Together in the Lone Star State

2024 SEGD Conference & RSM Workshop Roundup

Each year, RSM Design hosts an annual workshop designed to bring our team together for a mix of education, collaboration, and camaraderie. This is a tradition for our company, and something we look forward to each year! We come together to deepen our understanding of design, exchange ideas, and strengthen bonds outside of our typical day to day environment. Our yearly workshops are typically held in our San Clemente Studio, and consist of three days of creative exercises, educational speaker sessions, and meals together. Our workshops each year are a time for us to come together, learn, and prepare for the next year!

This year, our annual workshop took place in Dallas, Texas, coinciding with the SEGD 2024 Experience Dallas Conference. When we heard that the SEGD Conference was going to be in Dallas this year, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go! RSM Design has been doing design in Dallas for 25 years out of our Dallas Studio. Our roots are deep in Texas, as our three founders Harry, Martin, and Suzanne met each other there. We knew we had to fly our entire team to Texas! Our team got to attend the SEGD conference, explore Dallas, share meals with each other, and even explore some of our RSM projects in the area. The collaborative energy of the SEGD conference, coupled with our deep love and history within Dallas, made this year’s workshop particularly memorable. 

En Route to Dallas, First Stop: Fort Worth Stockyards

Our RSM team members flew into Dallas from San Clemente, LA, Colorado, and New York!. Our adventure began the moment we arrived in the Dallas airport, as we immediately set out for the Fort Worth Stockyards, a beloved and well known project of ours. We’ve had the privilege of working on various projects within the Stockyards over the years, so it was a meaningful way to kick off our time together. We arrived just in time for the twice-daily cattle drive, when the iconic Texas longhorns stroll down the main street.

As we toured the Stockyards, RSM team members Harry Mark and KK Closuit, who originally worked on the project, guided us through the area. It was inspiring to see our signage integrated into the environment, alongside vintage neon signs that have stood the test of time. When designing for the Stockyards, it was important that our work harmoniously blended new elements with the old, preserving the Stockyards’ rich history while enhancing its historic atmosphere. After exploring the Stockyards, we regrouped and made our way to the Hotel Drover, another project RSM Design is proud to have contributed to, located at the end of Mule Alley, a street lined with Western shops and local restaurants.

At the Hotel Drover, we were greeted by the iconic neon cowboy sign, a piece we designed to encapsulate the spirit of Texas at the entrance of the hotel. Inside, we explored the lobby, and saw our leather signage wayfinding. Our team headed out to dinner at Joe T. Garcia’s, where we enjoyed Tex-Mex, kicked off the week with a speech, and handed out some RSM Workshop swag!

Western Swag For Our Team

If you’re familiar with an RSM Workshop, you know that swag is a very crucial part. Each year, we design custom RSM swag to fit the theme of the workshop. Anything from RSM trucker hats to tote bags to bandanas. This year’s swag took on a western flair, taking influence from Dallas. We gave everyone an agenda outlining how we’d spend our few fews in Dallas, a custom RSM mini notebook, a personalized tote bag with Texas-themed enamel pins, an “Oh Shit Kit,” containing supplies to resolve stains and headaches, and lastly, a bandana to mark our love for Dallas, with Harry, Martin, and Suzanne riding a horse, of course. 

Exploring Dallas with SEGD

For our second day in Dallas, we kicked off our experience at the start of the SEGD conference, and heard from a lineup of engaging speakers. One of the highlights was hearing from our own Harry Mark, who gave an insightful talk on “Dallas Design: The Good, the Bad, and the Very, Very Ugly.” It was special for our team to hear Harry share his extensive knowledge and personal experiences designing spaces in Dallas and beyond. His perspective provided a deep dive into the evolution of the city’s architectural landscape, giving valuable insights that the audience could apply to their own work and creative approaches.

In the afternoon, our team split up to attend the Experience Dallas tours, hosted by SEGD. We had the chance to visit a variety of design-forward locations throughout Dallas and Frisco, some of which included RSM Design projects like the Fort Worth Stockyards, The Star: Home of the Dallas Cowboys, and the Dallas Holocaust Museum. It was an exciting opportunity to see our designs in action and explore how they’ve become integral parts of these unique spaces. The tours were a fun and educational experience for the team, and we had a blast discovering the innovative design elements that make Dallas such a dynamic city. We ended day two with a team dinner, reflecting on everything we had seen and experienced.

RSM Design Takes on the Best of Texas

Our last day in Dallas, Texas was a memorable one! The day wrapped up with a series of inspiring talks from various industry leaders, touching on the importance of creativity, collaboration, and community engagement in environmental graphic design.

In the evening, the RSM team headed to a highly-anticipated dinner at Terry Black’s BBQ, some of the best BBQ that Dallas has to offer. After our team dinner of brisket, beans, and mac and cheese galore, the night continued with a ride on Dallas’ public transportation, The DART, to the Texas State Fair for opening night. Our team dove right into the fun atmosphere of the fair, enjoying all the classic treats, rides, and games. The highlights of the night were seeing Big Tex, cotton candy wrapped bacon, seeing the Woofus, winning prizes, and watching some of our brave team members ride the “Sling Shot.” It’s safe to say that our team loved our time together Dallas!

Why Sharpen the Saw?

At RSM, our mission has always been to create great work, with great people, with great passion... We are constantly striving for growth and never-ending improvement. Our commitment to excellence is not just about delivering outstanding projects but also about fostering an environment where our team members can thrive and evolve. Our time in Dallas was special because it brought us all together, allowing us to learn and advance both personally and professionally. This gathering was more than just a meeting; it was a testament to our belief that education and continuous development are essential for our success.

We believe that the strength of our team lies in the collective growth of each individual. Education is the fuel that drives us as designers. It empowers us to stay ahead of industry trends, embrace innovative techniques, and refine our skills. We felt that the 2024 RSM Roundup in Dallas was a celebration of these values. It was a chance for us to come together, share our experiences, and inspire one another. By prioritizing education and personal growth, we reinforce our commitment to creating great work, with great people, and with great passion. This dedication to continuous improvement is what propels RSM Design forward, enabling us to achieve extraordinary things together.