Creatives in Color gives diverse, creative professionals in higher and more visible positions a platform to share their experiences – in hopes of motivating and inspiring other BIPOC creatives in our community.

This year, Creatives on Creatives is an interview style format in which the speakers will present their personal experiences navigating their career path. We were inspired by Variety Magazine's Actors on Actors series, and thought it would be inspiring to hear how each speaker navigates adversity they may have faced and how they overcame it in the creative industry. We want the audience to be inspired but also informed. The speakers will engage in a natural conversation as we sit back and listen to the many stories they share with one another. Come check out how creativity meets inclusivity and invokes change for the better.

Why Creatives in Color?

From our perspective, the Indy creative community lacks BIPOC representation. We want to provide a safe space for all creatives to gather and share their unique experiences. By curating a space where people can come together and spark healthy dialogue, we hope to make the Indy community more diverse and inclusive.

We hope that having underrepresented creatives speak about their career experiences will allow other BIPOC creatives to feel supported and more connected with our community. We worry that people of color might think they don’t have the opportunity to succeed in our creative industry. By spotlighting people of color who are successful and pushing norms in our community, we hope young BIPOC designers will feel they have a place in our community and a support system here.

Speakers:

Madeline Lopez

Born in Honduras, Madeline Lopez blends creativity, culture, and strategy in her work. She earned a Visual Communication degree from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2021, where she developed a passion for research-driven design.

Now a designer at Pivot Brands, an Indianapolis-based agency specializing in branding and campaigns, she previously worked at WestComm Marketing, Studio Science, and Codo Design. Madeline brings curiosity, collaboration, and purpose to every project, shaping meaningful visual identities.

John Ilang-ilang