LAUNCH CONFERENCE FOR PRODUCT DESIGN PROFESSIONALS

Professionals working in product design consultancies and in-house teams now have the opportunity to become part of a unique conference dedicated to industrial design.

Product Design + Innovation, which takes place at the ExCel Centre in London, will provide a dedicated forum for debate, exchanging the latest ideas, collaboration and networking. Featuring expert speakers from brand owners and leading design consultancies, the two-day Product Design + Innovation conference will set the innovation agenda and explore opportunities for growth through themes such as sustainability and open innovation. It will look at how to communicate the value of design to business and government as well as how best to protect and maximise value from intellectual property. Covering every aspect of the business of design, the conference will also consider client relationships, examine brand owners' strategies and explore how innovation generates growth. The programme will feature product design in consumer, medical, telecoms, automotive and aerospace applications. Opportunities for engaging via Product Design + Innovation are not limited to the event itself thanks to the launch of the official website www.pdesigni.com which includes product design news and blogs as well as updates on the conference speaker programme. Crain editor David Eldridge said: "Industrial designers generate value for the UK and have a global reputation for innovation. Product Design + Innovation provides the first real opportunity to discuss and publicise the vital work they do, and caters for the whole product design community from freelancers and small design consultancies to in-house directors of design." The conference is supported by British Design Innovation (BDI), the Institution of Engineering Designers (IED) and media partner DEVELOP3D magazine. Verband Deutscher Industrie Designer (VDID) in Germany is an international supporting partner and the event organiser is also a member of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID). Chief executive of British Design Innovation, Maxine Horn said: "Industrial and service design professionals play a vital role in the innovation space but have been under the radar for far too long. A dedicated conference to raise the voice, profile and accessibility of our member firms fits perfectly with the core objective of British Design Innovation (BDI). It will enable members to share with industry and academia what they do, how they do it and the knowledge and IP value they bring to innovation." Delegates attending Product Design + Innovation will also have free access to the co-located Plastics Design & Moulding conference and exhibition (pdm 11).