The Transformational Impact of Exhibition and Experience Design
The Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD) is excited to announce its bi-annual Exhibition + Experience Design event, scheduled for June 20th and 21st, 2024, in Washington D.C. This year’s theme, “Transformational Impact of Exhibition and Experience Design,” aims to spotlight the critical role of design in addressing and navigating the complex challenges of our contemporary world.
The symposium will commence with an inspiring day at the innovative venue, Planet Word, featuring a series of keynote speeches and case studies delivered by eminent leaders from the design community. These sessions have been carefully crafted to demonstrate the significant role of exhibition and experience designers as agents of societal change. Attendees will be immersed in discussions on pressing global issues such as the climate emergency, societal polarization, community engagement, decolonization, and the ethics of technology, highlighting the urgency of these challenges.
On the following day, participants will have the unique opportunity to dive deeper into these themes through a series of interactive workshops. Designed to stimulate rapid ideation, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving.
We are delighted to announce Tim McNeil and Tricia Austin as the chairs of this year’s symposium. Tim McNeil, a distinguished professor and director/chief curator at the UC Davis Design Museum, has been acknowledged for his contributions to the field with his recent publication, “The Exhibition and Experience Design Handbook.” Tricia Austin, a renowned design researcher and PhD Supervisor at Central Saint Martins, brings her expertise on narrative environments and participatory design. Together, they are collaborating on an upcoming publication for Princeton Press on the transformative power of exhibition design.
Sharing knowledge from their research for the upcoming book, some of the key takeaways from the symposium include:
- Advance critical thinking, rapid ideation, and creativity through interactive workshops.
- Learn to take action and be inspired by case studies and examples that tackle today’s complex global challenges.
- Understand the pivotal role design plays to turn a project vision into a built reality.
- Contribute to a future book and associated projects that will document the transformational power of exhibition and experience design.
Featured Speakers:
Adding to the roster of distinguished speakers, we welcome Waqas Jawaid and Andy Chen of Isometric Studio. Based in New York City, Isometric Studio collaborates with leading institutions to craft visual identities and experiences that champion inclusivity, equity, and justice, tackling vital social issues through design.
Waqas Jawaid
Partner, Isometric Studio
Waqas received his undergraduate degree with highest honors from Princeton University and a Masters in Architecture with distinction from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. At Princeton, he was awarded the Frederick White Prize for his thesis on architectural apartheid in the Paris banlieus. Waqas previously worked at the Office for Metropolitan Architecture, SANAA, Harvard Art Museums, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. He is a founding organizer of Climate Collective, a NYC-based organization that sparks civic discourse about climate change through design and storytelling.
Waqas has lectured at venues including Harvard University, the Center for Architecture, and Princeton University Art Museum. He has served on the faculty of the Maryland Institute College of Art and the School of Visual Arts.
Andy Chen
Partner, Isometric Studio
Andy studied sociology at Princeton University, where he was awarded the Pyne Honor Prize, the university’s highest general undergraduate distinction. He then studied graphic design at RISD, where he received his MFA as a Paul & Daisy Soros Fellow. Andy started his career at Pentagram, where he worked on the rebranding of Bausch + Lomb with partner Paula Scher. As a Fulbright Scholar at the Royal College of Art, Andy conducted ethnographic research on aging, sexuality, and social stigma. He is a contributor to Design Observer, Design Taxi, and Open Manifesto.
Andy has spoken at international conferences including the London Design Festival, Design Indaba, RGD DesignThinkers, and Kyoorius Designyatra. He has served on the faculty of the Maryland Institute College of Art and the School of Visual Arts.
Additional Speakers:
Coleman Jordan, Professor, Morgan State University (USA)
Jona Piehl, Designer, Design Researcher (Germany)
Ricardo Rubiales, Designer and Educator (Mexico)
Traci Sym, Principal, +&> (USA)
Join Us in Washington DC!
The 2024 SEGD Exhibition + Experience Design Symposium is a must-attend event for anyone interested in the transformative potential of design in addressing the most pressing global challenges of our time. Join us for two days of engaging discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities that promise to inspire and empower.
For more details, registration information, and updates on speakers and talks, please visit our website, segd.org.
About SEGD
We are designers of experiences connecting people to place. SEGD is a multidisciplinary community collectively shaping the future of experience design. We are a thought leader and an amplifier in the practice of experience design. Learn more at segd.org.
Contact:
Melissa Russell, SEGD Communications Manager, melissa@segd.org.