A+DEN Conference 2006 Recap

Day II: October 28, 2006

Anna Slafer opened day two of A+DEN Conference 2006 with her insightful keynote address, "Discovering Your D Spot: Straight Talk About Design". Director of Exhibitions + Programs at the International Spy Museum, Slafer underscored the importance of design education, reminding participants that design ability is inherent in all human beings. In fact, most of us use the design process all the time without even realizing it. Slafer also introduced an activity called "I Remember It Well", which demonstrated how emotion and memory affect one's attitude toward design. Participants reveled in the opportunity to play with crayons and reminisce about their childhood.

 

Edward Lifson, host of the Chicago Public Radio program Hello Beautiful!, moderated the panel "Architecture+Design Education in Schools: Partnerships in Progress," exploring the process and impact of design education inside the classroom. Participants debated the issue of developing national education standards for K-12 architecture and learned about successful design collaborations at individual schools and at the school district level.

 

Fred Dust kicked off the afternoon with his keynote address, "Extra Spatial," a witty look at design education through the eyes of an architect. Leader of the Smart Space practice at the renowned design firm IDEO, Dust offered a unique perspective by exploring what architects and designers can learn from kids about the design process. Participants also discovered the versatility of design as Dust shared how IDEO applies design thinking to a broad range of projects – from creating the ultimate cubicle for Dilbert, the cartoon character, to rethinking the parliamentary process of a Scandinavian country.

 

A+DEN Conference 2006 closed with "Where Do We Go from Here?" a spirited discussion of participants' ideas for A+DEN, moderated by Edward Lifson. As newfound friends and colleagues exchanged goodbyes at the end of the day, many looked forward to a Sunday of enjoying Chicago's magnificent architecture.