Each spring AIGA Minnesota’s annual Portfolio 1 on 1 event brings design students together with experienced designers to share conversations, experiences and ideas — all to help students develop a strong portfolio. Design students from around the upper Midwest spend two days touring studios, attending workshops, and receiving valuable one on one advice and insight from professional working designers. It’s a great opportunity for students to make connections and take that next step toward becoming professionals themselves. I attended the event in 2005 and left feeling excited and inspired to work hard at making my book — and myself — the best it could possibly be. Being able to give back to the design community and contribute to an experience that meant so much to me when I was a student is a true honor.