Nearly Impossible | Conference
a r t d i r e c t i o n + d e s i g n — e v e n t p r o d u c t i o n
“Don’t undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible.”
Edwin Land, co-founder of Polaroid
Dreamed up over tacos with a friend + former studiomate, the Nearly Impossible conference
is a multi-component event is aimed at fostering education + authentic conversations
within the product-making community. After a huge response in 2013, our little pie-in-the-sky side project went bi-coastal bringing Nearly Impossible from Brooklyn to the Bay Area.
Our brand collateral references another nearly impossible feat—going to the moon.
We chose to work with illustrator Justin Pervorse to translate the triumph
of staking a flag in the ground, representative of conquering the nearly impossible.
We chose to weave this through in the experiential elements with a slight
industrial and space slant as well.
Undoubtedly, California is home to some of the most exceptional product makers in US
including our SF host, Heath Ceramics. For the West Coast one-day event,
we took over the factory floor and brought together over 250 makers with speakers from
leading companies such as Schoolhouse Electric Co., BAGGU, Heath Ceramics,
Google Ventures, Ban.do, and Poketo. As a nod to our host’s heritage + the movers, shakers,
and makers of the California Modernism movement, we infused the look and feel
with mid-century design elements—from the factory’s Stan Bitters sculptures and House
Industries’ Eames type to the space-age props alongside Danish lounge furnishings.
recipient of
HOW International Design Award
m i s c e l l a n e o u s
s p e a k e r s i n c l u d e d Seth Godin [author + entrepreneur], Vanessa Holden [EVP Creative, West Elm],
Jeff Raider [Co-founder, Harry’s + Warby Parker], Anna + Nathan Bond [CCO + Co-founders,
Rifle Paper Co.], Kyle Andrew [SVP Brand Director, Kate Spade], Brian Faherty [Owner/Creative Director,
Schoolhouse Electric Co.], Robin Petravic [Owner/Managing Director, Heath Ceramics],
Rick Klau [Product Partner, Google Ventures], Patrick Buckley [Co-founder, DODOcase], Eric Trine [Eric Trine
Design], Chelsea Shukov [Sugar Paper], Red Gaskell [Head of Social, Everlane], and more
View the full Nearly Impossible conference site
B r a n d s i n c l u d e d Areaware, Warby Parker, Harry’s, Kate Spade, Schoolhouse Electric Co.,
BAGGU, Everlane, Ban.do, Rifle Paper Co., 20x200, Swell, POKETO, Sugar Paper,
STORY, Chronicle Books, Land of Nod, Tattly, MoMA Design Store, Photojojo!, NASA,
Shopify, Heath Ceramics, Tesla, and more
S p o n s o r s i n c l u d e d MailChimp, Squarespace, MOO, Blue Bottle, Shopify, Amplifier,
Shipwire, Jeni’s, Mama’s Sauce, Chronicle Books, DWR, Emeco, and BAGGU
C O - C R E A T O R + W E B D E V E L O P M E N T Rusty A. Meadows
C O N T R I B U T I O N S art direction, graphic design, experiential design, and prop styling
P H O T O G R A P H Y Laure Joliet, Julia Robbs, Tim Gibson, and Heath Ceramics
L O G O M A R K D E S I G N Justin Pervorse — B R I D G E I L L U S T R A T I O N S Alonzo FelixP R O D U C T I O N A S S I S T A N T S Megan Soh, Jenna C. Gibson, Tim Gibson,
and countless amazing volunteers
