Meer Our Keynote Speaker: Katie Sokoler

The keynote addresses are always a highlight of Alt and today we're thrilled to announce this year's three speakers who will be sure to inspire. Our final keynote will be given by street artist and fun maker, Katie Sokoler (@KatieSokoler) of Color Me Katie. 

Katie is well known for her interactive, colorful and smile inducing street art. She also works as a freelance photographer and actress. In 2008 she started sharing her happy projects on her blog, Color Me Katie, and although she thought only her dad would read it, it quickly took off and launched her career. Regardless whether through photography, art installations or film, whatever Katie creates and shares is a bright spot to readers everywhere.

We know whatever Katie shares will put a pep in your step. 

Meet Our Keynote Speaker: Stefan Sagmeister

The keynote addresses are always a highlight of Alt and today we're thrilled to announce this year's three speakers who will be sure to inspire. The second speaker we'll be honored to hear from is reknowned graphic designer and typographer, Stefan Sagmeister (@sagmeisterwalsh). In his address he'll explore the possibilities to achieve happiness as a designer, share his tactics to make sure his work remains a calling without deteriorating into a job, and showcase some of his design pieces that induce happiness in the audience. 

Stefan Sagmeister was born in Austria and lives and works in New York at his design firm, Sagmeister & Walsh Inc. He has worked for the Rolling Stones, The Talking Heads, Lou Reed, The Guggenheim Museum and Levis. Exhibitions on Sagmeister's work have been mounted in New York, Philadelphia, Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Paris, Lausanne, Zurich, Vienna, Prague, Cologne and Berlin. He is a two-time Grammy Award winner for his album package designs and author of the book, Things I have learned in my life so far. 

Stefan's presentation absolutely can't be missed! 

Meet Our Keynote Speaker: Chris Anderson

The keynote addresses are always a highlight of Alt and today we're thrilled to announce this year's three speakers who will be sure to inspire. First up, on Thursday right after lunch, Chris Anderson (@chr1sa) will be speaking to all the makers and entrepreneurs (that's you!). 

Chris is the CEO of 3D Robotics and founder of DIY Drones. From 2001 through 2012 he was the Editor in Chief of Wired Magazine. Before Wired he was with The Economist for seven years in London, Hong Kong and New York in various positions, ranging from Technology Editor to US Business Editor. 

He's the author of the New York Times bestselling books The Long Tail and Free as well as the new Makers: The New Industrial Revolution.  In 2007 he was named to "Time 100," the newsmagazine's list of the 100 most influential men and women in the world.

He currently resides in Berkeley, California with his wife and five children.

We're thrilled Chris will be joining us for Alt 2013 and can't wait to hear his remarks! 

Airheads Craft Your Valentine Contest

By Melanie Blodgett. Photography by Brit Morin. 

You may still have your Christmas decorations up but Valentine's Day isn't too far off. If you like to make your own love-y creations, this is the contest for you. Airheads is inviting you to craft your Valentine using their product for a chance to win a grand prize of $750, a supply of Airheads candy and two tickets to Alt NYC! Here's what you need to do to enter:    

1. Create a Valentine craft that includes one of the following: the Airheads logo, the Airheads red balloon, or an Airheads or Airheads Xtremes candy product.   

2. Post a tutorial on how to recreate the craft on your blog.   

3. Fill out the Contest Application found on the Airheads Facebook page sharing the details of your post.     

Three winners will be chosen by a panel of judges and notified after February 11th.

For the full set of rules and prize details, click here. To enter the contest, click here.  

Alt Summit: 5 Opportunities to Introduce Yourself

By Alt Channel teacher Kelly Beall. Photography by Brooke Dennis. 

When it comes to introducing myself, I wasn't always the best. If you were to put me in a beautiful hotel in the middle of Salt Lake City, and surrounded me with 650 incredible people, I was like a deer caught in headlights. Making an introduction is something I've had to put some time and effort into over the past few years. Alt has been a great testing ground for determining what I am comfortable doing, and what makes me even more awkward. Here are five tried and true ways to make a connection:

1) Make a Compliment

Alt is like a fashion show; there's always something new to like. That girl's sparkly heels. The huge statement necklace that could pass as a piece of art. The topknot that's the best you've ever seen. There are so many opportunities to make a compliment!

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