Top 20 Things I laerned at ICON7
In the afterglow of attending ICON7, The Illustration Conference in Providence, RI last week, I thought I’d post a few observations on what I learned, and hopefully add to the conversation floating around the internets as illustrators, designers, art directors and educators disperse across the world, back to their drawing boards and computers.
1. Make your own content.
2. People really hated the ‘Make it Move’ doctrine from ICON6
3. People really liked the ‘Make Your Own Content’ doctrine at ICON7
4. People will be ambivalent about the ‘Make Your Own Content Move’ doctrine at ICON8
5. To MFA or not to MFA. That is the question. Caveat Emptor.
6. Most illustrators don’t want to have to sit and listen to Latin.
7. As far as I am concerned, the work of Paul Sahre and Brian Rea on Malcolm Gladwell Collected is a game changer in illustration, design and collaboration. A true modern classic.
8. It’s great to have a beer and a chat about just anything with Steve Simpson.
9. Meeting people you only know thru social media will result in one of two scenarios; friends for life, or awkward silences. Lots and lots of awkward silences.
10. Julia Rothman is my new imaginary friend.
11. Lynda Barry’s workshop proved that I can write more than 140 characters at a time.
12. Lynda Barry and Matt Groening are real people. Really awesome real people.
13. Jessica Hische is the real deal.
14. The sign language interpreter was rushed to the hospital with broken hands after John Cuneo’s rapid fire dirty picture show.
15. This American Train Wreck. Starlee Kine is living proof that radio personalities need editors. Really good, ruthless, STFU type editors.
16. My unofficial running tally on name checks for SooJin Buzelli & Chris Buzelli at ICON7? 4,573
17. My unscientific survey: 86% of all ICON7 attendees are from Brooklyn. 18% are from Richard Scarry’s Busytown. 0.11% are from math.
18. Illustrators are smart, creative, passionate, and hard working people. Art directors, designers, editors and publishers should remember that. Collaboration is a two-way street, engage them, pick their brains, talk to them as professionals not just a pair of hands.
19. Two quotes from Robert Levine stood out for me during his copyright lecture; “Contracts written by high priced lawyers are probably not in your best interest” and “If you’re depending on people to be nice, you’re probably going to be poor.
20. My favorite moment was the two guys at the Rhode Show, who were playing it so cool, so “we don’t even know who you are, nice man with a normal sized wallet” as Matt Groening checked out their table…and then were all like “holy shit do you believe what just happened OMGOMGOMG!” as Matt Groening walked away from their table having bought a few items. Moments like that make me glad I am an illustrator.
Until next time.