Singapore - With the number of cars in the world predicted to double to 1.7billion by 2030, the notion of having ecological-friendly vehicles on the road has never been so important. Automakers are pushing the boundaries to develop green vehicles that are both innovative and aesthetically appealing. Bill Mitchell, the world's leading guru of how city life has changed in the age of wireless communication, is now working with some of the brightest minds in academia to conceptualise a sustainable urban transport system of tomorrow.

As the Alexander Dreyfoos Professor of Architecture and Media Arts and Sciences at MIT, Bill is no stranger to urban concepts and designs. He and his team of students at the MIT Media Lab Smart Cities Group are the brains behind many revolutionary automobiles including the GreenWheel electric bicycle, the RoboScooter electric scooter, and the CityCar electric automobile.


Above: RoboScooter. Image: Michael Chia-Liang Lin.
Source: http://cities.media.mit.edu

With a passion and foresight for design and our better future, Bill has signed up to lead one of the Design2050 Studios, an initiative that engages design gurus and thought leaders around the world to develop propositions to tackle some of the pressing challenges we face today through design. Based on the concept of "Reinventing the Automobile2050", Bill is determined that a new kind of electric charging infrastructure can be developed into our cities to compliment the green vehicles of the future. In his own words, "This system would create synergy between electric vehicles and a smart electric grid, which allows maximum efficiency in urban mobility and fundamentally reduce carbon emissions."

Catch Bill presenting his visionary Design2050 ideas for the first time at the  Icsid World Design Congress, to be hosted by  the DesignSingapore Council from 23-25 November in Singapore. Other Design2050 Studio Leaders to speak at the congress include Stefano Marzano, who will explore aspects of health and well-being throughout a person's full life cycle - from pre-conception to the passage of death, and Toshiko Mori, whose studio will develop new methodologies that resituate design as a greater analytic tool to organise previously segregated disciplines for governmental and non-governmental agencies.

For more information on the Icsid World Design Congress, the Design2050 Studios, speakers and registration, please visit: www.icsidcongress09.com

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For more information, please contact:
Grayling
Nicky Wang, Robin Williams
t: +65 6325 4606
e: ; robin.williams@sg.grayling.com

Icsid
Andrea Springer
t: +1 514 448 4949 ext 232
e:

About Icsid

The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) is an international non-governmental organisation for professional industrial design. Founded in 1957, Icsid facilitates co-operation and interaction among professional associations, promotional societies, educational institutions, government bodies, corporations and institutions with the aim of contributing to the development of the profession of industrial design. Through shared interests, experiences, and resources, Icsid provides an international platform for its members to be heard as a powerful voice.

Icsid also holds consultative status with UNESCO, UNIDO, ISO and WIPO to support and highlight design in international forums.

About DesignSingapore Council

Design changes and improves lives, inspires creativity and new forms of expression. It also enhances business competitiveness in today's crowded marketplace. DesignSingapore Council is Singapore's response to these propositions and opportunities.

As a national initiative, the Council aims to place Singapore on the world map for design creativity. It looks to develop a thriving, multi-disciplinary design cluster of industries and activities in Singapore that has relevance and impact globally.

The initiative also aims to bring design to business boardrooms, new audiences and new markets. The DesignSingapore Council was formed in August 2003 as a department within the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, as the national agency for the promotion and development of Singapore design.
www.designsingapore.org