Founder/Principal, Belworld Creative
To compliment his 25+ years as a successful industrial designer, entrepreneur, and investor, Jason Belaire is an overall design advocate. He has spent almost seven years on the Board Of Directors for the IDSA as District Vice President for the Western U.S. and now serves in the role of Director At Large – Conferences. Some of his core competencies are to research, develop, and curate conference experiences for the design community and broaden the conference portfolio for IDSA. This includes the 2019 “SOLD OUT” International Design Conference (IDC) located in Chicago. As part of the curation process, Jason has to directly communicate with some of the world’s top designers and creatives. He engages them with in-depth conversations that lead to a knowledge base that is unique to the design community regarding cultural trends, inclusivity + diversity, and overall organizational sustainability.
Part of the general responsibilities of serving on the BOD of the IDSA is to constantly advocate on behalf of Industrial Design. As a result, Jason organized, curated, and emceed the 2018 Denver Design Week, which is regarded as the most successful DDW thus far. Belaire also sits on the Advisory Board for Struktur Events (Outdoor Industry Design Conference), the Advisory Board for Denver Does Design, and The ONE Club, constantly promoting IDSA in each effort.
Belaire helped co-create and is currently managing all design content for the Trend and Design Center for the Outdoor Retailer Trade Show (the world’s largest trade show for the outdoor industry). Additionally, Belaire consults with various design programs at local universities in the Rocky Mountain region. In this role, he provides educational strategies that push the status quo and offer new ways of looking at academia, in order to better provide future designers with the tools and opportunities for optimum success. He also was invited to judge the 2019 Taipei International Design Awards program, and will be giving a presentation on “Emotional Intelligence + Critical Thinking” in Taiwan. Belaire recently fulfilled his tenure as Presidential Advisory Board for the AIGA of Colorado, where he advised the local Colorado BOD on best practices and how to retain members and board positions.
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he lived for nearly seven years, Belaire engaged in all things design-related. He attended design events put on by the Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), as well as events put on by the Ministry of Modernization, Innovation, and Technology of the City of Buenos Aires, the CMDI. The level of networking Belaire experienced while living in Argentina enabled him to connect with the leaders of top international organizations, businesses, and various consulates. This left him with a deep understanding and respect for culture and language, which he relies to this day.
As a creative resource, Belaire would provide industrial design services, design strategy, and product development for high-profile global clients in categories ranging from commercial/consumer products such as lighting, technical mountaineering tents, HVAC specific packs, various lifestyle products, lightweight and durable technical backpacks, and technical children’s products. Jason strategically works with clients to create “environmentally” positive changes, inter-design cultural development. and overall Design Thinking principles. He is an Entrepreneur, Keynote Speaker & Presenter, Conference Chair, Content Creator, Creative Cultural Director at Large, Industrial Designer, Product Manager, Graphic + Brand Language Developer, and Packaging Designer.
Statement of Candidacy
I have gladly spent almost seven years on the Board of Directors (BOD) for the IDSA, first as District Vice President for the Western U.S. and nowas Director at Large – Conferences.
Historically, during each Board Meeting, I would either wear my Dr. Martens or carry a slight provocateur-like demeanor in order to question the organization and relate the concerns of my fellow IDSA members. I generally felt heard by my fellow BOD members, but many times felt like the kind of improvement and change that was needed was far-reached. As an IDSA member, this left me feeling ingrained and yet distant at times.
Upon taking this prestigious position on the Board, I was transitioning out of being a corporate design resource, with all of its monetary backing, and moving into a sole proprietorship. This resulted in a unique experience as a BOD member, because I had to pay for everything out of my own pocket. I had to work extra hard to keep up with regular work-related responsibilities and perform at the highest level expected as a BOD member.
Being on the BOD has helped me connect to various industries and has put me in positions of influence. I have been on the Presidential Advisory Board for the AIGA-Colorado chapter. In 2018, I organized and curated the most successful Denver Design Week to date. I also was asked to be on the Advisory Board for Stuktur Event, Denver Does Design, The ONE Club, and academic institutions in the Rocky Mountain area.
Statement of Candidacy
After successfully completing my tenure of two elected terms on IDSA’s Board of Directors as West District VP, I am currently collaborating with the IDC 2018 planning committee members and the IDSA headquarters staff to ensure that this year’s IDC is a super success, which will lead to a strategic future of transformation and positive impact for our brand! I know that I add value by being intricately involved in conceptualizing and validating many aspects of the new IDC platform ensuring the inclusion of relevant and dynamic speakers, the latest in experience design thinking and helping the bottom line through creative sponsorship efforts. Much of what I bring to the conversation is based on my unyielding five years with District Design Conference builds, content creating and acting as a liaison between the BOD and conference chair for the Society’s IDSA 50th anniversary, which was marked at the IDC in Seattle in 2015.
Attending many conferences domestically and around the world has increased my understanding of what exists and how to best capitalize on those learning points to enhance the IDSA conference experience. Being slightly rebellious, my approach would always be to reach out to my constituents at the chapter and section level—and often to non-members—in order to understand what they need to learn and be inspired. This effort strategically and directly translated into their personal and professional development as a goal for each conference, inevitably boosting the IDSA membership.
The above contribution and successes have contributed to me being a strong candidate for At-Large Director (Conferences) on IDSA’s Board of Directors. I understand what it takes to be collaborative and inspire on all touch points as a conference creator + content creator + conference chair + keynote speaker + presenter + creative cultural builder. Based on my work on various aspects for creative culture building, I am currently co-creator and chair of 2018 Denver Design Week in fall 2018.
Statement of Candidacy (second term)
Manifesto 2.0:
Why run? Again? Quite honestly, in large part, because I’m just getting warmed up. One thing that isn’t easy to identify when originally agreeing to commit to this position of District VP was that for some, it takes time to mold yourself into this volunteer position and contribute on a level that is noteworthy to oneself. I know that the synergy and momentum gained thus far is something I am compelled to follow through. For this District VP, I am stubborn, slightly rebellious and I don’t want to give up this post. I feel that there is more for me to contribute.
The obvious, hidden and progressing changes I have been able to partake in/with are helping our organization evolve and grow in relevancy on many levels. I believe in IDSA (always have) and know that there is more for me to contribute, at a District VP level. Additionally, I know that there are changes that I need to continue to be the voice for, on behalf of my Western Region constituents including:
I do always listen to you, even if changes “naturally” occur at a slower pace then what our instant gratification-based culture wants. The truth is that they are changing though. Our past administration, current and future are on track for what and where we need to go. I still have work to do.
Portfolio Practices
Student Chapter Chair
