XOXO
Independendent but not alone
FOMO: Fear of missing out
Or: I didn’t see everything and that’s OKThere are several common catchphrases from XOXO. The unofficial motto for the conference is “Lower your expectations,” which featured prominently on the sign welcoming everyone to the opening night party this year. Another one might be “This an experiment,” and that is totally true — the conference changes form constantly: the building, programming, and content are different every year. (There is also no guarantee that there will ever be a next year.)
Doug HankeSep 14, 2015
Let’s all cry at conferences
I just got back from xoxofest this year; it was my first time attending and I’m still riding that lovely conference high.I just got back from xoxofest this year; it was my first time attending and I’m still riding that lovely conference high. ¶ But I cried a lot. And so did a lot of other people I know there. And we were all sorta embarrassed/ashamed. Which is weird, if you think about it, because if it’s common enough that lots of us did it, why isn’t it more normalized? ¶ I cried about pizza. (I srsly don’t know.)
Virginia RobertsSep 14, 2015
Gate on time
Eric Meyer and Anita Sarkeesian discuss designing the future.XOXO’s conference talks have always been a highlight for me, and yesterday was no exception. They were by turns profound and irreverent, uplifting and harrowing, offering joy, desperation, hope, and sadness in 6 intense hours. ¶ In his talk, Eric Meyer was erudite, funny, and brave. His central thesis was that design is a manifestation of values, and that every decision taken demonstrates what we care about.
Jamie TalbotSep 13, 2015
XOXO: Alone and On a Budget? No Problem.
I first heard of XOXO in 2012 when two of my friends came to town — one from the Bay Area to attend the conference, the other from the East…Coast as a guest speaker — and they both had nothing but great things to say about the event. Art! Tech! Music! Fun! Wonderful people! And, best of all, it was held in Portland, which is where I live! All signs pointed to “I should check it out.” ¶ That’s not what happened, of course. XOXO 2013 came and went, and I heard a lot more great things about it from friends and online write-ups — but I’d been so busy with work and a new dog I hadn’t even bothered to look at the sign-up page.
Ariana OsborneSep 1, 2015
The Fray Cafe Story Story
The following is paraphrased.I go to a lot of conferences, a lot of conventions, meetups… festivals. ¶ 2015 was my first XOXO. (I had heard about it before, even crashed a party the year prior, but this was my first time properly attending.) It was also the first to have attendees on its stage; a Fray Cafe was being held, the first run by its creator in over a decade. (Thank you Andy for the correction.) There were many firsts.
Zoe LandonSep 12, 2015
XOXO 2015
Stories from the intersection of independent art and technology, and the challenges that come from it.
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