Seek is a one day design conference held on Wednesday November 2 2016, at Morningstar and the Chicago Design Museum, in Chicago Illinois. Featuring presentations by April Greiman, Rick Valicenti, and Eileen Tjan. Workshops by IA Collaborative, Fjord, a Risograph workshop and a walking architecture tour.

 

Early Bird Registration is $125 until October 15.

 

After that the registration fee is $150.

Fee includes access to various conference activities, workshops, lunch at Latinicity, presentations, and the after party.

PRESENTATIONS
Featured presenters are:
April Greiman, Rick Valicenti and Eileen Tjan.

WORKSHOPS

Design Innovation workshop led by Rebecca Gimenez and John Foust, and other staff from IA Collaborative at their office space.

Interaction Design workshop, led by Dre Szymczak from Fjord at Morningstar.

Walking tour of significant architecture in the Chicago Loop led by Jonathan Mekinda from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Risograph workshop led by Tanner Woodford and Matthew Terdich of the Chicago Design Museum.

LUNCH INCLUDED

Lunch is at Latinicity right across from the Chicago Design Museum. It’s all you can eat, choosing from 10 kitchens with a wide variety of menu offerings.

AFTER PARTY
The after party will feature stand up comedian Mike O’Keefe.

LOCATIONS
Morningstar
22 W Washington St. Chicago IL 60602

7th Floor
The conference starts here.
Check in will be at Morningstar, 7th floor, and the initial presentation will be in the Morningstar Auditorium. The evening presentations and panel discussion will also be at Morningstar. One workshop will be here too.

Chicago Design Museum
108 North State Street, Chicago IL 60602
Block 37 Third Floor
The Chicago Design Museum, just around the corner from Morningstar, will host a Risograph workshop, you may view their current exhibit, and the After Party  will take place here.

Latinicity
108 North State Street, Chicago IL 60602
Block 37 Third Floor
This is the lunch location, and is right across from the Chicago Design Museum.

Other Locations
Other activities you may participate in will have you touring the city, or visiting a design office. The city is our oyster! : ) Maps will be provided as part of your check in materials. And there is always Google Maps.

GETTING HERE, PARKING, HOTELS

Metra
Metra train service from the various Chicago suburbs will get you to the Chicago Loop area, and the various downtown stations, such as Union, Oglivie, or LaSalle. From there you can either walk for about 15 minutes or take a taxi, or Uber. Taxi stands are common at all train stations.

CTA Train
CTA service from areas closer to downtown can be taken. The Blue Line Washington station would be closest to Morningstar.

Driving
If you drive it is highly recommended you carpool and leave very early. It will be rush hour in the morning. (Metra is really the way to go, and then you don’t have to concern yourself with parking too.)

 

Parking
If you must drive, use the parking app SpotHero to find and reserve parking spots at garages around the conference venue (22 W. Washington Street, Chicago IL). SpotHero will give you reduced rates, up to 50% in some cases.

Hotels
Hotels are plentiful in the area, though they can get a bit pricey. For a lower price option, and for those in the student or frugally minded category, check out Hi Hostel Chicago.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Use #SeekCon2016 on Twitter or Instagram to participate in our live feed, or post to our Facebook page. The feed will be projected at different moments during the conference, and feature related posts on the following social media platforms:

Facebook

Twitter

Vimeo

Instagram

SCHEDULE
The conference schedule is subject to change!

 

8:00am to 9:00am

Check in at Morningstar, 7th Floor.

Check in is required of all conference attendees to get your credentials and allow access to various venues.

 

9:00 to 9:10am

Welcoming remarks, conference orientation.

At Morningstar Auditorium

 

9:10 to 9:50am

Eileen Tjan presentation.

At Morningstar Auditorium.

 

10am to 11:50am

Workshops as noted above at various locations.

 

12:00pm to 1:00pm

Lunch at Latinicity, in Block 37, across from
The Chicago Design Museum.

 

1:10 to 3:00pm

Workshops as noted above at various locations.

 

3:15 to 4:00pm

Break

Check out the Chicago Design Museum Exhibit,

City of Ideas: Architects' Voices and Visions.

 

4:00 to 4:50pm

Rick Valicenti presentation and interview.

At Morningstar Auditorium.

 

5:00 to 5:50pm

April Greiman presentation and interview.

At Morningstar Auditorium.

 

6:00 to 6:45pm

Panel discussion with most conference presenters.

At Morningstar Auditorium.

 

7:00 to 9:00pm

After Party at Chicago Design Museum.

Featuring a performance by comedian Mike O’Keefe.

 

THANK YOU!
Morningstar for their generous support of Seek in the use of their facilities, and Chad Allen for his assistance.

Aaron Draplin for the use of his cool Seek hand lettering logotype.

The Chicago Design Museum staff,  Tanner Woodford, Lauren Boegen and Matthew Terdich, for their support and advice regarding the conference plan, the use of their space and their general positive spirit toward Seek, and their willingness to lead a workshop.

Matt Torres for his efforts in shooting the original videography featured in the Seek trailer.

 

Doug Brand for his assistance with the Media Feed.

 

The presenters and contributors to Seek 2016: April Greiman, Rick Valicenti, Eileen Tjan, Rebecca Gimenez, John Foust and Marketing Director Lila Trickle at IA Collaborative, Jonathan Mekinda, Dre Szymczak, Hamid Benna at Latinicity, and Mike O‘Keefe.

 

QUESTIONS?
Feel free to email me, Steve Quinn, the Seek conference director.
seekconference.niu@gmail.com