RPI Hosts Global Gathering of Design Scholars

Rensselaer, in collaboration with members of the Upstate New York and New York City chapters of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA), organized this pioneering conference, Global Interaction in Design Education ‘08 (GLIDE'08), where key presentations will be streamed live on the web on the day of the conference.

Registrants will have access to content by live-synchronous-presentations in the form of podcasts and webcasts, downloadable portable document format (PDF) files, and PowerPoint presentations with voiceovers, telephone conferences, and existing or new design blogs and wikis. Key presentations streamed live will include synchronous question and answer sessions.

The conference chair, Audrey Bennett, professor of graphics at Rensselaer, said Glide08 "focuses on trends in design collaborations among design scholars, graduate students, and communities in first, second, and third world regions including the U.S., Europe, Japan, Korea, India, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle-East. While exchanging the most current information, we also strive to be an exemplar for ‘greener' approaches to conferencing."

Four principal presenters head the list for GLIDE'08:

Jorge Frascara, Professor Emeritus, University of Alberta who has published nine books and now lives in Italy working on information design and traffic safety communications, and contributing to the Master in Medical Design and the doctoral program of the University Iuav of Venice.

Sharon Helmer Poggenpohl has recently returned to the US from teaching in the School of Design at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University where she developed a new master ofInteraction Design program. Since 1987, she has edited and published Visible Language, one of only a few inter-disciplinary scholarly journals dealing broadly with visual communication design.

Armin Vit, a native of Mexico City living in Brooklyn, New York writes for design publications including AIGA's VOICE; Émigré; Eye; Creative Review; HOW; and STEP magazines, among others. A former faculty member of the Portfolio Center and the School of Visual Arts in NYC, he has lectured on topics ranging from typography to branding in locations ranging from San Diego to Berlin.

Doug Bartow has been slicing apart and re-assembling fonts and type for the better part of the last 20 years. As Design Director at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) from 1995 to 2003, he planned and designed MASS MoCA's identity, wayfinding system, exhibition design, internet presence, exhibition catalogs, and all printed collateral (with only the help of an occasional summer intern). Doug co-founded id29 in Troy, NY with Michael Fallone in 2003.

The vent will be capped by a cruise on the Hudson aboard Troy's own Captain JP featuring a discussion led by Doug Bartow on the evening of October 22.

NOTE:  Members of the press who wish to follow the conference online may register for that aspect of the conference as well as for the live events on Rensselaer's campus. Please contact Don Moore or Evelyn Smith and we will set up online access for you.

Don Moore, Director of Communication, School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences / moored@rpi.edu / 518.276.2992

Evelyn Smith / Asst. Director, Production, Multimedia Services / smithe2@rpi.edu / 518.276.4821