RESPECTING PEOPLE, PLACE
AND TRADITION
Welcome to some of the highlights from the 4th biennial Design Summit including testimonials, video and audio of key presentations.
Over the course of two days we gathered leaders in the fields of design, craft, art, architecture, and film to discus their creative process and how dignity informs their work. In question and answer sessions, panel discussion and numerous social gatherings, this diverse group shared ideas and collectively investigated how design can respectfully engage cultural material as a source of inspiration, build community and allow members to flourish.
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SUMMIT 2025 HIGHLIGHTS
Here's a snapshot of some of the highlights from the Dignify By Design Summit 2025.
Click below to hear two of the seven presentations.
OUR SPEAKERS
Click images for more info
 WILLIAM WANKER - Founder & Publisher |  Fernando Laposse- Designer and Artist |  PAMELA KELLY - Co Founder Human Dignity Projects |
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 AKI + ARNAUD COOREN - Principles of A+A Cooren Design Studios |  VIRGIL ORTIZ - Ceramic Artist, Designer and Film maker |  PATRICIA GRUITS - Co-Executive Director MASS Design Group |
 MARIE BROWN - Executive Director, Handshouse Studio |  STACEY EDGAR - Executive DIrector, International Folk Art Market |
It was great to be together with you again this week
and to hear you and the other speakers elaborate on Dig.ni.fy.
We, the attendees, haven’t stopped praising it and all of your masterful coordination in bringing together such a distinguished
group of speakers on the subject.
Marybeth Shaw, Chief Creative Officer.
Wolf Gordon
DIGNIFY BY DESIGN
SUMMIT 2025
What went on?
Over 200 guests: Designers, Architects, Artists, Media & Retail + 7 Presentations + Panel discussions with leaders in design, architecture, craft, and community building + Hands on creative workshops + Exclusive tour of the Museum of International Folk Art’s 30,000-piece ethnographic textile collection and the Museum of Indian Art & Culture’s unrivalled basketry, pottery, and textile collection + Access to the exhibition: Weaving Meanings; Telephone Wire Art from South Africa + Unrivalled inspiration, fantastic networking opportunities with industry leaders and fun + Hosted in Santa Fe, a UNESCO designated Creative City
PREVIOUS SUMMIT EVENTS
Check out further links below each event
THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF PLACE
JULY 2019
THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF PLACE: What happens when we get out of the way to look and see and not just take? Timed to coincide with the Vitra Design Museum’s retrospective exhibition about Alexander Girard, and the acclaimed International Folk Art Market, MDS 2019 focused on the convergence of culture, colour and place. Presentations from luminaries in the fields of textiles, design, advertising, fashion and pattern explored how these three factors inform and influence design traditions from around the world. In keeping with its mission to examine and advance design and manufacturing practices inspired by cultural material, the 3rd Biennial Museum Design Summit explored the Transformative Power of Place. Discussions ranged from how a place’s geography, culture and natural resources can influence design traditions to how color and culture traditions develop in relation to the place from which they emerge. Speakers Hella Jongerius, Designer Susan Hoffman, Chief Creative Officer, Wieden + Kennedy Polly Leonard, Editor Selvedge Magazine Anna Murray, Co-Founder, Patternity UK Abdul Khatri, Artist Laura Addison, Curator of North American & Europea Folk Art, Museum of International Folk Art Pamela Kelly, VP of Licensing, Museum of New Mexico Foundation
THE ALCHEMY
OF DESIGN
FEB 2017
THE ALCHEMY OF DESIGN: Exploring Materials + Methods from Global Cultures to Tech Trailblazers. This influential and unique industry event featured experts at the forefront of new technologies, as well as those committed to transforming traditional materials and methods of production for today's consumers. In keeping with its mission to examine and advance designs and manufacturing practices inspired by cultural material, the 2nd Biennial Museum Design Summit explored the intersection of technology and tradition and the range of new and re-purposed materials emerging in the marketplace. Speakers Jackie Dettman, VP of Design and Product Development, Mohawk Group Paul Makovsky, Editorial and Brand Director, Metropolis Magazine Cary Vaugh & Jenna Wilson, Co-Founders, Ace & Jig Deborah Palmer Keiser, VP of Supply Chain, Sundance Catalog Kourtney Morgan, Senior Designer, Patagonia Nelli Cohen, Worn Wear Program Manager, Patagonia Joe Schroeder & Lora Smith, Big Switch Farms Adele Strattford, Voices of Industry Pamela Kelly, VP of Licensing, Museum of New Mexico Foundation.
DESIGN, CREATIVITY
& ETHICS
NOV 2015
DESIGN, CREATIVITY AND ETHICS: How museums and global cultures inspired trends in interiors and fashion. The first biennial Museum Design Summit, examined the product design and development process from beginning to end, focusing specifically on the use of museum and culturally based objects as inspiration. The wide-ranging conversation touched on pattern, color and new source material inspired by the world’s artisans; the revival of ancient material; ethical considerations involved with the use of indigenous source materials, and fashion trends inspired by the global south. Lidewij Edelkoort inspiring presentation, The Emancipation of Everything, was not available for recording, but all the other presentations were. See link below Speakers Dr. Eric Blinman, Director, New Mexico Office of Archeologial Studies Tony Chavarria, Curator of Ethnology, Museum of Indian Arts & Culture Lidewij Edelkoort, Forecaster, Edelkoort, Inc Maxwell Ryan, CEO & Founder, Apartment Therapy Rebecca van Bergen, Founder & Executive Director, NEST Lori Weitzner, CEO, Weitzner Design Pamela Kelly, VP of Licensing, Museum of New Mexico Foundation
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DIGNIFY BY DESIGN
SUMMIT 2025
What went on?
Over the course of two days we gathered leaders in the fields of design, craft, art, architecture, and film to discus their creative process and how dignity informs their work. In question and answer sessions, panel discussion and numerous social gatherings this diverse group shared ideas and collectively investigated how design can respectfully engage cultural material as a source of inspiration, build community and allow members to flourish.
.
WHO: 200 guests: Designers, Architects, Artists, Media & Retail
WHAT: 7 presentations + panel discussions with leaders in design, architecture, craft, and community building.
Hands on creative workshops
Exclusive tour of the Museum of International Folk Art’s 30,000-piece ethnographic textile collection and the Museum of Indian Art + Culture’s unrivalled basketry, pottery, and textile collection.
Access to the exhibition: Weaving Meanings; Telephone Wire Art from South Africa
WHY: Unrivalled inspiration, fantastic networking opportunities with industry leaders and fun
WHERE: Santa Fe, a UNESCO designated Creative City
Event Recap:
