Madrid (Spain) - For the first time, renowned Ibero American designers and participants from 22 countries shared spaces and experiences at the Ibero American Design Biennial (BID), organised by the Madrid Designers' Association (DIMAD), sponsored and co-organised by the Fundacion Banco Santander, and held at Central de Diseño - Matadero Madrid.

Between 24 November - 4 December 2008, the first  BID carried out a series of activities including sample exhibits, round tables, seminars and more, becoming the first meeting point for Ibero American design practitioners, producers and managers. At the event, participants discussed the current situation of design, new trends, the role of cultural tradition and the connections with a market that is increasingly paying more attention to production in this region.

17,000 people have visited the BID since its opening, and a space online has been made available for people worldwide to visit and learn about this initiative.

Over 7,000 visitors have attended the BID exhibition in Madrid. Due to this outstanding attendance, the first Ibero American Design Biennial will extend the BID 08 Exhibition and the "Sentando precedente (Laying down a precedent)): Roca, Rodrígues, Valdés" exhibition until 1 March 2009.

The BID 08 exhibition includes over 300 workpieces on display at the Central de Diseño-Matadero Madrid. The show represents the wide-ranging, creative panorama of design in Latin America, Portugal and Spain. Posters, books, chairs, costumes, digital and interior proposals are all featured in this first sample exhibit, which shows the viewer that design is more than mere aesthetics, but is present in our everyday life.

The exhibit "Sentando precedente (Laying down a precedent): Roca, Rodrígues, Valdés" at the Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas displays a collection of popular chairs by well-established designers Cristian Valdés (Chile), Sergio Rodrígues (Brazil) and Ximo Roca (Spain). Through these pieces, observers will see the development of Ibero American product design over the last fifty years.

The Ibero American Design Biennial will be held every two years in Madrid, at the Matadero Madrid Central de Diseño, and it aims to become the most significant event for contemporary Ibero-American design, where the approaches, creativity and productions from Latin America, Spain and Portugal will be brought together.

Visit the BID website to access more information on this event and obtain updated images.

Download the BID 08 activities booklet (PDF - 1.7MB)

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For more information, please contact:

Central de Diseño                                            
t: +34 91 474 67 80/87
e:
w: www.bid-dimad.org