Why Collaboration Fuels Inspiration
There’s no shortage of virtual options for creative professional development. You can hop on a webinar, scroll through a tutorial, or skim a case study in your inbox. They’re convenient and great resources for those who don’t have the time or are unable to attend events in person. But when it comes to creativity, there’s something to be said for actually being there.
For creative professionals, growth doesn’t happen in isolation. We get better when we’re around other creatives, when we’re in rooms that buzz with ideas, where we can see, hear, and feel the passion happening in our field. That’s why in-person conferences and events still matter in our virtual-first world. They offer something deeper than new tips and tricks: real creative connection.
I had the chance to attend a conference recently with two other MarCom Group creatives. And while we did come back with the latest tools and insights, what stuck with us the most was the sense of being plugged back into something bigger than just the work in front of us. Being around so many creative people from all over the world re-centered why we do what we do in the first place!
The Energy Is Unbeatable
There’s something that happens the second you step into a packed keynote room. The lights dim. The chatter dies down. And suddenly everyone is locked in. You feel the collective pulse of a few hundred or a few thousand creatives, all tuned into the same wavelength. The excitement is real. The curiosity is palpable.
And when you hear a great idea or see something that stretches your thinking, you don’t experience it alone. You share it through laughter, applause, scribbled notes, and elbow nudges. That shared energy creates momentum. And that momentum follows you home into the work you do each day.
The Learning Resonates More
We’ve all taken an online class or sat through a training video while half-answering emails or Slack messages. We’re busy people, so it’s easy to go through the motions and check the boxes. But when you’re sitting in a session, completely plugged in, learning something new right alongside people who are just as engaged as you are, it hits different.
You get your questions answered in the moment. You see how someone else solves the same problem you’re stuck on. You try, fail, fix, and remember. That kind of learning can rewire your process. And that shift benefits every project you touch afterward.
You Find Your People
What meant the most to me was how quickly real connection happens. Within minutes, you’re swapping stories with a designer from another agency, a strategist from across the country, a freelancer who just wrapped a dream project. Compare that with the hundreds of gray boxes you’d see on a Zoom or Teams call and the benefits of these events are obvious. What starts as small talk turns into shared challenges, shared wins, shared respect.
You realize you’re not the only one navigating tight timelines, intense feedback, or the creeping doubt that you’re not doing enough. The people around you get it. And once you’ve talked it out with someone who lives in the same creative world you do, everything feels a little more possible again.
You Get Out of Your Silo
Creative work can be exhausting. It’s rewarding, but it’s hard. You give a lot of yourself to it. And when you’re stuck in the loop of briefs, revisions, deadlines, and delivery, it’s easy to lose the sense of why you’re doing any of it.
In-person conferences shake that loose. They remind you that what we do is part of a much bigger conversation. One about storytelling, about human connection, about the way good design shapes how people think and feel. When you’re surrounded by that, you don’t just feel inspired. You feel reconnected to your purpose.
And when you bring that purpose back to your agency, it shows up in the work.
Why It All Matters
Creative energy is contagious, but only if we make space to absorb it. In-person conferences give us that space. They offer a break from the usual pace, a fresh perspective, and the kind of spark that doesn’t just fade after a week. It carries into your next brainstorm, your next brief, your next pitch.
When someone comes back from a conference with new ideas and a renewed sense of purpose, it lifts the whole team. It reminds us we’re not just moving projects through a pipeline. We’re building things that matter. So, when the opportunity comes up, take it. Let someone go. Or go yourself. Come back with notes, handouts, and momentum.
Because the best creative work doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens in the room.
See How MarCom Group Puts Creativity Into Action Each and Every Day.
About the Author
Steven Eson is a Creative Director at MarCom Group with nearly two decades of experience in design and visual storytelling. A graduate of the Corcoran College of Art + Design, he leads with a focus on creative development and team mentorship, helping to foster growth across MarCom Group’s creative department. His work emphasizes clarity, craft, and a collaborative approach to solving complex client challenges.