Montreal (Canada) - You are invited to join design leaders from around the globe to advance the discourse on design and the many ways it connects us to our world. The CONNECTING’07 Program Committee hopes that you will propose a presentation, paper, workshop or panel discussion for its review and possible inclusion at the Icsid/IDSA Congress in San Francisco in October 2007.

An international audience of design practitioners and educators will share morning plenary sessions and evening celebrations. In the afternoons, sessions on practice, methodology, education and theory will be held in 11 breakout rooms in the Fairmont and Stanford Court Hotels, in addition to the Masonic Center. Practitioners and educators from around the world will be able to choose from a full slate of offerings on practice and education.

Topics of particular interest include:

• Design in the Americas: Presentations by countries in Latin and North America on the influences and work, challenges and achievements of designers in these countries.
• The State of Design and Design Promotion: Reports from design centres and associations providing an overview on design promotion and the cultures of design in various countries and regions.
  

Other suggested areas of interest include:
Materials & Processes; Design Management; Interaction Design; Human Factors; Brand Development; Trends; Strategic Design; Design for the Majority; Design Research; Design Protection; Eco-design; Furniture; Universal Design; Design History; Medical Design; Automotive Design; Consumer Electronics Design; Housewares Design; and other topics that break open new areas of thought.

Special consideration will be given to presentations and papers that address the CONNECTING'07 themes: Connecting People and Places, Connecting Virtual and Visceral and Connecting Beauty and Bounty.

Proposals that celebrate diversity, including presenters from different cultures and different demographics, will be particularly welcome.

Parameters for submission:
By January 19, supply a 1-page abstract using the online submission form, with:

1. A theme statement and its relevance to the CONNECTING context, demonstrating the connecting of new and old; unusual or seemingly unrelated disciplines; business and design; new technology; cultures; etc.
2. A demonstration of how the topic provides new information and insight, whether in topic or method of presentation. 
3. A description of proposed format, i.e. whether it is an individual presentation or panel discussion; will it be augmented by an exhibit in the Design Gallery & Expo?; will there be printed or other material for handout?
4. A summary of presenter’s expertise in the topic
5. A summary of presenter’s experience making presentations
   

If selected, the presenter commits to delivering content to include in the CONNECTING’07 Proceedings by July 31st, 2007, to participating in a rehearsal of their presentation and to making the presentation in person.

Submission will be online using a special form. The link to that form will be available at www.connecting07.org by mid-December.

Important Deadlines and Information

• Abstract deadline: January 19, 2007
• Abstracts must be submitted online
• Final paper and/or presentation will be due July 31, 2007