Best Moments from Past SEGD Conferences
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With every SEGD Conference,you know you can expect a killer lineup of speakers, loads of inspiration, a trendy design-forward locale and parties—so many parties. [Ahem, we mean networking opportunities. Sorry, boss.]
But it’s what you can’t anticipate that often make the best memories. And we have plenty to choose from.
Here are just a few of our favorite moments from past SEGD Conferences (in no particular order):
2012 New York Conference
Go big or go home? At the President’s Reception, we went big with images of attendees blown up and visible on a giant screen in the heart of Times Square. It was the perfect introduction to a big event in the Big Apple.
2017 Miami Conference
SEGD Fellow Lance Wyman spoke about his life in design. He signed books and posters for the Auction for Excellence. He was in roughly 1300 selfies. He spent time with students and young designers. We heart Lance. But the secret sauce of SEGD is that most of our members are like Lance.
2014 Atlanta Conference
Design Improv, a chance to address a design problem with nothing but popsicle sticks and pipe cleaners, led to Design Improv(e), which addressed a real-life identity and wayfinding solution for a local community resource.
2008 Austin Conference
Always full of new ideas and innovative materials, NEXPO is a great opportunity to up your game. But baby armadillos? A giant bull to pose with for selfies? A surfboard giveaway? Industry members upped their game in Austin, they sure ’nuff did.
2007 Boston Conference
SEGD President Jonathan Alger, dressed as President George Washington, welcomed participants to the event. Another president opened the Hollywood Conference dressed as Elvis. Will it be Prince or Bob Dylan for Minneapolis? Vote early, vote often.
1980–1990 Cranbrook Conferences
Rumor has it there was a late-night break-in to the campus bowling alley. And skinny dipping. Even more than our lawyer suggests we mention. But the people who birthed and grew SEGD were there.
2004 Philadelphia Conference
Lily Yeh brought everyone to tears speaking about Barefoot Artists and the transformative power of art. Alan Jacobson, in the audience that day, was inspired to work with Yeh on an SEGD Global Design Award winning project in Rwanda.
2011 Montreal Conference
Conference tours show you the magic behind stadiums, museums, and more. This tour got participants behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil’s international headquarters. Surprisingly, no one ran away with the circus.
2015 Chicago Conference
For the first time ever, a Chapter event was held as part of the Conference. It was a great way to get local and refreshed after a full day of content, networking and inspiration. The events have grown each year since and the Minneapolis event promises to beat them all. Knee hockey, anyone? You betcha.
2016 Seattle Conference
Dozens of students visited design studios around the city, meeting owners and staff who do what they want to do. Seattle also hosted the most well-attended Young Designer’s Summit, where Board Members and Chapter Chairs met with students and young members. And did we mention that student members attend the conference for free?
2018 Minneapolis Conference
Magic was in the air in Minneapolis. This conference delivered the highest satisfaction score for an SEGD conference since the great recession. 92 percent of attendees reported they were either “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with the experience. And what an experience it was. Held in a historical train station where the lights were turned down low, the NEXPO show floor was truly a sight to behold.
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Ready to make new memories? Join your design friends at the 2019 SEGD Conference Experience Austin, June 6–8. Register now!
Thanks to Daktronics, our presenting sponsor, and to all of our sponsors for this year’s 2019 Austin Conference.
For Available Sponsorship Opportunities —> Please email Kathleen Turner. See you in Austin in June!