Seminar

In the postmodern world design has become part of global language, a barometer of taste and social values that inextricably conveys cultural and political messages. Where language and tradition create obstacles, design is often a bridge of understanding. What is the role of design today? What are the implications of design and design process? What makes design good? Design can connect communities from diverse cultures, thus creating new partnerships and socially, economically, and ecologically sustainable future. On the other hand, an overproduction has also developed situations in which life and community become secondary to production and profit. The increasing shift away from specialization to a more multidisciplined approach has designers from one industry often working on projects from an entirely different field. How are the design professions changing? How do these ripples emanating from the design world affect the current universal culture? How can design be instrumental in fostering sustainable cultures?

Participants
Kathryn Simon, fashion designer and writer
Chee Pearlman, former Editor, ID, New York Times design critic
Stephanie Odegard, entrepreneur, activist
Dakota Jackson, furniture designer