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Saturday, April 12
 

8:00am CDT

BREAKFAST
Saturday April 12, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Dining Hall
Saturday April 12, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Dining Hall
  Events for All, Meals

9:00am CDT

Handstyle
Saturday April 12, 2025 9:00am - 11:00am CDT
Doris Johnson Lodge
This workshop combines typographic influences from graffiti, fonts, and hand painted signs to create expressive letterforms. The letters and/or words created will be drawn and or painted with analog techniques, emphasizing uniqueness over precision.
Workshop Leaders
avatar for Julian Alexander

Julian Alexander

Julian Alexander is a visual artist, GRAMMY-award-winning art director, and founder of Brooklyn-based design studio Slang Inc. His iconic album artwork can be seen on packages that have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. Julian champions authenticity in design by speaking about... Read More →
Saturday April 12, 2025 9:00am - 11:00am CDT
Doris Johnson Lodge
  Hand Typography

9:00am CDT

Super Mexican Signs!
Saturday April 12, 2025 9:00am - 11:00am CDT
Craft Rooms 4 (Upstairs)
Mexican brush sign workshop with flavor and tradition of Mexico. In addition to learning the basics of the craft, we will make a wooden sign, a very popular and economical method that allows for more controlled contact of the brush. We will experiment with themes, compositions and colors typical of the traditional style Mexican. 
Workshop Leaders
avatar for Giovanni Bautista

Giovanni Bautista

The Rótulos Bautista project was born in the city of Oaxaca in 1983 and bears the surname of its founder, Arturo Bautista, who has since dedicated his life to exalting popular Mexican graphics.Giovanni Bautista is a Oaxacan graphic designer and a sign painter. He has been in touch... Read More →
Saturday April 12, 2025 9:00am - 11:00am CDT
Craft Rooms 4 (Upstairs)
  Rotulo Sign Painting

9:00am CDT

Get Weird with It: Letting the Canvas Dictate your Illustration
Saturday April 12, 2025 9:00am - 11:00am CDT
Crafts Rooms 1 & 2 (Upstairs)
Staring at a big blank canvas can often be the most paralyzing thing when beginning an illustration. But what if we start with an obscure canvas shape and let the dimensions dictate the flow and shapes of our illustration, instead of trying to squeeze a premade design into it? Join illustrator and designer Erikas Chesonis as he walks you through one of his favorite exercises to get the creativity flowing. Everyone will be given interesting shapes cut out of wood to use as a canvas, and use limited color palettes of paint markers to embrace the abstract and create unique pieces of artwork with forms and styles you may not have come up with had you not been forced into these limitations!
Workshop Leaders
avatar for Erikas Chesonis

Erikas Chesonis

Erikas is an illustrator and designer living in Austin, Texas. His art uses simple color palettes and geometry inspired by mid-century design and folk art. When he's not drawing birds and other animals, he's usually out walking his duck-tolling retriever Sammy and looking up at the... Read More →
Saturday April 12, 2025 9:00am - 11:00am CDT
Crafts Rooms 1 & 2 (Upstairs)
  Wood Sculpture/Paint Markers

9:00am CDT

TEXAS TURN ‘EM: Card Weaving a Texan Surprise
Saturday April 12, 2025 9:00am - 11:30am CDT
Pavillion
Connecting to trees at Camp Waldemar, participants will tablet weave wristbands
adorned with Texas-inspired botanical designs. Dating back to the early Iron Age in Europe,
this technique transports makers to a nostalgic space imbued with nature’s hues. Some
fibers (wool or cotton) used in this workshop will be plant-dyed with Texas native plants, and
all designs will reflect the flora of local terroir. Participants will select a fiber and colorway,
then watch the imagery appear as they weave. They may also choose to add elemental
charms to their bands to evoke the intention woven into their work.
Workshop Leaders
avatar for Liza Feldkamp

