INsight Design Conference: One-on-one Interview with Founder Joseph Gonzalez
My interview with INsight founder Joseph Gonzalez
On Friday, May 21, I attended the INsight Design Conference. After hearing about this event for the past two years, I had a lot of questions about this one-day, regional design event. As it’s website explains, INsight aims to educate, inspire and transform area designers, but I wanted to know more about its founding and its impact on the design community.
I went straight to the source and asked founder Joseph Gonzalez for an interview. My request was granted and as the event died down (except for the lively music from DJ Geoffrey Phillip) I sat down with Joseph to find out more about INsight.
WG: What target group are you trying to reach with the INsight Design Conference?
JG: The INsight Design Conference originally started as reaching students and 1-year experience designers and then seasoned designers started attending.
WG: Is it solely for graphic designers or are you trying to expand to other types of artists?
JG: The conference is open to graphical designers, graphic artists, photographers and fine artists, but it focuses more toward digital [art/design].
WG: What was your initial vision in founding the INsight Conference? How has that vision changed to fit the goals of your attendees?
JG: People contacted me to review portfolios [from all different colleges] and they were horrible. Something had to be done. INsight gives students the opportunity to get professional reviews. That’s why the surveys are so important–to make sure the conference is in line with what they need.
WG: What key points should a designer take away from this conference?
JG: There is a community in Northwest Indiana, this event showcases it and [designers] can be involved.
WG: What is your advice for the following types of designers:
WG: The novice designer?
JG: Always continue to grow and push yourself. Latch on to another professional or mentor.
WG: The seasoned designer who needs to freshen up his/her work?
JG: This is the perfect event to see other designers and their work and to continue to grow and find other ways to push [yourself].
WG: The corporate designer who wants to go freelance?
JG: Take on small work for 6 months, see it’s right for you and [if it is] take the risk.
WG: How can NWI designers set themselves apart from Chicago/big city designers?
JG: Northwest Indiana has a reputation of not being able to produce quality work. Northwest Indiana designers need to educate clients on the results. We need to do that as a community to show that we know what we’re talking about.
WG: What improvements would you like to make for the next conference?
JG: The overall promotion needs to start a month earlier. The conference has a great reputation of people showing up last minute.
If you want to learn more about the INsight Design Conference, click to check out their website, Facebook or Twitter.
Grammatically yours,
LM Word Girl