Home Resources News archive ICOGRADA PARTNERS WITH THE AIGA CENTER FOR CROSS-CULTURAL DESIGN TO PRESENT 'DEFINING DESIGN ON A CHANGING PLANET'

ICOGRADA PARTNERS WITH THE AIGA CENTER FOR CROSS-CULTURAL DESIGN TO PRESENT 'DEFINING DESIGN ON A CHANGING PLANET'

12.12.2005 News

Seattle (United States) - The International Council of Graphic Design Associations (Icograda) and the AIGA Center for Cross-Cultural Design have partnered together to bring an exciting new international design event to Seattle next summer. Addressing the question of how designers can contribute to a healthy world economy while being mindful of the cultural, environmental and political impact of design, 'Defining Design on a Changing Planet: Icograda Design Week in Seattle', will consist of a combination of international and regional conferences, a major international student workshop, a regional meeting of North American design associations with the Icograda Executive Board, a media conference focused on the event theme, and some lively social events. Most events will take place from 9-12 July 2006 on the University of Washington campus.

Icograda Design Week is Icograda's signature event series, hosted by Icograda's Member Associations in various parts of the world on a rotational basis. Recent Icograda Design Week locations have included Istanbul (Turkey) and Sao Paulo (Brazil).

This is the first time the conference will be held in the United States. "Seattle is an ideal location for our first U.S. Icograda Design Week," commented Jacques Lange, Icograda President. "Geographically, it's a middle ground to the Pacific Rim, Latin America and Europe, offering a unique perspective on global commerce and culture. We are excited to bring the global design community to Seattle." In 2006, Icograda Design Week events will also be hosted in Hong Kong (China), Montreal (Canada) and Pretoria (South Africa).

The AIGA Center for Cross-Cultural Design was a natural choice as a partner for this kind of event since it has a mission of fostering more effective communication across cultures and takes an active interest in the relation between design and culture. "Our members are interested in multi-cultural issues and are looking for ways to place their work in an international context," says Christopher Liechty, President of the AIGA Center for Cross-Cultural Design and Chair of the local organizing committee. "We look forward to a vigorous and thoughtful discussion about the role of design in the global marketplace."

The Icograda Design Week in Seattle is expected to welcome approximately 1500 people from over 30 countries and to be attended by designers, design managers, design educators, design students and design media. For more information on the venue, speakers, special guests and other programming for this event, or to register, please visit the event website at www.seattle.icograda.org

For further information please contact:

Jenny Jasper
Icograda Communications Officer
E: jjasper@icograda.org

or

Shelly Langton
Public Relations Chair
'Defining Design on a Changing Planet : Icograda Design Week in Seattle'
E: shellyl@waggeneredstrom.com

Icograda is the professional world body for graphic design and visual communication. Founded in London in 1963, it is the world's non-governmental and non-political representative and advisory body for graphic design and visual communication.

The American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) is the oldest and largest membership association for professionals engaged in the discipline, practice and culture of designing. The AIGA Center for Cross-Cultural Design was established to foster more effective communication across cultures, as well as to better understand the interwoven experience of design and culture in our lives.