Liza Feldkamp

Liza is an artist, herbalist and educator based in Austin, Texas. Her work is rooted in historical tradition and a deep reverence for nature. After studying abroad in Germany for a year, Liza studied ancient and modern textile arts at Capellagården in Sweden. Since 2008, Liza has... Read More →
Saturday April 12, 2025 9:00am - 11:30am CDT
Pavillion
  Scandinavian Weaving

9:00am CDT

Block by Block
Saturday April 12, 2025 9:00am - 11:30am CDT
Archery Pavillion
Get ready to get inky with Aaron in this fun, experimental block printing workshop. Participants will explore the art of pattern-making using wooden printing blocks and hand-carved designs. Whether printing on fabric like tote bags or experimenting with paper, this session encourages layering, texture play, and creative expression. Suitable for all skill levels, this workshop blends technique and artistic freedom.
Workshop Leaders
avatar for Aaron Michalovic

Aaron Michalovic

Michalovic Wood Art
Inspired by hand-made, process-evident building and art making, Aaron Michalovic has an eye for color and meticulous detail. After moving to Austin in 2008, he started collecting reclaimed materials that were being thrown away as houses in his neighborhood were torn down, and with... Read More →
Saturday April 12, 2025 9:00am - 11:30am CDT
Archery Pavillion
  Wood Block Printing

9:00am CDT

Layered Rodeo: Mixed-Media Street Art Posters
Saturday April 12, 2025 9:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Gully Shop
Design meets street art in Layered Rodeo, a hands-on poster workshop exploring bold composition, mixed-media techniques, and urban aesthetics. Using collage, spray paint, and acrylics, you'll build a character-driven poster that plays with texture, contrast, and layered visuals. This is about process as much as outcome — expect to experiment, break rules, and embrace imperfection. By the end, you'll have a finished piece that merges street art grit with a refined design sensibility — perfect for your portfolio or studio wall.
Workshop Leaders
avatar for Chris Tobar

Chris Tobar

Creative Director, __OFCOLOR & TOCO STUDIOS
Chris Tobar Rodriguez, known as Tobar, is an Austin-based artist, curator, and designer who thrives on pushing creative boundaries. Drawing from his Afro-Latino heritage and experiences in Chicago and Orlando, Tobar’s work blends bold visuals with rich storytelling, challenging... Read More →
Saturday April 12, 2025 9:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Gully Shop
  Mixed Media Signs

9:00am CDT

Viva la Mâché
Saturday April 12, 2025 9:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Bunkhouse
About the Workshop
Dive into the colorful world of paper clay sculpting through the lens of Mexican cartonería and piñata making! Led by Kat Talley, an El Paso-raised artist and sculptor behind &daughters, this hands-on workshop invites you to explore traditional papier-mâché techniques while transforming everyday materials into vibrant 3D sculptures. Inspired by the textures and bold colors of piñatas, this class will guide you in crafting unique, durable pieces of functional decor or playful art.

What You’ll Learn
Gain the skills to bring your creative ideas to life from start to finish. This includes conceptualizing and planning your design, crafting a strong armature from household materials, mixing and making your own paper clay, and shaping and refining your piece into a polished, three-dimensional work of art.

What You’ll Create
Whether you choose to sculpt a vase, a wall mirror, a funky table lamp, or let your imagination run wild, this hands-on session will have you experimenting with foam bases, layering techniques, and fun textures. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a vibrant, piñata-inspired sculpture ready to display, hang on your wall, or take home to paint and decorate later!

Who Should Attend?
This workshop is perfect for makers of all skill levels who want to explore their creativity, learn foundational sculpting techniques, and leave with a handmade treasure (and maybe some clay under their nails).
Workshop Leaders
avatar for Katherine Talley

Katherine Talley

Kat Talley is a multidisciplinary artist and founder of &daughters, a female-led studio in Austin, Texas. With a background in sign painting, fabrication, and large-scale installations, Kat combines precision and creativity to bring bold ideas to life. Her work reflects a passion... Read More →
Saturday April 12, 2025 9:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Bunkhouse
  Paper Clay

12:00pm CDT

LUNCH
Saturday April 12, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
Dining Hall
Saturday April 12, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
Dining Hall
  Events for All, Meals

1:30pm CDT

Thread Wrangler
Saturday April 12, 2025 1:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Round Up - Upstairs
Students will explore a range of classic embroidery stitches, from beginner to advanced, from straight stitch and chain stitch. They'll wrangle their skills by working on a Western-themed design, which they can personalize on a tote bag to take home. All materials will be provided.

