Design Interchange – An Avant-Garde Approach to Success [AF8]

Date: Monday, June 14 
Time: 4-5 p.m. 

Credits: 0.2 CEU Register On-Site at Neocon (Association Forums held in Holiday Inn Mart Plaza, 14th Flr)
Fee: $15

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During economic decline, design is considered a “luxury” and not a “necessity” by many probable clients. Outside of the finance discipline, the architecture and design industries have arguably suffered one the most aggressive business deteriorations. A myriad of designers have discovered innovative paths to success that have become their “new normal”. Join this diverse panel of designers, for a lively colloquy of ideas and inspiration for developing new business strategies.

This session is sponsored by  Chicago ’s Project Osmosis, whose education and mentoring initiative for design professionals and youth provides a unique understanding and appreciation of visual arts.

Following the forum, attendees will be further engaged during a reception hosted by The Kohler Store, 100 Merchandise Mart, featuring light hors d’oeuvres and complimentary white wines. Free entry for seminar attendees. 

Speakers: Jennifer Cheng - interior Designer, PGAI Design Partners • Daniel Cornejo - interior designer, Cornejo Designs • Denise Rush, interior designer, Denise Rush Designs • Sara Sacra, healthcare designer, Partner/Auer Designs • Sharon Samuels, architect/designer, SolQuest Design Unlimited • Courtney Hill, CEO MarketM, An integrated marketing firm • Joseph Sommerville - interior designer, Archive Furnishings

Design Interchange Networking Event

Date: Monday, June 14  
Time: 5:30-7 p.m.

Presented by: The KOHLER Store
Sponsored by: Project Osmosis, FocusOnDesign, Designers for the 21st Century (D421) and The Black Design News Network

Location: The KOHLER Store, 100 Merchandise Mart

Fee: $5 at the door

This social networking event follows an association forum (AF8) on challenges /solutions in the design industry during this economic downturn. Meet the presenters and discuss new strategies for developing your business or career. Light hors d’oeuvres and complimentary white wines will be served. Entry is free for AF8 forum attendees, or $5.00 at the door.



To register contact Gwen Williams, board member, Project Osmosis eclecticdzinr@yahoo.com. Registration also accepted at the door.

DISASTER SOS: HAITI

Date: Tuesday, June 15  
Time: 2-4 p.m. 

Presented by: The Black Design News Network 

Location: IIDA Learning Center
, 567 Merchandise Mart
Fee: $15 at the door 
CEU: 0.2

A thought provoking forum on Haitii with some experts from the fields of design, planning, international development and cultural anthropology. The forum will involve critical thinking about shelter and disaster with a focus on planning, cause and effect, and risk management after a disaster. 



This session will be followed by an interactive discussion and networking hour for potential collaborations and partnerships from 4–5 p.m. Sponsored by IIDA, FocusOnDesign, Designers for the 21st Century (D421), Project Osmosis, and The Black Design News Network

Speakers:  Kerl LaJeune - architect, founder and principal, Atelier AzaraRenee Kemp-Rotan - urban designer and co-founder, Black Design News Network; Atim Annette Oton, architectural designer and co-founder, Black Design News Network; Bryan Hudson, architect, principal, SOMA Design Consultants Inc.; and Lee Bey, writer and architectural critic, African American writer/architectural critic. 



To register contact Atim Oton, director of the Black Design News Network atimoton@yahoo.com. Registration also accepted at the door.

Olsenhaus Eco-Chic Vegan Shoes Made From Recycled TVs!

Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could turn our humongous e-waste problem into a source of something we all need – like shoes? Well, vegan footwear company extraordinaire, Olsenhaus, is doing just that with their Fall Winter 2010 collection. Their always fashion forward heels, peep toes, and booties are all going to be made with a new polyester microfiber made from discarded television screens! Yes, really!

Article by Yuka Yoneda, 02/28/10

How are Architects Responding to the Haiti Disaster?

In the aftermath of Haiti’s devastating earthquake, countless relief organizations have stepped up to provide immediate aid to the Caribbean nation. Architects and designers are contributing as well, and with good reason: Since much of the damage could have been avoided with strictly enforced building codes or earthquake-proof structures, the architecture community will play a key role in ensuring that this disaster does not happen again.

Currently, Cameron Sinclair and Architecture for Humanity are leading the way in reconstruction planning, wisely eschewing a build-now, plan-later approach in favor of a long-term initiative. You can read AFH’s seven-point reconstruction plan here.

Long-term planning is essential, but so is short-term relief. Here is a look at some of the more immediate initiatives proposed by the architecture and design community. (If you know of any important programs we missed, please leave a comment below or send us an e-mail with the details.)

Article 25 is a UK based charity organization that believes that all people deserve adequate housing and shelter. It designs and delivers architectural solutions worldwide to those in need. Article 25 vowed to monitor the international response effort to determine the coordination between key agencies to ensure success in the reconstruction of Haiti.

