The Graham Smith Site

I’m still alive. Let’s call that a win. The morning is primarily spent in the local Starbucks, writing the previous two day’s blogs. Nothing’s planned by any of the remaining Builders (why didn’t I use that name before?) and you can definitely feel everything winding down.

There are 2 final fringe events, one of which is a photo walk round Belfast. Luckily the weather, though cold, has delivered in spades; blue skies and minimal wind. 5 of us group up by the Waterfront and Andy arrives to show us the way. We don’t even make it 10 minutes before we’ve stopped off for some lunch, where we’re joined by one of my design heroes, Sam Brown (@sambrown) and his wife.

Here we can sit and reflect on the week as a whole. I take the time to congratulate Andy and quiz him on Build’s future plans. “When do preparations start for the next Build”, I ask. He replied, much to my disbelief, “Monday”. He really wasn’t joking when he said this was his job now. Andy is brimming with new ideas and next year’s will be bigger and better, it seems. There are no plans to ever increase the costs, nor let the conference spill over into a second week. Given how shattered Andy is at this point in the week I ask if he’ll get anyone to help that he can delegate jobs to. I understand completely when he replies “No”, as there’s a certain feeling of accomplishment attained by getting your hands dirty and being involved in absolutely every facet of the event.

Lunch over, we meander through the streets of Belfast, cameras in hand. Destination: Queen’s Fim Theatre, the final fringe event. We’re joined by a few more Builders and shortly thereafter we’re sitting happily in a theatre all to ourselves, settling down to watch Jurassic Park. A perfect end to a such a mind blowing ‘conference’.

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Epilogue

This week meant more to me than a simple conference – however simple it may not have been. I’d been working non-stop since going full-time freelance a mere 7 months previously, and even before then I can’t remember the last time I took a holiday. I was undeniably burnt out and this became a way for me to ‘pause’, in the words of Liz Danzico.

I met so many people I can barely remember any names. And each person was just as wonderful as the next. Everyone was so kind and approachable – speaker, ‘web celebrity’ or otherwise. I only hope people found me similarly good natured. Though, when confronted with a man carrying two SLR cameras, it’s easy for them to be filled with a certain level of… apprehension. Speaking with them all gave me, in particular, a way to remove one’s self from our own little microcosms and get back in touch with the people who make this industry what it is. An industry all too easily defined by the work and the publicity of a few select outspoken ‘celebrities’.

Even if by next year I’m penniless and homeless, I shall strive to find a way to return. A big thank you to Andy, the speakers, and just as importantly, the other attendees. I shall, hopefully, see you all next year!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to get lynched by the subjects of many of my photos…