Speakers and Panelists
Dr. Ivar Björkman, President of Konstfack University College of
Arts, Crafts and Design
Inger Baron, Design Leader, IDEO International
Anders Byriel, CEO, Kvadrat
Ilse Crawford, Designer and Creative Director, Studioilse
Henrik Otto, Senior VP Global Design, Electrolux
Alice Rawsthorn, Design Critic, International Herald Tribune
Masaki Yokokawa, CEO, CIBONE Tokyo, Dean & DeLuca Japan
Ivar Björkman became the President of Konstfack, University College of Arts, Crafts and Design in 2003.
Ivar is a researcher and practitioner in design and art management. Work developed with his company Pyra is represented in various national and international museums and exhibitions. He received a PhD in design and art management from Stockholm University in 1998. Since then he has been responsible for developing programs for students and professionals as well as initiating collaborative research programs in several universities in Sweden. His research investigates the relationship between the worlds of business, art and design. Ivar has published several books and numerous articles on this topic. He currently serves on the board of directors of The Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship (SSES).
Ingrid Baron, Design Leader, IDEO International
Ingrid Baron is a design leader at IDEO with over 15 years experience in design and innovation covering a wide range of sectors including; FMCG, consumer electronics, consumer goods and fashion. Ingrid began her career as an industrial design consultant in her native Toronto, Canada. She then relocated and for the next five years focused her efforts on concept design for Electrolux AB in the USA & Sweden. Focusing on new consumers and consumer behaviors and needs, her work in Sweden provided the company with a look into the future, which continues to be developed and strengthened today. In 1999, Ingrid joined IDEO and has since continued to focus her efforts on developing new design and strategic opportunities for global companies. Clients include; AmorePacific, Nestlé, HP, Procter & Gamble and Olivetti. As design lead in London, Ingrid's instinct to coach, cajole and animate is paired with a peerless understanding of the human mechanisms of innovation. Ingrid balances her time outside of IDEO as a chairperson on the UK Design Skills Advisory Panel, a role that involves advising Government on how to craft future directions for design skills in the UK.
Anders Byriel, CEO, Kvadrat
Anders Byriel (b. 1965) was appointed Managing Director of Kvadrat A/S in 1998, during which time the company quadrupled its turnover to 500 million Danish kroner in 2007 and today has 10 subsidiaries and 14 European showrooms. Anders Byriel has a Master of Law degree from Århus University, and an MBA in General Management from Copenhagen Business School. Anders Byriel was recently appointed Chairman of Dansk Designråd/Danish National Design Counsel, and is Chairman of the Board of ReD Associates. He is a member of several advisory boards and think tanks. He is married to jewlery designer Annette Gråbæk, with whom he has three daughters. His primary interests, in addition to design, are architecture and modern art, which are some of the main elements of Kvadrat’s culture and brand. Kvadrat’s vision is to become one of the five strongest architectural and designer brands in Europe and Asia.
Ilse Crawford, Designer and Creative Director, Studioilse
Ilse Crawford, designer and creative director of Studioilse, creates the identity of a brand, its emotional values, and then makes them visible and tangible through design. Her company then uses cross disciplinary skills to realize this vision by implementing creative direction, design strategy, interior design and architecture, product design as well as PR and marketing. Crawford believes this holistic approach is key to a successful product with a strong USP and longevity, as well as giving greater value to design. Crawford is head of the department of Man and Well-being at the Design Academy Eindhoven and author of two books. She has worked across product development and regeneration as vice president of Donna Karan home and as creative director of the Swarovski Crystal Palace project. She brought together visionary designers to reinvent the chandelier, showing in Paris, Milan and New York. Other projects include the award winning restaurants for Grand Hotel, Stockholm and Soho House, New York. Current projects include the launch of the Inn brand and Soho Beach House, Miami.
Henrik Otto, Senior VP Global Design, Electrolux
Henrik Otto was born in 1964 in Stockholm, Sweden. Previous to his position at Electrolux, he was head of design for Volvo cars, where he worked from 1994-2004. Before joining Volvo, Otto worked as a consultant in product design. Henrik Otto graduated from the College of Design and Art at the University of Gothenburg with an MFA in industrial design in 1990. As of fall 2004, Henrik Otto has been the Senior Vice President, Global Design of the Electrolux Group, based in Stockholm, Sweden.
Alice Rawsthorn, Design Critic, International Herald Tribune
Alice Rawsthorn is the design critic for International Herald Tribune, writing a weekly column on innovations in design and its impact on our lives. She also writes the “Object Lesson” column for the New York Times Magazine. Alice sits on the board of Arts Council England, and is a trustee of the Whitechapel Gallery in London. From 2001 to 2006, she was director of the Design Museum and, before then, an award-winning journalist with the Financial Times. Her books include an acclaimed biography of the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, and a monograph on the designer Marc Newson.
Masaki Yokokawa, CEO CIBONE Tokyo, CEO Dean & Deluca Japan.
After studying architecture for eight years, Masaki Yokokawa became a managing director at an interior retailer for four years. In 2000, he established his own company, George's Furniture Co. Ltd. While promoting George’s Furniture, Yokokawa was inspired by several diverse innovators. From this inspiration, he created CIBONE, a place which promotes the joys of life by offering individualistic styles transcending the barriers of traditional fields. Yokokawa describes CIBONE as 'a life editorial shop'. CIBONE has produced its own collection of furniture and home accessories called the “Cibone Collection” in collaboration with both Japanese and international designers such as Hella Jongerius, Piet Hein Eek, Yasumichi Morita and Japanese traditional craftsmans. Since 2003, Yokokawa has promoted the development in Japan of New York-based DEAN & DELUCA, with the goal of conveying the art of aesthetically presented, fine quality products. The latest brand developed by his company is 'SFT - Souvenirs from Tokyo', located in the museum shop of Tokyo's recently opened National Art Centre.
www.cibone.com
www.deandeluca.co.jp