This session will remove doubts from your mind by clarifying what lies behind the broad concept of “new technologies” applied to design and art. From 3D printing to the idea of Open Source, the panelists will discuss the place these technologies hold today in the relation to the creative, his/her work, and the general public. In this context, we will touch upon the idea of universal access of a product’s design or blueprint and its redistribution, which, according to the principles of Open Collaboration, is made available to contributors and non-contributors alike for improvements (customization).

Panelists:

Mirko Tattarini is the founder and CEO of Lagos Design and teaches Design Strategies at ISIA, Florence.

Halim Choueiry is design educator, practitioner and past Icograda Vice President. He is currently the Chairperson of the Arts+Design Department at the American University of Science and Technology in Beirut, Lebanon. Halim is also co-founder of hbr is a creative platform and design lab. It is the space where design lovers and creative minds meet to share innovative ideas, design and prototype.

Guillaume Credoz is an architect and designer. He is the head of Ghouyoum, an Architecture and Design Practice of Makers which is currently building its own large scale 3D printer. It has created the first 3D printing and collaborative exhibition space in Middle-East (FreshlyBakedToday) where anyone can have its design manufactured and exhibited.

From 16 to 24 January, GAIA-Heritage is hosting a weeklong event of activities In Mar Mikhael within the EU-funded project MEDNETA. The event includes Toolbox: a series of free workshops for artists, craftsmen and designers.

Toolbox will be happening over 3 days: 22, 23 & 24 of January.

Day 1 will expose creatives to new technologies and innovative techniques

Day 2 will provide creatives with the needed entrepreneurial, and marketing skills to create their own businesses.

After the first two days of training artists, craftsmen and designers will spend Day 3 collaborating to create products and their respective business plans and present them to a jury. Members of the jury include: Kafalat, RDCL - Rassemblement de Dirigeants et Chefs d'entreprises Libanais, UNESCO, a design market expert and a design process expert.

To participate on Day 3, creatives need to have attended a minimum of 2 workshops on Days 1 and 2 and sign up at the IGA premises by 12pm on Day 2.

By the end of 2015, these products will be further developed between the artists, craftsmen and designers of MEDNETA’s partner cities (Athens, Tunis, Valencia, Florence and Hebron) and exhibited around the Mediterranean.

InMarMikhael