Being an SEGD student member is a pretty sweet deal, especially when Xlab rolls around. The location (New York!) and the price (Free!) are unbeatable, but that's just the beginning. 

Earlier this month, 64 students attended SEGD’s 2017 Xlab event. It was among the highest students attendances for any SEGD conference and continues to be a favorite among design programs; this was the fifth year in a row a group from the University of Oklahoma made it to Xlab, but they aren't the only "regulars." This year, large groups from design programs at Seton Hall, FIT, University of Oklahoma, and Corcoran/George Washington University participated in the event.

Coming to understand what one's future career could hold, firsthand, is an exciting prospect for any student. Along with the annual SEGD Conference Experience, Xlab tends to be one of the first encounters students have with the SEGD community, providing them with insights, inspiration and access to practitioners working on the cutting edge of the experiential graphic design field. In addition to the sessions and networking, studio and project tours in and around New York provide invaluable real-world context. Most students come away from the conference feeling inspired not only by the speakers and content, but by the myriad business contacts and new friends they meet. 

Students from the FIT Graduate Exhibition & Experience Design program shared their personal takeaways. Below is a sampling:

"One big takeaway from the very first talk was that ‘smart’ means better, not explicitly digital. I thought this was a great way of phrasing that technology is a tool, and this idea can help me always remember to make sure my designs happen with goals first, not tools first." —Nicole Ansbacher, Class of 2018

"Session four was probably my favorite; I admired the courage Jonathan (Alger) had to use his own personal experience to build up and support the point he was making about how important it is to stay openminded with people with whose ideas we might not identify with." —Tereza Kervin, Class of 2018

"This year Xlab conference was incredible! I am so thankful that I attended. I was so inspired that I came up with a new idea for my thesis project." —Vilasinee Cartoon Givanon, Class of 2017

"I attended the tour at Tessellate, where we had a small group for the tour—around ten people. So we were able to share opinions on exhibition contents and technology of various regions, based on our own lived experiences. I met two students currently attending Corcoran Exhibition Design program and we exchanged contact info. I’m very excited to see their projects and what students in other programs are learning." —Christine Lee Won, Class of 2018

"I went the Potion tour, where I was hoping to meet Matthew McNerney as he is the Director of Design and worked on designing the ArtLens section of The Cleveland Museum of Art (the new concept replacing Gallery One). I was hoping to ask him for an interview for my thesis and he agreed." —Helena Moreno, Class of 2017

"As exhibition designers, we are visual storytellers, guiding people through a very complex idea...the right design brings out the right message."  —Michelle Lin, Class of 2018

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