Goodtype
A 3-day virtual summit bringing the global type community together
Presents
About The Kernference
Goodtype has been serving up inspiration and connecting type designers, letterers, and calligraphers for almost 10 years. Now it’s time to bring our global community even closer together with an epic 3-day virtual event that celebrates our mutual love of letters.
The Kernference is an online conference featuring talks, workshops, and panels from the industry’s top players as well as rising talent. Whether you’re excited to get super nerdy about type and hone your skills or you’re looking to grow your career or art business…we’ve got you covered.
Be the first to know for 2025:
Watch the Kernference Recap: 2023
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The Kernference Lineup for 2024
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Lauren Hom
Lauren Hom is a designer, letterer, and educator. A self-proclaimed "artist with a business brain", she picked up hand lettering as a hobby while studying advertising in college. That hobby grew into a passion and, over the next few years, she leveraged a few clever passion projects into a thriving design business thanks to the power of the internet.
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DKNG: Dan Kuhlken and Nathan Goldman
DKNG is the design and illustration team of Dan Kuhlken and Nathan Goldman. With a focus on work for the music industry, Dan and Nathan will be sharing their approach to poster design.
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Huyen Dinh
Huyen is a Viet lettering artist, illustrator and author of "How to be a rule-breaking letterer". She'll be sharing her experience on how to land paid partnerships.
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Steffi Lynn
Steffi Lynn Tsai was born in Austin, Texas and is now currently residing in Brooklyn, NY. Steffi’s work is filled with quirkiness, color and character. She is driven to take normal scenes and moments and make them playful, exciting and enticing. Her work is inspired by everyday things, reactions and feelings, and simple imagery from her imagination or nature.
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George F. Baker III
George F. Baker III, also known as GFB3, is a Nebraska-born, Detroit Grown, and Atlanta-Raised Muralist and Illustrator.
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Kat Irannejad
Kat Irannejad is the Director and Founder of TOTALLY REPS- a visual artist representation agency based in Brooklyn, NYC. Alongside representing and advocating on behalf of artists and animators, Kat participates in illustration industry-related talks, workshops, and portfolio reviews regularly.
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Bianca Bramham
Bianca is a commercial art agent and creative producer. She heads up the North American office of The Jacky Winter Group, representing illustrators, image-makers, animators, and lettering artists.ion goes here
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Andrew Hochradel
Andrew Hochradel runs HOCH.CO and is a content creator, speaker, and brand strategist with a passion for making creative education entertaining, accessible, and informative. Through branding, design, and illustration, Andrew strives to create worlds and experiences to allow others to experience new perspectives.
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Ilana Griffo & Katie Johnson
Katie and Ilana are your hosts and the co-owners behind Goodtype! They met after some serious DM’s and started working together to help educate artists on growing their creative businesses.
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Amy Northard
Amy is a Certified Public Accountant and is the founder of The Accountants for Creatives. Her goal is to help you feel confident with your business finances, taxes and financial goals.
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Katharine Watson
Katharine Watson is an artist and printmaker based in Portland, Maine and specializes in botanically-inspired linocuts
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James Edmondson
James is a type designer based in San Jose, California. With his terrific comrades at OH no Type Co., he creates custom and retail typefaces.
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Elizabeth Silver
Elizabeth Silver is a surface pattern designer with who has run her own business, freelancing and licensing for 12 years. She uses her varied professional experience to teach new designers how to make their way as professional designer through courses, Youtube and blog content.
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Gina Alessi
Gina is a graphic designer and independent educator working in the U.S. film industry. She's a passionate advocate for her craft and will be sharing her perspective on the business of designing for film.
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Tyler Pate
Tyler is an Art director, illustrator, and all-around creative rockstar who focuses on the design processes to inspire breakthroughs from all the creative pains.
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Carlos Oliveras Colom
Carlos is a Queer Puerto Rican creative. Designer by day & Artist by night. He will be talking about his passion for fluidity & exploration of what is considered a letter.
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Leah Chong
Leah is an artist and designer known for her versatility in lettering styles and expressive calligraphy. Besides her commercial work, she also runs an apparel and goods brand, Passion Parade Co., and teaches calligraphy both in-person in Singapore and online internationally. Today, she will be sharing her engraving process, along with helpful tips and tricks.
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Nicole Tamarin
Nicole Tamarin is a full-time licensing artist who has been creating watercolor and hand-lettered art for home decor, quilting, greeting, and gift markets for over a decade.
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Macarena Chomik
Macarena Chomik is a graphic designer and illustrator based in Argentina, specializing in hand-lettering.
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Phillip Pallen
Phil Pallen is a brand strategist & content creator who has helped small businesses achieve growth. Phil will share insights from over 100 brand partnerships.
