Seven new members join Icograda
17.05.2011 News
Montreal (Canada) - At the latest board meeting in Vilnius (Lithuania), the Icograda Executive Board approved the applications of seven new members. One professional organisation - Iranian Graphic Design Network - and two corporate members - INSPIRIT International Communications and Beijing Kingee Culture Development - have joined Icograda. Newly admitted to the Icograda Education Network are Jilin College of the Arts, Kingston University, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology and the School of Visual Arts.
Professional Member
Iranian Graphic Designer Network - Tehran (Iran)
The Iranian Graphic Designer Network, founded in 2005, was among the first professional graphic design networks in Iran. They count 249 professional graphic artists as members and their portal site has registered 15000 artists. Among its initiatives are free weekly workshops for its members and associated graphic artists, teaching graphic software to members, and a career opportunities service. The IGDN lends aid to various charity organisation including the children's cancer organisation in Iran.
In joining Icograda, the IGDN seeks to develop international relations, opening doors for its member abroad and also increasing dialogue with international designers to foster internal growth and new ideas.
Corporate Members
INSPIRIT International Communications - Brussels (Belgium)
INSPIRIT International Communications is a specialised agency for Creative Thinking, Art Direction and Design (see Sustainable Design and Promotion Group). INSPIRIT is listed as an approved Publication service provider by World Health Organisation HQ and European Commission, SANCO. INSPIRIT's extensive portfolio includes creative communication strategy, corporate image building and advertising campaigns, as well as specific design and production projects involving magazines, brochures, reports, integrated social media, conference support and training materials, often produced in several languages and involving cross-border distribution.
INSPIRIT seeks to further strengthen its credibility and presence in their field by joining Icograda. They wish to connect with other creative design firms and associations for the potential of collaborative partnerships. INSPIRIT sees Icograda as a venue to share best practices and professional tools of the trade with like minded members and learning by attending conferences.
Kingee - Beijing (China)
Beijing Kingee Culture Development Co., Ltd (Kingee), established in Beijing in 2007, is a cultural production company operating mainly in precious metal artworks, animation, film and TV, jewellery and clocks. Kingee has grown a large team of over 800 employees between five offices.
Kingee's powerful creative research and design ability has made it the first choice partner for precious metal products for China's important events. Kingee was selected as official distributor for licensed precious metal merchandise for the 2008 Olympic Games, the 2010 Guangzhou 16th Asian Games, the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, 2011 Shenzhen Universiade and 2011 World Horticultural Exposition Xi'an. Kingee has also been the official sponsor of the Chinese Table Tennis Team.
Kingee hopes to increase the exchange of information with the international deign community in order to promote advanced design concepts in China. They also seek to hold endorsed design competitions.
Educational Members
Jilin College of the Arts - Changchun (China)
The Design School at Jilin College of the Arts has continually expanded its undergraduate course selection and specialisation since it was founded in 1993. It has maintained and carried forward traditional subjects to benefit emerging, interdisciplinary and applied subjects - adapting to the development of society. The Design School now has undergraduate and postgraduate education programs, and has developed a specialisation in the arts with a range and depth of complementary fields.
The Design School engages in positive dialogue with the art colleges in Britain, France, US, South Korea, and Singapore to further expand its academic vision and influence. It has made special progress in mutual exchanges of students and teachers for advanced studies, design exhibitions, theoretical discussion, and academic competitions.
The Design School hopes to expand exchanges with prestigious design schools and institutions all over the world. They seek deeper cooperation and exchanges particularly in teacher training and student exchange, and bringing in professional design exhibitions and seminars on emergent design theories.
Kingston University - Kingston (United Kingdom)
The School of Communication Design at Kingston University believes that as the digital revolution marches ever onward new modes and methods of visual communication will continue to emerge and evolve, working practices merge and mutate, and that today's artists and designers have never been so crucial in aiding our understanding of the deep complexities of modern life, that tomorrow's artists and designers must be equipped with the mind-sets and skill-sets that have a capacity to evolveÂ…
The School of Communication Design is one of five schools in the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture and has approximately 580 students studying at undergraduate, postgraduate and research levels. The courses enjoy national and international recognition and reputations across the broad spectrum of communication design with courses in graphic design and photography, illustration and animation, digital media, filmmaking, curating contemporary design and screen design for film and TV. The school has an international profile with staff practicing and exhibiting globally.
In joining the Icograda Education Network, Kingston university seek a platform for debate and a greater opportunity for discussion and crossover with global partners. It also gives them a new forum through which to develop a wider understanding of issues facing communication design in the 21st century.
National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST) - Taipei (Taiwan - Chinese Taipei)
The Department of Industrial and Commercial Design (ICD) and the Graduate School of Design were both founded in 1997 at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST), one of the top 12 universities in the country. Having added the Doctoral Program in year 2000 and the Continuing Education Master's Program in 2001, the department encompasses fields of visual communication, interactive multimedia, design management, and product design. The ICD strives to train its students with balance in design theory and practice.
Aside from practicing achievements, the ICD also heavily engages in a wide array of design-related research activities including association journal publications, Journal of Design publications, hosting/co-hosting design exhibitions, and corporate consigned academic researches to further advance domestic and international design influences.
Through membership in the Icograda Education Network, the ICD seeks further global recognition. This will allow them to take a more active role in global conferences, research and other design-related activities. Moreover, ICD wishes to invite internationally acclaimed designers and researchers as guest lecturers or even part-time professors, and attract foreign exchange students in more countries to study at ICD.
School of Visual Arts - New York (United States)
The School of Visual Arts MFA Design (The Designer as Author + Entrepreneur) launched in 1998 as an alternative to traditional masters' programs that emphasise form over content. They have a multi-disciplinary program. Their students are encouraged to create their own content using new media and develop a thesis aimed directly for a marketplace of goods and ideas. Entrepreneurship is an essential part of the program mission.
MFA Design students work individually and collaboratively during two years to develop objects of value through digital and handcrafted means. They network with faculty who are contemporary practitioners to ensure their intellectual properties are aesthetically sound and conceptually viable.
The SVA MFA Design program seeks to participate in a global design arena provided by the Icograda Education Network, through collaboration, education and instigation with other design schools and organisations.
Please join us in welcoming these seven new members.
Membership Information
You can learn more about the benefits of being a member and the categories of membership available under the members section of the Icograda website.
For more information about membership, please contact:
Sergio Figueredo
Membership Coordinator
T: +1 514 448 4949 x 233
E: sfigueredo@icograda.org
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