Kicking off Maine Design Fest on First Friday!

An evening of short, inspiring micro-talks about creativity, design, and the real ways they shape careers, products, and teams.

Works in Progress is a creative-high-energy speaker series featuring 6–8 lightning talks from designers, makers, and creative leaders. Each speaker has just 10-15 minutes to dive into a big idea: a personal story, a wild project, a creative breakthrough, or a design lesson that affected their trajectory.

Whether it’s a quick work share, a topic deep-dive, or a behind-the-scenes look at someone’s path — every talk is meant to spark inspiration, start conversations, and remind us that we’re all works in progress.

What to Expect:

• 6–8 dynamic speakers from across the creative and tech worlds
• Quick, engaging 10-minute presentations
• Topics that range from personal journeys to project breakdowns
• Food, drinks, and mingling before and after the talks
• A great crowd of designers, technologists, students, and curious minds

Confirmed Speakers:

• Allison Keiley - Creative Consultant - former Partner @ Rare Volume
• Nick Dupey - Creative Consultant - former Managing Director @ Ideo
• Ellen Foord - Chief Creative Officer - City of Boston, office of Mayor Michelle Wu
• J.R. Schmidt - Motion Designer - Google Creative Lab

Part of AIGA Maine Design Fest 2025, a weeklong celebration of creativity and connection across Maine. Hosted by The Foundry in partnership with The Maine Center. Sponsored by Black Math.