The Business of Design
Geared towards freelancers and small business owners, a useful introductory presentation and discussion on the ends and outs of owning your own business and working for yourself.

140 Characters or Less
The world of social media and how it can be used to strengthen yourself as a designer. Addressing questions such as what it takes to be successful online, is it necessary to have a blog and twitter account,and is there a formula for being viral with your online marketing efforts? Learn the secrets to effective online marketing and use of social media for your creative business.

Branding You
Geared towards recent college graduates (or soon to be graduates) and designers looking to restructure their identity/how they market. Guides participants through the self-branding process, including what to consider, what makes you/your business unique, and how to capitalize on that uniqueness.

The Designer & The Community
Addresses the question of the role of a designer in terms of community involvement and the environment. Discusses mutually beneficial ways for designers to get more involved in their community and how to approach projects creatively

The Green Movement & The Creative Industry
A large portion of our profession is print based. This session explores the green movement and its effect on the design industry and ciphers through ways to offer eco-friendly options to clients/corporate customers. This session openly presents the creativity and challenges involved with sustainable design, and how to develop award winning campaigns with the environment in mind.

Making the Transition from Print to Web
The creative profession is changing and more print based designers are being forced to re-evaluate their skillset and consider immersing themselves (or at the very least getting their feet wet) with web design. This session evaluates how necessary it is to pick up web design and how to start your transition

Networking 101: Make It Work For You
This session addresses the importance of social networking as a way to promote business, worth, and establish strategic business connections. Gives tips for people who may be apprehensive about initiating conversation in a room full of people, and re-evaluates the way we look at fi rst impressions.

The Client Is Always Right
How do you work with a difficult client? We’ve all had the experience of working with a client that has outrageous demands. This session addresses how to approach these types of situations in a professional manner, how to stay creative and positive with respect to their demands, and still keeping your high level of design within the means of what the client is looking for.

Typography: More Than Words
In today's design, the way words are portrayed hold just as much weight as the images often used to convey meaning and emotion for a particular project. This session will explore the creative use of typography in graphic design.

Will It Print?
An in-depth look at the processes of making files printable for the benefit of print production employees everywhere. Making files printable is a topic that is sometimes overlooked in college education, but it is very important to consider for all print related projects.  Knowledge of printing, the different styles/types and processes are beneficial for all aspects of the graphic design profession.

AFTERNOON PANEL DISCUSSION: The Value of Great Design
A design can make or break a brand or an advertising campaign. Creative professionals understand the importance of great design, but sometimes that value gets lost in translation when persuading others. This is a topic that focuses on strategies for helping prospective clients understand the value of investing in good design, especially with regards to branding. You'll hear advice and real world examples from leading professionals in the creative industry. Plus you'll have the opportunity to have your voice heard and your questions answered.

*Session topics are subject to change.