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20 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2025 By John Watson, CID IPC APEX EXPO 2025 marked a significant mile- stone as it celebrated its 25th anniversary. (Person- ally, I don't think it looked a day over 20.) If you didn't attend this great event, why not? This was my 10th anniversary of attending, and it had a distinctly dif- ferent feel. There was a celebratory atmosphere as both veterans, like myself, and first-time attendees, were drawn into a celebratory occasion marking the significant milestone of the 25th anniversary. But more than that, I felt that through the various battles of those 25 years, our industry was turning a corner. Before entering the Anaheim Convention Center, you could look up and see a giant banner on the front of the building declaring, "Imagine the Pos- sibilities." It wasn't just a cute adage, but for myself and many of you, it took on a deeper meaning as a challenge. I knew then that this would be a unique event. It did not disappoint. From the exhibit halls to the technical presenta- tions, throughout the whole convention, the "buzz- word" for everyone was AI. Leading the charge on that topic was the Design Leadership Council's Town Hall meeting on AI discussing precisely how this new technology could impact our industry and how our jobs will change in the future. Fascinating discussion with the panel and audience. Additionally, I was interested in the new IPC Learn- ing Lounge, a designated area on the show floor IPC APEX EXPO: Shifting My Focus to the Show Floor where attendees could learn about electronics man- ufacturing. It offered free sessions where experts shared valuable tips and innovative ideas. Visi- tors could learn about training programs, new PCB design methods, and techniques to improve manu- facturing efficiency. Maybe the real excitement of IPC APEX EXPO wasn't the obvious but something more. As Albert Einstein once said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand." This reminds us that the power of imagination can take us beyond what we know today and help us cre- ate the future. Imagine the possibilities when we use our creativity to solve problems, invent new things, and push the boundaries of what's pos- sible. The world is full of endless opportunities, and with a bit of imagination, anything is possible. John Watson is a professor at Palomar College, San Marcos, California, and an I-Connect007 columnist.