Design Thinking in a Down Economy?

Third Annual @issue: Business & Design Conference
29 April 2008 TheTimesCenter New York.

Click here to register

This series of business success stories will illustrate the role of design in increasing market share and profit while improving the quality of life.

Sponsors:
The Conference is sponsored by Sappi Fine Paper and Whirlpool Corporation, and is offered by Corporate Design Foundation. Media Sponsor is BusinessWeek .

Program Details: TheTimesCenter, part of The New York Times Building, is located in the heart of the Times Square District adjacent to The New 42nd Street. The entrance is on 41st Street between 7th and 8th Avenues.

7:30 - 8:15 Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 Conference starts
Program includes Breaks and Lunch
5:30 Program ends
(Plans for a reception starting at 5:30 are being developed)

Confirmed Speakers:

Michael Todman, President, Whirlpool North America
Charles Jones, VP Global Consumer Design, Whirlpool Corporation

The Art and Science of Design at Whirlpool

The way an appliance looks and the way it performs carries equal weight in the design of every Whirlpool product. One is never sacrificed for the other. Striking this balance has helped to ensure Whirlpool Corporation's success in creating products
that deliver higher margins and stand out in the marketplace. Whirlpool North America President Michael Todman and Vice President of Global Consumer Design Charles L. Jones will talk about how the company connects design to its business architecture. They will also explain how it uses design to create a visual language that distinguishes each of its global brands.

Whirlpool in @issue: V11 N1

Brian Walker, President and CEO, Herman Miller
John Hoke, VP Product Creation, Converse and member Herman Miller Board of Directors

The Ambidextrous Board

Designers are seldom allowed in a board room, much less invited to join a corporate board. In an age where design is often the differentiator between brands and the deciding factor in clinching a sale, Herman Miller wanted to make sure that design was factored into major business decisions. CEO Brian Walker talks about how a designer can help fellow board members "learn to see" new possibilities, and Converse VP John Hoke talks about contributing alternative design perspectives to the Herman Miller board.

Herman Miller, Interview in @issue: V12 N1

Nancye Green, CEO, Waterworks
David Schaefer, Creative Director, Waterworks

From Sinks to Service by Design

Through its design-driven strategy, Waterworks has proven that faucets and sinks can be a stylish part of home décor. Waterworks CEO Nancye Green and Creative Director David Schafer explain why design is about more than beautiful products; it is also driven by the need to organize, simplify and deliver complex information at critical points. They will share why they consider implementing and articulating service innovations as important as developing new products to ensure the best experience possible for their clients and their own people.

Joe Mansueto, CEO and Founder, Morningstar
David Williams, Design Director, Morningstar

Everyday Design (Design Every Day)

Investment research firm, Morningstar was founded in 1984 on the belief that making complex financial data easily accessible would empower people to arrive at more informed investment decisions. Its proprietary graphical tools - e.g., Morningstar's legendary Style Box -- have brought data to users in a less daunting and more intuitive manner. Morningstar CEO Joe Mansueto and Design Director David Williams discuss why design is a core component of its business model and how it is woven into the everyday fabric of the company.

Morningstar in @issue: V3 N2

Panel: Board Room and Beyond

Brian Walker, John Hoke, Nancy Green,
Moderators: Susan Szenasy,
Editor in Chief, Metropolis Magazine and
Bruce Nussbaum, Managing Editor, BusinessWeek

Robin Marino, President of Merchandising
Gael Towey, Chief Creative Officer
Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

Multitasking at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

Over the past two years, President of Merchandising Robin Marino and Chief Creative Officer Gael Towey have worked closely together to expand Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. The two will speak about the intersection of business and design and how they are spearheading new partnerships, expanding the Martha Stewart brand, and rolling out thousands of new products.

Martha Stewart in @issue: V7 N1

Ruth Shuman, President and Founder, Publicolor

Empowering Innercity Kids Through Design

Industrial designer Ruth Lande Shuman pushed back at the nation's growing student drop-out rate by forming the nonprofit, Publicolor, to engage innercity kids through the power of color and design. Hear her explain the transformative effect that Publicolor has had on more than 200 neglected public school buildings and nearby community sites in New York City through a creative continuum of youth development programs that teach the marketable skill of commercial painting, important social skills and strong work habits.

David Thurm, VP and CIO, The New York Times
Michael Bierut, Partner, Pentagram
Ed Wood, Principal, Gensler

Building the New New York Times

The New York Times' new headquarters, designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, has been called New York's most important example of commercial architecture in 50 years. David Thurm, Times VP and CIO, supervised the project from beginning to end. He'll be joined by Ed Wood of Gensler, who worked on the building's interiors, and Michael Bierut of Pentagram, who supervised the graphics and signage. They will share thoughts on how to create a visual identity that communicates the building's sustainable, wired and humane view of offices in the 21^st century.

Conference Host, Peter Lawrence, Chairman & Founder, Corporate Design Foundation.

Conference fee: $575.00
Corporate Design Foundation and MSI members: $450.00.

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