JEN Olmstead

purple Ostrich: building a brand people remember in a world trained to forget

Before building one of the most recognizable design brands online, TONIC’s Jen Olmstead was just a precocious kid on a weird Texas ranch, unknowingly learning lessons that would shape her future. In this story-rich keynote, she shares why most businesses don’t last—no matter how beautiful—and what it really takes to stay top of mind. You’ll hear the messy truth behind TONIC’s middle years and uncover the art and science of creating a brand that makes people say, “Omg, I need this,” before they even know what you're selling.

james nwobu

The single best investment you can make in your business

AI has a lot of people concerned, and rightfully so. Everyday, there’s another model, another tool, another feature that does what you used to do, but faster, arguably better, and apparently cheaper. How do you compete? And more importantly, where should you be investing your time, energy and resources so that you’re prepared to ride one of the biggest waves to ever crash your shore (and not be washed out by it)?

todd watson

Topic:
creative inspiration

Description TBD.

krista jones

AI Won’t Replace Great Designers — But It Will Challenge You to Level Up

The rise of AI tools has sparked fear across the creative industry, but the truth is clear: AI can’t replace creativity, empathy, or human connection. It’s not the death of design — it’s the beginning of a new era for those willing to adapt. This keynote explores how designers can embrace AI as a power tool, not a threat, and why the human touch is more valuable now than ever.

dawn richardson

Inbox Influence - Turn Emails into Income

We’ll start with why email still matters and why it should be a key part of your marketing strategy. You’ll learn how to build your list like a pro, nurture new subscribers automatically, and boost your deliverability—plus why that’s so important. We’ll also cover how to turn your list into a reliable revenue stream and how to stay consistent, even when your schedule is packed.

ingrid
urena

E-commerce Your Way: A Designer’s Guide to Selling on Showit

If you’ve ever said "I’d love to sell something but e-commerce feels overwhelming," this session is for you. I’ll walk you through the real options, help you match the right one to your goals, and show you how to get it working inside Showit, the smart way.

Dan mall

Topic:
Scaling a design business

Description TBD.

mack
garrison

How to add motion to your website

Description TBD.

nate sees

What’s New in Showit

Come see what the Showit product team has been cooking up to speed up your workflow, offer more to your clients, and spark joy in the creative work you do.

northfolk

How to build and launch a template shop in 30 days

Can it be done? We challenged ourselves to launch a secret template shop in 30 days, with no audience and no name recognition, from concept to reality. We'll share the complete journey—the strategies, the setbacks, and finally answer the question everyone's been asking: which shop is ours.

sarah kleist

The Art of the Website Sprint

Projects that drag on forever? We don't know her. Learn how I ditched never-ending design projects for a sprint-based system that actually works (and pays better). In this workshop, we're going over my Website in a Week process—everything from how to sell it, how to prep for it, and how to execute it flawlessly. You'll leave with frameworks to kill scope creep, boost your profit margins, and prove that moving fast doesn't mean sacrificing quality. (In fact, most of the time, it improves it!)

bernel westbrook

From Grid to Growth: Leveraging Instagram to Build Your Web Design Business

In this workshop, I’ll share the exact Instagram strategy I used to steadily attract high-end web design clients—without relying on trendy content or chasing followers. You’ll learn how to position your profile like a portfolio, create intentional content that builds trust, and guide potential clients from your Instagram to your website, where they can connect, inquire, and convert.

ariel garcia

Book Bigger Budgets:
A Real Look Inside What it Takes to Book $40k Client Projects

In this behind-the-scenes session, Ariel is pulling back the curtain on what it actually takes to book $40k design projects — and why it’s not as out of reach as it sounds. We’re talking real numbers, real value, and the real mindset shift that separates $4k designers from $40k ones. If you’ve ever wondered what clients with big budgets are really looking for, and how to position yourself to get the “yes”, this is your invitation to find out.

abigail dyer

How To START a 6-figure template shop as a solopreneur

You don’t need a team, to run ads, or have a big following or email list to have a successful template shop. In this session, you will discover the secret-sauce strategies for building a six-figure shop that you can use right away!

chris misterek

Topic:
Overcoming adversity in your business

When you start a business, it’s easy to believe everything will go according to plan—and if it doesn’t, you’ll just work harder, right? But then reality hits: building something profitable and sustainable is harder than it looks. There’s even a name for it—the planning fallacy—where we underestimate the chaos ahead and overestimate our ability to handle it. After a divorce, four kids, two careers, and several businesses, I’ve learned success isn’t about talent or hustle—it’s about endurance. In this talk, I’ll share what’s helped me keep going through the messiest seasons of life and business.

tayler
hollman

The Marketing Reset: How to Get the Right Offer to the Right People with the Right Plan

