditorium
After checking in, head to the Rowling Hall auditorium for a welcome with Texas Poet Laureate and Torch Literary Arts founder Amanda Johnston.
Following the welcome, you’ll pick your first session and head out to find your room.
✹ AMANDA JOHNSTON, POET & FOUNDER ✹
11:30 AM ⭑ workshops ROUND I
Floors 1 — 5
*For this segment of workshops, attendees can choose one session.
⭑ 1.1 — HOW TO TELL YOUR STORY THROUGH DESIGN ⭑
Room RRH 4.408
In this session, graphic designer and illustrator Michelle Kao (she/they), will show you how they use design to tell the stories behind cultural projects like Gan Bei Gals, as well as leading brands like OmSom and Made-In Cookware.
You’ll leave the session with some insight and inspiration for telling your own story through design and leveling up your approach to branding overall.
✹ MICHELLE KAO, ILLUSTRATOR, ARTIST & GRAPHIC DESIGNER ✹
⭑ 1.2 — RECLAIM YOUR TIME: WORKFLOW STRATEGY ⭑
Room RRH 4.416
As a creator or freelancer, managing client work, digital products, and personal creative outlets can be a juggling act. Join Sara Loretta (she/her), founder of SYSTMS™ for an insightful session on achieving the balance between clients and creatorship.
Whether you're just starting or looking to enhance your existing operations, this session will equip you with the tools and strategies for streamlining workflows, automating & templatizing deliverables, and building complimentary digital products, so you can leverage your talents and succeed in the world of creative entrepreneurship.
✹ SARA LORETTA, CREATOR & SYSTEMS-THINKING SPECIALIST ✹
⭑ 1.3 — WORK-LIFE WELLNESS RITUALS ⭑
Room RRH 3.406
In this session, wellness entrepreneur, eleMINT Skin founder and nurse practitioner Shauntavia Ward (she/her) will share wellness rituals for daily work life.
You’ll experience approaches to breath work, as well as ways to incorporate these types of wellness practices into your own routine.
✹ SHAUNTAVIA WARD, WELLNESS PRACTITIONER & ENTREPRENEUR ✹
⭑ 1.4 — BUILDING COMMUNITY THROUGH EVENTS ⭑
Room 5.420
In this session, Alyssa Hart (she/her) of OTHR AGENCY will show you the basic principles of creative and community event planning through her experience in production and now in leading sales at an international event agency, as well as nurturing a global DIY community series, Sober Voices.
You’ll leave this session with new event planning tools and outlines for your own workplace, projects or business, plus new ways to approach the realities of hosting events, too.
✹ ALYSSA HART, GLOBAL EVENTS LEADER ✹
⭑ 1.5 — LANDMARKS ART TOUR ⭑
Rowling Hall Lobby
Not feeling like a workshop? In this session led by UT’s public art program, Landmarks, you’ll take a tour through inspiring and engaging installations on the University of Texas campus, including works by José Parlá, Raoul Hague and Joel Perlman.
12:45 PM ⭑ LUNCH!
During this break, you can head out for lunch in the area (click here for a list of recommendations). Thanks to Uber and Postmates, all WORK Conference attendees will receive $25 off any lunch orders in the area (discount code to be provided).
You can also use this time to co-work casually in the Rowling Hall Auditorium or on the 2nd Floor.
*To ensure you make your 2 PM Session on time, wrap up your lunch by 1:45 PM!
2 PM ⭑ workshops ROUND II
Floors 1 — 5
*For this segment of workshops, attendees can choose one session.
⭑ 2.1 — A CHATGPT CRASH COURSE: FINDING YOUR NICHE ONLINE⭑
Room RRH 4.408
In this session, Liz Martinez-Nelson (she/her) of Favorite Things Studio, will walk you through ways to use Chat GPT to uncover insights about your ideal audience that will help you get their attention and become their go-to.
This session is perfect for creative business owners who want to strengthen and grow their online community, find clients, and learn the best practices for using ChatGPT so you get the most helpful output every time.
✹ LIZ MARTINEZ-NELSON, BRAND STRATEGIST ✹
⭑ 2.2 — YOUR CREATIVE IDENTITY: A VISIONING EXERCISE ⭑
Room RRH 4.416
Join writer, artist and creative strategist seher for a facilitated session in finding your creative voice.
With a background in advertising, storytelling and cultural work, seher will guide you through frameworks designed to illuminate your values, your vision and your unique creative strengths—both at work and within your community.
✹ SEHER, WRITER, ARTIST & CREATIVE STRATEGIST ✹
⭑ 2.3 — FROM CONCEPT TO CREATION: EXPERIMENTING WITH PRODUCT DESIGN ⭑
Room RRH 3.406
In this session, join designer, illustrator and author Margo Craige (she/her) for a how-to session in creating, launching and piloting your own product.
Throughout, Margo will show you how to complete concepts from start to finish—through the lens of her client campaigns and the publication of her own oracle deck and book.
✹ MARGO CRAIGE, DESIGNER, ILLUSTRATOR AND AUTHOR ✹
⭑ 2.4 — SOUNDING BOARD SESSION ⭑
Rowling Hall Auditorium
Not feeling like a workshop? Need to brainstorm an idea with like-minded minds?
Opt out of a session and head to Rowling Hall’s Lounge (2nd Floor) to co-work and collaborate with members of Future Front’s creative leadership team—Jane Hervey (she/her), Hali Martin (she/they) and Lina Zuluaga (she/her)—alongside other WORK attendees.
3 PM ⭑ CREATIVE RITUALS keynote
Rowling Hall Auditorium
In the conference’s closing keynote panel, you’ll hear from Austin-based creative leaders and founders on the rituals guiding their journeys through success, failure and growth.
✹ CHELSIE ROSE KERN, BRAND GROWTH ARCHITECT ✹
✹ REYNA VAZQUEZ, CHEF & CO-FOUNDER OF VERACRUZ ALL NATURAL ✹
✹ RAASIN MCINTOSH, FOUNDER AND CULTURAL ARTS LEADER ✹
• 4 PM — clOSING notes •
Rowling Hall Auditorium
Following the keynote panel, we'll close the day with some action items and moments to reflect as a community.
This is a great time to grab contact info and scribble down your next steps, too. We’ll also explore ways to get involved through Future Front’s Community Clubs, as well as what’s next for this year’s workbook, containing recordings, session notes and so many other resources.
*Passes will not be available for purchase at the door.
Each pass comes with:
✰ Complimentary Headshot with WORK photographer
✰ Hands-On Panels, Workshops & Talks
✰ Co-working & Creative Sessions
✰ A digital workbook & session recordings
✰ Topics covering creative entrepreneurship, community, leadership, equity, wellness, brand storytelling + more!
Tickets are free for Future Front members. If you have trouble, please email hello@futurefronttexas.org.