Design In Business: The Scottish Design Summit 2015

Some of the world’s most innovative thinkers on design – and how it can impact on businesses at all levels – will share their experiences at this year’s Scottish Design Summit.

`Design in Business: The Scottish Design Summit 2015’ is organised by the University of Dundee-led Design In Action project and takes place in Edinburgh from May 21st to 23rd.

It will look into the future of design with keynote speakers including the `Willy Wonka of design and science’ Nelly Ben Hayoun, and the award-winning designer and entrepreneur Roland Lamb.

The Summit brings together designers, business leaders and policymakers to

delve into new technologies and ideas, taking an imaginative and forward-looking approach to thinking about the business of businesses in the 21st century.

The `internet of things’ and goods that are smarter, linked, responsive and dynamic in conception is having a major effect in almost every sector of business,” said Professor Georgina Follett, Director for Design In Action.

“Design in Action is helping business to think forward into the future and the Design Summit will offer models from individuals who are regarded as game changers. For any business looking to be at the forefront in the future, and those designers who are looking to apply their ideas to commercial use, this is the essential event in Scotland.”

The summit is being hosted by BBC Click presenter Kate Russell. Companies presenting at the summit include IBM, Jason Bruges Studio, EeGeo, Frog Design and ISO Design.

Other organisations represented in the programme include Design Informatics at Edinburgh College of Art, Creative Edinburgh, the Design Council, Scottish Enterprise and The Lighthouse.

Among the questions posed for delegates will be:

  • What does the future of design look like?
  • How will the creation, development and realisation of new technologies affect business?
  • Will the emergence of ‘the internet of things’ make a difference to the way policy is formed across Scotland and the UK?

The event will officially launch at 4pm on Thursday 21st May when ticketholders are invited to attend ‘Once Upon a Future’; a two-part evening of stories at the Warburton Gallery, culminating in a public lecture by science fiction writer and strategic foresight consultant, Madeline Ashby.

On Friday May 22nd the event moves to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) for the main Summit business with the speakers mentioned above and a range of workshops.

The final day of the event on Saturday May 23rd will consist of an exclusive academic seminar for key design researchers to collaborate and assess the current state of thinking on design-led business support programmes Europe-wide, mapping the challenges and exchanging knowledge with a view to strengthen co-operation and a potential Horizon2020 bid.

For more information on the Summit and how to book places see:

www.designinaction.com/

Notes to Editors

Design in Action is a Knowledge Exchange Hub for the Creative Economy which aims to research, promote and create opportunities for the adoption of design as a strategy for economic growth within industry. Based primarily within Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design at the University of Dundee, the project is closely-partnered with Glasgow School of Art; Edinburgh College of Art (University of Edinburgh), Gray’s School of Art (Robert Gordon University) and the Universities of St Andrews and Abertay Dundee.

 

Roddy Isles
Head of Press
TEL: 01382 384910
MOBILE: 07800 581902
E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk