Doodled during a talk at Digipen. Given by people from various game companies ranging from Bungie, to Valve to Airtight games. Got a lot of good names to look up, Carlos Huante and Jordu Schell for example. Already loved their stuff, but will definitely pay more attention to them now.
Basic rules reinforced were form over detail. Detail can always come later and should compliment form. Go back to the basics whenever you struggle. Always approach character and creature design from anatomy. Characters should have dramatic roles, not just exist to fill space. Think of them as actors. Look to nature when searching for abstract forms. And always always seek improvement.