Emerging Design Weeks play an invaluable role in identifying new talent and in supporting more established [...]

27 October | 6 - 7pm
The Atrium, Building 4, Dubai Design District (d3)

Emerging Design Weeks play an invaluable role in identifying new talent and in supporting more established homegrown brands, providing a crucial moment where design communities can be created or reinforced. For many, developing a strong design week is also a critical step in readying a city or nation's design scene for the competitive international stage.

The panel invites speakers from emerging Design Weeks, as well as others from the more established ones, to share their strategic directions and tactical actions that are put in place to achieve the ambitious goal.

Moderated by David Michon

The Panel

Halla Helgadóttir

Halla Helgadóttir, Managing Director of the Iceland Design Centre has an extensive experience as an art director and a creative administrator. Educated as a graphic designer, Halla worked in the advertising industry for 20 years running her own company, and hence has a very good insight into the process of the work of designers aswell as close contact with the business sector. Halla has focused on work demanding high standards of design, creativity and quality of solutions as well as rigorous work methodology and economic efficiency. Halla has given lectures and workshops on graphic design and design thinking. In her role as managing director of the Iceland Design Centre Halla has acquired knowledge and experience of working with different professions within design and architecture, the creative industry in general aswell as working with the public sector. In her work as a designer Halla has aquired numeous awards and acknowledgements.
Isabel Roig

Isabel Roig has been the General Director of the BCD Barcelona Design Centre since 2000, an organization focused on economic and social value creation through design and its role in innovation and sustainable growth. Her previous professional experience has provided her with the insight required to set successful and innovative strategies at the Centre. In 2006, she founded Barcelona Design Week. She has been a member of the European Design Leadership Board appointed by the European Commission, and the President of BEDA (Bureau of European Design Associations). Currently, she is a member of the Steering Committee of the World Design Weeks Network.

David Michon

David Michon is the former editor of Icon magazine, and former managing editor of Monocle magazine and Winkreative creative agency. In January 2016, he set out as an independent consultant and strategist, focusing on editorial and other creative projects across a range of categories.

As editor of Icon, he oversaw the relaunch of the magazine from a trade title to a more grounded, relatable and pacier consumer title – increasing readership by 20% within the first six months. For Monocle, he managed the launch of the brand’s radio station, Monocle 24, and produced, reported for and sometimes presented its weekly radio show on cities, The Urbanist. He regularly contributed to both Monocle magazine and its series of books. Between those editorial roles, he was managing editor at Winkreative, focusing his work on both editorial strategy and place-making projects.