IDA welcomes International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers

The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) and the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (Icograda), partners in the International Design Alliance (IDA), have officially signed an agreement welcoming the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI) as the IDA's newest partner.

The signing ceremony took place on 13 September 2008 at the joint Secretariat located in the heart of Montréal's Quartier International. Among the representatives of Icsid, Icograda, IFI and Montréal International who took part in the signing ceremony was Professor Dr. Peter Zec, Icsid Senator and former IDA chairman. The agreement was signed by Prof. Don Ryun Chang, Icograda President and IDA Lead Chair, Prof. Carlos Hinrichsen, Icsid President and IDA Co-chair, and Mr. Shrikant Nivasarkar, IFI President.

"This is a significant day for the IDA. Icsid, Icograda and IFI have a long history of close collaboration. Welcoming IFI as a partner in the IDA builds on this history and strengthens the IDA's position as the international voice for design," stated Prof. Chang. "We are looking forward to the new opportunities this expansion will create for all the IDA partners and the broader design community."

The signing ceremony took place at the beginning of a two-day strategic planning session for the alliance. "The IDA partners have identified key initiatives as a platform for future growth. Our focus will be content-led, delivering value through collaboration. Aligned with the first IDA Congress in 2011, we will co-produce the first multi-disciplinary IDA Report. Between now and then, we will introduce an IDA website, enhancing the visibility of our alliance and leveraging this portal as a means of both content sharing and interacting with our audience," added Prof. Chang.

About IDA

The International Design Alliance (IDA) is a strategic venture between the international organisations representing design. The alliance was created by founding partners Icsid and Icograda and ratified by their respective General Assemblies in September 2003. Following the General Assemblies in 2007, the IDA is currently working with the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI) to join the alliance as the third partner. From October 2006 to October 2007 Professor Dr. Zec, initiator of the red dot design award and Icsid senator, was chairman of the International Design Alliance.

The alliance is based on the desire of its partners to "do together what they cannot do alone," concentrating on opportunities arising from multidisciplinary collaboration.

More information at:
www.icsid.org

www.icograda.org

www.ifiworld.org