Marcel Wanders Design
Design Events
An exhibition of international design, interactive experiences and educational revelations at The Design Center at Philadelphia University, Ravenhill Chapel. Including work by Marcel Wanders, Marre Moerel and Phillips Electronics. l
October 4, 2002 - March, 2003
Opening reception: Friday, October 11, 2002, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. RSVP: 215.413.7501 ext. 6
Symposium: Friday, October 25, 2002, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. $145
Book signing reception: Friday, October 25, 2002, 6:00 p.m
For more information and directions to Philadelphia University, see www.whatisdesigntoday.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact
Assistant to the Director
Amanda Mullin: (215) 951-2862
MullinA@PhilaU.edu
Or
Chris Clark, Media Specialist
(215) 951-2718 ClarkC@PhilaU.edu
FIRST SHOW IN THE U.S. TO ASK JUST WHAT IS DESIGN TODAY?
September, 2002-The Design Center at Philadelphia University opens its major fall exhibition What Is Design Today? on Thursday October 10, 2002. Using innovative displays and hands-on activities to explain how design impacts the way things work, the experiences we have, the messages we send, and the material culture we leave behind, What Is Design Today? explores seven thematic areas-Understanding Process, Setting Style, Using Technology, Being Responsible, Serving Individuals, Conveying Messages, and Making Choices.
Co-curated by design historian George H. Marcus and The Design Center director Hilary Jay, What Is Design Today? is geared toward the entire community, from school children to design professionals. Providing hands-on experiences, this show offers visitors opportunities to participate and provide feedback, from turning on lamps and sampling materials, to trying out chairs and giving their opinions about what they have seen and done. "We want everyone to understand that design is all around us; it's everything we touch and see and eat and sit on and wear and buy and experience," Jay says.
In Understanding Process, the evolution of an ice cream scoop can be followed and the final version tested out for hand fit and ease of use. In Serving Individuals, visitors are invited to examine products installed behind doors denoting the different contexts for which they were made-universal design, design for disability, design for children, and design that is appropriate for different cultural contexts. In Conveying Messages, where every object expresses a subliminal narrative, viewers will be asked to add Post-It notes with their own interpretations. Using Technology reveals some surprising new-economy thinking that is changing food, fashion, education, communication, health and entertainment.
Finally, in Making Choices, after having given thought to the issues in the exhibition, visitors are asked to choose among a range of waste paper baskets in different styles and forms, which are labeled similarly to food packaging. In this case, however, the labels include information about materials, production conditions, environmental friendliness, designer, manufacturer, price, and countries of origins. "Understanding the broader issues surrounding the creation and manufacture of products empowers consumers when they make their buying decisions," Marcus says.
Each of the thematic areas of this traveling exhibition, created in the distinctive style of Laurene and Constantin Boym of New York based Boym Partners, Inc., incorporates significant contemporary objects by a roster of international designers, including Paula Scher, partner in the New York design firm, Pentagram; London-based Ross Lovegrove, Ron Arad, Marc Newson and James Dyson; textile and furniture designer Angela Adams; the design teams of Royal Philips Electronics, Gillette, Bang & Olufsen, OXO, Ergonomi Design Gruppen, BMW, Zenith, Oakley, IKEA and Apple; German lighting designer Ingo Maurer; Swedish textile team Saldo; along with Philippe Starck, Stefan Sagmeister, Marre Moerel, Achille Castiglioni, Marcel Wanders and Karim Rashid.
What Is Design Today? will begin its tour in the 19th century Ravenhill Chapel, a building complete with stained glass windows, terrazzo floors and 40 foot ceilings. The show is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Philadelphia Exhibitions Initiative (PEI), a program funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts and administered by the University of the Arts, Philadelphia. To date, additional support for the exhibition includes Medical Broadcasting Company (MBC), IKEA, the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), the Netherlands Consulate of New York, and the Consulate General of Sweden.
The exhibition opens on Friday, October 4, runs through March 2, 2003, with a public reception on Thursday evening, October 10 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The exhibition is free and open to the public Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call (215) 951-2860 or contact us via e-mail at TheDesignCenter@PhilaU.edu.
