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
Chicago After Work & Video Killed the Wordsmith
Chicago After Work Networking Event @ The Griffin Lounge
Karl and I attended the Chicago After Work networking and socializing event on Thursday, May 20 at the Griffin Lounge. Geared toward young business professionals, Chicago After Work hosts a networking event every 2-3 weeks at some of Chicago’s premier bars, hotels and nightclubs. Each event ranges in size from 250-350 people and features an open bar along with appetizers.
Keeping true to the tagline on their giant banner, Chicago After Work is “networking with a different point of view.â€
Upon entering, every event attendee receives a name tag color-coated by industry intended to help with searching for other industry-specific networkers. I spotted a few people doubling up on name tags (blue for entrepreneur with yellow for healthcare and whatnot). Their color system was quite vast and I found it hard to match up colors with industries without running back to the giant sign at the entrance. It reminded me of the terror alert system, which means that us marketing people (red is our color) are at severe risk of attack. Perhaps I should have put every color on.
Making our way through the crowded entrance, Karl and I made a beeline for food. Along the way, we found a few business card drop boxes including one for You Swoop, which is a Chicago-based deal-a-day service that offers one amazing deal (called a “swoopâ€) of the day from a Chicago business. We didn’t win the drawing, but I picked up a squishy ball for my co-workers to throw around the office.
With food in sight, I enjoyed satay in the Crystal Room and then went on a mission to socialize. I got approached by a few marketing people in the Atrium where we discussed marketing tactics and product development amid red velvet couches, medieval chained lighting and elegant fabrics.
Beyond the appetizers and drinks, this event also offered chair massages from Red Door Spa as well as mixology and sushi making classes from I Wish Lessons. I decided to try my hand at making sushi. While my roll looked flawless, cutting it into six pieces was a problem. My knife was not very sharp, so my sushi turned out a bit squished. Nevertheless, I met a few interesting people as I rolled up some rice and cucumbers.
Overall, the Chicago After Work event was a great networking opportunity for creating and expanding business connections as well as opportunities. I only have two suggestions: 1) create a card with all of color codes for attendees to take with them and 2) devise a game in order to encourage more socializing.
Oh and on a side note, I tried to get video of this event with the new Flip Video SlideHD. For that particular night, video killed the wordsmith. Not to worry, she’ll conquer it soon enough.
Grammatically yours,
LM Word Girl