ALT 2011:
We asked. You told us. We listened.
Expect some big changes at Alt Summit this year — combined with the best of what you loved last year. We've added a full day of programming on Thursday. We've planned a rad dinner for Wednesday evening. We built in a full half hour between sessions, for more time to connect with fellow attendees. And watch for a big announcement about our new Hands On Classes — they'll be like summer camp for design bloggers, but in the winter!
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19
6:00 (ish) pm Dinner With...
We've got your dinner plans covered on Wednesday evening. Alt Sponsors and the best restaurants in Salt Lake City will be hosting complimentary dinners for groups of Alt Attendees. You'll get a great meal and a chance to hang out with some of your favorite design bloggers. More info coming.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20
9:00 - 10:00 am
Session A: Growing Your Community
Raise your hand if you're looking for more readers or site users. Yeah. We thought so.
This panel will offer real discussion and helpful tips on growing your readership and
creating a true community for your site — both on and off line.
Panelists: Danielle, Jenny Komenda, Meg Keene, Sarah Bryden Brown
Session B: Creative Collaborations
You have a great idea and you're looking to launch it with a buddy. Partnering with
a fellow creative can be rewarding. Or super frustrating. This panel will tell you what
works and how to make your collaboration great. Even if you live across the globe from
your creative partners.
Panelists: Ben Silbermann, Ez, Laura Mayes, Marisa Haedike
Session C: Faster, Smarter, Better Blogging
Tips and tricks for becoming an awesome blogger. Don't waste your time on unnecessary
blog tasks. Become more efficient, more effective and ease your work load with brilliant
tips from these fabulous panelists.
Panelists: Megan Reardon, Erica Reitman, Susan Brinson
Sponsored by Squarespace.
Design Camp: Calligraphy (same class continued next session)
Put your pen to paper with confidence and style. Whether you want to address your own
wedding invitations or just make your handwriting look less like a 5th grader's scribble,
this class will be a perfect fit for you. Class capped at 20 people. To reserve your spot,
please contact Melissa Esplin at islyblog@gmail.com
Teacher: Melissa Esplin
Sponsored by Provo Craft
10:30 - 11:30 am
Session A: Advertising Beyond the Banner
Display advertising. Been there done that. Sometimes it's effective (for blogger
and for sponsor). Sometimes it's... meh. What else is out there? How are site owners
monetizing their sites and earning an income from blogging? Find real live solutions
in this all-star panel.
Panelists: Erin Loechner, Liz Gumbinner, Maggie Mason
Session B: Taking the Leap Into Full-time Creative Work
Is it time to jump? This panel will help you decide if you should leave your 9 to 5 and
make your career dream happen. Panelists will discuss how and when they took the leap,
and how you can find success with your creative endeavours. This panel will be a dose of
bravery for those in need.
Panelists: Chelsea Fuss, Christine Castro Hughes, Christine Koh, Lisa Warninger
Session C: Getting it Right in Your Camera
This photography panel promises brainy discussions, advice and sweet reminders (remove
that lens cap, please!). Topics to be covered: Lens selection, raw vs. jpeg, sharpening your
focus, white balance, using external light, pushing your ISO, being bold with your flash,
aperture, shallow depth of field, and getting the most from your camera.
Panelists: Ryan Marshall, Rachel Devine
Design Camp: Calligraphy (this class continued from previous session)
Put your pen to paper with confidence and style. Whether you want to address your own
wedding invitations or just make your handwriting look less like a 5th grader's scribble,
this class will be a perfect fit for you. Class capped at 20 people. To reserve your spot,
please contact Melissa Esplin at islyblog@gmail.com
Teacher: Melissa Esplin
12:00 - 1:30
Keynote Lunch: The Intersection of Design and Technology
Speakers:
Mondo Guerra, Project Runway Season 8 Runner-Up
Seth Aaron, Project Runway Season 7 Winner
Stacy Wolff, HP Director of Notebook Design
Sponsored by HP.
2:00 - 3:00 pm
Session A: Social Media Ethics & Etiquette
There's no Emily Post Guide for Social Media, so these expert panelists will answer all
your burning etiquette questions. Is it okay to link to my site in a comment? Is it weird
to send fan mail to my favorite blogger? Can I re-post that photo? All this and more will
be revealed. Get this up-to-date info and avoid a serious blog faux pas.