Workshop Leaders
avatar for Chelsea Craft

Chelsea Craft

Howdy, My name is Chelsea Craft and I work in embroidery which has been regarded as a dying folk art meant for your Nana. However this isn't your Nana's embroidery. I find inspiration in modern architecture, fashion, nature and textiles. I love creating unique color palettes which... Read More →
Saturday April 12, 2025 1:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Round Up - Upstairs
  Embroidery

1:30pm CDT

Handstyle
Saturday April 12, 2025 1:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Doris Johnson Lodge
This workshop combines typographic influences from graffiti, fonts, and hand painted signs to create expressive letterforms. The letters and/or words created will be drawn and or painted with analog techniques, emphasizing uniqueness over precision.
Workshop Leaders
avatar for Julian Alexander

Julian Alexander

Julian Alexander is a visual artist, GRAMMY-award-winning art director, and founder of Brooklyn-based design studio Slang Inc. His iconic album artwork can be seen on packages that have sold over 100 million copies worldwide. Julian champions authenticity in design by speaking about... Read More →
Saturday April 12, 2025 1:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Doris Johnson Lodge
  Hand Typography

1:30pm CDT

Super Mexican Signs!
Saturday April 12, 2025 1:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Craft Rooms 4 (Upstairs)
Mexican brush sign workshop with flavor and tradition of Mexico. In addition to learning the basics of the craft, we will make a wooden sign, a very popular and economical method that allows for more controlled contact of the brush. We will experiment with themes, compositions and colors typical of the traditional style Mexican. 
Workshop Leaders
avatar for Giovanni Bautista

Giovanni Bautista

The Rótulos Bautista project was born in the city of Oaxaca in 1983 and bears the surname of its founder, Arturo Bautista, who has since dedicated his life to exalting popular Mexican graphics.Giovanni Bautista is a Oaxacan graphic designer and a sign painter. He has been in touch... Read More →
Saturday April 12, 2025 1:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Craft Rooms 4 (Upstairs)
  Rotulo Sign Painting

1:30pm CDT

Get Weird with It: Letting the Canvas Dictate your Illustration
Saturday April 12, 2025 1:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Crafts Rooms 1 & 2 (Upstairs)
Staring at a big blank canvas can often be the most paralyzing thing when beginning an illustration. But what if we start with an obscure canvas shape and let the dimensions dictate the flow and shapes of our illustration, instead of trying to squeeze a premade design into it? Join illustrator and designer Erikas Chesonis as he walks you through one of his favorite exercises to get the creativity flowing. Everyone will be given interesting shapes cut out of wood to use as a canvas, and use limited color palettes of paint markers to embrace the abstract and create unique pieces of artwork with forms and styles you may not have come up with had you not been forced into these limitations!
Workshop Leaders
avatar for Erikas Chesonis

Erikas Chesonis

Erikas is an illustrator and designer living in Austin, Texas. His art uses simple color palettes and geometry inspired by mid-century design and folk art. When he's not drawing birds and other animals, he's usually out walking his duck-tolling retriever Sammy and looking up at the... Read More →
Saturday April 12, 2025 1:30pm - 3:30pm CDT
Crafts Rooms 1 & 2 (Upstairs)
  Wood Sculpture/Paint Markers

1:30pm CDT

TEXAS TURN ‘EM: Card Weaving a Texan Surprise
Saturday April 12, 2025 1:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Pavillion
Connecting to trees at Camp Waldemar, participants will tablet weave wristbands
adorned with Texas-inspired botanical designs. Dating back to the early Iron Age in Europe,
this technique transports makers to a nostalgic space imbued with nature’s hues. Some
fibers (wool or cotton) used in this workshop will be plant-dyed with Texas native plants, and
all designs will reflect the flora of local terroir. Participants will select a fiber and colorway,
then watch the imagery appear as they weave. They may also choose to add elemental
charms to their bands to evoke the intention woven into their work.
Workshop Leaders
avatar for Liza Feldkamp

