VCUQ in partnership with the Ministry of Civil Service Affairs and Housing and Qatar Foundation announces its annual design conference; Tasmeem Doha 2007.
The international design conference will take place at VCUQ from 5 - 8 March 2007.
This year's conference continues the discussion initiated during Tasmeem 2005 and 2006 regarding the important role design plays in shaping our identity, determining our quality of life and driving our economy. VCUQ will host a group of speakers that are representative of the best designers working today, to address this subject.
"VCUQ is very pleased to sponsor the Annual Tasmeem Design conference. This year is particularly meaningful based on the world awareness brought to Qatar by the Asian Games. We hope that people aware of the games will consider finding out more about Qatar and all that it has to offer." noted VCUQ Dean Christina Lindholm.
The theme of this year's conference, concerns the implementation of sustainable design policies and practices. It is based on the recognition that many developments in the sustainable design field begin in a context where there is little social, regulatory, professional or economic support in place for sustainable design approaches.
"The Tasmeem Annual Design Conference in March addresses the topic of sustainability. The conference theme Sometimes, You Just Have To Do It Yourself, is based on the idea that it often takes the efforts of a single individual to bring attention to ways in which design can solve, improve, or prevent the problems created by the way we live. We are fortunate to host a group of designers from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds that will present examples of imaginative, sustainably-designed projects and strategies that have led to increased public, regulatory and financial support for sustainable initiatives." explained JP Reuer Tasmeem 2007 Committee Chair.
"This year's Tasmeem Doha Design Conference is on sustainability and design. This topic not only covers sustainability in environmental design but also covers economic and social design sustainability. We are bringing in speakers from North America, Europe and Asia who are at the forefront in their design fields and who will specifically address the topic of design sustainability." added Donna DuffettVCUQ Events Project Manager.
Tasmeem Doha 2007 will include presentations by 15 international designers, a keynote speaker on the opening night, a disscusion panel by Qatar's decision makers, breakdown session with the speakers and design exhibitions. Participants will include practitioners, design professors and students from academic institutions and facilities throughout the world.
The Keynote speaker of the conference is Dr. David Suzuki, Chair of the David Suzuki Foundation, is an award -winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster. He is renowned for his radio and television programs that explain the complexities of the natural science in a compelling easily understood way.
The 2007 Tasmeem Student Project is based on the idea that the more we value something, the more likely we are to care for and preserve it. Therefore the goal of this project is to explore the ways in which designers can express the value of water in personal, economic, political, social or aesthetic terms. Students are to propose a place, product, image, event, technology or process that addresses the selected condition and emphasizes the value of water, drawing upon one of its particular characteristics. Shell is the official Sponsor of the Tasmeem 2007 Student Project.
"The Ministry of Civil Service Affairs and Housing works very closely in coordination with VCUQ annually to organize Tasmeem. It gives us the opportunity to strengthen our partnership with Qatar Foundation and VCUQ. The number of participants increases significantly each year. We are extremely excited about Tasmeem Doha 2007. We are most grateful to our sponsors for their continuing support in this great endeavor." said Abdulaziz Al Sulati, Tasmeem 2007 Vice President of the Organizing Committee and Marketing and Media Manager.