However, I did attend that evening when the conference really kicked off 5pm on Thursday night with a welcome by AIGA Director Ric Grefé, a short speech by AIGA President Bill Grant, an introduction of host John Hockenberry and then three presentations by Murray Moss of Moss Store, juan Enriquez author and Harvard prof. and Lella + Massimo Vignelli...

Unfortunately I missed out on the last 2 presentations as Murray went long + we had tickets to the red Sox game (rain delay, no bad seats, and a loss 6-2 to the A's)... But here are worthwhile tidbits from what I did hear:

Grefé:
- 20 years since the first AIGA conf. here in Boston and the membership is up from 3000 to 18,000

- AIGA conf. is testament to the value of community for designers

- AIGA national is going 'carbon-neutral' (not quite sure what this is, but to reduce pollution)

Grant:
- Glaser said 'design has the power to change the world' - we must examine our own communities: how can we do this?

- How can design improve living? How can AIGA diversify - is race important? Who are the future design leaders? How do we cultivate them?

Hockenberry:
- let go from NBC, AIGA is only gig right now

- tirade on government's failures or perhaps causes of disasters

- hints at Design as possible savior of humankind

Moss:
- lists ten 'propositions' he sees being made today in design objects - among the more interesting observations:

- emergence of production philosophy where designer designs PROCESS not end piece - that is up to production worker based on parameters of the process

- products are conveying more personal/political/philosophical perspectives than ever before

- embracing 'nothing is new' - reappropriation IS design - and original design at that

Glad, to hear you went to Boston to go to a Sox game. That's worth the trip if nothing else. What's this AIGA stuff all about?

The American Institute of Graphic Designers - a professional association for design nerds. Our biannual national convention.