SkepchickCon is the collection of science and critical thinking panels and activities hosted by Skepchick at CONvergence, a four-day science fiction and fantasy conference held every summer in the Minneapolis area.
The Process
Initial four concepts presented with the theme of "space"
Though there was a lot of love for the little spaceship, the selections to develop were 1 and 3.
And 1b was the winner!
SkepchickCon has been happening since at least 2011, but 2014 was the first year with promotional material and the "Space Lab" theme. "At CONvergence" was necessary to avoid the implication of a second, competing convention; SkepchickCon is just one "track" of CONvergence.
The Space Lab
The Skepchick Space Lab has become the "home base" of SkepchickCon. Nominally a party room at CONvergence, it hosts activities and salon-style conversations during the day and a space-themed dance party at night, complete with tiny test-tube cocktails with names like Rocket Fuel and the Buzzed Aldrin. The Space Lab promotes the ideals of science and critical thinking espoused by Skepchick and its sister sites throughout CONvergence weekend both by encouraging attendance at panels and providing in-room activities and events such as periodic table bingo and a set of scientist paper dolls.
An adaptation of the SkepchickCon logo for the Space Lab. Ultimately the little rocket from option 2 made a comeback on the flyers and badge ribbons, but the Space Lab needed to be clearly marked "Skepchick."
Party rooms at CONvergence may hang temporary banners and signage to encourage attendees to come inside. The crowded hallway and lighting are not conducive to good photography, unfortunately.
Much like those at business conventions, badge ribbons at CONvergence can indicate one's status as a speaker, volunteer, et cetera. They've also become incredibly popular to trade. Attendees with elaborate costumes may have their own ribbons printed, sponsors and party rooms use them to promote their events, and some are just plain silly. By the end of each weekend, there are collectors with strands of ribbons they can dangle from a second-floor balcony, and suggestions for how to make sure all your collected ribbons stay attached. It's that big of a deal.
With that in mind, the Space Lab had ribbons printed, which were given out as trades during the day around the convention, and handed out in the party room at night in exchange for naming a female scientist other than Marie Curie. A small quantity of volunteer ribbons were also printed to acknowledge the hard work that goes into making sure the Space Lab runs smoothly.
Flyers Around the Convention
This first year of flyers was a bit of a challenge; everyone wanted ALL of the information included!
Keeping things recognizable from year to year helps folks remember you at an annual event. In 2015, though, we agreed that less text was better, as well as easier to read. This was the year of not-very-sticky tape at CONvergence, it would seem...or they REALLY wanted to make sure the flyers stayed up!
The 2016 schedule was simply too packed to cram into a standard flyer, so 2016 was all about the highlights.
The volunteers who put up the flyers are only permitted to use blue painters' tape.
Bonus Content: The Origin Story
2013 was simply a lark. One of the photographers from Mad Art Lab, one of Skepchick's sister sites, had made a poster for SkepchickCon with a circus-sideshow theme. A running joke had been to make the most modular and transformable handout, and I'd made one before. So, if this poster looks odd, it's only because it's a poster AND a program/schedule AND a jaunty hat. Thrown together in a few hours before driving to CONvergence. That you can also color...an entire panel was nearly taken over by an instructional session on How To Fold a Paper Hat, with bonus coloring session. Indeed, slilliness abounds; you can read about it here.
