Design on happiness? 7 Kinds of Happiness at designEX 2012

Designs on happiness?
Global leaders discuss the influence of emotions at designEX 2012

7 Kinds of Happiness: Conversations on Design and Emotion is a series of physical and digital conversations, curated by Office for Good Design, presented as a part of designEX 2012 in Sydney.

Including a keynote lecture, panel discussions and a series of Skype interviews, each 'conversation' will explore how happiness impacts the practice of leading local and international designers.

With an outstanding lineup of live and remote guest speakers, headed by keynote presenter, leading UK Design Critic & Journalist, Alice Rawsthorn (UK), the series is set to be a highlight of the much-anticipated event.

Challenging the presenters, and equally the attendees, the program asks; Is personal happiness a design problem? Can designers create happiness? What kind of objects and places make us most happy? If happiness becomes a desirable objective for designers, along with sustainability and social responsibility, could we in fact actively create a greater sense of community and belonging and a heightened civic well-being?

Skype sessions with Architecture Collective, Rotor, of Brussels; Graphic Designer, Stefan Sagmeister of the USA; Urban Planning & Architect Firm, WORKac of the USA; and UK Designer Ilse Crawford (UK) will all provide a window into the philosophies of prominent international designers.

There will also be two free live panel discussions with the Venice Architecture Biennial Australian Pavilion Creative Directors and Broached Commissions.

"designEX 2012 is all about reaching a new level of authenticity" says show Director, Lauren Ebbeck.

"With so many fresh, relevant features, like this collaboration with the Office for Good Design, designEX is essential for anyone passionate about design in all its incarnations".

7 Kinds of Happiness will be held in The Happy Place, a space which is an experiment in the architecture of happiness. Created by the team at DesignOffice, it's informal, inviting and ever-so comfortable.

WHAT: 7 kinds of Happiness: Conversations, Design & Emotion
WHEN: Monday 14 May - Wednesday 16 May 2012
WHERE: designEX 2012
WHY: How does (and should) emotion impact on design?

For detailed information, visit 7kindsofhappiness.com, and purchase tickets directly at 7kindsofhappiness.com/sessions.