Looking to grow your network? Make new connections at our IRL networking event

Save the date in your calendars! This May, we’re bringing you another jam-packed IRL Networking event in partnership with Affinity! Register now for a chance to connect with emerging creatives, industry professionals and get stuck into a range of creative activities.

Networking can sometimes feel overwhelming and awkward, but not this time! This event is all about making genuine connections – no small talk required.

On Thursday May 8th we’ll be teaming up with Affinity (part of Canva) to bring you our next IRL Networking event! Hosted at Canva’s offices in London, you can expect:

What’s happening on the night?

Get ready to jump in! Here’s what’s happening on the night…

🎤 Tips and tricks

If you’re new to networking, fear not. In this interactive presentation, we’ll share some top tips on how to make the most of your networking efforts – both during and after the event.

💬 Speed networking sessions
In keeping with our usual Affinity event series, you’ll have the chance to chat 1-1 with at least three creative industry professionals in our structured, speed networking sessions.

🎨 Inspiration station (all night)

Ready to unleash your inner creativity? Experiment with Affinity and try your hand at everything from illustration, design or photo editing.

🔖 Design your own business card (all night)
Reimagine the traditional business card, and add your own unique creative flair to express your interests, skills and more.

🤩 Plus!

You won’t be leaving empty-handed... all attendees will get a free universal license for Affinity, a free virtual onboarding session, plus lots of other goodies on the night.

When and where will it be happening?

⏰ When?
Thursday 8 May, from 6pm to 10pm BST.
Please note there is limited capacity, so make sure you register ASAP.

📍 Where?
The event will take place at the Canva offices, 33 Hoxton Square, London N1 6PB.
The nearest underground stations are Hoxton; Old Street Station and Shoreditch High Street Station.

The space is located on the ground floor. You can let us know about any access requirements in the registration form, but for any additional questions please email us at [email protected].

Who will be there?

This event is open to emerging creatives – no previous experience or portfolio necessary.

This includes:

Also joining us on the night will be creatives from our Company Partners, keep an eye out as we’ll be revealing our full lineup soon!

🚨 Please note
This event will take place in person at the Canva offices in London. While we welcome interest from those who are based elsewhere in the UK, we are unfortunately unable to cover any travel costs.

Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Once all spots are filled, we’ll open a waiting list – so if you're keen to attend, be sure to join it, and we'll let you know if a space becomes available.

We love seeing familiar faces, but to give more people the opportunity to attend, anyone who has previously joined an IRL Networking event with us will automatically be placed on the waiting list.

We appreciate your understanding and can’t wait to see you – whether this time or at a future event!

Find out more about Affinity

Launched in 2014, Affinity is an award-winning suite of professional studio-grade apps, meticulously designed for creatives by creatives, that has become a widely sought-after solution for everything from professional editorial layouts to precise, powerful photo editing and complex graphic and vector design.

In 2024, Canva, the free online visual communication and collaboration platform, trusted by over 200 million users every month, acquired Affinity as they set their sights on empowering every kind of designer, including professional creatives.

Together, Canva and Affinity are now on a mission to empower every kind of team and organisation to achieve their goals around the world. You can find out more about all things Affinity here.