The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design announced that the City of Montreal, Canada has proclaimed June 29 as World Industrial Design Day; the first city worldwide to officially commemorate World Industrial Design Day in acknowledgment of the importance of industrial design to its social and economic development.
Celebrated by designers and non-designers alike, World Industrial Design Day is held internationally on 29 June with the aim of encouraging inter-disciplinary collaborations, spreading an understanding of the design industry and exploring ways in which responsible design can improve quality of life. In Montreal, a designer roundtable was held in 2008 in conjunction with Icsid Corporate Innovator (ICI) member Tupperware Corporation gathering members of the international industrial design community and distinguished representatives of the Montreal community.
"This proclamation supports Montreal's commitment to the five strategic directions outlined in the Montreal 2025 plan: knowledge, creativity and innovation; culture; living environment; infrastructure; and openness to the world," stated Helen Fotopulos, Montreal Executive Committee Member responsible for Culture, Heritage, Design and the Status of Women. "By proclaiming June 29th as World Industrial Design Day, we help drive the city's design development initiatives and take humble steps towards making Montreal more hospitable to its citizens."
"We are overjoyed that the City of Montreal has joined Icsid in this campaign to share the benefits industrial design can offer to quality of life throughout the world," stated Dr. Mark Breitenberg, Icsid President. "We hope that other design-focused metropolises will take Montreal's lead in a manner that will enable this international day of observance to grow, educate and create tangible change."
Icsid held its 2nd annual World Industrial Design Day student poster competition, garnering submissions from students on over three continents all of who were vying to have their design officially represent this year's theme, "Industrial Design: Humane solutions for a resilient world". The winning poster, designed by University of Zagreb students Bojan Kristofic and Ivan Orin Vrkas, was selected through public online voting. Their poster centres on the tagline "Don't throw anything away, there is no away", promoting the use of sustainability in industrial design.
City of Montreal Executive Committee Member Helen Fotopulos will present the proclamation on the 29 June at the Terrasses Bonsecours in Montreal in the presence of the Icsid Secretary General Dilki de Silva, together with Icsid Members and friends. The event is being held in celebration of World Industrial Design Day and is hosted by the Association de Designers Industriels du Quebec (ADIQ), Mission Design and the City of Montreal.