Design Currency 2010 keynote: How design shapes and is shaped by our global community
"We are delighted to partner with the VEDC to present this opening discussion," says Brenda Sanderson, Icograda's Managing Director. "Vancouver ranks consistently in Canada's Top 3 of cities for designers to work, as well as in the Top 3 cities with the largest workforce in design-related fields. It is home to some of Canada’s leading design consultancies and education institutions."
Phil Heard, Chief Executive Officer added, "Vancouver attracts globally-oriented companies from all over the world, and the creative industries are a key sector for the city. Building strategic relationships and international partnerships through events like Design Currency 2010 enhances our ability to showcase and support the continued growth of Vancouver as a creative city."
The keynote session will feature four thought leaders on the value of design:
Helen Walters (United States) - is the editor of Innovation and Design at Bloomberg BusinessWeek. She is also a contributing editor to design magazine Creative Review. In February, she edited a special report, The Value of Design, for BusinessWeek, which looked at why design matters, its role in business and the value of design to startups, along with presenting an overview of the world's most influential designers.
Grégoire Serikoff (France) is an independent designer and facilitator based in Paris. He is a founding member of The Value Web and a member of the Accelerated Solutions Environment network. Design expert for the World Economic Forum, Grégoire has run multiple sessions at Davos since 2005. He is a Regional Ambassador of INDEX: Design to Improve Life and currently serves as the Secretary General of the Icograda Executive Board.
Freeman Lau (Hong Kong SAR) is a strategic advisor on the development of design policy and an internationally acclaimed designer through his own practice at Kan & Lau Design Consultants. He is currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hong Kong Design Centre, which presents the annual Business of Design Week (BODW), one of Asia's leading events on design, innovation and brands. BODW aims to encourage businesses to unleash the power of design by focusing on the vital relationship and complex interplay between design and business.
Debbie Millman (United States) is President of the design division at Sterling Brands, working with global brands such as Pepsi, Procter & Gamble, Campbell’s, Colgate, Nestle and Hasbro. She is AIGA President, serves as Chair of the Masters in Branding Program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City and hosts "Design Matters with Debbie Millman."
The session will be moderated by Dave Mason, one of the founders of the Chicago/Vancouver-based SamataMason Inc. Along with being an internationally recognised designer, Mason also co-founded OpinionLab, Inc., the leader in web-based voice of customer intelligence systems.
From 26-30 April, Design Currency 2010 will bring together more than 500 international delegates. It is organised by the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC) in partnership with the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (Icograda).
To register, click here.
About Icograda
Founded in 1963, Icograda is the world body for professional communication design. It has representation in 67 countries and regions around the globe. Icograda maintains international affiliations with UNESCO, UNIDO, WIPO, IFRRO and ISO. Since 2003, Icograda has been a partner in the International Design Alliance (IDA). www.icograda.org
About GDC
The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC) has been Canada’s professional association for visual communications since 1956. The GDC has nine regional chapters, and two affiliates—the Société des Designers Graphiques du Québec and the University & College Designers Association. www.gdc.net
About Vancouver Economic Development Commission
The Vancouver Economic Development Commission, an agency of the City of Vancouver, works to strengthen the city’s economic future by helping existing businesses, attracting investment, researching the business environment and making policy recommendations. www.vancouvereconomic.com