Day 1
Time (EST)
Wed. Nov 13
9–10:30 AM
Workshop: DKNG
Iconic Poster Design: How DKNG Fuses Concept, Illustration, and Type
*Workshop Pass Required10:30–11 AM
WELCOME SESSION
11–11:30 AM
Leah Chong
Engraving Elegance: From Concept to Carve11:30–12 PM
Tyler Pate
Blazing Your Creative Path12–12:30 PM
BREAK
12:30–2 PM
Portfolio Reviews
with Illustration Agents Kat Irannejad (Totally Reps) and Bianca Bramham (Jacky Winter)2-2:30 PM
SPEED NETWORKING
2:30–3:30 PM
Gina Alessi
From Castles to Cop Cars: Designing a Film Career3:30–4:30 PM
(visit the sponsor booths!)
Day 2
time (Et)
Thurs. Nov 14
9–10:30 AM
Workshop: Amy Northard, CPA
Get Legit: Making the Financial Side of Your Business a Breeze
*Workshop Pass Required10:30–11 AM
BREAK
11–11:30 AM
Carlos Oliveras Colom
Exploring and Pushing the Boundaries of Letters11:30–12 PM
Macarena Chomik
Augmented Reality as a Design Tool12–12:30 PM
BREAK
12:30–2 PM
Panel: Art Licensing
with Elizabeth Silver, Ilana Griffo, and
Art Licensing Agent Carol White2-2:30 PM
SPEED NETWORKING
2:30–3:30 PM
Keynote: Lauren Hom
What The Freelance: A Creative's Guide to Navigating Slower Work Periods3:30–4:30 PM
(visit the sponsor booths!)
Day 3
Time (et)
Fri. Nov 15
9–10:30 AM
Workshop: James Edmonson
The Ohno Livestream
*Workshop Pass Required10:30–11 AM
BREAK
11–11:30 AM
Andrew Hochradel
Stories I Made Up11:30–12 PM
George F Baker III
Something To Say: Lessons from Embracing Hand-Drawn Type12–12:30 PM
BREAK
12:30–2 PM
Panel: Brand Partnerships
with Huyen Dinh, Steffi Lynn, and Phil Pallen2-2:30 PM
SPEED NETWORKING
2:30–3:30 PM
Katharine Watson
Running a Product-Based Business3:30–4:30 PM
Closing Thoughts
with Katie & Ilana
Ticket Sales Open
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Ticket Sales Open ✺
Want to Sponsor The Kernference?
We’re looking for partners who are a natural fit for our community and who support our commitments to diversity. We value transparency and search for relationships that will be genuinely rewarding for all involved.
Is The Kernference virtual or in person?
It’s virtual! You can join from anywhere in the world.
What is A WORKSHOP PASS and is it included in my ticket?
A Workshop Pass is an optional add-on which will give you access to 3 live workshops (plus access to the replays). You can add a Workshop Pass to your Kernference ticket at checkout for $100.
WHAT TIME ZONE IS THE KERNFERENCE SCHEDULE USING?
The times on the schedule above are in EST (Eastern Standard Time).
Get Your Boss to Pay for this
Working a full time job? You’ll learn skills that’ll you can bring right back to your desk, so let’s get your boss to pay for this!
Each day is packed with skill building sessions, so you’ll learn about relevant tricks for the apps you’re using everyday and be introduced to new ones that’ll help you work effectively. Plus, you’ll walk away feeling energized and inspired. The conversations are meant to spark something in you and bring passion to the forefront. We know you’ll be buzzing with ideas. In our Kernference platform, you’ll be able to build relationships with the creative community and maybe even collaborate with people down the line! We also offer bulk discounts if you want your entire team to join.
Will there be replays?
Yes! Every ticket includes access to session replays for 6 months after The Kernference ends.
Who should attend?
We’ve invited a wide variety of artists to speak at The Kernference, and anyone who uses type in their work in any way will find the sessions relevant and helpful! Our lineup of speakers includes everyone from lettering artists, type designers, and calligraphers, to marketing specialists, entrepreneurs, and authors. All are welcome!
Do I need any special tools or software to attend or participate in the sessions?
Nope! Some of the speakers may reference various tools or apps that they use, but you’re not required to purchase anything to follow along! As for the conference itself—all you need is a link to join from your desktop.
How do I become a sponsor?
Send us a message at hello@goodtype.us and we’ll chat! We’re always looking for partners who are a natural fit for our community and who support our commitments to diversity. We value transparency and search for relationships that will be genuinely rewarding for all involved.
What if I can’t make it live?
You can still grab a ticket so you can access the replays! Remember, they’ll be available to watch for 6 month after The Kernference ends.
Do you offer student/faculty discounts?
We do! Please click here to receive a student discount code. We also offer bulk discounts if you want your team to attend.
Questions about the Kernference?
Shoot us an email and we’ll be in touch!
Goodtype
A 3-day virtual summit bringing the global type community together
Here’s what folks had to say about The Kernference
Brand Design by Simon Walker | Logo Animation by Ethan Silva of Bad Lucky Studio | Website by Folk Founded
Presents