Program Overview

EPIC2023 includes Learning & Networking Week (Sept 18–22) and the Main Program (Oct 22–25).

Learning + Networking Week

Online

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Sep. 18-22

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Join our global community in an online festival of learning, career development, networking, and social events. Programming is scheduled for time zones around the world. 50 sessions are FREE for EPIC Members! Tutorials are the only sessions that require pre-registration and a fee ($100 for members).

Become an EPIC Member now ($150)

Current Members: access all sessions and complete your Member Directory profile here

Tutorials

Ethnographers never stop learning, whether we’re new to the field, growing as leaders, sharpening expertise, or shifting domains. Tutorials are mini-courses taught by experts in the EPIC community. *$100 for EPIC Members

Tutorial Program

Networking

We’re a famously warm, generous community, and we work hard to connect you. Peer Circles, meet-ups, books clubs, interest groups, research portfolio & job search workshops, and more help you find mentors and kindred spirits.

Photo of hands holding a pen with a card on a table that reads "Transdiciplinary"

Talks & Seminars

Equity-Centered Leadership, Knowledge Management, Workflow Automations, Making Research Un-fireable…EPIC members share expertise and passions.

Conference attendees talking in a discussion group.

EPIC Debate Club

Part serious, part social, and 100% fun! We shall divide into teams, develop our talking points, and have jolly battles over “UX is Dead/Long Live UX!” and “Jargon Karaoke”

Career Pivots

Senior leaders help us open doors to new roles and domains in which ethnographers thrive: service design, market research & brand strategy, strategy & foresight, and organizational change consulting.

Main Program

In Chicago

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Oct. 22-25

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Launch Schedule

Payal Arora delivering a keynote address at EPIC2022

Keynotes

Luminaries from diverse fields inspire us and provoke us with new perspectives.

Meet our Speakers

Workshops

Interactive sessions before the main program focused on Chicago experiences, embodied interaction, and Institute of Design offerings.

Workshop Program

Audience taking photos of a presenter at EPIC2022

Papers

Papers drive innovation and debate, offering new frameworks and syntheses that advance core ethnographic principles. Papers are presented in Thematic Sessions.

Launch Program

Shakima Jackson Martinez presenting at EPIC2022

Case Studies

Case Studies showcase ethnographic impact, taking us “under the hood” of challenging work that created concrete value. Cases are presented in Thematic Sessions.

Launch Program

Mural showing a large eye and other shapes covering the top half of a face. Photo by Gunes Kocabog

PechaKucha

This unique storytelling format combines visual and spoken narrative to explore social and professional issues. PechaKucha are presented in Thematic Sessions.

Launch Program

A box with glass containers and cards with colorful diagrams

Ethnographic Film

The perspectives of filmmakers and the multi-sensory nature of the medium create unique kinds of ethnographic understanding and stakeholder impact.

Session Details

Panels

Panels bring experts with different perspectives into conversation with each other and the audience.

Panel Program

People in discussion groups in the main hall at EPIC2022

Town Hall

Hosts will get us started with reflections and provocations that have emerged from the program, then turn the mic over to you!

group of friends taking a selfie at EPIC2018

Networking & Social

Our Welcome Reception, Conference Dinner, and networking sessions foster warm connections and just plain fun.