The USGBC pledged its support to “rescue and rebuild” Haiti. In the past, the organization has worked in similar natural disaster zones in New Orleans and Greensburg and now promises similar long-term assistance. In the meantime for immediate aid, those interested are asked to donate through the Clinton Foundation Haiti Relief Fund.

http://www.habitat.org/ is working to address the problem of immediate shelter in Haiti. The organization is removing the rubble of fallen buildings to begin the rebuilding process. Habitat is also working to provide transitional housing for families displaced by the disaster.

http://www.ewb-usa.org/haiti.php is not providing direct relief. But it is rallying support for the cause by seeking out French and/or Creole speaking volunteer engineers to assist in the rebuilding process. Since EWB has several ongoing projects in Haiti, it is also possible to donate through its Web site.

Partners in Health and the Solar Electric Light Fund are joining forces to bring solar-powered lighting to the temporary hospitals that serve the earthquake survivors.
In terms of proposed shelter solutions, a research group from Clemson University – SEED – utilizes shipping containers for housing in the time of disaster. The containers can be cut to provide light and windows, and can withstand hurricanes and other natural disasters. SEED chose shipping containers because there are 30 million unused in the world today. The surplus containers can be utilized immediately. SEED is working to make their project a reality in Haiti.

ShelterBox is a relief organization that immediately responds to disasters by shipping survival boxes to the disaster site. Each is equipped with a tent, tools and supplies to support a family of ten.

For most of the design community, however, the best thing that can be done to help is to raise money for the relief effort. Here is a short list of larger organizations in need of immediate donations: the American Red Cross; UNICEF; Doctors Without Borders; Partners in Health; the William J. Clinton Foundation; the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund; and the Yele Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.

By Natalie Balthrop
Thursday, January 21, 2010 10:37 am
Original Content: Metropolis Magazine

Young Latino Designers Poised to Make an Impression

Hollywood’s rich and famous rely on Latino designers like Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera and up-and-comer Narcisco Rodriguez to outfit them for big splash events like the Oscars or the Grammies.

So what is it about Latino design that makes it so fun and beautiful to wear?

Young Latino design students at The Art Institute of New York City say it’s their culture that is their muse, rich with inspiration in everything from music, dance, language and even bullfights.

Bonnie Assing, a fashion design student, is a mixture of many cultures — Costa Rican, Native American, Caribbean, and Chinese. In her approach to fashion design, she feels the Hispanic influence is the strongest. Bonnie leans toward ruffles and frills, and strong colors, such as red and black. “I think the Spanish influence is sexy, seductive, clingy.” She is sure that some of her background will find its way into her the clothes she will eventually design. “Bullfights, festivals, parades, the swirl of colors will always influence me,” says Bonnie.

Another student, Ivette Fuentes, whose family is from the Dominican Republic, sees a significant difference between mainstream and Hispanic cultures. She points out that Hispanic women are not obsessed with being thin. People accept that women are curvy. Designers work around the curves, emphasizing clothes

“African Design Now” symposium to be held May 2011 in Lagos, Nigeria

…for designers in Architecture/Interiors; Product/Industrial Design; Graphics/ Visual Communications, and Fashion/Textiles African Design Now will be held May 2011 in Lagos, Nigeria. It broadly focuses on African designers – from Africa, the US, Europe, South America and the Caribbean- and other designers who have worked in Africa, are inspired by Africa and are of African heritage. It will include design critics, activists and thinkers about design.

African Design Now is the brainchild of Nigerian-American designer, cultural writer/publisher and entrepreneur, Atim Annette Oton who resides in Brooklyn, New York in collaboration with South African award-winning profile writer, cultural, music and social critic, Bongani Madondo, who resides in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Please feel to email me at atimoton@yahoo.com

Needed – An Inclusive History of Chicago Graphic Design

The history of graphic design in Chicago has been dominated until now by the work of middle-class white men and a few middle-class white women. Read the attached white paper on this subject written by Victor Margolin, Professor Emeritus of Design History at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Read this…

You may also want to read his paper entitled African-American Designers in Chicago: Some Preliminary Findings.

Connecting Designers of Color in the 21st Century

Join us at NeoCon East! Designers421 presents a forum along with DC NOMA and FOD, Wednesday, October 28 • 1:30-3:30 p.m. • Baltimore Convention Center, Third Floor • Credits: 0.2 CEU/2 LU, Fee: $15.00. Students free.

Highlights: This interactive session will share the successful launch of D421, a growing cross-cultural, interdisciplinary network of leaders in design practice and education who are dedicated to building professional and community relationships and activities that support the interests of, and connections to, minority designers. Come learn about the development of the network and how you can benefit from and contribute to D421 initiatives. There will be plenty of insightful dialogue about the needs of the minority design community and opportunities for collaboration and growth.

Speakers: Eric Anderson, President IDSA, and associate professor of Industrial Design, Carnegie Mellon University; Joi Roberts, design ambassador, Motorola Consumer Experience Design.

For more information on this design forum and other activities for designers of color at NeoCon East, click here.

The Changing Face of Diversity in the Architecture Industry

by Curtis J. Moody, FAIA

How do you . . . Set your compass toward success under adverse conditions?

Summary: Finding success is a talent minority- and women-owned firms have honed in the past quarter century, argues Curtis Moody, FAIA, name principal of the largest minority-owned firm in the country. And it is not a matter of prevailing alone, he says. It requires developing collaboration, trust, perseverance, and self confidence. For more on this article go to: http://info.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek09/0320/0320rc_face.cfm

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