GIANT Conference Re-Cap/Fan Letter to Aaron Draplin
Yes, ladies and gentleman that is Aaron James Draplin. And yes I was there to witness him speak. Since I know this will eventually end up as a fan letter to Draplin, I’ll share my experience at my first GIANT Conference, first.
Early morning on the second day of the conference I found myself at the registration table getting instructions about my volunteer shift. Volunteering at design/tech conferences has been the easiest and most cost-efficient way for me to attend awesome talks and meet fellow creatives. Usually, for just a few hours of my time I’m granted full access to the conference and its main events.
GIANT Conf is described as “the place for people who do rad work,” and it is. I applaud them for having such a diverse range of speakers and topics and it all flowing so well. This is the main reason I was interested in GIANT this year. I’ll admit that Aaron Draplin was a big pull for me, but speakers like Sonya Looney intrigued me as well. Her talk, “Why Linus needs to Ditch his Blanket; Hacking beyond the perimeter of the comfort zone” really motivated me to seek opportunities that I normally wouldn’t. Listening to her experiences as a professional mountain biker was exciting as well.
Couldn’t talk about a conference without mentioning the awesome swag bag I received and the other goodies from the sponsors. STICKERS!!!
Mr. Aaron Draplin. Being such a fan of him already means that I’ve watched every video available on the internet of his speaking engagements. I know his rise to greatness better than he does. Going into the talk I was expecting “Tall Tales from a Large Man” which I’ve heard, but never in person. I was certainly surprised when “Graphic Treasures of the American Underbelly” came up on the screen. This talk focused more on Draplin’s search for the timeless logos while “junking” across America. He told stories of people he’s met along the way, whether it be in an airport or a yard sale and how those interactions strengthen his passions.
Even before hearing this talk, I began paying more attention to older and somewhat forgotten logos, around me in flea markets and consignment shops. And like Draplin, I’ve also keep a record of them with photos taken on my iPhone.
After listening to Aaron talk I always feel inspired and ready to take on whatever project there is, big or small. The thing I like most about him is that he takes projects that aren’t money-motivated and has still managed to become the amazing world-renowned designer he is. Money hasn’t been a defining factor in my design work and I hope to keep it that way. I want to be able to help the little people and the big people of the world, equally. Thanks for the inspiration and guidelines, Aaron.
GIANT Conf is definitely one I want to continue to attend in the future. I met a lot of great people, swapped a few business cards, and heard some really awesome speakers. Can’t wait for next year in Charleston, SC!
P.S. Aaron Draplin shook my hand, told me to just “take” his stickers, and he liked me.
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