Speaking & Workshops
Brian and Jason have traveled the world running their foul mouths and preaching what they practice. They love to share their story, sense of humor, knowledge of business, and passion for design through lectures and workshops.
Book GFDA
Speaking
Win or Learn Lecture
Book our talk about failure and fortitude.
Workshops
Art of Risk-Taking
Book a workshop
Upcoming Events
Workshop
99U Conference
Studio Sessions
New York, NY
Lecture Synopsis
Win or Learn—
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GOOD FUCKING DESIGN ADVICE
Back in September of 2010, with a lack of discretion, a bit too much coffee, and some consternation with teaching—GFDA was launched as a joke on a whim. Within six weeks, then graduate students, Brian Buirge and Jason Bacher, were plunged headfirst into business selling prints, shirts, and coffee mugs from the basement of their rental property in Northeast Ohio.
Over the last six years, co-founders Brian and Jason have established themselves as a powerhouse in the international creative and entrepreneurial community—despite occasionally coming disastrously close to bankruptcy. Their story is overflowing with embarrassing failures and stupid mistakes, which they view—not as road blocks—but as sign posts on their way toward inevitable success. Holding to the perspective that they either win or learn, they believe wholeheartedly that experience only comes the moment after you need it.
Through their lectures and workshops, Brian and Jason look to address the barriers that wedge themselves between ideas and execution. They take great pride in using their experiences as unlikely entrepreneurs to champion courage, risk-taking, and rule-breaking.
For pricing and more information, please contact speaking@gfda.co.
Workshop Synopsis
The Art of Risk Taking—
THE GFDA SECRET SAUCE
In this intensive workshop, participants are thrown ass-over-tin-cups into a series of exercises and drills that encourage experimentation, play, and risk-taking. Sitting and paste-eating are kept to a minimum.
Exercises are team-oriented and vary in length from 10–60 minutes. Each exercise wraps up with a short reflection to ensure valuable insights are taken from the experience.
Participants discover that creative and disruptive ideas don’t magically appear, but they arrive from a disciplined practice and learning. It is integral to call upon personal experiences and insights alongside trusted friends and colleagues. When ideating in groups, participants find that listening, giving up control, and making each other look good produces the most successful results.
Through the catalyst of risk, both teams and individuals can break through their creative ruts to arrive at fresh ideas and innovations, regardless of department, role, or position.
For pricing and more information, please contact speaking@gfda.co.
“Want to inspire people? Want to make them look at things differently? Then the guys behind Good Fucking Design Advice are the gentlemen to bring to your city. Brian and Jason not only put on an amazing show with humor but it’s also equipped with pieces of inspiration that will ignite everyone in attendance.”
2013 Tour ¡Ole! GFDA Travels the USA
In August of 2013, we left our home in Kent, Ohio in a 1972 Dodge B300 Sporstman and traveled over 11,000 miles within 53 days to 38 cities across 36 states. We presented our story at 25 events all over the country.
Previous Engagements
- 2016
- Nike NA Retail Brand Summit
Beaverton, OR - Nike EKIN-Pacer Division
Portland, OR - Southern Illinois University
Carbondale, IL - What If the Conference 2016
Cancun, Mexico - 2015
- Northeastern University
Boston, MA - 99u Social Innovation Week
New York City, NY - Boston University, AIGA Boston
Boston, MA - St. Louis Design Week, AIGA STL
St. Louis, MO - AAF Central Minnesota
St. Cloud, MN - Hyperakt Lunch Talk
Brooklyn NY - What If the Conference 2015
Cancun Mexico - 2014
- Lamar University
Dishman Museum of Art
Beaumont TX - World Usability Day
Cleveland OH - UHeart Digital Media Conference
Toledo OH - AIGA Cleveland
Cleveland, OH - What If the Conference
Phoenix AZ - Hike Conference
Chicago IL - UX Akron Meetup
Akron, OH - 2013
- Escula de Comunicación Mónica Herrera
El Salvador - AIGA Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA - Design Exchange Boston
Boston, MA - AIGA Philadelphia,
Moore College of Art + Design
Philadelphia, PA - AIGA Richmond
Richmond, VA - The Half and Half
Columbia, SC - AIGA New Orleans
New Orleans, LA - AIGA Phoenix
- UC Berkeley
Innovation Design
Berkeley, CA - AIGA Seattle
Seattle, WA - AIGA Nebraska
Omaha, NE - Belly Card, Inc
Chicago, IL - What If the Conference
Bali Indonesia - What If the Conference
Dominican Republic - Title Case w/ Jessica Hische
SanFrancisco, CA - AIGA Central PA
York, PA - AIGA Iowa
DesMoines, IA - AIGA Blue Ridge
Frederick, MD - AIGA Vermont
Burlington, VT - Corcoran College of Art + Design
Washington, DC - AIGA Triad NC
Winston Salem, NC - AIGA Nashville
Nashville, TN - Houston Design Week
AIGA Houston
Houston, TX - UP Global
Seattle, WA - AIGA Colorado
Denver, CO - AIGA Kansas City
Kansas, MO - AIGA Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN - University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH - Kent State University
Kent, OH - 2012
- University of Central Oklahoma
- Shawnee State University
Portsmouth, OH - SND Cleveland
Cleveland, OH - Thought @ Work Conference RIT
Rochester, NY - AIGA Oklahoma City
Oklahoma, OK
