We’ve had some truly mind-blowing keynotes at HOW Design Live, from legendary industry icons to the most cutting-edge creatives shaping the field today.
One question we tend to get asked every year: How do speakers wind up on the main stage—and who decides what they’re going to talk about?
For years, artist, author and educator Debbie Millman has been our keynote guru. She may pick the majority of who speaks—but she’s quick to note she doesn’t tell them what to speak about.
“I don’t want it to be prescriptive. The reason we’re bringing on these people is because of the way that they think—and their utterly unique, breathtaking body of work,” Millman says. “And so if we were to say, ‘OK, you need to talk about this topic,’ then they’re just filling a hole, as opposed to creating a new pathway for us.”
As a testament to her process, each keynote speaker tends to hit the stage with passion, with a sense of urgency—and the results are utterly inspiring talks that leave us with a firm understanding of what landed these folks at the forefront of the field in the first place.
Here’s the scoop on all the keynote speakers you’re about to experience at HOW Design Live 2024—set for Sept. 23–25 in Denver—in the order in which they’ll appear, along with some insights from Millman!
Speaker: Andrea Sullivan, president, vYve by Vayner
Keynote: “HOW to Unleash Your Inner Badass”
Millman has known Sullivan for years, dating back to Sullivan’s long tenure at Interbrand. After departing the company as global CMO, Sullivan joined VaynerX, and now sits at the top of vYve by Vayner.
“She’s amazing, and she’s one of the most interesting, charismatic thinkers and makers that I know,” Millman says.
Speakers: Fe Amarante and Brandi Parker, co-founders, Zero Waste Creatives
Keynote: “Zero Waste Creatives: Protect Your Own Little Earth”
Amarante spent years on global design at Hershey before taking on leadership roles at Danone and Coca-Cola and launching her own consultancy, Experimenta. Parker, meanwhile, spent nearly a decade at Pearlfisher before launching Parker Brands LLC. Together, the brilliant pair is now bringing their venture Zero Waste Creatives—an innovative and inspiring new way to look at the creative industry—to the HOW stage.
“These two women are both forces of nature,” Millman says.
Speaker: Pum Lefebure, Design Army co-founder and chief creative officer
Keynote: “Explore Your Profound Power to Unite, Communicate and Inspire Action”
Design Army has been going strong (and winning awards year after year after year) for more than two decades, and Lefebure’s visionary approach has been a critical driver since Day 1.
“Pum is a true visionary,” Millman says. “She is constantly pushing design to new heights with extraordinary boundary-breaking work. She is also the most stylish woman in design.”
Speaker: Ronsley Vaz, computer scientist, entrepreneur, author
Keynote: “9 Insane AI Use Cases Every Business Leader Needs to Learn Right Now”
AI is the talk of the town. So we’re going to talk about it. Vaz, a TED speaker and the founder of Amplify AI, is coming to HOW to help us make sense of the present moment in tech and design—including its urgency.
“Polymath Ronsley Vaz will give everyone who wants to know more about AI (and, who doesn’t?) everything they want to know,” Millman says.
Speaker: Diego Guevara, senior global design director, Nike
Keynote: “Design for Community”
Millman met Guevara when they were both “baby designers” beginning to make their mark—and she has thrilled in his rise in the industry as the years have gone by, and is thrilled to bring him to HOW Design Live to discuss his inspirational journey.
“It’s incredible,” she says. “It’s just so incredible to have gotten the opportunity to watch him evolve and become the design leader that he is.”
Speaker: Rodrigo Corral, creative director, Rodrigo Corral Studio/Farrar Straus & Giroux
Keynote: “Even Fuel From Fear is Fuel”
If you’ve ever spent time in a store marveling over a book cover … there’s a good chance Rodrigo Corral designed it.
What can we expect from him on stage?
“Design excellence at the highest level, with a true sense of humility,” Millman says. “He’s the real deal, and he walks the walk. … He’s just a true artist, and along with Chip Kidd, one of the top five book designers in the world.”
Speaker: Debbie Millman
Keynote: “Design Matters: Live”
Millman hasn’t announced her surprise guest yet—but what she can promise attendees is the one-of-a-kind experience of seeing a taping of her podcast Design Matters live.
Moreover, “You get to see how it really goes down,” she says with a laugh, noting that she, like everyone, makes mistakes here and there—and the session collectively offers a behind-the-scenes peek at how a podcast is truly created.
Speaker: Aaron Draplin, Draplin Design Co
Keynote: Slowing Down, Downshifting and Exit Ramps From One Hell of a Run in Graphic Design
What does Draplin think about how to mellow this stuff out some, and the funny/weird/enlightening things he’s learning in his 50th year?
We won’t know until he closes HOW Design Live 2024. And when he does, he’s sure to do it in typically inspiring and bombastic Draplin fashion.
“He’s somebody that I think both gives people a kick in the pants, but also a way to challenge them to find their own voice,” Millman says. “He’s so outspoken and so honest, and so generous with what he talks about. He’ll bring the house down.”