Panelists: Emily Newman, Grace Bonney, Joy Cho
Session B: Blogging Personal Stories
Beautiful personal prose. Weaving a story from your daily life. Little details that
make the text sparkle. This is what these panelists are all about. Find out how they do it,
how you can do it too, and how to make your website an intimate, close-knit space without
sacrificing your privacy.
Panelists: Karey Mackin, Marta Dansie, Stephanie Nielson
Design Camp: Adobe Photoshop & Adobe Illustrator (same class continued next session)
Have you ever wondered how bloggers create things like What To Wear photo compositions? Here's your chance to find out. Learn when to use Photoshop and when to use Illustrator — two program the pros use for improving photography and creating design. You'll use key methods to manipulate photos so that your content will looks its best, and create and format web graphics such as buttons and ads. Class capped at 25 people. Please bring personal laptop with Adobe Illustrator installed on it (30-day free trials are available for download at Adobe.com). To reserve your spot, please contact Alma Loveland at alma@ollibird.com
Teacher: Alma Loveland
Design Camp: Sewing (same class continued next session) Taught by a domestic goddess, the Sewing Class will consist of 4 different stations. Learn to crochet a granny square, make freezer paper stencil, sew a throw pillow or make a leather i-phone case. Come learn a new skill, perfect an old one or make new friends. Class capped at 30 people. Attendees will each get to make two of the four options. To reserve your spot, please contact Susan Petersen at suezpetersen@gmail.com
Teacher: Susan Petersen
3:30 - 4:30 pm
Session A: Sustainability & Design
Sustainability is THE hot topic of our time. Find examples of companies that are doing it right, what's the next big eco-thing on the horizon and what steps you can take to help your site (and your life) adopt a more earth-friendly and responsible lifestyle.
Panelists: Cambria Bold, Bridgette Meinhold, Emily Goligoski
Sponsored by Just Shorn.
Session B: Taking it Offline - Events and Social Media
Would your business or website benefit from hosting an event? Probably. These panelists create 5-star events with their eyes closed. They'll teach you how to make your event shine, where to seek inspiration and ideas, and how to make your company more successful through on and off-line events.
Panelists: Ashley Meaders, Brittany Egbert, Jordan Ferney, Victoria Hudgins
Design Camp: Adobe Photoshop & Adobe Illustrator (same class continued from previous session)
Have you ever wondered how bloggers create things like What To Wear photo compositions? Here's your chance to find out. Learn when to use Photoshop and when to use Illustrator — two program the pros use for improving photography and creating design. You'll use key methods to manipulate photos so that your content will looks its best, and create and format web graphics such as buttons and ads. Class capped at 25 people. Please bring personal laptop with Adobe Illustrator installed on it (30-day free trials are available for download at Adobe.com). To reserve your spot, please contact Alma Loveland at alma@ollibird.com
Teacher:Alma Loveland
Design Camp: Sewing (same class continued from previous session)
Taught by a domestic goddess, the Sewing Class will consist of 4 different stations. Learn to crochet a granny square, make freezer paper stencil, sew a throw pillow or make a leather i-phone case. Come learn a new skill, perfect an old one or make new friends. Class capped at 30 people. Attendees will each get to make two of the four options. To reserve your spot, please contact Susan Petersen at suezpetersen@gmail.com
Teacher: Susan Petersen
4:30 - 6:00 pm
Meet & Greet
Stop by the Alt Summit Lounge to wind down, network, have a bite to eat and something to drink. It's a chance to whet your appetite for the big party that follows.
Sponsored by Just Shorn.
7:00 pm
Fabulous Party!
Put on something swanky and join the Alt Summit Team at the iconic Lamb's Grill (just down the street from the Grand America) for good eats, drinks and music.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 21
9:00 - 10:00 am
Round Tables: Get your questions answered!
Round table discussions are small group gatherings led by industry experts. Pick the topic you're interested in and have a seat. It will feel like you're receiving a one-on-one consulting session. Topics include:
-Social Media, Make it Work For You. Lead by Caitlin Flemming & Crystal Gentilello.
-Make a Big Impact With a Niche Blog. Lead Pam Kueber.
-Marketing Trends to Benefit Your Blog. Lead by Leslie Van Every & Alexandra Taylor.
-Creative Inc. Be a Successful Freelancer. Lead by Joy Cho & Meg Mateo Ilasco.
