Speaking

Talks that build something in front of the room.

Creative technology, AI filmmaking, and digital equity, from a creative technologist who ships the work he talks about. Keynotes, live demos, workshops, and panels.

Book a talk Bios & press kit Speaker kit (PDF)

Most recentlyConnectSTL Community, Culture & Impact Celebration · “What's Next” panel · Oct 22, 2026

Xander Simms on stage at Adobe Create Now in St. Louis, arm raised, in front of a slide reading “Reality by Design. Worlds within words. You are not alone,” with an ASL interpreter signing beside him. — On stage at Adobe Create Now · The Sheldon · Oct 6, 2026 · Photo: @allieemagee

01 / Signature talks

Three talks, ready to book.

Each one can run as a keynote, a shorter showcase slot, or a hands-on session.

No. 01Talk10–20 min
Reality by Design
Technology is an actuator: it takes what's already inside us and gives it a voice. Stories of a voiceless child, a blind designer, and an AI film, with one message: you are not alone.
- Why intention, not capability, is the scarce thing now
- How a story moves from one person's idea to a room full of people
- What it means to build tools that help people be heard
For Creative conferences, design weeks, brand and marketing teams
No. 02Live demo3–30 min
Building the Doors: AI + Digital Equity
A live walkthrough of the Innovation Gallery: ten AI challenges turn a student's idea into a pitch, a brand, or a song in minutes, and what it takes to make that access equitable.
- What happens when high school students get the professional tools, not toy versions
- Access isn't the device, it's the doorway
- How schools, nonprofits, companies, and creators can partner on it
For Education, civic tech, digital-inclusion, and community events
No. 03Workshop / panel30–60 min
Intention Over Capability
How AI films and creative pipelines get made: what the machine handles, what stays human, and why taste is now the scarce skill.
- Where AI fits in a real production, and where it doesn't
- How to credit tools and protect people's likeness and work
- How creative teams keep their point of view as production gets cheap
For Creative and marketing teams, agencies, universities

02 / Formats

From a three-minute demo to a full workshop.

Pair a keynote with a live activation and attendees don't just hear about AI creativity: they make something with it before they leave. That's what the Innovation Gallery was built to do for the 360 high school students registered for ConnectSTL's tour.

See the Innovation Gallery

Keynote: 10–20 minutes, with film and live examples
Live build: A working tool or pipeline, built in front of the room
Workshop: 30–60 minutes, hands-on, with the professional tools
Panel or moderation: Creative careers, AI in schools, digital equity
Keynote + live activation: The talk, then attendees run AI challenges built for your audience, like the Innovation Gallery

03 / Stages

On stage, on the record.

From design week to NFT.NYC to a metaverse stream. Past stages link to a public record or his own post.

Past

Adobe Create Now speaker card featuring Xander Simms — Adobe Create Now · official speaker card · See the talk

The St. Louis sticker Xander designed for Adobe Create Now — Commissioned sticker · Adobe Create Now St. Louis

Xander Simms with Washington University in St. Louis students after a guest talk — With Washington University in St. Louis students after a guest talk

04 / For organizers

Everything you need to say yes.

Presents from his own MacBook (HDMI or USB-C), or from yours with a PPTX and MP4 he provides
Audio out to the house speakers for film clips
Reliable Wi-Fi for live demos; an offline backup video comes along
Lavalier or handheld mic, and a clicker if available
Ten minutes for an AV check before doors open
Photos and video welcome: tag Xander Simms on LinkedIn and @xanderlove.ai on Instagram

50- and 150-word bios Press & coverage Speaker kit (PDF) Press photos + bios (ZIP)

Host intro · about 30 seconds, read aloud

Our next speaker is a St. Louis creative technologist and AI filmmaker. Xander Simms builds AI tools and films that help people find their voice. His film The Signal, created with Luma, explores what it means for a machine to be heard. In October 2026 he built the Innovation Gallery, which put ten AI challenges, built on pro AI tools, in the hands of high school students across SLU, SIUE, and Webster during Digital Inclusion Week. He's a two-time Lindenwood University graduate, the founder of Digital Storytellers Ink, and he spoke at Adobe Create Now during St. Louis Design Week 2026. Please welcome Xander Simms.

05 / Book a talk

Tell me about the room.

Share the audience, the date, and the format you have in mind. Based in St. Louis, open to travel, and happy to present virtually.

Talks that build something in front of the room.

Reality by Design

Building the Doors: AI + Digital Equity

Intention Over Capability

From a three-minute demo to a full workshop.

Everything you need to say yes.