New market drivers and tactics are shaping the emerging practice of interior design and allied professions.

The theme of the conference is the 12 key issues from leading practitioners and industry experts, including: Rob Forbes, Robin Guenther, Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, Lloyd Princeton, Lauren Rottet and more.

Ticket price is 350 Dollars and sold after 15 April 2008 for 425 Dollars. Ticket price includes program, meals and closing reception. Seating is limited.

Program
07:30: Registration and Continental Breakfast
08:30: Keynote: The Winning Design Entrepreneur

Trend 1: Driving the High-Growth Businesses
Presenter: Rob Forbes (Director of Studio Forbes, founder and former CEO, Design Within Reach)
Rob Forbes demonstrates how an entrepreneurial, high-growth, design-focused business can succeed today, illustrating business methodology with a case study.

09:30: Unlocking the Design Super-Studio

Trend 2: Emerging Patterns of Design Entrepreneurs
Trend 3: Balancing Flexibility and Specialization
Moderator: Jim Cramer, Design Intelligence, Atlanta
Panelists: Alexandra Champalimaud (Alexandra Champalimaud & Associates, New York), Lauren Rottet (DMJM Rottet, Houston)
How do successful design firms not only weather an economic downturn, but take advantage of a thriving marketplace? Panelists explore elements of opportunism such as graphic design and branding, strategic partnerships between firms large and small, and the spinoff of new service lines to expand fee generation.

10:30: Networking break
11:00: Selling Impact: Communicating value to raise fees and boost quality

Trend 4: Establishing the Value of Design Services
Presenter: Lloyd Princeton (DMC, New York)
Lloyd Princeton illuminates how to fight diminishing returns by reexamining industry billing standards and quantifying the design concept and its impact.

11:45: Sneak Attack: Design Ideas on the Horizon - I

Trend 5: The New Green: Performance, Life Cycle and Quality Control
Presenter: Robin Guenther (Perkins+Will, New York)
Although designers need to stay updated on LEED-certification and currently struggle to make sense of the various standards for green products, Robin Guenther clarifies what matters most to your clients and how to manage the process while working toward new ways to improve efficiency.

12:15: Networking Lunch
13:30: Get Better People, and Get Better Projects

Trend 6: Igniting the Talents of the Entitled Generation
Presenter: Jane Tabachnick (New York Designs Incubator, New York)
With workload demands ever-increasing, finding young talent is imperative. Where should you look to find the best new employees? Jane Tabachnick explains the science of choosing the right candidates and illuminates emerging artistic clusters.

14:30: “Client Activism”: Choosing (and managing) your clients for fun and profit

Trend 7: Micro-Managing Your Way to Success
Trend 8: Staying True to Your Vision
Presenter: Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz (BNO Design, New York)
In order to build your client base, your portfolio must represent your vision and talent. Benjamin Noriega-Ortizshows you how to be proactive about client selection and how to manage expectations to reduce project risk.

15:15: Networking Break
15:45: Agile, Not Fragile: Opportunities for emerging design firms

Trend 9: Young Designers as Top Niche Players
Presenters: Brad Zizmor and Dag Folger (A+I Design Corp., New York)
Founding principals of A+I Design Corp, Brad Zizmor and Dag Folger present new ways on how to showcase emerging talent without the benefit of a large portfolio and provide tips on establishing and communicating niche expertise.

16:30: Transforming the Process: From Inception to Execution

Trend 10: Transforming the Design Practice
Trend 11: Manufacturers with Muscle
This session highlights ways in which designers can work with manufacturers to improve the design process, such as spotting trends and providing more tools, and how to use creative media to remain cutting edge.

17:00: Sneak Attack: Design Ideas on the Horizon - II

Trend 12: The Future of Global Design

17:30: Afterword: Super-Studio 2012 Starts Today
Presenter: Jim Cramer (Design Intelligence, Atlanta)
17:45: Cocktail Reception
19:30: Conference Adjourns