2024 has been a remarkable year, filled with major milestones and new creative ventures! From launching books to opening the University of Arts and Design, these 2024 creative business highlights showcase an incredible year of growth, community, and creativity.
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Make Art That Sells Book
Let’s start at the beginning of the year with a major highlight. In January, I released my second book, Make Art That Sells! This book has been a joy to teach in my masterclass, and it’s been exciting to see how many of you found inspiration and practical strategies within its pages. Additionally, we launched the audio versions of both Make Art That Sells and Design Profit and Prosper—two great tools to accompany you on your creative journey! You can explore more about Make Art That Sells at www.makeartbook.com.
Launch of the University of Arts & Design
But the biggest news? The official launch of the University of Arts and Design in the spring! Our first cohort started in the fall, with programs now available for Design Certification, a Master of Arts, and a Master of Fine Arts. By the end of 2024, we secured licenses or exemptions in 23 states, building a unique educational mission centered on art and design. To learn more, visit uad.education.
Four Design Summits Packed with Inspiration
Next, our team hosted four incredible Design Summits. These included the Illustration and Art Conference in February, the Design and Craft Event in April, the Design Suite Maker Conference in August, and the Design Craft and Business Summit in November. With over 97 live and prerecorded presentations, each summit provided fresh insights and inspiration to our design community. Interested in attending future events? You can find more details at designsuitecourses.com/2024creativitypass.
One of my personal highlights was hosting the Design Suite Maker Conference. This summit was presented entirely by our Design Suite members, giving them the opportunity to teach, film presentations, and share marketing strategies with a broad audience. Watching our designers grow through this experience was truly rewarding!
Expanding Education with the Design Your Life Podcast
In 2024, we expanded access to the Design Your Life Podcast, making it available to the public. Originally, only Design Suite members and students at the University of Arts & Design could listen, but now even more creatives can join in. This premium podcast offers valuable insights on design education, covering topics from business strategies to creative inspiration. Ready to explore? You can start listening at https://www.designsuitecourses.com/offers/LzDHi9sW/checkout
Connecting Through Creative Events and Visibility
Another big focus this year was visibility! With 2024 as my busiest year yet, I spoke on over 50 podcasts and at 10 online summits and in-person events. This whirlwind of speaking engagements allowed me to connect with more of you and share insights on everything from design to entrepreneurship. A huge thank you to everyone who joined these sessions and helped make them special! See my 2024 speaking recap at designsuitecourses.com/2024creativespeakerbundle.
Traveling with the Design Around the World Series in 2024
Traveling was another adventure in 2024, with my Design Around the World Series on YouTube taking us to places like Amsterdam, San Antonio, Japan, California, and Hawaii. From visiting Silhouette headquarters in Japan to attending the Silhouette Summit in Hawaii, each stop provided fresh insights and inspiration for creative projects. You can catch these travels and more design adventures on my YouTube channel.
Reflecting on an 2024 Creative Business Year
Reflecting on these 2024 creative business highlights, it’s clear this has been a year of incredible growth and opportunity. Thanks to everyone who attended events, subscribed to the podcast, or followed along on YouTube.
What creative adventures did you have in 2024? I’d love to hear from you—share your highlights in the comments below! And be sure to subscribe, because we have some amazing things planned for 2025!
Overview 2024 Highlight Links!
- Make Art That Sells Book Released: www.makeartbook.com
- University of Arts & Design Opened: www.uad.education
- 4 New Summits: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/2024creativitypass
- Design Suite ran the Design Suite Maker Conference: www.designsuitecourses.com/designsuite
- The Design Your Life Podcast opened up for subscription to everyone: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/offers/LzDHi9sW/checkout
- I spoke at 10 events this year: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/2024creativespeakerbundle
- I started the Design Around the World Series on youtube: www.youtube.com/carinagardner
