Donostia, creatives & kalimotxo…

by Nikki Bentley, our Founder & Door Kicker

It was so great to have our creative community come together again at the 2025 GEMA Conference and Awards in San Sebastian. IRL connections are still the best. As much as we rely on technology to do a lot of our connecting, there’s something special about belly laughing together on a roof terrace with a drink in hand.

Newsflash! Youtube is the biggest channel in the world. Thank you Evan Shapiro for shattering my data-deficient view on the world of streamers. Some internet crashing statistics and insights into how viewers are watching content. Worth checking out!

I also got to spend more time with some of our Perfect Tribe and I remain so grateful and proud of them all. They’re such super awesome creative souls and humans. Here are two idents our creative partners made (pro bono) for the GEMA event.

1. Screen savvy design artisans Comodo brought characters to life in a piece we like to call “group therapy”.

2. Branding specialists Superestudio created a slick representation of inspiration, connection and innovation.

I was lucky to have some down time in San Sebastian and I love the city. So I was a little sad to leave feeling that San Sebastian could love solo female travellers a little more. Not shuffle us quickly to the back of restaurants and off terraces (especially when we have a terrace booking!). Rather, like Chillida's Peine del Viento, strong independent women are to be celebrated.