The Creative Freedom Summit: An Open Source Approach to Virtual Conferences
In January 2023, the Fedora Design Team made a significant leap into the world of virtual conferencing by hosting the inaugural Creative Freedom Summit. This event emerged from a passionate suggestion by Marie Nordin, sparked by an abundance of design and creativity-related talk submissions for the annual Fedora conference, Flock. Recognizing a keen interest in open source creativity, the team mobilized to create a dedicated space for these discussions, leading to a unique virtual experience.
What is the Creative Freedom Summit?
The Creative Freedom Summit was conceived as a response to the overwhelming number of talk proposals related to design and creativity in open source submitted for Flock. Marie Nordin proposed the idea of a standalone conference targeting creatives using open-source tools to enhance their work. Thus, the event took shape, culminating in a three-day online conference from January 17-19, 2023. Initial planning focused on inviting notable speakers based on previous Flock submissions and personal connections within the open-source community, resulting in a filled lineup without an open call for papers.
Why Open Source Tools?
Throughout the pandemic, Fedora hosted its conferences virtually using Hopin, a proprietary platform. While Hopin offers a professional feel and facilitates networking and event organization, it presented a conflict for a community championing open-source values. The challenge was clear: how to create an integrated open-source conference experience without relying on proprietary systems? The Design Team faced a pivotal decision, weighing factors like budget, volunteer availability, infrastructure, and the complexity of event logistics. Ultimately, a commitment to exploring open-source solutions determined their path.
An Open Source Conference Stack
The tech stack for the conference was crafted carefully, leveraging a variety of tools for live and post-event components.
Live Components
1. Livestreaming via PeerTube
The team utilized PeerTube for livestreaming the conference, taking advantage of a feature that automatically posts near-instant recordings after each session. This functionality allowed attendees who missed live talks to catch up quickly, a considerable benefit that set PeerTube apart from other platforms.
2. Jitsi for Live Stage and Social Events
The primary “live stage” was hosted on Jitsi Meet, chosen for its open-source nature. A custom URL was created, ensuring only authorized speakers could enter, while a separate room facilitated social events. Jitsi’s built-in capabilities to livestream directly to PeerTube streamlined the process for speakers, making it seamless and user-friendly.
3. Backstage Coordination
To maintain smooth transitions and manage the conference flow, the team created a "Backstage" Matrix channel. This platform allowed organizers, speakers, and volunteers to communicate in real time, ensuring everyone was well-coordinated.
4. Announcements and Q&A Management
Etherpad served as the original tool for managing announcements and questions. Despite some initial loading issues, transitioning to Hackmd.io improved accessibility, allowing attendees to submit questions in an organized format.
5. Website and Information Hub
A well-designed website hosted on WordPress provided essential information about the conference, including schedules and access links, ensuring clear communication for attendees.
Post-Event Components
1. Feedback Through LimeSurvey
Using the open-source tool LimeSurvey, the team gathered insights from attendees’ experiences. The data was not only informative but also highlighted improvements for future events.
2. Video Editing and Captioning
Post-event video editing relied on Kdenlive, which allowed the team to generate captions and clean up recordings. Although live captioning wasn’t in place during the event, the desire for accessibility informed future discussions about potential tools.
Lessons Learned
Hosting the inaugural Creative Freedom Summit presented numerous lessons for the team. One key takeaway was the importance of clear communication among organizers, attendees, and speakers, particularly given the challenges of managing multiple digital platforms and tools. Moreover, the need for effective live captioning became evident, emphasizing the value of accessibility for participants.
The summit not only proved that an open-source stack could successfully power a virtual event but also fostered a vibrant community of creatives passionate about their craft. The initiative showcased the potential for future events within the open-source realm, laying a foundation for improved methods and practices in 2024 and beyond.
Feel free to connect with the Creative Freedom Summit team via Matrix to exchange ideas, insights, or for more information on hosting similar events using open-source tools.