The event center was filled to capacity with designers from the region. Included in the event was a book signing and an opportunity for me to mingle with designers there.
I found the Russian people to be warm, friendly and generous. Moscow city was surprisingly cleaner than most American cities. Many people speak enough English for me to be able to communicate pretty freely.
I presented my lecture, Beyond the Portfolio, which covers what designers should do after their portfolio opens the door of opportunity. A design portfolio may open some doors, but to really excel in their career designers need to think beyond the portfolio. In today’s design world everything speaks. Designers must pay close attention to their personal brand across both the real and digital landscapes.
In the lecture designers learn how to dress, speak and act in a way that expands their memorability beyond just the quality of their portfolio of work. I cover things like body language, followup communication, interview techniques and cohesively tie one’s digital brand and non-digital brand together.
While my time wasn’t taken up with meet and greets that related to the event, I walked the streets of Moscow to see the sights and troll bookstores in search of the Russian edition of Burn Your Portfolio.
I left Moscow with a gaggle of new friends and an admiration for the country and the design community.
[Photo credits for many of the photos below: AIC]
