Atlanta Design Festival Launches ‘Creative Exchange Events’ and New Home-Building Event Blueprints & BBQ

The Atlanta Design Festival 2025 introduces Creative Exchange Events, a new series of professional development events designed to support architects, designers, and creative businesses. 

Running September 27–30, the program builds on the success of the Creative Futures Conference and now includes two new seminars focused on business strategy and continuing education.

Alongside the professional program, Blueprints & BBQ launches as a standalone event for consumers looking to build or renovate modern homes. Held on Sunday, September 28, this full-day seminar offers homeowners direct access to architects, builders, and product experts.

Together, these events deepen the Festival’s mission: to empower Atlanta’s design community through practical, accessible learning, whether you’re running a studio or designing your future home.

Three days. Three paths. One goal: smarter design.

Creative Futures Conference
Saturday, September 27, 2025

A full-day forum of talks from influential voices in architecture, product, branding, and design strategy. Speakers share firsthand insights to help creative professionals think beyond the studio.

Speakers include:

• Nu Goteh (Winner of 2025 Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for Emerging Designer) on (re)Designing Design: What does it mean to design for dignity?
• Mathilde Van Steenkiste (architect) & Aurélia Martin (designer) on Designing for Disability
• Hyojin Kwon (Korean Architectural Designer) on Civic Architecture through Waste, Infrastructure, and Design
• Gene Kansas (Cultural Developer) on how architecture can provide civic, social, and cultural direction
• Michael Carroll (Professor at Kennesaw State University) on the interconnections of the BeltLine, the Stitch, and the Gulch
• Adriane V. Jefferson (Executive Director to Mayor’s Office) explores how we, as a collective, can activate a shared vision where cultural districts reflect the city’s unique identity
• Ashley McClure (architect) & Angie Terrell (photographer) discuss Stone Mountain, a manufactured monument to white supremacy

Creative Business Workshop
Monday, September 29, 2025

A new half-day seminar for small firms and solo designers. Learn how to grow your practice, build a client base, and manage risk through business planning, operations, and marketing.

Speakers include:

• Carnellia Ajasin (founder of Futuryst) on applying design thinking to your life, aligning personal purpose with professional growth
• Shaheed Rucker (multidisciplinary brand strategist) on how to stand out in a crowded market without relying on buzzwords
• Jon Hutson (co-founder of Brand Culture) on how to create a cohesive, professional presence that reflects your value
• Melissa Wilson (marketing & PR) & Fran Worrall (Georgia Design Magazine) & Annysa LaMantia (Interior Designer) on how to get the right people to notice the work you’re doing
• Daniel Nelson (marketing consultant) on how to build your lead pipeline

Creative Practice CEUs
Tuesday, September 30, 2025

AIA-accredited sessions focused on sustainable materials, inclusive design, and innovative practice. This year’s CEU program is ideal for professionals seeking credit while staying current on design ethics and technical standards.

Also launching this year is a new event for the public:

Blueprints & BBQ
Sunday, September 28, 2025

A one-day seminar for anyone planning to design and build a modern home. Homeowners meet architects, builders, and product experts in an informal setting, gaining practical advice on how to bring their residential vision to life.

Speakers include:

• The Rules & Budget by Debra Johnston, Global Luxury Specialist
• The Site by Nicole Day, Landscape Architect
• The Design by Ashley McClure, Studio Wythe + Alex Wu Architect
• The Construction by BJ Kerr, Regents Custom Homes

These four events now anchor the Atlanta Design Festival’s educational programming. They reflect the Festival’s commitment to serve both the professional and public sides of the design community. From studio growth to homeowner education, Creative Exchange Events helps Atlantans turn ideas into action.