What Makes an Unforgettable Conference Experience?

“Unlocking the Value of Conferences” – Act 02 – Scene 32 – Damian Martone Leadership Ateliers Training for upcoming design leaders with multiple workshops and masterclasses in Lisbon (April 23-24), Barcelona (May 5-6) and Berlin (May 21-22). Get €100 off using the code DESIGNOPSALIGNED Website: https://www.leadershipateliers.com Hatch Conference 3-Day festival for senior designers and above. Featuring speakers and facilitators from Qonto, Anthropic, Loom, Intercom, Vercel and many more. Apply to be able to purchase up to 2 tickets. https://www.hatchconference.com In this conversation, we speak to Damian Martone, the organizer of the Hatch Conference, focusing on the value of conferences, the importance of networking, and the challenges of organizing events in the design industry. They discuss how to create meaningful experiences for attendees, the impact of AI on the conference landscape, and the significance of curating speakers and content that resonate with the audience. Damian shares insights on the lessons learned from organizing the conference and the future plans for Hatch, emphasizing the need for a niche focus and community engagement. Takeaways • Conferences must provide clear value to attendees. • Networking is often the most valuable aspect of conferences. • Curation of speakers and audience is crucial for engagement. • Smaller conferences can foster deeper connections. • AI will change the landscape of conferences in the future. • Diversity in audience can enhance the conference experience. • Interactive sessions can help mitigate large group syndrome. • Market-driven content is essential for relevance. • The Hatch Conference focuses on European design challenges. • Future plans include expanding community engagement through mixers. Chapters 00:48 - Introduction to Hatch Conference and Its Value 04:38 - Understanding Conference Value Beyond Education 07:49 - The Importance of Networking at Conferences 09:44 - Balancing Personal Touch and Conference Growth 13:05 - The Impact of AI on Conference Dynamics 14:54 - Speaker Selection and Audience Engagement 21:08 - Diversity and Inclusion in Conference Settings 23:43 - Niche Events vs. General Conferences 25:21 - The Birth of Hatch Conference During COVID 26:41 - Lessons Learned from Organizing Conferences 29:07 - The Challenges of Securing Speakers 31:47 - The Importance of Delegation in Event Planning 34:16 - What Sets Hatch Conference Apart 36:25 - Upcoming Design Leadership Workshops 39:33 - Future Plans for Hatch Conference