It’s one of the biggest questions designers have about their marketing—and an important one to answer: how do you know if it’s actually working? The good news is, it’s not complicated—you just need to know where to look. In this session, you’ll learn the two things you must understand before you can evaluate your marketing, which numbers matter most for your design business, and how to make sense of what those numbers are telling you.

derrick
kempf

Design Any Brand Identity in 4 Simple Steps

Learn the 4 simple, repeatable steps you can use to design any brand identity with confidence. No more guessing, no more getting stuck. Just a clear process that actually works. Whether you're starting fresh or reworking what you’ve got, you'll be able to easily execute any design.

ryan moreno

Smarter SEO with AI: Let ChatGPT Be Your On-Demand SEO Assistant 

Tired of wondering what actually matters when it comes to SEO? This session breaks it down—what to focus on, what you can skip, and how tools like ChatGPT can help you plan and optimize content that ranks. I’ll cover basic SEO principles, bust some common myths (like site speed), and show you how to use ChatGPT to speed up your workflow—things like generating titles and meta descriptions, planning content, reviewing blog posts, and more. Perfect for creative entrepreneurs who want better search visibility without becoming full-time SEOs.

Financial Scribbles: How to Build a Sustainable Business (and Know if an S-Corp is Right for You)

Let’s be real—most creative businesses don’t grow in a straight line. It’s more like a bunch of scribbles: shifting offers, changing prices, and figuring out how to actually pay yourself. In this relatable, jargon-free session, financial strategist Madison Brown will help you move from winging it to building a financial structure that supports your time, energy, and cash flow. You’ll learn the habits that lead to long-term sustainability, what to know before becoming an S-Corp, and how smart money strategy can prevent burnout—not just boost profit. Whether you’re sorting out your LLC or eyeing payroll, you’ll leave feeling grounded, informed, and less alone.

madison
brown

erica
carnohan

Beyond the Builder: Advanced Showit Tricks for Standout Websites

Grab your laptops for this hands-on, practical workshop! Learn how to take your Showit websites to the next level with a few simple hacks and coding tricks. You'll walk away with solutions to common design challenges, impressive features clients will love, and techniques to streamline your workflow.

jonny ashcroft

Augmented Imagination: 
Reframing Ai as enhancement not enemy

This hands-on workshop explores how to blend traditional creative skills—like design, typography, and illustration—with cutting-edge AI tools to expand your artistic potential. You’ll learn how to use AI as a collaborative partner, not a replacement, with practical techniques like image generation in Midjourney, typography retexturing in Adobe Firefly, and generative tools in Photoshop. Through guided experimentation, you’ll build workflows that enhance your process and unlock new creative possibilities.

kristin
pruis

Plugged In + Powered Up: Supercharging Your Site with Wordpress Plugins

Learn how to level up your client sites with essential WordPress plugins that add power and flexibility, without sacrificing style. Leave with a designer-friendly plugin stack, real-world examples & actionable strategies.

mark
johnson

Font Wrangling: How to Pick, Find & Pair Fonts With Confidence

Learn the ins and outs of choosing the perfect font and pairing typefaces with confidence. This instructional presentation includes a hands-on workshop where you'll explore fonts in real time. From terminology and theory to styling, resources, and practical application, you'll gain the tools to become a font expert and take control of your typography choices.

olivia austin

Scaling Your Design Studio:
How to Transition from Solo Designer to Studio Owner

You’ve mastered the craft — now it’s time to master the business. This workshop will walk you through the transition from solo designer to studio owner, with strategies for positioning, pricing, and building a sustainable team. Learn how to increase profit margins, streamline your processes, and confidently step into the role of creative director. Whether you're ready to grow or just exploring the idea, you'll leave with a clear, actionable roadmap.

fawaz zakir

Creative Selling: How to Win Clients Without Selling Your Soul

Do you get the ick when selling your creative work? This hands-on session shows you how to pitch your services, win dream clients, and grow your business without selling out.

sara noel

How To Make Your Website Copy Work For You

In this 60-minute workshop, Website Girl herself will teach you the easy-to-implement website copywriting strategies you need to ensure your website works FOR you, 'round the clock, answering your leads' questions before they even have to ask them, convincing readers how great you are, and effortlessly pulling in clients while you're doing, well... whatever you want, because your site is your 24/7 salesperson.

ben burns

Growing Your Creative Business

Description TBD.

Davey Jones

The AI Content Playbook: How to Turn Content into Leads on Autopilot

Content creation doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right AI tools and a simple workflow, you can reliably fill your calendar and attract high-quality leads while growing your email list. In this practical session, you’ll learn to streamline your process, build your list, and set up an effortless system that runs in the background so you can focus on design and client work.