David Butler of Coca-Cola to be among the stellar lineup at the AIGA Design Conference

David Butler on the cover of Fast Company’s 2009 “Masters of Design” issue

NEW YORK, September 21, 2009. David Butler knows design. As the vice president of global design for Coca-Cola, his exploration of design as an enterprise function led to the creation of a soda fountain for fast food restaurants—featuring more than 100 flavor variations—that could revolutionize not only the way consumers interact with the brand, but the entire product delivery chain.

Attendees of the “Make/Think: AIGA Design Conference,” to be held October 8–11 in Memphis, will have the chance get up close and personal with Butler and a stellar lineup of design leaders through affinity sessions and small-group roundtable conversations.

Butler will be joined by design contemporaries in branding, interaction design, motion design and more—even his design consultant counterpart at Pepsi, Peter Arnell—at the event hosted by AIGA, the professional association for design.

“We’re looking forward to challenging everyone’s perception of their own roles as designers at ‘Make/Think,’ this year’s biennial design conference,” said AIGA executive director Richard Grefé. “Whether you believe you are a strategist who can visualize the difficult with impact, relevance and beauty or a crafts person with strategic vision or someone else entirely, we will provoke you and others to think about your profession in a new light. That’s precisely what makes AIGA such a rich experience. We represent design broadly defined, and our membership consists of designers across the spectrum of disciplines and viewpoints.”

Enlightening presentations and conversations

Conference attendees will see a wide variety of presentations by some of today’s most intriguing minds in design and culture. Just a few of the nearly 100 speakers include:

• Peter Arnell, founder and CEO of Arnell, the firm behind Pepsi’s new logo and the all-electric Peapod vehicle for Chrysler
• Michael Bierut, partner of the international design consultancy Pentagram and co-founder of Design Observer
• Kate Bingaman-Burt, illustrator, designer, writer and founder of Obsessive Consumption
• Carin Goldberg, principal of Carin Goldberg Design, educator at the School of Visual Arts and recipient of the 2009 AIGA Medal
• Jill Greenberg, one of the world’s most in-demand photographers, who is open about digitally manipulating her portraits
• Demetri Martin, comedian and star of the film Taking Woodstock and the Comedy Central show Important Things
• Debbie Millman, AIGA president and managing partner at Sterling Brands, the largest independent brand consultancy in the country
• Clement Mok, a designer, digital pioneer, software publisher/developer, author and founder of multiple successful design-related businesses—Studio Archetype, CMCD and NetObjects
• Paul Sahre, graphic designer, illustrator, educator, author and current World Graphic Design Foosball Champion
• Jim Sherraden, manager, chief designer and archivist at Hatch Show Print, one of America's oldest surviving show poster and design shops

A weekend to reinvigorate

Hundreds of designers are eagerly anticipating the biennial event, long considered the premier gathering for design. In addition to the lineup of inspiring speakers, conference attendees will enjoy a weekend packed with practical affinity sessions, networking receptions, hands-on activities in the Design Fair, workshops to refine their practice, behind-the-scenes tours, intimate roundtables with design luminaries and the entertainment of “Command X,” the live reality show in search of the next top designer.

Hear what others have to say:

“The promise of future opportunity permeates the halls and rooms of AIGA conferences,” said Matthew Muñoz, a participant in the 2007 “Command X” competition and now a partner at New Kind, a strategic design services partnership. “Days are full of serendipitous connections—to new knowledge, friends and experiences. Count on AIGA to challenge and validate, and to ultimately leave an impression.”

“Once-in-a-lifetime things happen at AIGA conferences, and missing them means missing out on a vibrant sense of community, bleeding-edge knowledge about the world of design and how these two are inextricably connected,” said Mike Joosse, founder of Listening and Speaking, a design and communication consultancy. “For designers, students and citizens, this is the ultimate way to explore what design means to our profession, culture and world.”

To learn more about the AIGA Design Conference and ticket options, visit designconference.aiga.org.

About AIGA

AIGA, the professional association for design, is the premier place for design—to discover it, discuss it, understand it, appreciate it, be inspired by it.

AIGA’s mission is to advance designing as a professional craft, strategic tool and vital cultural force. AIGA stimulates thinking about design through journals, conferences, competitions and exhibitions; demonstrates the value of design to business, the public and government officials; and empowers the success of designers at each stage of their careers by providing invaluable educational and social resources.

Founded in 1914, AIGA remains the oldest and largest professional membership organization for design. AIGA now represents more than 22,000 design professionals, educators and students through national activities and local programs developed by 64 chapters and 240 student groups. AIGA is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) educational institution.

For further information, please contact:
Jennifer Bender
Manager, communications and marketing
AIGA | the professional association for design
Tel 212 807 1990   Fax 212 807 1799