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DESIGN ACTIVISM DECONSTRUCTED:
ADC “Designism 3.0” Explores the Role of Creatives
In Social Activism and Responsibility To Instigate Change

NEW YORK, September 24, 2008 – The Art Directors Club (www.adcglobal.org), the longest-running global creative collective of its kind with membership in advertising, design and visual communications, will hold Designism 3.0, its annual forum for creatives and designers to gather and debate their roles in social activism, on October 2, 2008 at the ADC Gallery, 106 West 29th St., New York.

The event, now in its third year, was conceived by Brian Collins, chairman and chief creative, COLLINS: and ADC board member, to explore the responsibility and experiences of designers and creatives in driving social and political change through their work and career focus. This year’s edition is co-produced by Collins and fellow ADC board member Benjamin Palmer, CEO, the barbarian group, New York.

“‘Designism’ was developed to explore the state of activism across all media,” said Collins. “It addresses how designers and creatives can use their careers to drive the transformation we need to make our communities – and the world – a better place. We hope to provoke and inspire people by showcasing great examples of how that’s being done.”

The agenda for Designism 3.0 includes:

• Designer Milton Glaser, Milton Glaser Inc., New York, speaking on the effect of propaganda on design, art and your psyche.

• “Designism Manifesto” presented by Allan Chochinov, designer, educator and partner at Core77.

• “Design of Politics” panel discussion featuring Helen Walters, editor of BusinessWeek.com's Innovation and Design Channel and contributing editor to Creative Review, where she spent a number of years as features editor, Tony Hendra, English satirist, writer and former editor of Spy magazine, and Milton Glaser. The panel will be moderated by Steve Heller, co-chair, MFA Designer as Author department at the School of Visual Arts, New York, author and editor of more than 70 books about graphic design, and for 33 years an art director at The New York Times.
• Three design-driven projects that initiated change, presented by IDEO.

• Leading creatives partake in a Designism “Lightening Round”: rapid-fire presentations of forward-thinking work and results. Participants include:
➢ Jane Hope, executive vice president, design executive creative director, TAXI, New York (discussing the “15 Below” project)
➢ Dian Sourelis, vice president, director of community initiatives, Brainforest, Inc., Chicago (speaking on Creative Pitch)
➢ Marco Beghin, president, Moleskine America, Inc., New York, Iolanda Pensa, scientific director, WikiAfrica, Milan, Italy, and Roberto di Puma (discussing work of Fondazione lettera27, a not-for-profit organization in Milan, Italy promoting literacy and education)
➢ Jose Martinez, vice president, client services, Avenue A|Razorfish, New York (discussing the international Pangea Day event)
➢ Jeremy Mende, principal, creative director, MendeDesign, San Francisco (discussing “The 1% Solution” pro bono architectural and design project)
➢ Brian Hurewitz, vice president, art director, Deutsch, New York, with LOLZ (discussing designismconnects.org, a new matchmaking site for creatives and non-profit organizations)

The evening gets underway at 5:30 pm, when Designism 3.0 sponsor Sappi will unveil its Ideas that Matter exhibition featuring work of designers who have answered the call for change. Sappi believes creative ideas have an impact far beyond the design world, and can be a powerful force for social good. The exhibition features work from Ideas that Matter grant recipients created over the nine-year life of this program. Since the program began, more than 225 projects have been funded for a total of more than $8 million.

Details:
Designism 3.0
October 2, 2008, @ADC Gallery, 106 West 29th Street, New York

5:30-6:45 pm: Sappi “Ideas that Matter” exhibition and opening, drinks/snacks, FREE with RSVP (for opening only)

7:00-9:15 pm: Designism 3.0 presentations
$30 ADC Members, $40 Non-Members
RSVP: http://www.adcglobal.org/adc/events/calendar/

The Art Directors Club (www.adcglobal.org) is the premier organization for integrated media and the first international creative collective of its kind. Founded in New York in 1920, the ADC is a self-funding, not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is to connect, provoke and elevate creative visual communications professionals around the world. It focuses on the highest standards of excellence and integrity in visual communications for the industry, and encourages students and young professionals entering the field. ADC provides a forum for creatives in Advertising, Design, Interactive Media and Communications to explore the direction of these rapidly converging industries.