Liza Feldkamp

Liza is an artist, herbalist and educator based in Austin, Texas. Her work is rooted in historical tradition and a deep reverence for nature. After studying abroad in Germany for a year, Liza studied ancient and modern textile arts at Capellagården in Sweden. Since 2008, Liza has... Read More →
Saturday April 12, 2025 1:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Pavillion
  Scandinavian Weaving

1:30pm CDT

Existencil Shifts
Saturday April 12, 2025 1:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Gully
Step into the world of stencil art with Francisco Reyes Jr. (Never Made) in this hands-on workshop! You'll get the chance to create your own spray-painted stencil pieces using exclusive imagery provided by Francisco himself. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just getting started, this session is all about embracing the DIY spirit, experimenting with bold visuals, and bringing stencil art to life. Get ready to cut, spray, and create!
Workshop Leaders
avatar for Francisco Reyes, Jr AKA Never Made

Francisco Reyes, Jr AKA Never Made

Los Angeles based artist Francisco Reyes, Jr., is better known by his alias Never Made. For over a decade, Francisco has been pursuing his passion in Graphic Design. His experience as a musician in his late teens and early 20s taught him the value of hard work. Coupled with his involvement... Read More →

Saturday April 12, 2025 1:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Gully
  Spray Paint

4:30pm CDT

KICKBALL
Saturday April 12, 2025 4:30pm - 6:00pm CDT
Kickball Field

Saturday April 12, 2025 4:30pm - 6:00pm CDT
Kickball Field
  Kickball

6:00pm CDT

DINNER & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Saturday April 12, 2025 6:00pm - 7:30pm CDT
Dining Hall
Saturday April 12, 2025 6:00pm - 7:30pm CDT
Dining Hall
  Events for All, Meals

8:00pm CDT

Sketch Social Hour
Saturday April 12, 2025 8:00pm - 10:00pm CDT
Pavillion
Come draw with me. Unwind and enjoy drawing, painting or just coloring with your fellow Design Ranchers in a casual setting where there is only right, and there is no wrong. Explore some new mediums, play some drawing games, or just doodle and chat the evening away.
Workshop Leaders
avatar for Ami Plasse

Ami Plasse

Gonzo-in-chief, Gonzo Viz
Ami Plasse is a New York City native (turned Austin transplant). Ami honed his skills as an artist on his daily subway commutes from Brooklyn, capturing his often fleeting subjects as they moved across the city. Now in Austin, Ami frequents music venues and creative gatherings, capturing... Read More →
Saturday April 12, 2025 8:00pm - 10:00pm CDT
Pavillion
  Events for All

8:30pm CDT

PARTY!!
Saturday April 12, 2025 8:30pm - 10:30pm CDT
Pavillion
Saturday April 12, 2025 8:30pm - 10:30pm CDT
Pavillion
  Events for All
 
Design Ranch 2025
From $815.17
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Thursday, April 10
Friday, April 11
Saturday, April 12
Sunday, April 13
Archery Pavillion
Bunkhouse
Ceramics Garage
Craft Rooms 4 (Upstairs)
Crafts Rooms 1 & 2 (Upstairs)
Dining Hall
Doris Johnson Lodge
Gully
Gully Shop
Kickball Field
Pavillion
Round Up - Downstairs
Round Up - Upstairs
Waldemar Office/Dining Hall Entry
  • Embroidery
  • Events for All
  • Hand Typography
  • Kickball
  • Mixed Media Signs
  • Mosaics
  • Paper Clay
  • Rotulo Sign Painting
  • Scandinavian Weaving
  • Screen Printing
  • Spray Paint
  • Wood Block Printing
  • Wood Sculpture/Paint Markers