Just over one year following the launch of its redesigned website, the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) has announced the release of its website’s second phase of development.

The new expansion follows the Icsid Executive Board’s strategic direction to develop an online community in which its members, strategic partners, affiliated organisations, as well industrial design professionals can communicate information on projects and activities. “The strategy recently developed by the 2007-2009 Executive Board reflects the necessity for Icsid to continually advance the capabilities of our online network” stated Icsid President, Carlos Hinrichsen. “The improvements we have seen thus far, as well as future enhancements, will further enable us to strengthen the dialog between regions.”

Newly developed features include:

Online member profiles
An important addition to the website, the improved member profile pages will provide increased visibility for all Icsid members. In addition, Icsid members are privy to additional member-focused resources and information via the ‘members-only area’.

Improved events calendar
The new event calendar will provide visitors with a broader range of international design events. The calendar has been fitted with an interactive search tool.

Opinion poll and blog
In conjunction with the website’s latest ‘design feature’, the Icsid Opinion Poll and Blog will enable social networking on the site. Visitors to the site are presented with an opportunity to share their thoughts with an avid international audience on specific topics of general interest.

IDMN
The International Design Media Network (IDMN) is a viable resource for international design media providing participants with a broad range of information. During the next term, the IDMN will be a key development project in communicating the value of design.

The Icsid website will continue to be a primary resource for industry news and a platform for information on the various projects and global events Icsid endorses and supports. Future developments to the site will include a targeted strategy to further advance the Icsid Global Education Network and Career Center, as well as increase design-related features and case studies.

The release of the new phase has been coordinated with the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (Icograda), which also launched its redesigned site. As founding members of the IDA, the two websites have been developed on a communal web-architecture in an attempt to provide members of the design community with a more synchronised and conducive message.