This year, Sonar Group's own web designer, Leo had the opportunity to attend The Design Conference 2025 in Brisbane for the second time. It couldn’t have come at a better moment in his creative journey. What started as a few inspiring talks turned into three days of creative fuel, personal reflection, and a reconnection with the "why" behind great design.
Compared to his first experience, this time felt different. Leo found myself more present, more open to conversations, and more connected to the creative community. And what really stood out wasn’t just the quality of the work on display—it was the mindset behind it.
Here are key takeaways and lessons from Leo's perspective:
Some of my biggest takeaways came from speakers like Maxime Manga, who urged us to reconnect with tactile design: “Forget about the mouse—it’s the hand.” That simple phrase became a mantra for embracing experimentation, imperfections, and the joy of creating with intuition. It was a bold reminder that great design isn’t only about polish—it’s about process.
Daniel Ting Chong offered a refreshingly open look into how he structures his creative thinking. His talk balanced technical insight with playful visual storytelling, reminding me that strategy and spontaneity can (and should) coexist.
Ren Rigby reminded us to look backward in order to move forward.
She encouraged us to reconnect with our childhood sense of play—drawing, exploring, collecting things just for the joy of it. That untamed curiosity we had as kids? It’s still there. Tapping into that early creative spark can lead to fresh, unexpected ideas in our adult design practice.
Across the board, a clear theme emerged: embrace the unknown and have fun.
Creativity doesn’t thrive under pressure to be perfect—it thrives when we allow room for trial, error, and growth. The talks celebrated experimentation, encouraged risk-taking, and embraced uncertainty, not just as a phase in the process, but as a vital part of it.
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What This Means for Our Work in Sonar Group
Leo returned from the conference with a fresh sense of purpose and a renewed creative energy.
Leo mentioned that as a team member, these messages are especially relevant. They remind us that good design is more than just clean execution—it’s about curiosity, collaboration, and courage. The best ideas often come from the messiest beginnings.
He is walking away from this year’s conference excited to bring that energy into our projects. Whether that’s encouraging more collaborative exploration, presenting early ideas with confidence, or simply making time to play again—he feel recharged to keep learning and pushing creative boundaries.
And maybe most importantly, he is reminded to have fun with it. Because when we enjoy the process, the work tends to speak for itself.
