The Maker City Summit 2019 is officially in the books
WOW! We are still on a high from Sunday’s Summit. The speakers, panelists, experts, and YOU made it a day to remember. Thank you for being a part of the Maker Movement! Knoxville is The Maker City because of YOU!
The Maker City Summit was crammed full of insightful advice, inspiring ideas, and challenging new perspectives.
Being busy isn't really a good thing.
Who you text regularly reflects your inclusivity.
It's important to make the retailers who sell your products passionate about them.
Sometimes our biggest failures can result in our best creative work.
About 300 makers came to the Mill & Mine for a day full of conversation and connections. Thanks to Miranda Mader of Mirtography for capturing and sharing these beautiful photos of our fourth annual summit!
The summit started with bagels and coffee from K Brew and ended with cocktails and beer from Sugarlands Distillery, Elkmont Exchange, and Libacious. In between was lunch from Tako Taco.
Photo by Miranda Mader
Shunta Grant kicked off The Maker City Summit with a keynote talk about unbusying our businesses.
“I want to make you uncomfortable with the word busy,“ she said. “Busy means I have not set clear boundaries and priorities. Busy means I’m too lazy to stop and slow down. Everything I do each day is not tied back to a singular focus. I’m treading water sunup to sundown. I’m working without a framework.
“You must learn to do less with more focus. You have to know what you want. That answer dictates everything.”
Photo by Miranda Mader
“How many people have you texted over the last 30 days who are of a different race, nationality or gender orientation?“ asked Kenneth Herring during a panel discussion about diversity. “Do you reach out to people who are different? We have to be sure we are intentional about who we are communicating with.”
Enkeshi El-Amin, Kukuly Uriate and Jessica Comer also participated in the conversation moderated by Haseeb Qureshi.
Photo by Miranda Mader
Makers gather with an expert to talks about specific challenges and questions at small table discussions.
Photo by Miranda Mader
During the panel discussion about wholesaling, Marcus Hall advised listeners to schedule a tutorial with the employees of the retail outlets selling your goods.
“The guy that knows his stuff and talks about the line like he’s best friends with the designer makes the sale because he seems passionate about it.”
Mary Kate Thurman, Natalea Riley and Allie Biddle also had advice to share.
Photo by Miranda Mader
Makers listen and take notes at The Maker City Summit on September 8. About 300 attended the daylong summit at the Mill & Mine.
Photo by Miranda Mader
Jonathan Clark shares the mic with a maker who has written a haiku. “Sometimes you just have to get over yourself and try,” he said about using creativity. “What do you have to lose?”
Photo by Miranda Mader
The Mayor’s Maker Council spearheads The Maker City initiative.
View the rest of Miranda’s photos on her blog!
Did you attend The Maker City Summit 2019? Be sure to fill out our survey to tell us what you thought!