Dribbble Hang Time: What We Learned

During the month of June, the BentoBox team was able to sponsor a Dribbble Hang Time event in NYC. The event involved inspirational talks from some of the industries leading designers. Below are a couple of our favorite talks and key takeaways.

credit: http://continostudio.com/about

“Ugly”.

A Dribbble talk with Jon Contino.

1) Ugly is something that might not artistically be dead on but has a purpose. There was a reason for “ugly” designs to exist, and there are ways we can learn from them.

2) You can find inspiration for design from everyone and anywhere. From the movement of a street rat to the layout of man cave signs, design inspiration is all around us.

3) You can utilize a concept like ugly to foster your own growth and jumpstart a theme for your career path. For example, John utilized ugly to foster his growth in becoming a creative practitioner, owning his own agency, and creating his signature “ugly” nose logo.

4) Don’t be afraid of making something different. Even if it’s cause for alarm for some people, that causes it to be different, honest, unique and lead to work that is not trying to hide something.

Website: https://joncontino.com/

Photo Source: https://joshuadavis.com/

Pathfinding

A Dribbble talk with Joshua Davis.

1. Creative coding is a method that can be used to create algorithmic images and animations.
2. When coding, displacement mesh is a good first tool to learn. It’s made within programming and allows you to apply noise and transform an object in multiple different ways.
3. Design should be about breaking boundaries and being ok with not knowing the end result until you get there. Multiple random shapes, images, colors, and textures can all come together to form a purposeful design.
4. Instagram and social media can be utilized to find projects and future work. Josh personally posts most of his work on Instagram and has received many projects and clients through that specific social media channel (Josh’s Instagram).

credit: https://joshuadavis.com/

Website: https://joshuadavis.com/

Written by Kayla Scheidel

Photo Source: https://marmaladebleue.com/

Danielle Evans: https://marmaladebleue.com/

Danielle Evans is an art director and a designer. Danielle uses a range of objects to create powerful messages. She has worked with LA Times, Disney, McDonalds, Wix, and many more. During the Dribbble Hang Time event, Danielle spoke about her struggle with mental and physical health while striving to grow as a designer. Below are some of my key takeaways from Danielle Evans:

• “You can’t really move anyone until you move yourself.”
• Take time to work on yourself.
• You can heal through your work: “Channel your feelings into healings”
• Look for camaraderie in different fields and make sure you have the support group you need.
• Kanyegg.com

Photo Source: https://esymai.com/

Sophia Chang: https://esymai.com/

Sophia Chang is a multimedia storyteller and designer that works in a range of mediums such as printmaking, graphic design, and web design. She has worked with many brands such as HBO, Puma, Refinery 29, Adidas, Lululemon, and other big names. Sophia is very much involved with her community and frequently hosts workshops and panel discussions. Some takeaways I got from Sophia Chang are:

• Be open to new experiences.
• “Hey everyone is thinking this way… How do I think that way?”
• Learn as much as you can, even if it means stepping out of your career path and learning new trades.
• Take care of your body because it is your most important tool.

Written by Anastasiya “Stacy” Krokha.

Source: http://www.dribbble.com

Hoodzpah

Hoodzpah is a design agency owned and operated by twin sisters Amy and Jennifer Hood. The agency has been cranking out amazing work for big time clients like Google, 20th Century Fox and Target since 2011. After the conference, I got a chance to meet the Hood twins at the conference marketplace, and purchased a copy of their book Freelance, and Business, and Stuff, a straightforward guide to navigating business as a creative.

Source: https://scottsnyderphoto.com/

Some of the key takeaways from the Hoodzpah segment of the 2019 Dribbble Hangtime conference were:

• The path to success is never a straight line. The reality is filled with more unexpected events than the dream you imagine.
• Practice jumping into new things with low expectations, because the outcome can only go up from there.
• Expose yourself to new opportunities by saying yes more often. A yes can be the start to a new adventure.
• Get everyone you know involved in your journey as a support system, and potential source of new opportunities.
• Celebrate small wins!

Written by AJ Camara.