The Morning Leak – Show and Tell for Graphic Designers

We all know how it goes. You're juggling deadlines, fine-tuning projects, and caught up in the rhythm of day-to-day creative work

Before long, you realize it’s been a while since you’ve stepped outside your usual circle and talked shop with someone who speaks your language — design.

That’s exactly why AIGA Jacksonville launched The Morning Leak, a new community event series that’s quickly become a favorite among local designers, artists, developers, and creative thinkers of all stripes.

It’s not a conference. It’s not a panel. It’s not a portfolio review. The Morning Leak is something different — and it’s breathing new life into Jacksonville’s creative scene, one cup of coffee at a time.

What Is The Morning Leak?

The Morning Leak is a casual, open-format meetup designed to give creatives a platform to share recent projects, talk process, and connect over the highs and lows of creative work. It happens in the early hours of the day — before emails start flying and meetings fill up your calendar — giving you a fresh perspective and a caffeine-fueled jolt of inspiration.

Held at Panera Bread in the St. Johns Town Center, this recurring event typically runs from 7:30 to 9:00 AM, and it’s as much about community as it is about craft.

You’ll find graphic designers, photographers, animators, illustrators, developers, writers, and more gathered around to show off what they’ve been working on and talk openly about their process — the wins, the struggles, and everything in between.

It’s a no-pressure, all-passion environment where everyone’s voice is welcome, and ideas flow freely.

Why We Started This

At AIGA Jacksonville, we’ve always believed that creativity thrives in community — but we also know that routine can dull even the sharpest minds. The daily grind can be isolating, especially when you’re stuck in cycles of repetitive projects or working solo from home.

The Morning Leak was born from a simple idea: let’s create a space for real creative exchange — something informal, unfiltered, and early enough to not interfere with anyone’s workday. A space where people can bring their works-in-progress, finished pieces, or even ideas they’re just starting to sketch out.

And the best part? You don’t have to be a graphic designer to participate. This event is open to anyone working in a creative field, or anyone with a passion for design, art, storytelling, or collaboration.

We’ve already had photographers share photo series, motion designers break down animation sequences, web developers talk UX/UI challenges, and even videographers walk through storyboarding workflows.

The mix of disciplines is part of what makes the event so special — you get to see how creativity comes to life in different ways and learn from perspectives outside your own field.

What to Expect

Whether you’re presenting or just attending, The Morning Leak is designed to be light, fast-paced, and full of good energy.

Here’s the basic format:

• 6 presenters max (to keep things moving and focused)

• Each person gets a short slot to share a recent or current project

• No formal pitch or slide deck required — just show what you’re working on and talk about it

• After each share, we open the floor for questions, feedback, and discussion

• The rest of us? We show up, sip coffee, and get inspired

This isn’t about showing off polished portfolios. It’s about process, creativity, and connection. Some people bring in fully wrapped brand projects. Others share experiments, in-progress work, or even failures they learned from. Every share sparks conversation — and every conversation reminds us why we love what we do.

Who Should Come?

Short answer? You.

If you’re:

• A graphic designer looking to show off a recent logo or packaging concept

• A developer working on an app or website interface

• An illustrator with a new zine or print series in the works

• A videographer experimenting with editing styles

• A creative director with insights on managing team collaboration

• A student building your portfolio or exploring the design industry

• Or just someone who loves hearing how creative work gets made…

This event is for you.

The Morning Leak isn’t about titles or job descriptions. It’s about sharing ideas and lifting each other up. If you’ve ever wanted a space to talk shop and get outside your creative bubble, this is it.

How to Present Your Work

Want to be one of the six presenters at the next Morning Leak? It’s super easy — just email us at membership@aigajacksonville.org and let us know you’d like a slot. You’ll get a confirmation and a few simple guidelines, but otherwise, it’s pretty low-key.

We fill spots on a first-come, first-served basis, and they go fast — so if you’ve got something cool to share, don’t wait.

There’s no pressure to present if you’re not ready. You’re more than welcome to attend as an observer and soak up the creativity — sometimes that’s the best way to get inspired for your next project.

Why Events Like This Matter

We talk a lot about building a better creative community, but it doesn’t happen without effort. Events like The Morning Leak are about showing up, sharing openly, and supporting one another. They give us a chance to see the behind-the-scenes — the sketchbooks, the false starts, the ah-ha moments.

In a world of perfectly curated Instagram feeds and polished Behance portfolios, it’s easy to forget that design is messy, iterative, and very human. The Morning Leak helps bring that truth back into focus.

It also reinforces something we’ve always believed at AIGA Jacksonville: community is built one conversation at a time. Whether you’re swapping ideas, giving feedback, or just listening with interest, you’re helping create a culture of collaboration and creativity that benefits everyone.