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AIGA national board member John Bielenberg has asked five prominent designers and one imposter to spend some time with students, to talk about what they've learned and you ought to know.

Curious, are you? Then come to AIGA's student symposium, "What Little We’ve Learned," beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 23 at "The Power of Design: AIGA National Design Conference." You're in for a treat. With John Bielenberg as moderator, you'll explore the following topics:

"Big Always Works. If It's Big and It's Not Working, It's Just Not Big Enough," with Michael Vanderbyl, dean of design at the California College of Arts and Crafts and principal of Vanderbyl Design

"Absolutely Everything You Do, Good and Bad, Boring and Exciting, Always Comes Back to Bite You and Fall on Your Head," with Stefan Sagmeister, principal of Sagmeister Inc.

"On-the-Job Training; or What I Learned by Not Going to Design School," with Bill Grant, president and creative director of Grant Design Collaborative

"How to Think about Jobs and Careers as a Sequence of Relationships Rather than a Sequence of Firms, Job Descriptions and Salaries," with Jim Faris, Santa Cruz-based design consultant

"Designers Don't Get It," with Greg Galle, cofounder of C2, The Creative Capital Company

"Ninety-nine Ways to Skin a Cat," with Ann Willoughby, creative director and founder of Willoughby Design Group

From 12:30-2:30 p.m., participate in the Student Portfolio Display. Bring either a print portfolio, or a laptop with your projects and the software needed to run them. We'll give you a table and chair, and will direct the multitude of designers attending the conference your way. It's a great opportunity to be seen and to shake the hands of those big names you've always wanted meet (no spots available as of October 3).

These activities are only the beginning--in the weekend to follow, you'll hear speakers from diverse disciplines who work in a variety of media discuss designing for the economy, environment and culture. Learn how designers will play critical roles in the success of our rebounding economy--both as agents of social change in a complex world and as leading architects of sustainable solutions for a troubled planet.

Don't miss this incredible opportunity for conversation, inspiration, discovery and fun in the beautiful city of Vancouver, British Columbia. Note: Tickets at the student rate are sold out. Students may still register at the regular member price.