In the past, the creative world operated like a secret club. You had to live in the “right” city and know the “right” people to build a great creative career. Thankfully, those days are fading from memory.
The world is flattening and the creative world is inching ever closer toward meritocracy. Creatives are flourishing because of talent, and success can come regardless of geography or who you know.
It is in that spirit that we launched 99U Local, our first-ever series of community-hosted events. During the week of September 14th, 28 creative communities from all over the globe gathered to showcase local serial idea executors that dished out road-tested insights on making ideas happen.
It would be impossible to recap 28 events in over a dozen time zones. However, below are just a few highlights from our outstanding organizers—each of whom contributed time, materials, and their own local flavor to the ethos of making ideas happen.
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Stella Karl Cosic’s talk at 99U Local Belgrade
A packed house for Belgrade
Honolulu was sure to introduce some local flavor
99U Local: Hong Kong
Cheers to 99U Local: Malmo
Artist Sander Heremans (@SANDERHINO) tags 99U Local: Ghent.
São Paolo ambassador Mariana Camardelli shows off some materials just before the big event.
99U Local: Washington DC
99U Local: Lagos
Jason Fox at 99U Local: Melbourne
99U Local: Dallas
The beautiful scenery at 99U Local: Albuquerque
Dresden’s organizers with a few of their closest friends.
Selected Social Media Highlights
Great turnout for @masaotapia, Denby Freeland-Cole and Jamie Makasobe! #99uLocal #99uHNL @aigahonolulu @Interisland pic.twitter.com/Pe7cbywjFd
— Aaron Landry (@s4xton) September 18, 2015
Getting inspired at the @99u #99ulocal #dallas event w/ @LaurenLizSmart @DeepVellum pic.twitter.com/OkA0Gtw038
— Ashley Hiatt (@lashleyhiatt) September 16, 2015
What's your word for your last year? Mine has been "Learning" #99umelb #99uLocal but I like @drjasonfox "pirate!" pic.twitter.com/NaBwOK22Zg
— Helen Blunden (@ActivateLearn) September 14, 2015
"Stay humble, and hustle" – @JenHohn of @VladJones at #99ULocal #Denver @99u pic.twitter.com/7lhKeRoNS4
— Chip Kalback (@ChipKalback) September 17, 2015
"Forget this romantic Picasso-like idea if the heavily drinking artist!" #99ulocal #rinusvandevelde pic.twitter.com/LAlxU8reZ9
— Jean Van Damme (@jeanvdamme) September 17, 2015
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who made #99ulocalmnl a smashing success! Let's continue to #makeideashappen! #99ulocal pic.twitter.com/uZAGpZOUsr
— Muni.com.ph (@Muni_PH) September 16, 2015
Shoutout to Randy Boyagoda, @heatherpayne & @stevecarty for the inspiring, creative talks. You killed it! #99uLocal pic.twitter.com/LlGZCBxL6D
— Bailey Parnell (@BaileyParnell) September 16, 2015
Just under 10 minutes til we start @99uBatonRouge #99u #99ulocal #batonrouge pic.twitter.com/CDIviYQWqS
— LAUNCH MEDIA (@LAUNCHMEDIAtv) September 15, 2015
For more, check the #99Ulocal hashtags on Twitter and Instagram.
2015 99U Local Ambassadors
99U Local would not be possible without 28 dedicated volunteer ambassadors who worked tirelessly to organize a flawless event. They are:
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Roxanne Blair
Program Director, Creative Startups
Atlanta, Georgia
J. Cornelius
Founder & President Nine Labs
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Kenny Nguyen
CEO/Founder
Big Fish Presentations
Beirut, Lebanon
Mary Rizk
Freelance Graphic Designer, mmrizk
Belgrade, Serbia
Nenad Ivanović
Creative Director, AsterCloud
Bogotá, Colombia
Cristina Cordova
Innovation Networks BU Director, Katharsis
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
James Boettcher
Chief Idea Officer, Fiasco Gelato
Chicago, Illinois
Adam Jun
Principal, Jun Creative
Cincinnati, Ohio
Troy Bronsink
Retreat Curator, Author, Life As Art
Dallas, Texas
Frances Yllana
Senior Art Director / President, Imaginuity / AIGA DFW
Denver, Colorado
Jennifer Hohn
Creative Director, Vladimir Jones
Edinburgh, Scotland
David Mahoney
Illustrator, Headless Horse
Dresden, Germany
Andreas Schanzenbach
CIO & Founder, CROMATICS
Ghent, Belgium
Jean VanDamme
Innovation Manager, Colruyt Group
Hong Kong, China
Emma Reynolds
CEO, E3 Reloaded
Honolulu, Hawaii
Ben Trevino
President & COO, Bikeshare Hawaii
Lagos, Nigeria
Gbemi Adekanmbi
Co-Founder, Kwirkly
Los Angeles, California
Mathieu Young
Photographer + Director, And & And
Malmö, Sweden
Netta Lönnqvist
Campaign & Email Marketing Specialist, Bonnier Entertainment
Manila, Philippines
Jen Horn
Chief Collaborator, MUNI Cultural Creatives Inc.
Melbourne, Australia
Jason Fox
Director, Dr Jason Fox Pty Ltd
Nashville, Tennessee
Matt Dudley
Owner, The Skillery
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Melissa Morris Ivone
Design Overlord, Curalate
São Paulo, Brazil
Mariana Camardelli
CEO & Creative Director, Altos Eventos
Toronto, Canada
Hamza Khan
Co-Founder, Splash Effect
Victoria, B.C., Canada
Emrys Miller
Director, Rocketday Arts
Warsaw, Poland
Noemi Gryczko
Education & Innovation Information Society Development Foundation
Washington, D.C.
Erica Schlaikjer
Creative Strategist, Huge
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Don’t see your city? Let us know @99U so we know to stop by next time. Want to apply as an Ambassador for 2016? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to know when we reopen applications.