ABOUT THE IFI CONGRESS

Every two years the International Federation of Interior Architects and Designers (IFI) convene global industry representatives and invited keynote speakers to share progressive ideas, knowledge, and developments which affect and shape the evolving practice of Interior Architecture/Design worldwide.

Hosted by IFI member organizations and a partner city, this biennial event has collaborated with design communities across the globe including most recently Lagos, Nigeria and Gwangju, South Korea. IFI CONGRESS participants reflect the federation’s global reach and diverse network, with delegates including IFI members and supporters, interior architects/designers, educators, policymakers, industry representatives and stakeholders from across the globe.

The IFI Congress program seeks to identify and debate challenges affecting the field of interiors, as well as the potential for design to impact and promote positive change in society. It provides an important platform for sharing current research and design solutions advancing innovation at both local and global levels and features premier thought leaders from the global interior architecture and design profession.

A multi-faceted, multi-day experience, the IFI CONGRESS program evolves to reflect its host city, but generally includes the following components:

• Key-note sessions and panel discussions – Over twelve hours of mainstage talks and conversation on the topic of Interior architecture and design, featuring a mix of international and local speakers.
• Industry workshops – Smaller, more intimate sessions dedicated to debating advancements in policy and practice that impact the Interiors profession.
• IFI Global Awards Program Gala Dinner – A prestigious industry event featuring the recipients of the coveted IFI Prize, the IFI Design Journalism Award, and new IFI Fellows, alongside the live announcement of IFI’s Design Distinction Award winners.
• Cultural Tours – Explore the host city on a curated program of local tours and visits, ranging from cultural landmarks to hidden design discoveries.
• IFI General Assembly – The official meeting of IFI’s international members to discuss the federation’s strategic planning, programming and governance.
• Opening Ceremony and Receptions – Delegates are invited to attend a number of social events organized by the host organization, city and CONGRESS partners.

IFI CONGRESS & GA

25-28 February 2020  |  Dubai, UAE

Thank you for joining us on 25-28 February 2020 in Dubai for the 2020 IFI CONGRESS and IFI General Assembly.

The 13th IFI CONGRESS – DESIGN 2050 – Technology. Design. Education. – was organized in collaboration with the Association of Professional Interior Designers (APID) and hosted by the City of Dubai, UAE.

PROGRAM 

VENUES

Congress Venue
Park Hyatt Hotel
Dubai Creek Club Street
Deira, Dubai, UAE

Gala Awards Dinner Venue
Music Hall, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel
Palm Jumeirah
Dubai, UAE

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Arturo Dell’Acqua Bellavitis
Professor of Industrial Design, Politecnico di Milano; Former Director of Milan Triennale Museum (Italy)

Arturo Dell’Acqua Bellavitis is an Architect, Professor of Industrial Design and Dean at the Design School of the Politecnico di Milano.  For ten years Arturo was President of the Triennale Design Museum in Milan, during which time he developed a new concept for the evolving museum, advanced editorial lines on new Italian design, the masters and international design movements. He is also Founder and President of the Milan Fashion Institute, a cross-university partnership supporting the field of fashion management and design. Artutro recently became Director of the new International Art and Design Center in Shenzhen, China, where he leads the soon to open Design museum.

Ashley Hall, Ph.D.
Professor of Design Innovation at The Royal College of Art – RCA (United Kingdom)

Ashley Hall is Professor of Design Innovation in the School of Design at the Royal College of Art. With an MA from the RCA and PhD from the University of Technology in Sydney he has a background in design practice, teaching and research. He joined the Royal College of Art in 2006 lecturing and researching on the Innovation Design Engineering program. He now leads postgraduate research for the school of design and the MRes in Healthcare Design with Imperial College. Ashley researches in design innovation ranging from innovation strategy to design thinking, design for safety, experimental design, design pedagogy, globalization design and cultural transfer.

Rosanne Somerson
President, Rhode Island School of Design – RISD (United States of America)

A designer, professor and academic leader, President Rosanne Somerson has been advancing art and design since she was a student at RISD in the 1970s. She returned to the College in the 1980s to teach and in 1995 founded the Furniture Design Department before serving as Provost and chief academic officer. As RISD’s 17th president she is committed to expanding inclusion, equity, and access in order to enhance a genuinely rich learning environment that consists of diverse experiences, viewpoints, and talents. President Somerson also maintains a creative practice, designing and creating furniture for exhibitions and commissions, and frequently speaks and writes about the power of critical thinking and making, underscoring the value of art and design to advancing life in the 21st century.

Dr Ravi Kumar Ravindra
Design Director at Venkataramanan
(India)

Ravindra Kumar (Ravee) heads Design at VA. His strength has been in providing innovative design solutions to emerging project trends & typologies in India. He has a keen understanding of the complex needs of new laboratory facilities and other building types and understands the need to integrate with building and landscape aesthetics. He has designed many of VA’s large and complex projects. He has more than two decades of experience in this field.

He has been a visiting faculty member at various Departments of Architecture. Currently is the reader and chair for long distance studies program at Educational Praxis, Maloboro University, USA. He has a keen interest in primary and secondary education and is the president of the T.B.S. foundation, a school for 400 rural children and Rangaloka, a not for profit organization. Ravee has been nominated as the brand ambassador for sustainability initiatives towards green architecture namely Earth Matters, IAB India, Activism Architecture, Design Quest India. He has lectured as an invitee in many of these events in India and overseas. He has done extensive documentation on vernacular India for various work groups including INTACH, Madras Craft Foundation. He has lectured in various cities in India & around the world, sharing an experience on his ideation of architecture.

Sonia Ashoor
Founder & Principal, SACD (Bahrain)

With her roots spanning the Islamic world, from a paternal Hajj pilgrim ancestor from Samarkand to an Ottoman grandmother and a Persian mother, Sonia Ashoor grew up in a world of diverse cultures, family tales, treasured objects, legends and art. The many-colored strands of her history are woven into her work, her view, and her belief that we are all connected through culture. Sonia is a passionate advocate of ‘cultural identity’, and speaks at universities and international conferences. She also acts as an advisor influencing major cultural projects in the Gulf.

She is a celebrated interior designer and a cultural ambassador for Saudi Arabia, having created a series of stunning embassies and royal residences all over the world. Her commissions whether for a UNESCO project, a ministry, or a home, all reveal her innate love of beauty and reflect the radiance of Islamic art and design. Everything she designs reflects a shared purpose and philosophy, this gives her work its signature serenity and timeless harmony.

See list of all Past IFI General Assemblies & CONGRESSES