Epicurrence — The Montues No. 1
“Real conversations were what I was after, not lectures. I wanted no rockstars, just humans…Every detail mattered…The same attention I put into my designs, I was putting into this experience.” — Dann Petty
These are words that detail out the heart and spirit behind the first Epicurrence. I’d heard great things about this non-conference, and I was stoked to get the opportunity to participate in the first Montues, set on the north side of beautiful Lake Tahoe, California.
The first night set the tone for the coming days, as a panel of Epicurrence alumni got real, sharing about their work and life experiences — you might call it a welcome-to-the-family sharing time.
Mad respect for your vulnerability Geoff. 👊
There were several panels over the course of the event, but unlike your typical conference, these were much more informal, laid back, and interview-based, leaving time at the end for Q&A. Having been a freelancer for over 6 years and not having worked at a bigger company or agency, it was super cool and insightful to hear from leaders and designers at companies like Facebook and Airbnb.
Personally, I was really encouraged by the panel from Airbnb. Hearing from them about their work culture that values humility and the celebration of people was refreshing. I’ve heard it said that culture is caught, not taught — it has to be modeled from the founders to the newest hires. From the top down at Airbnb, they get it. Keep it up guys and gals.
A hallmark of past Epicurrence events has been the swag given to each of the attendees. But I wasn’t sure what to expect, as those past events were smaller groups of people, and the Montues was going to be in the hundreds…
I was excited to find out that Dann did not allow for this detail of Epicurrence to be overlooked, even though it meant him putting together 300+ bags of goodies—he even went so far as to write a personal note to each person. That’s dedication to EPIC-ness. Props!
I found Epicurrence to be more than just an event. It’s a culture of trust, encouragement and camaraderie in the design community. I am so thankful and blessed to have experienced it.
Three words describe my experience: Epic. Real. Awesome.
Thanks, Dann for your vision, drive, attention to detail and hard work to make this thing happen. It doesn’t go unnoticed. You’re making a difference in this industry.