The companion volume, also entitled What Is Design Today? written by co-curator George H. Marcus, will be published by Harry N. Abrams and will be available in the exhibition shop for $27.50. For more information, contact Beth Picillo at Abrams Public Relations: Bpicillo@Abramsbooks.com.
CONFERENCE
The Design Center at Philadelphia University, in conjunction with the University of Pennsylvania and Metropolis Magazine, will present a full-day symposium addressing contemporary design issues in the Tuttleman Center on the Philadelphia University campus in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. The program will take place on Friday, October 25, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m, followed by a book signing by several speakers. The book signing reception is free and open to the public.
The day will begin with Keynote Speaker John Hockenberry, Dateline NBC correspondent with two Peabody Awards, an elevated sensitivity toward design issues, and a wicked sense of humor to boot. He's followed by leading design champions from around the world including: Max Burton, Director of Industrial Design, Smart Design; Lena Simonsson-Berge of IKEA; former MoMA curator Christopher Mount; interactive designers Masamichi Udagawa and Sigi Moeslinger of Antenna Design; Brand guru and graphic designer Alexander Gelman, and design journalist and author Akiko Busch. The price for the full-day conference, including lunch and tour of the exhibition, is $145. This symposium is made possible in part with support from the Pew Charitable Trusts and Wilsonart International.
Program of What is Design Today? conference:
Friday, October 25, 2002 9:00-6:00pm $145 (includes lunch) Seating Limit 200
Tuttleman Auditorium Philadelphia University/East Falls
This day-long symposium explores the thoughts, ideas and concerns raised in the exhibition.
9:30 a.m.-Welcome: James P. Gallagher, President Philadelphia University9:45 a.m. Introduction by Susan Szenasy, Editor-in-Chief, METROPOLIS Magazine
10 a.m. Keynote by John Hockenberry, Dateline NBC correspondent.
(11 a.m. break)
11:15 a.m.--Understanding Process: Lena Simonsson-Berge of IKEA
Examining the way a major corporation conceives its products from research, design and materials to manufacturing, marketing, distribution and branding
Noon--Setting Style: Christopher Mount, former curator MoMA
Making sense and making a statement in the 21st century
12:45 p.m.--Lunch & Guided Tour of Exhibition: What is Design Today?
Hilary Jay, Director of The Design Center & George Marcus, Adjunct Associate professor of History of Art at the University of Pennsylvania, Co-curators of the exhibition
2 p.m.--Using Technology: Masamichi Udagawa and Sigi Moeslinger of Antenna Design.
A poetic mix of non-traditional materials, state-of-the art technology and cues from contemporary culture
2:45 p.m. --Being Responsible: Akiko Busch, author and journalist
Design to enhance life and concur with planetary needs
(3:30 break)
3:45 p.m.--Serving Individuals: Max Burton, Director of Industrial Design, Smart Design
Confronting the issues of creating products for a diverse population
4:30 p.m. Conveying Messages: Alexander Gelman, Design Machine
Delving beneath the surface of a product to reveal its implicit messages
5:15p.m.-Panel Discussion
6 p.m. Reception & Book signing Ravenhill Chapel
- Akiko Busch, Editor of Design Is… A Metropolis Book published by Princeton Architectural Press ($29.95)
- George H. Marcus, author of What Is Design Today? published by Harry N. Abrams ($27.50) will sign books.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
BACKGROUND
Founded in 1884, Philadelphia University is an accredited, private institution of higher learning offering more than 40 undergraduate and graduate degree programs that encompass design, architecture, business, textiles, fashion, science and health. The Design Center complements the academic design programs at the University, including textile and fashion, graphic design, industrial design, interior design and architecture. Through educational outreach, public programs and exhibitions, The Design Center seeks to be an internationally recognized platform for understanding design and its role in our everyday lives.
Please note: photographs are available for press use at www.WhatIsDesignToday.com. For more information, contact us at TheDesignCenter@PhilaU.edu.