Memorabilia from Adobe Create Now

SF Design Week was full of creatives, connection, and unexpected wins. Over six action-packed days, volunteering, sharing daily takeaways on Linkedin helped gain valuable design insights and new connections, a special shoutout, and an award from Design Bay Area. Hannah Scherer shares her unforgettable experience at SF Design Week.  

If SF Design Week handed out a sticker that said “I Survived,” I’d wear it with honor. As a recent graphic design graduate from Southern California and a first-time attendee, I had no idea what to expect. My goal was simple: to connect with designers in the Bay Area. I didn’t have many local connections yet, and this felt like the perfect chance to get plugged into the creative community up here. I volunteered, networked, learned from industry leaders, and even got turned away from an event, only to end up building more community right outside the gates. Exhausting? Yes. Inspiring? Absolutely! 

SF Design Week Stickers, Swag, and Goodie Bay.

I launched my experience at Dovetail with an energizing talk from Kathy Wang on breaking into product design. She dropped gems like the power of a cold email, rejection means you’re on the radar and ask ChatGPT to roast your bullet points like a recruiter would. But the tip that made the biggest impact on me was this: always share your design takeaways on LinkedIn. Kathy emphasized pairing your photos with a thoughtful write-up and clearly listing your takeaways so others can learn from your journey. 

That advice clicked instantly! I committed to posting every day I attended SF Design Week, and it paid off. People resonated with my takeaways, and it brought so much traction and connection to my LinkedIn. Even better, Design Bay Area gave me a special shoutout for sharing my SFDW experience. I won the Judges’ Choice Award for contributing photos through their app, and I even received a beautiful Jessica Hische risograph print called “This Is the Place.”  

With a goal for networking, I decided volunteering = Front Row Seat to the Design Community. It paid off. 

Rivian’s Design Event in San Francisco.

From handing out drink vouchers at Rivian’s beautiful SF event space to helping set up chairs and beverage tables at Four One Nine, I met like-minded creatives from across the Bay. Talking with so many creatives brought new appreciation for design. It’s not just about the work. It’s about being curious, learning, and feeling inspired by the energy everyone brings. 

Not everything went smoothly. I had registered for TikTok’s “Designing AI Ads” event but was bumped to virtual attendance at the last minute due to overbooking. An hour later, and the drive to San Jose, I was met with a group of people hoping for a spot. A small group of us (all turned away) ended up forming our own sidewalk networking circle while streaming the event on our phones. It wasn’t what we planned, but it reminded me how adaptable and generous this community is, even in disappointment. 

Next stop? Intuit: a masterclass in brand design. 

View from Intuit’s Office in San Francisco.

The inside scoop from Intuit’s Brand Design Studio was another highlight. From a logo sprint that grew into the Intuit Dome’s massive visual identity to the playful, AI-driven work on their Finlit program, the panel’s stories showed how strategy, risk, and creativity intersect. One anecdote stuck with me: they studied flight paths over LA to rotate the dome logo just right for passengers flying into LAX. That level of precision gets overshadowed but not unnoticed. 

Attending Intuit’s Brand Design event.

The perfect finale waited for me at Adobe Create Now. To wrap up the week, I joined my college design school bestie at Adobe’s SF office for Create Now. From pen-building stations to live demos of new tools, the talks were insightful, and the vibes wereawesome. Well, the whole week was awesome. 

The event at Adobe SF

What I learned during my first SF Design Week: show up even if you’re not on the list. Who knows, some luck, and a spot might just open up. Stay curious, ask questions, and never underestimate the power of an unplanned conversation. Volunteering was a gateway to deeper involvement, and every session reminded me that design is as much about people as it is about pixels. 

Shout-out to everyone I met, whether new friends, old connections, inspiring speakers, or fellow volunteers. You made my first SF Design Week unforgettable. I can’t wait for next year! 

 

All photos: Hannah Scherer