D.Talks is an ongoing series of panel discussions presenting practical information about current trends and hot topics in the world of design and business. Our goal is to foster robust dialog and critical thinking, so crowd participation is an integral part of each event.

Join us as we discuss design’s vital role in advancing business success.

In this latest D.Talks, we’ll learn how some of the most innovative organizations are using design thinking as a competitive advantage, a methodology for measuring the effectiveness of design, and to articulate design’s value in building brand equity, reducing costs and increasing revenue.

Bring your own experiences to share with the group and get your burning questions answered as we discuss how to promote the power your design has to transform your clients’ business metrics.

Networking: 6:30 PM
Discussion: 7:00 PM

Moderator and Host:
Josh Levine
Director of Internal Branding
Liquid Agency
For over a decade brand strategist and noted industry expert Josh Levine has helped global brands engage consumers and empower employees. As Director of Internal Branding at Liquid he helps organizations deliver on their brand promise by designing and building culture change programs. Previous clients include HP, Warner Brothers, Microsoft, and Levi’s.

Josh holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Psychology from Tufts University, a degree in Graphic Design from the Academy of Art University, and was recently honored with a fellowship for technology and education at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco. He regularly speaks, writes, and leads workshops on the intersection of brand and business.

Panelists:
Gadi Amit, principle, president and founder,
NewDealDesign
Named one of Fast Company Magazine’s “Masters of Design” in October 2010 Gadi Amit has built his 23 year career designing award-winning technology devices for the likes of Dell, Palm and Verizon. In the process he has produced some of the world’s most recognizable and loved objects. His work and expertise has been featured in numerous publications such as Business Week, Fast Company, Success Magazine, Inc., and Venture Beat among others. He is keeps a regular column with Fast Company.

Gadi is principle, president and founder of NewDealDesign; famous for such successful products as the Palm Zire, Dell Studio Hybrid, Sling Boxes and the Fitbit Wellness Tracker. Using an innovative process called “Hybrid Design” Gadi has accumulated over 100 design awards for his firm and is acknowledged as one of the world’s leading product designers.

Teddy Zmrhal, Associate Chair, Design MBA
California College of the Arts
Teddy Zmrhal is a silicon valley serial entrepreneur and learning designer with 15 years’ experience in business formation and strategy, technology, product development, board directorship and teaching/learning sciences. He has started several businesses, non-profit boards, and other organizations and consulted to Fortune 100 companies, social enterprises, non-profits and more start-ups than he can count. His primary interests lie in sustainable business, social ventures, and consumer internet services.

He is currently an adjunct faculty member in the MBA and Management of Technology programs at the Haas School of Business, in the MBA at the Presidio School of Management, and in the Design MBA and the Leading by Design Fellows Executive Certificate Programs here at CCA.

Bill Hill,
President, Bill Hill Design
Founder, MetaDesign
Bill Hill is a proven leader in marketplace repositioning of global, nonprofit, and destination brands through business strategy, experience design, and internal team realignment. He founded MetaDesign with a mission to create value for clients through the integration of design and engineering. He built MetaDesign into an influential company that solved a range of information design and strategic service problems through award winning identities, customer-centered interfaces and environmental graphics for some of the world’s most identifiable brands, since 1992. That list includes Adobe, Apple, Audi, Samsung, San Francisco Ballet, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, and Ernst & Young.

Prior to opening the U.S. office of MetaDesign, Bill was Director of Graphic Design for IDEO Product Development where he designed and directed projects for companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Metaphor Systems, Silicon Compilers, and Apple. Using his skills in graphic design and mechanical engineering, he designed the molded icons on the case of the original Macintosh computer.

Identity by Shawn Rosenberger, Thermostat

If you need special assistance to participate in this program, please contact AIGA SF at aiga@aigasf.org or 415-626-6008. For reasonable assistance accommodations to be provided, please RSVP for the event and notify us at least five business days in advance. If we do not receive timely notification of your reasonable request, we may not be able to make the necessary arrangements by the time of the event.
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