-Setting Up Shop & Selling at Handmade Markets. Lead by Caroline Armelle.
-Digital Interior Design. Should you Get In On the Trend? Lead by Deb Averett.
-Why You'll Love Affiliate Relationships. Lead by Allison Bloom.
-Site Design Demystified. Wordpress? Blogger? Help! Lead by Laurie Smithwick.
-Get Practical: Licensing Products and Building Online Sales. Lead by Sarah Jane.
-Your Metrics & Analytics. What Sponsors Want to See. Lead by Rachael Herrscher.
-24/7 Creative: A Community of Artists Empowered by Technology.
Lead by Amber Roussel & David All.
Design Camp: Design Boards (this class continued into next session)
Looking to get inspired? Try an age old strategy and make an Inspiration Board! Design boards, inspiration boards, art boards — they go by many names, and have many different purposes, but there's a definite skill in putting together a really great one. Your talented teachers will take you through the creation of your very own design board and get you psyched for your next big project. Class capped at 25 people. To reserve your spot, please contact Allison Czarnecki allison@petitelefant.com
Teachers: Allison Czarnecki, Kathryn Storke, Tammy Weadock
Sponsored by Wilsonart.
Design Camp: Screenprinting (this class continues next session)
Admit it. You've always wanted to silkscreen your very own hip t-shirts and gorgeous fabrics. Here's your chance. This beginner's class will thoroughly show the crafty design junkie how it's done. From set-up to clean up, you'll come away ready to set up a printing studio in even the tiniest of apartments. Class capped at 20 people. To reserve your spot, please contact Andy Kane at andy@sparkascreen.com
Teacher: Andy Kane
Sponsored by Provo Craft.
10:30 - 11:30 am
Session A: The Art of the Pitch
What's the right way for a company to pitch a blogger? And what should a blogger do with a pitch when it arrives? This session will look at what kinds of pitches are compelling, which are insulting, which ones work, and why. What kinds of pitches have enough benefit to the blogger and/or readers to make them worth responding too? And, seriously, what's right or wrong for a blogger to do and why? Who decides? The FTC? (Hint: no). Are there some things that are OK for some bloggers that would be unethical for others? Is it all about transparency and disclosure? What's the one factor that's most important in every case? (Hint: Maintaining the credibility that is at the heart of the blogger's relationship with the readers).
Panelists: Heather Armstrong, Neil Chase
Session B: Balancing Social Media and Your "Real" Work
Let's be honest, not all of us can earn a full-time salary by spending the day tweeting. Most of us have to keep a real job. How do you balance it all? How much time should you invest in your social media activities — especially when you suspect your business would benefit? Are there any social media activities you should abandon? Come to this panel and find out.
Panelists: Kelly Beall, Kirstin Grove, Jaime Derringer, Suann Song
Design Camp: Design Boards (this class continued from previous session)
Looking to get inspired? Try an age old strategy and make an Inspiration Board! Design boards, inspiration boards, art boards — they go by many names, and have many different purposes, but there's a definite skill in putting together a really great one. Your talented teachers will take you through the creation of your very own design board and get you psyched for your next big project. Class capped at 25 people. To reserve your spot, please contact Allison Czarnecki allison@petitelefant.com
Teachers: Allison Czarnecki Kathryn Storke, Tammy Weadock
Sponsored by Wilsonart.
Design Camp: Screenprinting (this class continued from previous session)
Admit it. You've always wanted to silkscreen your very own hip t-shirts and gorgeous fabrics. Here's your chance. This beginner's class will thoroughly show the crafty design junkie how it's done. From set-up to clean up, you'll come away ready to set up a printing studio in even the tiniest of apartments. Class capped at 20 people. To reserve your spot, please contact Andy Kane at andy@sparkascreen.com
Teacher: Andy Kane
Sponsored by Provo Craft.
12:00 - 1:30
Lunch Keynote: Sound Unbound
Destined to be one of the most talked about panels from Alt 2011. How music, art, and literature have blurred the lines between what an artist can do and what a composer can create.
Speaker: DJ Spooky/Paul Miller
2:00 - 3:00 pm
Session A: Big Creative Companies & Social Media
There are certain big, creative companies that get it. Companies like Martha Stewart, Kate Spade, Anthropologie and Dwell Studio. They know how to use social media to connect with customers and fans. They know how to be transparent. At this panel, hear from Brenda Dargan of Martha Stewart and Molly Peterson of Dwell Studio and find out how the big kids do it.
