From Ashtray to Tank

At 6:00 PM on August 30, 2007, the official opening of the International Industrial Design Forum Design Act (DA) will take place at the Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art in Moscow. The forum will open on the eve of the City Day celebration, with the support of the Cultural Foundation 'Our Time', the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation, and the Moscow City Culture Committee. Industrial design is the material world around us. Everything - from an ashtray to a tank, from a match to a street lamp - is the result of the work of industrial designers. Currently, the industrial design market in Russia is in its infancy, known only to those who are professionally involved. DA is one of the first attempts to showcase and discuss industrial design not only among a narrow circle of professionals but also to attract the attention of a wider audience. Forum visitors include established and future designers, manufacturers, distributors, and anyone interested in the origin and history of the objects that shape our daily lives. The forum's task is to make industrial design accessible to everyone. The Design Market exhibition-selling designer goods will open its doors on August 31 at 12:00 and will run for three days at Winzavod, where visitors can purchase 'life's little things' from accessories to interior items, many of which have never been seen on the Russian market. Participants in the exhibition include design authorities such as Hiroshi Tsunoda DesignCode, WAT Design, Black+Blum, and Mixko, as well as Russian companies like Ostengruppe, Open!Design, Limitedunlimited.ru, Respublika.ru, Art Lebedev Studio, Sock to Talk, and others. The Design Forum discussion club will feature lectures, discussions, knowledge sharing, and master classes from renowned international designers. Noteworthy lectures include Ora Ito's 'Emotional Future,' a provocative figure in modern design, Hiroshi Tsunoda's perspective on 'Design for Business,' and Xavier Lust's master class on '(de)formations.' Additionally, three round tables will address: designer-manufacturer relationships, education issues in industrial design, and the prospects of distributing designer goods in Russia. The RusD exhibition of Russian industrial design will showcase what can be expected from our designers in the near future, opening on August 30 in the White Hall and running throughout the Forum. Design Party on August 31 at 10:00 PM will provide an opportunity for informal interaction between designers and their fans. One of the forum's goals is to give young talent a chance, with hopes that the audience will appreciate the works of one of St. Petersburg's most promising designers, Mikhail Sholok. The International Industrial Design Forum Design Act will become an annual event, uniting talented domestic and foreign designers, and actively contributing to the business relationships of key players in the emerging Russian industrial design market. **DA Forum Event Schedule** August 30 5:00 PM - Press conference for media representatives 6:00 PM - Official opening of the International Industrial Design Forum 8:00 PM - Opening of Design Café August 31 12:00 PM - Start of International forum DA. Opening of 'Design Market' exhibition-sale of products made by domestic and foreign designers. Lectures, round tables. Opening of exhibitions at DA venue. Design Forum - lectures. Round tables (Big White Hall) 12:00 PM - Lecture by Ora Ito 'Emotional Future' 1:15 PM - Round table 'Issues in industrial design education' 3:15 PM - Lecture by Hiroshi Tsunoda 'Design for Business' 4:15 PM - Round table 'Distribution' 10:00 PM - 5:00 AM - 'Design Night. Design Party' September 1 12:00 PM - Continued work of International forum DA. Lectures. Round tables Design Forum - lectures. Round tables (Big Photo Studio Hall) 12:00 PM - Lecture by Xavier Lust '(de)formations' 1:45 PM - Round table 'Experience of Russian designers working in corporations' 4:00 PM - Lecture by Omami 'Design: Good, Bad, Evil.' 7:00 PM - Evening program at Design Café September 2 12:00 PM - Continued work of International forum DA. 7:00 PM - Closing of the Design Market exhibition-sale September 3 - Official closing of the International Industrial Design Forum DA August 30 - September 3, 2007 Moscow, Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art 4th Syromyatnichesky Lane, Building 1, Building 6