Experiment
Try the version you normally talk yourself out of making.
One day for big ideas, weird experiments & better creative work
A creative festival for people who make things differently. A day of talks, hands-on sessions and unexpected collaborations — no perfect ideas required.
- Date
- Saturday, October 17
- Time
- 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Location
- Presidio Park, San Francisco
Color Outside
About01
Make somethingunexpected.
The best creative work rarely starts with a perfect plan. It starts with a strange reference, a half-finished sketch, a question you can't stop thinking about, or an idea that probably shouldn't work—but somehow does.
Color Outside is a one-day creative festival built around experimentation. We're bringing together designers, artists, makers, and creative thinkers for a day of talks, hands-on sessions, unexpected collaborations, and the kind of conversations that make you want to go home and immediately start something new.
Just good people making interesting things.
The idea02
Less perfection.More play.
Less perfection. More play.
Connect
Meet creative people outside your usual feed, team, or discipline.
Make
Leave with something you actually created—not just pages of notes.
Reset
Step outside your normal workflow and remember why you liked making things in the first place.
Schedule03
One day.A lot happening.
One day. A lot happening.
Nine sessions · Doors 10:00 AM
Grab your badge, find a seat, meet somebody new, and ease into the day with a quick collaborative prompt.
A conversation about taste, experimentation, and why your first idea probably shouldn't be your final one.
Turn one unexpected reference into five completely different visual directions.
Food, music, mini installations, sketch tables, and room to wander.
Why personality, friction, imperfection, and surprise still matter in a world of optimized creative tools.
Take an existing idea and push it past the version you would normally ship.
Rapid-fire prompts. Random teams. Thirty minutes. No overthinking.
A candid discussion about keeping creative momentum alive after the event ends.
Hang out, share what you made, and meet the people behind the work.
Why come05
Maybe you need…
Maybe you need
A day where the goal is simply to leave more creatively awake than you arrived. That's what this is for.
A new reference.
A weird idea.
A conversation outside your industry.
Permission to make something pointless.
A reminder that not everything needs to become a case study.
One ticket. It's free.
- All talks
- All workshops
- Creative materials
- Lunch + snacks
- After-hours drinks
- Event goodies
Location07
Presidio Park,San Francisco, CA
Presidio Park, San Francisco, CA
Presidio of San Francisco, CA 94129
- Getting there
- Muni and the Presidio Go shuttle both stop a few minutes' walk from the entrance. If you're coming from downtown, allow about half an hour.
- Parking + bikes
- There is paid parking on site and covered bike racks by the main doors. We'd nudge you towards the bike racks.
- Access
- Step-free entry throughout, accessible bathrooms on every floor, and a quiet room off the main hall. Tell us what you need when you register.
Your host08
Bright HoursStudio
Bright Hours Studio
Bright Hours is an independent creative studio and learning platform built around experimentation, collaboration, and making work with personality.
We create workshops, gatherings, and creative projects for people who want to spend less time chasing the “right” answer and more time discovering something unexpected.
Color Outside is our excuse to bring that philosophy into one very loud room.
Friends of
Color Outside
- Paper Jam Press — Print Partner
- Odd Hours — Creative Tools Partner
- Open Studio LA — Community Partner
- Dayglow Coffee — Coffee Partner
FAQ09
Questions?Probably.
Questions? Probably.
No. If you make things—or simply enjoy the process of making things—you'll have plenty to do here.
Bring a laptop or tablet if you want, but you won't need one for most activities. We'll provide basic creative materials. Bring your favorite notebook if you have one.
Yes. All workshops and activities are included with your ticket. Some sessions may have limited capacity and will be first come, first served.
Whatever makes you feel like yourself. Bright colors encouraged. Weird accessories appreciated. Comfort highly recommended.
Yes. Lunch, snacks, coffee, and non-alcoholic drinks are all available for purchase.
October 17 · 10:00 AM · Presidio Park, San Francisco