AAF-ND Speaker
Matt Dawson
Beyond the Brief
October 20th, 2026
Duration of talk is from 12 PM - 1 PM with Q+A following event.
Doors open at 11:30 AM.
MSUM
Comstock Memorial Union Room 105
*Free parking in lot M-5. View parking map here.
Most creative work starts with a brief. But sometimes you make something just because you can, because you want to, or because you can’t stop thinking about it.
Beyond the Brief is about making those things. The things nobody asked for. The things that reconnect you with why you started creating in the first place. And the things that, every now and then, lead to surprising benefits and unexpected opportunities.
October 20th, 2026
Duration of talk is from 12 PM - 1 PM with Q+A following event.
Doors open at 11:30 AM.
MSUM
Comstock Memorial Union Room 105
*Free parking in lot M-5. View parking map here.
Beyond the Brief
Most creative work starts with a brief. But sometimes you make something just because you can, because you want to, or because you can’t stop thinking about it.
Beyond the Brief is about making those things. The things nobody asked for. The things that reconnect you with why you started creating in the first place. And the things that, every now and then, lead to surprising benefits and unexpected opportunities.
About Matt
Matt Dawson is an Austin-based Creative Director and designer known for bold, polished work across branding, illustration, and typography. He’s collaborated with clients like Jeep, Major League Baseball, Pearl Jam, Phish, Toyota, and Disney, bringing a sharp eye and strong visual voice to every project. Over the past 20 years, he’s worked with global brands, scrappy startups, and yes, maybe even one of your favorite bands. The quality and respect of his work has led to features in books, magazines, and blogs, as well as invitations to speak on stages across the country.
He’s also the founder of Crop, a grassroots creative conference in Austin with a punk rock spirit and a focus on building genuine creative community. The event features keynote talks, hands-on workshops, vendors, live music, parties, creative activations, and more. Since launching in 2016, Crop has brought together over 3,000 creatives from 35 states and 6 countries. It’s become known for its “come as you are” vibe where first-timers and longtime attendees alike immediately feel part of the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! We’ll ask you if you have any dietary restrictions when you reserve your ticket.
Tickets vary in cost depending on if you’re a member, a student, a sponsor, or nonmember. You can view these price adjustments when you check out from Eventbrite. Get your tickets here!
Yes there is – when you check out of Eventbrite you can select the virtual ticket option.
Yes! Park in the M-5 lot at MSUM and you won’t get ticketed. This is only during the time of the event. Get parking directions here.
Yes! We leave the last 15 minutes of each talk for questions. Sometimes the speaker will stay after longer if you want to visit with them after the talk.
Yes! We record each of our events and if you’d like a direct link, please email us at info@aaf-nd.org
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