I am attending [NeoCon] this year for the first time and was wondering if you have any advice on what not to miss and what is OK to miss. I am planning this alone, so any advice you can offer would be appreciated. Thank you.

(submitted by Steven F.)

I”m so glad to hear that you are going to NeoCon ” I guarantee that it will be a fantastic experience for you. The product, the people, the energy ” it will be a little overwhelming, but well worth it.

First off, you should definitely attend the Wednesday Student activities. From keynote speaker Rem D. Koolhaas to the Metropolis panel and associated Next Generation Design Competition to the ASID Career Exchange and IIDA Roundtable Discussions, your brain will be close to the saturation point.

The luncheon keynotes are also worth attending on Monday (June 12) and Tuesday (Jun 13). I”ve always found them meaningful, and you get a free lunch to boot! ASID also offers a free lunch and networking opportunity in one of their IP showrooms, which is a good opportunity to meet people. Check the schedule. I mention the free stuff because I’m sure you’re on a budget, but aren’t we all”””

Monday is truly the day of Madness. That’s the most popular day for people to attend. Everyone’s there: designers, architects, facility managers, manufacturer’s reps, end users / clients, etc. If you sliced the Merchandise Mart in half and looked at the section, it would look like an ant farm.

Have you signed up for any classes” There are so many good ones, but I would advise to keep that to a minimum this time because 1) they are a bit expensive, and 2) there are WAY too many things for you to see. I don’t know how long you are going to be up there, but there’s never enough time to see everything. Never.

Definitely try to hit the big showrooms as they are impressive and will be pulling out all the stops. However, the smaller showrooms will have plenty of useful (and fun) giveaways and brochures that you can take home with you and possibly use for future school projects. But try to hit the temporary booths too as you can find some gems of products and services there. (Didn’t I say that there was too much to see”)

Whatever you do, be sure to print up some personal business cards for networking purposes. (I’m assuming you’re looking for a job or internship”) See the PLiNTH & CHiNTZ article about this for some details.

Definitely check out Fiona Worboy’s PLiNTH & CHiNTZ article on about NeoCon from a student’s perspective – you should find it extremely beneficial.

Lastly, some practical advice… Try to get there early in the morning and start at the top, working your way down via the stairs because the elevators are absolutely insanely packed. Stay away from them if you have claustrophobia. Also, if you need to get somewhere for a luncheon or event, allow yourself about 15 more minutes than you think you’ll need – it’s just hard to maneuver through the maze of people. Finally, wear comfortable shoes. Nothing is more miserable and will ruin your entire experience faster than angry blisters and pinched toes.

I hope that this has helped, and I commend you on your NeoCon plans – it will be an unforgettable experience for you. Learn, baby, learn!