Some of the best things in design happen when people, ideas, and perspectives come together. This week, I get to help bring that philosophy to life in Kansas City.
I’m incredibly excited to serve as a Co-Chair of the 2026 SEGD Conference Experience, taking place October 22–24 in Kansas City, Missouri.
For those unfamiliar, SEGD (the Society for Experiential Graphic Design) is a global community of designers, strategists, architects, artists, and creative professionals who believe design is about more than how something looks. It’s about how people experience the world around them.
From branded environments and wayfinding to public spaces, storytelling, and interactive experiences, SEGD brings together people who understand that great design creates connections.
And that’s something I’ve believed throughout my career.
Why SEGD Matters to Me
I’ve spent much of my career working at the intersection of design, strategy, people, and place. From leading creative teams and developing brands to working on large-scale experiential projects, I’ve always been interested in what happens beyond the finished design.
How does it make someone feel? Does it create a connection? Does it help people understand, navigate, or experience something differently?
That’s what draws me to SEGD.
It’s also one of the things I love most about the design community: the opportunity to learn from people who approach creative challenges differently, push beyond familiar solutions, and share what they’ve discovered along the way.
Design doesn’t happen in isolation. The best work is often the result of collaboration, curiosity, and a willingness to see things from another perspective.
Meet Me in the Middle
This year’s conference theme, Meet Me in the Middle, feels particularly fitting for Kansas City.
Geographically, we’re in the heart of the country. Creatively, we’re a city built on collaboration, innovation, and a community that knows how to make things happen.
But the theme goes well beyond geography.
Throughout the conference, we’ll explore the spaces between disciplines, ideas, people, and experiences through conversations about the Geographic, Collaborative, Emotional, and Social Middle.
It’s about discovering what happens when different perspectives come together, and how design can help bridge the space between what we create and what people actually experience.
As a conference co-chair, being involved in helping bring this event to life has been an incredible opportunity to collaborate with talented people across Kansas City and the broader SEGD community.
And I’m especially proud that we get to showcase Kansas City as a destination for exceptional design, creativity, and innovation.
More Than a Conference
One of the things I appreciate most about SEGD is the community behind it.
Of course, there are inspiring speakers, compelling projects, and plenty of opportunities to learn. But just as important are the conversations between sessions, the unexpected introductions, and the connections that continue long after everyone heads home.
That’s where ideas grow.
Whether you’re a designer, creative director, strategist, architect, student, or simply someone curious about how design shapes the places around us, there’s something valuable in being part of that conversation.
Follow Along in Kansas City
The 2026 SEGD Conference Experience takes place October 22–24 at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown, with additional pre-conference activities on October 21.
Want to see what’s happening?
- Conference information and schedule: https://segd.org/events/2026-segd-conference-experience-kansas-city/
- SEGD Kansas City Chapter: https://segd.org/chapters/segd-kansas-city-chapter/
- SEGD on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/segd/
- SEGD website: https://segd.org/
Follow the conversation using #SEGD, #SEGDConference, #MeetMeInTheMiddle, and #KansasCity.
More to Come!
Right now, we’re putting the finishing touches on what promises to be a memorable few days.
Once the conference wraps up, I’ll share a follow-up post with highlights, favorite moments, creative takeaways, and a few behind-the-scenes stories from the experience.
For now, I’m looking forward to reconnecting with familiar faces, meeting new creative minds, celebrating the work happening in our industry, and showing everyone a little of what makes Kansas City special.
See you in the middle!
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