The College of Design at the American University in the Emirates hosts an international conference which explores the theme of change in design education and practice.

The fourth International Design Conference (IDC) is entitled Design2Change. The conference calls into question the state of things and challenges preconceptions, prejudices, norms, and stereotypes. It provokes emotions, thoughts, sensibilities and actions.

Design is synonymous with change - it changes existing situations into preferred ones in outer life as well as in our inner balances. The conference program will discuss the change in design education and practice, and the relation between design and change.

Prof. Silvia Piardi, Director of the Design Department at the Polytechnic of Milan joins Prof. Li Xiu from the Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication to highlight the integration of change in contemporary design. Leading international designers and scholars will take part in the panel discussions and workshops.

Register at [email protected]

About American University in Emirates
The American University in the Emirates (AUE) is committed to offering quality, multidisciplinary research and career-oriented academic degree programs that prepare students for successful employment and continuing higher education.

The College of Design at AUE offers four creative programs that are designed to encourage students to research, conceptualize, create, and critique their own work while training them to develop the skills and knowledge required in the industry. The integration of theoretical concepts and practical experience prepares graduates to be innovators and leaders of the future who can contribute to the community on a wide scale.

About Professor Silvia Piardi
Professor Silvia Piardi has been the Head of the Department of Design at the Politecnico di Milano since 2011 where she is also currently a member of the Academic Board for PhDs in Design. She is a referee for the Italian Ministry of University and Research, and a member of the National Committee for the Evaluation of University Professors.

Prof. Piardi co-founded and directed the Degree in Interior Design, the Master’s Degree in Science in Naval and Nautical Design, and the Master’s in Yacht Design. Her teaching and research interests are span a wide range of interior design subjects including residences, offices, ships, boats, and urban spaces. She is a frequent speaker on the international academic circuit and has been invited to deliver lectures on subjects related to interior, lighting and yacht design in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Reutlingen, Izmir, and New Delhi.

About Professor Li Xu
Professor Li Xu is the founder and art director of Beijing Art A&B Design, and a Professor at the Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication, China. He has exhibited his work at many important, international biennial and triennial exhibitions, and lectured and taught workshops around the world in addition to serving as a jury member for many international poster festivals and competitions.

Li Xu has received several prestigious awards including first prize at the AIGA (re)design Awards 2011; the gold prize at the IDA-International Design Awards 2012; a bronze Pentawards 2012; an honorary prize at the 2008 Olympic Digital Arts Exhibition; first prize at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou Poster Design Competition; the Best Guide Award at the 2007 Design Against Fur Competition; and an honorary prize at the 26th Summer Universiade Mascot Design Contest.