Core77

Highlights from the Core77 Conference 2015, Designing Here/Now

By Core Jr - October 29, 2015

Pre-production sketches Light and color helped guide attendees through the four themes—collaboration, making, business and the future—explored during the Core77 Conference. Experience design by Laurence Sarrazin and Kelsey Snook. Core77 1 of 64

Pre-production experience design sketches Core77 2 of 64

Production check Screenprinting the conference notebooks Core77 3 of 64

Proofs for the Conference Guides Graphic design by The Pressure. Core77 4 of 64

Conference Notebooks Notebooks straight off the printer Core77 5 of 64

Speaker and Saturday City Tour Badges Core77 6 of 64

Emergency Cookie What should be a critical part of every conference bag. Core77 7 of 64

Core77 Sky Dancer at Broadway Bar The Core77 sky dancer marked the spot for the kickoff cocktail party at Broadway Bar Core77 8 of 64

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Welcome wall at Broadway Bar Attendees to our kickoff cocktails found their name tags on the welcome wall. Core77 11 of 64

Conference-Ready! Behind the scenes at the conference venue Core77 12 of 64

Welcome Wall Attendees find their name tags in the garden on the Core77 welcome wall. Core77 13 of 64

Attendees mingled and talked in the venue's garden, on a beautiful LA morning. 14 of 64

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Welcome Song A full-blown choir and soloist welcome attendees as they take their seat. Core77 17 of 64

Opening remarks by Stuart Constantine, Core77's Co-Founder and Publisher 18 of 64

Good Morning from the Core77 Conference The audience says "hello" to the opening speakers. Core77 19 of 64

Ivan Poupyrev and Paul Dillinger with Core77's Managing Editor, Linyee Yuan. Poupyrev and Dillinger discuss their vision for a world of touch-interactive clothing and environments. 20 of 64

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Tad Toulis, Sonos Toulis shared insights about bringing together hardware and software designers for enlightened product development. 22 of 64

John Bielenberg, Future Partners Bielenberg elaborated on his "thinking wrong" philosophy and his recent ventures, including Secret Project, an immersive, cross-departmental class at California College of the Arts. 23 of 64

Sly Lee, The Hydrous The marine scientist is using 3D technology to record the ocean's coral reefs and provide more compelling story telling tools for the scientific community. Core77 24 of 64

Nadine Schelbert, WET The director of design gives a behind-the-scenes look at water design and the complex process of engineering, modeling and designing water features. Core77 25 of 64

Prototyping Lab for WET This insane scene is a prototyping lab where canons help shape the choreography of water fountains. Core77 26 of 64

Brendan Ravenhill and Alissa Walker Ravenhill chats with Walker about manufacturing in Los Angeles and what it means to be a designer-maker. Image courtesy of awalkerinla via Instagram 27 of 64

Tanya Aguiñiga Aguiñiga shared her vision for how craft can diversify conversations in society. 28 of 64

Ayse Birsel The product designer shares her biggest project to date: A method to Design the Life You Love (now in book form!) Core77 29 of 64

Drawing Heroes Ayse Birsel encourages attendees to reflect on their personal heroes by drawing them in their notebooks. Core77 30 of 64

Lunch is served Lunch is served in the courtyard garden of the venue. Core77 31 of 64

Lunch Box Q+A Conference attendees were encouraged to pose and answer questions during the conference. Core77 32 of 64

Lunch box Q+A Hoverboard!!! Image courtesy of nattyc via Twitter 33 of 64

Matthew Manos, verynice Manos explained why he gives half of his work away for free and argued that, for designers, giving work away doesn't necessarily mean losing something. 34 of 64

Pip Tomkin and Ravi Swahney with Rebecca Veit. A conversation about the realities of running an ID business today. 35 of 64

Core77 Senior Editor Mason Currey talks to Ryder Ripps (OKFOCUS) and Nicole Jacek (NJ(L.A.)) on blurring design boundaries and creating experimental work for corporate clients. Core77 36 of 64

Environmental design Image courtesy of rveit via Instagram 37 of 64

Jessie Kawata, NASA JPL Kawata talked about her work integrating design thinking, creative methodologies and visual storytelling into early space mission concepts. 38 of 64

Mickey McManus, MAYA Design McManus discussed the trends that will profoundly change business paradigms and the role of the designer, who can no longer afford to design only for disconnected, "dead" products. 39 of 64

Javier Verdura and Eric Noble The duo chatted about Verdura's design work at Tesla, the company's upcoming ventures and the big-picture future of automotive design. 40 of 64

Gadi Amit, NewDealDesign Amit discussed the current moment in design, one of great promise, uncertainty and risk. 41 of 64

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Conference Party! Catching up with speakers and new friends at the post-conference party. Core77 43 of 64

Social Media Wall A peek at the range of tweets, Instagram posts and comments culled from social media sites using the hashtag #Core77Con15 Core77 44 of 64

Sponsor Booths 45 of 64

Sponsor Booths 46 of 64

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Sponsor Booths 48 of 64

DTLA Walking Tour Alissa Walker led an intrepid group of attendees on an design-focused tour of downtown LA. Image courtesy of smcaruso via Twitter 49 of 64

Grand Central Market, DTLA Walking Tour Grand Central Market was built in the early-1900s. Recently, new food vendors have been brought in, inviting a new generation of Angelenos into the hall. Core77 50 of 64

Disney Concert Hall, DTLA Walking Tour Designed by Frank Gehry, the Disney Concert Hall is the home of the LA Philharmonic and features a "secret" garden. Core77 51 of 64

The Broad, DTLA Walking Tour Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, The Broad is the newest architectural jewel to dot downtown LA's arts district. Core77 52 of 64

Clifton's Cafeteria, DTLA Walking Tour Themed cafeterias like Clifton's, which just reopened last week, were an inspiration for Disneyland. Here, diners enjoy cafeteria food staples like jello, fried chicken and roast turkey with gravy amongst wildlife dioramas. Core77 53 of 64

Clifton's Cafeteria, DTLA Walking Tour The terrazzo walkways that line historic downtown locations were designed to draw people into the restaurants, theaters and hotels built in the 1920s and 30s. Core77 54 of 64

In front of Clifton's Cafeteria. DTLA Walking Tour Nothing like a good group photo to wrap up a tour of downtown LA! Core77 55 of 64

Core77 Sky Dancer The Core77 Sky Dancer greets attendees for lunch and a tour at ArtCenter. Core77 56 of 64

ArtCenter College of Design Students gave attendees special guided tours of ArtCenter. Core77 57 of 64

Transportation Department at ArtCenter Core77 58 of 64

Studio Space at ArtCenter Core77 59 of 64

Transportation Department at ArtCenter Core77 60 of 64

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A preview of ArtCenter's Car Classic Core77 62 of 64

A preview of ArtCenter's Car Classic Core77 63 of 64

A preview of ArtCenter's Car Classic Core77 64 of 64

Last week over 300 attendees gathered in downtown Los Angeles to participate in Designing Here/Now, the second annual Core77 Conference. Over the course of the three-day event, participants had an opportunity to explore the spaces between design disciplines where today's most impactful work is taking place. This year's speakers are changing the definition of designer in business, production, creative partnerships and in our expectations from the near future.

From welcome drinks at Broadway Bar (made famous in a cameo on Mad Men) to the Field Trips to ArtCenter, WET Design and a walking tour of downtown LA, the conference provided plenty of opportunity to engage with speakers and colleagues about the important ideas driving design today. Thanks to everyone who participated in making this year's program an exceptional one.