Sunday, April 1, 2012

Notre Dame Alumni Design Conference 2012

This past weekend I travelled to Notre Dame, Indiana to speak at the 14th Annual Alumni Design Conference. Nine of my 2002 classmates and myself returned to share our experiences in the Design Industry since graduating 10 years ago. Yikes! I was incredibly nervous to speak, more because I was concerned about the 20 minute time limit. A lot has happened to me in the last 10 years, and I had a lot to share. Somehow I managed to do it.

Every year, there is a Crawfish Boil to thank the returning Alumni and to celebrate the MFA/BFA exhibition opening the same weekend. I had never been to a Crawfish Boil or even had crawfish for that matter. The event was fun and the food was tasty. Crawfish are like mini lobsters, just not with the same payoff.

Crawfish Boil

Crawfish

Before returning to Minneapolis, I was able to spend some time on campus Sunday. The weather was absolutely beautiful. It was nice to be back in the Spring. I am used to the chaos of Football Saturdays in the Fall which you don't really get to take the time to appreciate Notre Dame as a beautiful and peaceful place.

Snite Museum Tulips

Notre Dame Football Practice Field

Theodore Hesburgh Library (Touchdown Jesus)

Notre Dame Squirrel

Riley Hall (Art & Design Building)

Notre Dame du Lac

Blessed Virgin Mary at The Grotto

The Grotto Tulips

The Log Chapel

Lyons Hall Tree

Lyons Hall (Home)

Basillica of Sacred Heart

Golden Dome

This past weekend was a great opportunity to share with the students my struggles and successes over the last 10 years. It was also a great opportunity for me to reflect on what I have accomplished and think about what I to accomplish in the next 10 years. I have a lot of big dreams. Just like I told the students . . . "As long as your doing what you love and pursuing your own dreams, the rest will work itself out."