The Symposium (Presented by Big Brain and DFT) | March 5, 2026

THE SYMPOSIUM at DFT
🧠 🪩 Presented by and

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Take a break from big beats in the streets during DFT, with Big Brain at The Symposium —a space for minds to connect, learn, and explore cool topics.
🎟️ RSVP Required for Entry!
This is a FREE ticketed event with limited capacity (only the first 100 guests to check-in will enter!)
Tickets are required for entry, and space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
A ticket does not guarantee entry. Doors open at 7PM.

WHERE: Hawthorn SF [21+ venue]
WHEN: 7-9PM
​7-7:35PM | Arrival & Chats
7:35-8:20PM | Lecture
​​​​​8:20-9PM | Q&A and more chatting

March 5th Featured Speaker:
"Imagine More: Redesigning the Stories That Hold You Back in Life"
Pam Daniels, Clinical Professor Emerita of Design Innovation at Northwestern and veteran of creative powerhouses IDEO and Leo Burnett.
Join Pam Daniels for a deep dive into the architecture of possibility. This isn’t about surface-level “positive thinking.” It’s about applying design thinking to examine the quiet scripts that shape our ambition, creativity, and sense of what’s possible.

In this interactive session, you’ll:
• Audit Your Monologue — Identify the subtle “shutdown” phrases that quietly limit exploration.
• Prototype Your Dialogue — Engage in live micro-sprints to practice collaborative visioning in real time.
• Build a Curiosity Toolkit — Leave with practical prompts used by world-class design teams to spark innovation anywhere.
This will be a hands-on session with guided writing and reflection exercises, so please bring a notebook and pen to fully participate. 🧠✨
What's a "Symposium?"
a: A friendly party (as after a banquet in ancient Greece) with music and conversation
b: A social gathering at which there is free interchange of ideas
c: A really cool drop in with drinks and fun people; part lecture, part party with smarties.

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Follow us on Instagram and Facebook at: @bigbrainsf, @dftsanfrancico

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About Big Brain:
Big Brain is a lecture series hosted in SF's coolest spaces. Welcome to the nerd club.
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DFT is presented by Into The Streets and Civic Joy Fund in partnership The East Cut CBD, Yerba Buena Partnership, Natoma Cabana, and 111 Minna Gallery.

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By registering for and attending this event, you authorize Big Brain SF & DFT to use any photographs or video recordings of your participation in this event for any and all purposes.
By registering for this event, you agree to opt-in to communications from Into The Streets, Civic Joy Fund, and Big Brain.

DFT’s 2026 is presented by Into The Streets and Civic Joy Fund, with support from San Francisco Downtown Development Corporation.

DFT is presented in partnership with The East Cut Community Benefit District, Yerba Buena Partnership, Natoma Cabana, and 111 Minna Gallery.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Hawthorn SF Nightclub and Lounge, 46 Geary Street, San Francisco, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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