Creative Mornings Panel: Growth
Where
The Civic Theater
30 Division Ave N
Grand Rapids, Michigan
When
November 21, 2025
8:30 - 10:30pm
Admission
Free
Illustration by Amber Rankin for Creative Mornings
Grand Rapids returns to see the growth of Ian Labardee, Bailey Sell, Hannah Berry, and Leigh Ann Cobb
Typically, you only get to speak once at CreativeMornings/Grand Rapids. Considering the theme of “Growth”, we wanted to check in with speakers from CMGR’s past, to see what directions they have grown in. Hear inspirational and motivational points from the entire panel!
Meet Our Speakers
Panelist: Bailey Sell
Bailey is the owner and founder of Transfigure Print Co. and its accompanying brick and mortar, @transfigureshop. Transfigure is an LGBTQIA+ inclusive collective that creates and shows up for the Queer community. The small but mighty print shop offers custom printing, inclusive and affirming clothing and art pieces, and an in person store where you can support over 100 different artists from all over the US. Bailey is a firm believer in mutual aid and through Transfigure has raised over $110,000 for a multitude of organizations and collectives that benefit the Trans and Queer community.
Panelist: Hannah Berry
Hannah is the founder and Executive Director of Lions & Rabbits Center for the Arts. With a background in education, she brings people together through activation, helping communities shape projects that reflect their identity and needs. In addition to leading Lions & Rabbits, Hannah consults on placemaking efforts across the country—from building redevelopment to creative planning—often integrating fundraising strategies to support long-term impact. She’s known for her practical, people-first approach and her ability to turn big ideas into projects that truly serve local communities and their creative talent.
Panelist: Ian Labardee
Ian co-leads @mightyinthemidwest, a digital studio known for thoughtful design and well-built websites. He helps organizations turn ambitious brand goals into clear plans and useful outcomes, favoring practical, durable approaches that last even in times of rapid change. Previously, Ian led award-winning design for a mental-health technology company and co-founded Lift Pattern, a web software venture. Empathic by nature and serious about craft, he brings brand, content, and engineering together to create human-centered experiences that help people spend less time online. At home, Ian is a husband and dad to three teenagers and five cats.
Panelist: Leigh Ann Cobb
Leigh Ann is an internationally published Photographer and Creative Director based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Recent projects include work for Leland Furniture, Grand Rapids Sister Cities International, and Creative Direction for Saint Andro Swim (for which they were a guest speaker for CMGR July 2024, theme: Trust.
Moderator: Aaron McCall (He/Him)
Aaron is a freelance graphic designer and host of the Bad Idea Social Club podcast. On the design side of things, his focus is on branding through designing the things that real people interact with—the beer can you drink from (City Built Brewing Company, Our Brewing Company), the coffee bag you reach for every morning (Foster Coffee Co.), or the logo above the door at your favorite restaurant (Black Napkin, Poquito). On the podcast side, he has set out to collect honest stories and insights from wildly talented creatives, without judgment or filters, about creativity and life and whatever else comes up.
