DESIGN DIALOGUE

Conversations about 21st Century Innovation and the Role of Design in Education, Community, and the Economy

Design Dialogue is an on-going open forum taking place at West Virginia University that began in the fall of 2007. The goal is to promote a dialogue on the power of innovation in the new design economy. This site is one place to carry on that dialogue.

The conversation is continuing at the series of lectures and events listed on this page. Rather than concentrating on a single design discipline in isolation, these events will take an integrated approach. Local, national, and international thinkers from a number of design fields are being brought together to present ideas and promote discussion. To that end, see the short essay posted on this site “The Naba City” by leading Italian designer and architect, Alessandro Guerriero. He was present on November 6th (details posted under “Events”) for a conversation on the nature of design in the city with the distinguished thinker and founder of the field of archetypal psychology, James Hillman. All Design Dialogue events are free and open to the public.

Topics to be addressed throughout the Design Dialogue events include: innovations in design education, the value of integrated aesthetics in metropolitan design, New Urbanism and city planning, business design, livability issues, green design, and the power of design thinking. Specific design issues from those affecting the local campus and Morgantown to broader issues affecting the state and region will be explored. The goal is to draw together a variety of stakeholders?from educators and administrators, to business people, public officials, community members, and students?to engage in a constructive dialogue on the possibilities of innovative design thinking.

Design Dialogue is a collaborative and multi-disciplinary initiative led by faculty in a variety of academic units at West Virginia University. These include: the Division of Art-College of Creative Arts; the Division of Design & Merchandising and the Landscape Architecture Program-Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences; the Institute for Public Affairs-Eberly College of Arts and Sciences; and, Office of International Programs-Provost?s Office. (Contact Kristina Olson at kristina.olson@mail.wvu.edu or Dan Weiner at daniel.weiner@mail.wvu.edu for further information.)