Panelists: Brenda Dargan, Molly Peterson, Summer Allen
Session B: The Best in Up & Coming Blogs
One of our most popular sessions at last year's Alt Summit, so naturally, we've brought it back again with a fresh new group of panelists. Get ready to fill your feed reader with the best blogs you've never heard of. These ladies share their picks for the newest, coolest, and can't-believe-you-haven't-heard-of-est.
Panelists: Amy Turn Sharp, Danni Hong, Joslyn Taylor, Liz Stanley, Melanie Blodgett
Session C: Magazines: What's Happening Now - Online and Off?
Magazines. Word is they're a dying breed. But design bloggers know better. There's a bit of a shelter mag renaissance going on and we couldn't be happier about it. Hear from creators of some of the coolest magazines (both digital and hard copy) out there.
Panelists: Meg Mateo Ilasco, Crystal Gentilello, Jess Chamberlain
Design Camp: Tabletop Photography
Since Tabletop Photography was the most requested Design Camp topic, there will be two concurrent sessions offered. Yay! Learn favorite pro tips and tricks on getting great product shots. Won't it be nice to have photos that aren't blurry and crooked? Better photography will give your blog a major upgrade. Classes capped at 20 people per teacher. Please bring personal DSLR camera with lens. To reserve your spot, please contact Nicole Hill at nicolechill@gmail.com, or please contact Wendy and Tyler at bluelilyphoto@gmail.com
Teacher: Nicole Hill
Teacher: Tyler and Wendy Whitacre
3:30 - 5:00 pm
Closing Keynote
Speaker: Tina Eisenberg
Find out how her blog came a vibrant part of her business model and design studio. And she will share some tips and tricks on what she believes made her blog so successful.
7:00 pm
Suite Events
Haven't made Friday night plans? We've got you covered. Select sponsors will be hosting gatherings in luxe suites right in the hotel. You'll find food, drink and fun to fill your evening. More info coming.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 22
Sticking around on Saturday? You won't regret it. There are four exciting options available for Alt Attendees. Or, you're welcome to kick back and enjoy your gorgeous hotel room. Take a look:
1- Sundance Excursion with Honda, the official ALT Summit transportation sponsor, is bringing a fleet of their sleekly designed 4WD Accord Crosstours to transport you to and from Park City -- the heart of Sundance happenings. Walk the charming Main Street of Park City's historic town center, scope out the movie stars or visit the "Honda Power of Dreams Experience” on Main Street (near the Egyptian Theater). While at the "Honda Power of Dreams Experience,” check out a model of the HondaJet®, ride the Honda motorcycle training simulator, and catch a show with ASIMO™, the world’s most advanced humanoid robot. If movies are what you crave, see the latest short film in the Honda DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE documentary series, “The Undying Dream.” Open 10—5 daily through Jan. 26, with ASIMO™ shows hourly.
Limited spots available, sign up at the registration table.
2- City Photo Tour
Lead by world famous photographer — and Utah local — Justin Hackworth. He'll help you find the best photo opps in town. Gorgeous buildings. Great angles. You'll shoot the perfect images to show off on your Flickr stream when you brag about getting to attend Alt. Meet in the Grand America lobby at 10:00 am (Justin will be the one with the camera — wink) and wear comfortable walking shoes.
3- Ski Day at Solitude Ski Resort
Spend the day at gorgeous Solitude Ski Resort in the Big Cottonwood Canyon mountains. Just a short, 20 minute drive from the Grand America. Complimentary ski passes will be in your gift bag. But even if you're not a skier, Solitude is a fantastic place to spend a winter day. Ice skating, shopping, hot cocoa — you'll love the Swiss-inspired village. Rides to the resort are available (limited number of transportation spots, reserve yours at the Alt Summit registration check-in table). Meet in the hotel lobby at 8:00 am.
4- Thrift Store Tour
Stylish Liz Stanley will take you to her favorite thrifting spots in Salt Lake City. Vintage, consignment and straight-up second hand shops. Liz knows all the don't miss spots. Plan on joining the fun? Let Liz know so she can plan the perfect outing (lizstan@gmail.com).
* Schedule subject to change