IFI LEADS

IFI LEADS – IFI Luminary Experts, Architects & Designers Speaker Series is a virtual or hybrid (when doable) lecture series featuring distinguished international leaders sharing their perspectives on current and ongoing topical issues at the world level. The purpose of which is to help drive awareness to thoughtfully support a better, progressive future for all through and by design.

Presented as a 50-minute virtual panel of world-renowned keynote speakers, IFI LEADS features the discipline’s luminaries.

IFI LEADS 2022 PROGRAM

Topic

“Design & Creativity: Innovating for New World Realities”

IFI LEADS 2022 brought together expert international leaders and the discipline’s luminaries. Each contributor addressed IFI’s international audience, highlighting varied perspectives and interpretations of topical issues at the world level. This year’s first edition showcased four exceptional presentations centered around the theme of “Design & Creativity: Innovating for New World Realities”.

2022’s inspiring presenters included Chi Wing Lo, founder, DIMENSIONE CHI WING LO (China); Patricia Urqiuola, founder and owner, Studio Urquiola (Spain/Italy); Walter Mariotti, Editorial Director, Domus (Italy) and David Rockwell, founder and president, Rockwell Group (USA). Each world-renowned leader shared thought-provoking insights addressing different aspects of the overall topic from their own complementary design discipline perspectives, experiences and areas of expertise.

IFI is proud to partner with Shaw Contract, IFI LEADS 2022 Title Sponsor, for the launch of this high-caliber global Interior Architecture/Design resource. A premier international flooring solutions resource, Shaw shares IFI’s commitment to the improvement of life quality through smart design ideas and solutions that will advance the societal impact of design at a global level. IFI is excited to expand its collaboration with Shaw Contract to IFI LEADS, to continue connecting design and industry experts and build a strong world community through design innovation.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Chi Wing Lo
Founder, DIMENSIONE CHI WING LO (China)

Recipient of the World’s Outstanding Chinese Designer Award 2015, Chi Wing Lo’s prolific works encompass the fields of architecture, sculpture, interiors, furniture and object design. Lo, founder of DIMENSIONE CHI WING LO, a brand of furniture designed and made in Italy under his close direction, was the art director for Giorgetti from 2004-2006. In 2009, his Athens tower house was nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Prize in Architecture. Raised in Hong Kong, he received his master’s degree in Architecture from Harvard. Lo has served as a visiting critic in different universities and is a frequent speaker in design events.

Walter Mariotti
Editorial Director, Domus (Italy)

Walter Mariotti studied Philosophy in Siena and Harvard and Economics and Management at Bocconi in Milan. His professional career began as a researcher and professor, after which he entered public administration in the sectors of culture, public relations and strategic planning. Highlights of his journalism career include conceptually redesigning Panorama, for which he later became Deputy Editor-in-Chief, and establishing Periferie, conceived by Renzo Piano. In 2017, he was appointed Editor-in-Chief of Domus, with the task of conceiving, directing and developing the Domus System, including magazine, website, archive, events, and intelligence.

Patricia Urquiola
Founder and Owner, Studio Urquiola (Spain/Italy)

Patricia Urquiola studied architecture and design in Madrid and completed her studies at the Politecnico di Milano, under Achille Castiglioni’s mentorship. She founded multidisciplinary Studio Urquiola in 2001 with her partner, Alberto Zontone. Urquiola has been the Creative Director of Cassina since 2015 and works with many important Italian and international design companies. Her work is exhibited in art and design museums across the world, including MoMA in New York, the Paris Decorative Arts Museum, the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne and the V&A in London. Urquiola is part of the advisory board of the Politecnico di Milano and the Triennale Milano Museum.

David Rockwell
Founder and President, Rockwell Group (USA)

Founder and President of Rockwell Group, an interdisciplinary architecture and design firm based in New York with offices in Los Angeles and Madrid. Merging theater, performance and architecture, the firm’s notable work includes hospitality, luxury residential, airport terminals, cultural institutions, set design, products, exhibitions, and festivals. Rockwell’s honors include a Tony Award for Best Scenic Design for She Loves Me; two Emmy Awards for production design for the Oscars (2021 and 2010); the National Design Award from the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum for outstanding achievement in Interior Design; and the Presidential Design Award.