2008 IDSA National Conference - PolarOpposites

Location: Biltmore Phoenix



This was the most tiring conference I have ever attended. By the end of the conference, I just had to leave in the middle of somebody's speech, to stretch my brain and take a well-needed break... and I think that is a sign of a great conference: one that leaves me thinking.



A few things I noticed in the whole process of crashing this.

• The big square ID Badges, on a goofy lanyard, with bright red and black printing.


• Then the home-made stickers on those badges that were supposed to create a hierarchy of "who's allowed into what event."


• And the difference in number of people who wore these badges on the last day from the first day.

Another thing.

This was on at a hotel. A large hotel where the employees wore both suits and polo shirts.

If I wear a polo shirt of the same color of the employees, or a suit... I'm in.


I also noticed how many entrances were available to each section of the conference.

It just kept getting easier.



So my review of the conference.

Honestly, I missed much of the conference events that fell before 930AM. Every day.

But luckily I only missed the general sessions with dozens of speakers doing their thing in a huge auditorium to hundreds of people. These speeches were great, but really didn't have as much punch as the breakout sessions.


The ones I happened to catch were:
The 2008 Portfolio/Interviewing Seminar

(BRUTAL) The folks presenting this seminar were just plain brutal to the poor ID grad that submitted his portfolio for review. And honestly. They were great help, but they were unrealistic. Picture this. Old folks. Female with hair in a bun, similar to the stereotypical librarian, teamed up with the English fellow from "America's Got Talent" and a polo-shirt wearing good-old business man, reviewing your design portfolio.

You being a early 20-something with your ear to the ground, full of inspiration vigor and style. Now do you see the difference here? We all have dreams of biking to work, meeting the CEO of your company riding a scooter at an intersection, and then chatting in front of the revamped 40s diner-turned-design firm before heading in to work on the next best, next biggest, next newest product/building/website/etc.

What I get from these "professionals" is: Cubicle Nation. Where Return on Investment is more than cultural impact, creativity, or informed thought.

I took notes at this presentation, but I still think seminar needs a counterpoint.

Leftover Night at the Factory: The Design Story of the Nike Trash Talk

Great metaphor for a design solution: Leftovers. And I was impressed by the talk; was very eye opening. Although, I did feel that Nike as a company has the social stance to create recycled products and still have power in the market, which I think really couldn't be done elsewhere.

Someone made a great comment that drove a stake through the heart of this talk:
By recycling shoes/things to create more shoes, aren't you just solving a problem with another problem?

Genius.

Paradox
Flex Products Group

Honestly. I walked out of this presentation after I realized that it was nothing more than a "look at our product!" sales pitch.

Moved: People Power Revisited
Peter Chamberlain & David Parrott

What do you get when you cross a passionate awkward bike-nerd with a too-cool-4-school grad student with all the answers?
This great presentation, about how bikes are the future and the past, the importance of slow design, and how people powered bikes can change the world. Eye opening, mind bending, but a little disappointing how the moneyshot-product was something that was both attainable and aimed at a company like GM.
-boo

Portfolio Review

Lots of students, showing their stuff till the wee hours of the night. Many were great, impressive, and a bit too sure of themselves. (they better check that)
Others were.. well... eeeeh. with an apologetic demeanor. (that better be checked, too)

Materials and Processes for Medical Product Development (Sponsored by Medical and Materials & Processes Sections)

The slides went by so quickly, that I was a bit lost for a second. If anyone has a copy of the slides, please let me know.
I learned quite a bit about materials in the medical field, and about the process, but really, it wasn't too inspiring. Big thumbs down for the Frat Bro presenting the newly design sonic medical tool. hah ... tool.

Now is the New Future: Designing into Presence Valerie Jacobs

This woman is a genius. You could have cut the disdain for her in the room as the presentation began, but by the end of it she won everyone over. Very impressive, and totally a brain-bender.
I'm a big fan of folks that can predict the future, and I belive she can do it.
I wasn't too jazzed about her proposal to RFID tag illegal immigrants. -boo

Bad is The New Good

This was interesting, but really didn't teach me much of anything new. Wasn't boring though. Although I hate when presentations turn into "Look how great my firm is!!"

Age over Beauty: Elevating Design’s Future via History
John Barratt, IDSA, president and CEO, Teague

I just right now realized that the CEO of Teague gave this speech. No wonder it was so damn good. It was a great look back into the history of design and its relevance today. I took some notes. and now I'm going to re-read them, and paint the key points on my wall. In other words... Great presentation.

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So.. this conference was fun, and I came home with three bags of useless, semi-uselsess, and useful stuff.

I think i would give it a +3 on the SCALE.

BTW the SCALE is -5 to +5.

-5 being, waste of non-money and time

+5 I would have paid for this, maybe twice.