Recently our creative team headed to Columbus, GA for Creative South. The three-day conference featured speakers, panels and workshops. For a team constantly glued to a screen, working hours on end to meet deadlines, this was a much-needed work-cation.

Unlike Vegas, the team brought back “what happened” to Tampa. I got the scoop from Sr. Art Director Grant Gunderson.

Grant said the conference inspired a lot of personal passion projects that haven’t been on his radar for a while. Creative South was inspiring because, unlike most conferences it was made up of artists in the trenches. They are all striving to find a niche in the creative world and hone in on it. He said the speakers touched on finding something you love and going after it to cultivate a following and find work. The conference didn’t focus on agency case studies but rather personal success stories. Grant described the speakers as “raw artists, unlike at bigger conferences where the speakers work for behemoths. These artists were candid and therefore relatable and inspirational.”

Overall the small conference had a big impact. There was no shortage of interesting vendors or speakers. From Momma’s Sauce to French Paper, the team got to interact with the letterpress companies and the owners. The overall vibe was less about promoting a brand and more about celebrating artistry.

The conference was a hit. The creative team got closer, bonding over art, beer and visiting a new place. Sometimes the magic doesn’t only happen on a screen; sometimes you have to step away to find inspiration.