What do you have to say about design on a global scale? Designers, educators, students, influencers and agents of change are gathering for the World Design Summit, Oct. 16 to 25, 2017 at the Palais des Congrès in Montreal. The multi-disciplinary event is expected to attract 30,000 attendees from 80 countries and 50 design associations covering industrial design, architecture, landscape architecture, graphic design, interior design and urban planning.
“What are the innovative design ideas and actions that could bring about better futures?,” asks the event’s Scientific and Professional Committee. “How can design in all its facets respond to issues as a transformational agent that supports cultural, political, economic, environmental and everyday societal needs? These are the key and essential questions that will drive discussions at the World Design Summit.”
Industrial design speakers include:
- Pierre-Yves Panis, Philips LIghting, The Netherlands
- Maureen Thurston, director of global design to innovate at Aurecon in Australia; chair of Good Design Australia; and an instructor at University of Technology, Sydney
- Chrstopher Rudwal, BRP, Canada
- Christian Lemire and Jamie Dunn, MEGA Brands/Mattel, Canada
Speakers from the United States are: Timothy Morton, Rice University; David Driskell, City of Seattle; Amale Andrao, dean of Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation; Lucinda Kaukas Havenhand, PhD, Syracuse University; Jean-Jacques L’Henaff, American Standard; Bill Browning, Terrapin, Bright, Green; and design studio owners including: Daniel Germani, Suzanne Tick and Michael Vanderbyl.
Experts will “provoke paradigm shifts” and “propose how we might rethink challenging world issues through design processes and their applications. We encourage the coming together of the design disciplines to explore issues of importance to all disciplines—from both specific and interdisciplinary perspectives.”
The six themes are: Design for Participation; Design for Earth; Design for Beauty; Design for Sale; Design for Transformation; and Design for Extremes. The summit will host design professionals; government and business leaders; industry representatives; and media and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from around the world. Organizers say attendees will work beyond silos, foster cooperation and enhance scientific and professional development. The summit will use design to contribute to the creation of viable solutions to current challenges.