David Johnson
At his core, David Johnson is a storykeeper and creative bridge-builder. Chicago-based and shaped by life on the South Side and in the suburbs, Johnson is a creative storyteller and cultural translator whose work has taken him worldwide — first on a volunteer trip to El Salvador, then as a staff photographer for an Ethiopian newspaper. The creative freedom to "go cover the city" meant he could move at his own pace, stopping to meet people, hear their stories, and take part in their world, capturing it all in vivid color. These early encounters laid the groundwork for his understanding of himself as a cultural translator. Johnson communicates the visual language of the subject, audience, and brand, providing space for each group to see themselves fully within the work. Johnson's sense of what is meaningful also powered the formation of True Chicago in 2017, an arts nonprofit that empowers Black and brown youth in Chicago to own their creative futures. Born from a spontaneous workshop, the platform now hosts conferences and a quarterly mentorship program, equipping the next generation with the resources, knowledge, and opportunities needed to thrive. In 2020, he founded KNDRD, a creative agency built to help brands like Microsoft, Pepsi, and Coors show up more authentically in culture and build real relationships with growth communities. At the heart of KNDRD's work is the belief that translating intention into meaningful cultural connection isn't optional but essential. David's work has taken him across global cities including Shanghai and São Paulo, but his heart stays in Chicago, where he is committed to building creative infrastructure that lasts.
We experience culture as something we can see, buy, and participate in. But long before that, it was built in community, in rooms, in conversations, in relationships that most people never see. Powered by True Chicago, this panel brings together photographers and creatives to talk about what in-person community has meant for their careers and why it still cannot be replicated online. In a world of followers and feeds, showing up in person matters as much as ever.
Come as you are. Hosted by True Chicago, this informal gathering is a space for creatives to connect, swap stories, and build the kind of relationships that lead to collaboration. No agenda: just community.
AI is reshaping the industry in real time. That's not up for debate. But the creatives who will actually sustain their careers aren't just the ones who learn the tools, they're the ones who stay rooted in people, in how we see, listen, and tell the truth about what's in front of us. David Johnson makes the case for why the future is still human in the age of AI. How empathy, presence, and real human connection aren't secondary to the work. They are the work. And why those who stay anchored in human connection will have staying power as everything else gets automated.
Talent has never been the barrier, access has. The gap to big brand commercial work isn’t ability, it’s proximity. Who gets seen. Who gets the opportunity. Who gets brought into rooms for opportunities that actually shift careers. David Johnson, founder of True Chicago, shares his untraditional path from college athlete without creative experience to internationally acclaimed photographer, and what it takes to move beyond the gatekeeping that keeps diverse voices out of commercial and brand photography. Not just getting in, but building paths that don’t require permission.
Space is limited. Get your passes today.
