“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 organiser of the Hatch Conference, focusing on the value of conferences, the importance of networking, and the challenges of organising 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 organising the conference and the plans for Hatch, emphasising 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 the audience can enhance the conference experience.
• Interactive sessions can help mitigate significant group syndrome.
• Market-driven content is essential for relevance.
• The Hatch Conference focuses on European design challenges.
• Plans include expanding community engagement through mixers.
Chapters:
00:48 - Introduction to the 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 the Hatch Conference During COVID
26:41 - Lessons Learned from Organising 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
