Getting to Pivot is Just Part of the Fun

Written by Donovan Beery in Honorable Mention

I’ve really been looking forward to the AIGA Pivot conference ever since it became real to me two weeks ago, but sometimes you need a sign to tell you how great an event may be. This one hit me at 6:45 in the morning while waiting for my bag at the Phoenix airport. They have steak houses with my name on them here? How great is this place?

But part of a conference is seeing old friends and making new ones, so I knew I was off to a good start when I ran into one friend on the plane, and not even 10 minutes of being in the hotel lobby, I ran into several more (including the Neenah Paper group).

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And so, it was off to Matt’s Big Breakfast for well, a big breakfast. To be honest here, I did not take a photo of my food, but since Cami Travis-Groves also ordered “The Chop & Chick,” my photo would have looked pretty much the same. Place is highly recommended, and worth the wait outside to get in.

Amazing food already (another good sign for a conference trip). But why do I have to go to Phoenix to have such an amazing Iowa porkchop? I live right across the river from that state…

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And as I wait for the conference to officially kick-off later tonight, I noticed the bookstore full of new books, and the resource center being the main source of activity. Already, looks like Neenah has a line at their booth – probably because of those new samples Design Army designed.

My early pre-conference highlight? Seeing an advance copy of Steve Gordon‘s new book at the Rockport Publishers booth. Partly because Steve is a good friend, partly because I have some work in it, but mostly because he hasn’t even seen it. Getting to twitter photos of your friend’s new project to them before they even know it’s out is just part of the fun.

I’ll be back in the morning with the kick-off review from Pivot. If you are at the conference, be sure to stop by and say hi.

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10:26pm

Neenah Paper said:

Early to bed early to rise makes an AIGA Conference Goer first in line for the coffee and donuts and a front seat with one of the Michaels! I am with you in spirt, DB! I Heart Pivot. MLP
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10:03pm

Ben Lueders said:

Makin’ me hungry!