Knowing is good!
We all know that knowing gives us skills, capabilities, and confidence to move forward. But for people who are interested in creativity and innovation, not knowing is where the magic really lies. Not ‘not knowing’ in the sense of ignorance, but in the sense of ‘Wow, there’s just so much more to know.’
The presenters and attendees at Cusp Conference are wildly diverse, and sure, everyone here knows a whole lot. But what we’ve always loved about Cusp is that it’s one of those eye-opening / humbling events where literally everyone in attendance is surrounded by a whole lot of other people who possess deep knowledge about so many different things. And that gives us all permission to ‘not know’, which can be a fun place to be once in a while. Not knowing gives us permission to wonder, and to ask ‘what if?’ And it creates opportunities for us to put otherwise unrelated thoughts together to create new thoughts.
So be forewarned. Because while not knowing can be temporarily liberating, suddenly knowing something new can be energizing, and challenging, and uplifting, and demanding. Because new knowledge and new insight can lead us to attempt new things, which of course can create even more new knowledge. It’s a nightmare!
You’ve no doubt heard the saying “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.”
In a room filled with this many people who just happen to be smart at so many, many different things, I think we can honestly say “Welcome to the right room!” to absolutely everyone at Cusp 2018.
And that’s a very, very positive thing. You know?
Dave Mason
Kevin Krueger
Kelly Komp
Andy Eltzroth
Pamela Lee
Skot Waldron
Multiple, Inc.
Cusp Conference 2018 Hosts
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Dave Mason
Dave Mason was born in England and raised in Canada.
The things he learned as a CJFL quarterback, while working in a women’s prison, a forensic psychiatric hospital and a subatomic physics laboratory and while coaching high school football naturally prepared him to start a design firm immediately after graduating from college in the late 20th century. He subsequently co-founded internationally recognized Chicago/Vancouver-based SamataMason in 1995. He's currently Principal and Strategy Director at Multiple Inc.
Honored for excellence in virtually every significant design publication and competition, Dave’s work has also been exhibited at The Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg, Germany. He has served as a juror for numerous international design competitions including Communication Arts Design Annual, The Mead Annual Report Show, AR 100 Annual Report Show, Taiwan International Poster Competition and Applied Arts, and as a guest speaker at design and business schools, conferences and events throughout Canada, the United States and Asia. In 2010 he was named a Fellow by the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada.
In addition to Multiple, Inc, and Cusp Conference, Dave has also co-founded a number of ventures including OpinionLab Inc., the leader in web and mobile voice of customer feedback systems (acquired by Verint / Nasdaq VRNT), PowerPlayer Inc., a company dedicated to helping youth hockey coaches teach young athletes through feedback, and ForthLevel, a corporate off-site rental facility in Chicago's West Loop.
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Kevin Krueger
Kevin Krueger is an accomplished brand communication designer.
Principal and Creative Director at Multiple Inc., he's a former partner in internationally recognized design firm SamataMason. His work for a diverse range of clients such as the PGA Tour, Whirlpool, Devon Energy, International Truck, and Motorola has been honored internationally in numerous competitions and publications including AIGA Communication Graphics, The Art Directors Club, The Type Directors Club, Communication Arts, Applied Arts, Graphis and How Magazine.
A graduate of Ohio University, Kevin is a former Chicago Chapter board member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), a frequent lecturer at design schools and organizations, and has served as a juror for numerous design competitions.
In addition to Multiple, Inc, and Cusp Conference, Kevin is a co-founder of PowerPlayer Inc., a company dedicated to helping youth hockey coaches teach young athletes through feedback, and ForthLevel, a corporate off-site rental facility in Chicago's West Loop.
And yes, he was bitter about the whole LeBron thing.
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Andy Eltzroth
Principal and Business Development Director at Multiple Inc., Andy Eltzroth served as a designer, project manager and account executive in San Francisco and the Midwest prior to co-founding Tandemodus with Kelly Komp in 2006.
An Indiana University graduate with a BFA in graphic design, Andy has provided strategic direction for a wide range of organizations including Eli Lilly, Dow AgroSciences, the Center for Leadership at Northwestern University, Pearson Education and True Value Hardware.
In addition to Multiple, Inc, Andy is also co-founder of ForthLevel, a corporate off-site rental facility in Chicago's West Loop. He spends the majority of his off-work hours doting on his growing family, coaching softball, and crushing fastballs.
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Kelly Komp
Principal and Creative Director at Multiple Inc., Kelly Komp graduated from Ball State University with a BFA in Graphic Design. A former co-founder and Creative Director of Chicago-based Tandemodus, his award-winning strategic thinking and communication design capabilities have brought clarity and energy to a broad range of clients large and small, including DePaul University, Fresenius Kabi USA, Meijer, Rotary International, Great Lakes Protection Fund, Driehaus Foundation, and American Marketing Association.
He’s a member of the Advisory Board to the Chicago Chapter of AIGA, the professional association for design, and former instructor of Design for the Web at Chicago Portfolio School.
In addition to Multiple, Inc, Kelly is also co-founder of ForthLevel, a corporate off-site rental facility in Chicago's West Loop.