Why Next, Why Denver, Why now?
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Jason Otero, principal at Art & Anthropology and comrade to The Denver Egotist, shares his thinking on the AIGA Design Conference coming very soon to a city near you.
When I was initially informed that the AIGA’s conference theme was to be framed around the concept of “Next” I immediately drew parallels to the pioneer legacy that makes up much of Denver’s history.
I imagined the context of the families who traversed the plains of middle America through the late 1800’s to seek new possibilities and the promises of brighter futures. That mythology is still a large part of the mystique of the west, and is the reason why many of my friends and peers speak so romantically of visiting this region.
As a designer, I have found that this area is home to an incredible entrepreneurial energy, that when matched with strong creative vision yields remarkable results (ie. Chipotle, Quizno’s, Crocs, MapQwest – all Colorado-based companies). In the last 10 years, Denver as a city, has embarked on numerous cultural, social, economic and urban planning initiatives that will position it as a city that truly embraces the word Next in a confident, almost defiant tone as if to say, “What else you got.” Denver is actively positioning itself as the creative capital of the west and I can think of no better place in America to be engaged and challenged in the discipline of design.
Consider the addition of the expanded Denver Art Museum by Libeskind, the new Museum of Contemporary Art by David Adjaye, the transfer of the National Design Archive, and the construction of the Clifford Still Museum as a statement of Denver’s commitment to actively engaging its citizens in a discourse of art and culture. Additionally, Denver embodies a growing multi-cultural audience that will redefine the design landscape for audience and designers alike.
In short…
The decision to bring the AIGA conference to Denver in 2007 was relevant in many ways but under the theme of Next is especially poignant because it serves as a metaphor for what I feel is the trajectory of design for the next 30 years; increasingly entrepreneurial, community oriented, decentralized and sunny.
Need more convincing to get a ticket? Behold the list of speakers who will be there preaching the gospel.
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