Now if we could just get a shot of Lindsay Lohan crashing into one….

Named one of the twenty-five most influential Canadian women by Chatelaine magazine, host Fanny Kiefer brings her inquisitive mind and sharp insight to in-depth discussions with Canada’s political elite, global influencers, acclaimed authors, visionaries,artists and creators and local changemakers.”

For more information on Fanny Kiefer and Studio 4 please visit www.studio4.ca

Tangram Design founder and industrial designer Robert Johnston has received a 2009 BC Creative Achievement Award.

From the BC Creative Achievement Foundation:

Three talented British Columbians were named today by Premier Gordon Campbell and Keith Mitchell, chair of the British Columbia Achievement Foundation as the recipients of the 2009 BC Creative Achievement Awards for Applied Art and Design

“In applying creativity, ingenuity and innovative designs to functional objects, this year’s recipients demonstrate the talent and strength that exists throughout B.C.’s applied art and design community,” said Campbell. “We are pleased to celebrate the accomplishments of these artists and to highlight the important contributions that applied artists and designers make to the cultural and economic fabric of B.C.”

“Working in wood, glass, fibre, clay, metal in such areas as furniture, jewelry, textiles, ceramics, industrial and fashion design, these artists create work that inspires us all.” Mitchell noted. “Today’s recipients join 20 previous recipients who have been honoured since the inception of the award in 2005, all of whom represent the spectrum of outstanding applied art and design work in BC.”

The recipients were selected by an independent jury chaired by board member Dr. Robert Belton, Dean of Creative and Critical Studies at UBC Okanagan. The jury was comprised of Sam Carter, artist, craft
and design educator, and associate professor at the Emily Carr University of Art + Design; Lubos Culen, curator, Vernon Public Art Gallery; Alex Feldman, partner, Form3 Design; and Tony Martin, executive director, Comox Valley Art Gallery.
The British Columbia Achievement Foundation is an independent foundation established and endowed by the Province of B.C. in 2003 to celebrate community service, arts, humanities and enterprise.

For more information on the BC Creative Achievement Awards please visit www.bcachievement.com

“The Industrial Design Advantage” is a supplement to the report and demonstrates the value of industrial design to businesses through case studies and data collected through various international design organizations. Tangram principal; designer Robert Johnston assisted the PTC in gathering information for the report through his work with the British Columbia Industrial Design Association.
The PTC report and supplement outlines the Provincial Government’s commitment to develop a plan for the promotion of Industrial Design as a key component of B.C.’s innovation economy.

Download the 11th Premiers Technology Report (PDF)

Download the Supplement “The Industrial Design Advantage” (1.61Mb PDF)

About the Premiers Technology Council
The Premier’s Technology Council was established in August 2001 to advise the government on issues related to the advancement and application of technology in British Columbia. More information about the council and copies of its reports and recommendations are available on the Premier’s website at http://www.gov.bc.ca/premier/ – follow the links to Premier’s Technology Council.

Vision
The Designers Accord envisions a creative community where the principles of sustainable design are seamlessly integrated into all practice and production.

Mission
Our mission is to catalyze innovation throughout the creative community by collectively building our environmental intelligence. For this cause, we advocate inverting the traditional model of competition, and encourage pooling knowledge so that all may benefit and build on marketable and sustainable solutions. We believe this will lead to greater innovation.