The AIGA Design Conference is the place to get refreshed and recharged. Find your mojo in Memphis with the Opening Night Reception, Networking Happy Hour, 2009 AIGA Typographic Quiz and a collection of closing night events, all included in your conference registration at no extra charge.

Opening Night Reception

Thursday, October 8
7:00–9:00 p.m.

The Opening Night Reception will take place in the exhibit area on Thursday, October 8. Live music, sponsor giveaways, tempting food, tasty libations and of course, amazing networking opportunities.

Mano-a-Mano

Thursday, October 8
9:00–10:00 p.m.

Think you know your design trivia? Then step up to the challenge at “Mano-a-Mano”! Designers and authors Armin Vit and Bryony Gomez-Palacio have planned an exciting event for Thursday evening, and they're looking for 16 hardy participants to join a bracket-style tournament testing their design-history knowledge. The first 16 who enter by email will be the lucky contestants. But everyone is welcome to come and watch the action and sharpen your own design trivia! The grand-prize winner will get free registration to “Gain: AIGA Business and Design Conference 2010” in New York City!

Networking Happy Hour

Friday, October 9
6:30–8:30 p.m.

We’ll be hosting a networking happy hour in the exhibit area on Friday, October 9. There is no better way to end an inspiring day than to kick back and enjoy a nice cold beer or glass of wine and a bite to eat while you mingle with other designers, industry supporters and design luminaries.

A “Snappy Hour” with Shutterstock

Friday, October 9
9:30 p.m.
The Superior Bar, 159 Beale Street

Enjoy free drinks (beer and wine) at the Superior Bar while mingling with fellow “Make/Think” conference attendees. Show your name badge for free admission.

Design Observer party

9:30 p.m.–2:00 a.m.
New Daisy Theater, 330 Beale Street

2009 AIGA Typographic Quiz

Friday, October 9
7:30 p.m.

Can you pick Gotham out of a crowd? Been around the typographic block a few times? Then you’re ready to take the 2009 AIGA Typographic Quiz with Allan Haley, director of words and letters at Monotype Imaging.

You say you’ve taken the quiz before? It won’t help. We’ve got all new questions. In fact, this year’s quiz will be even more fun and rewarding than ever before. And if you know your typographic stuff, winning the varsity section will score you the grand prize of the Monotype OpenType library of over 1000 fonts (a $5,500 value!) and “Typophile of the year” bragging rights.

Prizes will be awarded for:

• Typophile of the Year
• Friends of Doyald Young Award
• Fred Goudy Honorable Mention
• Typographer’s Apprentice “Nice Try” Award
• Typographically Challenged

Prizes include the following:

• Merchandise from Veer, including their famous “swash” buckle, ampersand cufflinks, type trays and pillows
• Signed copies of Hermann Zapf’s most recent book
• Fonts and merchandise from P22
• Books from Oak Knoll Books
• Cool stuff from House Industries
• Fonts from FontShop
• Books from Mark Batty Publisher
• Type T-shirts
• CDs containing OpenType fonts of the newest releases from Linotype, Monotype, and ITC
• Gimmie hats from Font Bureau

Objectified, directed by Gary Hustwit

Thursday, October 8
9:00 p.m.

Objectified is a feature-length documentary about our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them. It’s a look at the creativity at work behind everything from toothbrushes to tech gadgets. It’s about the designers who re-examine, re-evaluate and re-invent our manufactured environment on a daily basis. It’s about personal expression, identity, consumerism, and sustainability.

Through vérité footage and in-depth conversations, the film documents the creative processes of some of the world’s most influential product designers, and looks at how the things they make impact our lives. What can we learn about who we are, and who we want to be, from the objects with which we surround ourselves?

Typeface, directed by Justine Nagan

Friday, October 9
9:00 p.m.

Typeface documents the Hamilton Wood Type and Printing Museum in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, the only such institution dedicated to the preservation, study, production and printing of wood type. The museum, is also is an active educational center for letterpress workshops for designers and artists from across the Midwest and around the country. It is a place where the last generation of skilled men and women who once created these intricate fonts—now in their 70s and 80s—can share their knowledge of this enduring craft. Typeface illustrates the convergence of modern design and traditional technique and is a film of of interest to artists, designers, teachers and anyone looking for a film about perseverance and preservation in the heart of America.

Shorts by PES

Thursday, October 8 and Friday, October 9

Stop-motion master PES re-imagines everyday objects and images from pop culture in a distinctive and hilarious animation style guaranteed to entertain, if only for 60 seconds. Films include:

• Game Over
• Roof Sex
• Western Spaghetti
• ...and more!

Saturday, October 10
Select establishments on Beale Street, below

The conference may be over but the party lives on! The following places on Beale Street are offering discounts to “Make/Think” attendees—all you have to do is show your conference badge.

B.B. King’s Blues Club
143 Beale Street
901-524-5464
Free admission with conference badge

Blues City Café
138 Beale Street
901-526-3637
Free admission with conference badge

Club Cosmo
341 Beale Street
901-570-5410
Free admission and drink special with conference badge

Hard Rock Café
315 Beale Street
901-529-0007
Free admission with conference badge, but a donation will be appreciated because they are hosting a Breast Cancer Awareness evening and all admissions will be donated to the Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Silky O'Sullivans
183 Beale Street
901-522-9596
Free admission with conference badge

Superior Bar
159 Beale Street
901-523-1940
10 percent off food order with conference badge

Wet Willie’s
209 Beale Street
901-578-5650
$2 Bottled beer special with conference badge: Bud, Bud Light, Miller Lite, Coors Light

“Make/Think” attendees presenting a conference badge at the door will have access to these specials all night. (Hey, you’ll sleep on the plane!)
 

There’ll be plenty of networking opportunities at complimentary breakfasts, refreshment breaks and plenty of coffee throughout the day. Don’t miss out on Memphis. Register now!