Design Camp^®

Since 1980, Design Camp^® has been AIGA Minnesota’s premiere event and the largest regional design conference in the country. Held annually in late September/early October at a lodge in northern Minnesota, this event sets the standard for design conferences across the country.

Design Camp provides an atypical conference structure, mixing indoor and outdoor activities with both educational and social events.

Design Camp lasts for three days. Campers arrive Friday morning for registration and depart Sunday afternoon. Five keynote speakers set the tone for camp, while small-group workshops and creative sessions follow each presentation. Attendees (referred to as “campers”) stay in lakefront cabins or golf-friendly condos and meet in the main lodge for events and meals. Friday and Saturday nights offer much socializing and tend to run late into the night.

The conference averages 350 total attendees, including campers, speakers, presenters, sponsors, and vendors. Campers come primarily from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, and Canada. Most campers are graphic designers and art directors or involved in the graphic arts (photographers, illustrators, educators, copywriters, etc.)—but all are welcome.

In past years, Design Camp has included speakers such as Erik Spiekermann, Ellen Lupton, Robert Valentine, Milton Glaser, Doyald Young, Chip Kidd, Lyn Severance, Paul Sahre, Jim Sherraden, Frank Chimero, Paula Scher, DJ Stout, Jolby, and Dana Arnett.

With speakers and events like these, it’s easy to understand why many in the design community consider Design Camp to be the event of the year. This is truly an ideal setting in which to meet the leaders of the design community.