TEDxTampa

TEDxTampa 2025 — the conference's first return in nearly a decade — took the stage on May 2 at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts under the theme 'Lift as You Climb,' the idea that the story of your success is written by those you've lifted. On the content design team, I shaped a visual identity that honored TEDx's global brand standards while capturing the spirit unique to this event. I began with mood boards and concept exploration — color, type, and composition tuned for optimism and connection — then, once the direction was approved, designed a full suite of materials: banners, personalized speaker programs, and playbills, each built for a consistent, polished guest experience from the lobby to the stage.

url

https://janaki-patel.com/photography/tedxtampa

client

TEDxTampa

year

'25

scope

Visual Identity, Print & Event Collateral, Illustration, Event Photography

10+

print & digital pieces designed

10-speaker

lineup across industries

Dual

role — designer & event photographer

TEDxTampa 2025 · Straz Center for the Performing Arts

EVENT BRANDING

PHOTOGRAPHY

Process

This was as much about collaboration as craft. I worked closely with the organizing team — joining late-night calls, reviewing feedback, and turning around quick revisions against tight deadlines — while making sure every piece held up across both print and digital.

On event day I switched hats and shot the conference as a photographer, from the pre-event summit at the Tampa Museum of Art to the main sessions — capturing the moments and my own designs in use, a rewarding full-circle finish. The 10-speaker lineup spanned leaders across business, civic life, and the arts — including John Couris (CEO of Tampa General Hospital), Michael Stephens (CEO of Tampa International Airport), USF president Rhea Law, U.S. Representative Laurel Lee, Akamai co-founder Randall Kaplan, and actor Tim DeKay — each speaking to leadership, compassion, and growth.

Toolkit

Built every asset in Adobe InDesign and Illustrator with close attention to detail — from the cover-page icon system representing speakers from around the world, to the curators' note, to a one-of-a-thousand commemorative illustration. I also developed typography, layout, logo-usage, and color guidelines that extended the official TEDx branding while elevating the overall guest experience.