Montreal (Canada) 23 January 2010 –
In a global appeal following the devastation in Haiti, the
International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) has launched a call to designers from all
disciplines to unite in an open dialogue with international relief organisations to assess potential design effective
rehabilitation projects. In support of the UNʼs efforts to help the Haitian people overcome
challenges in relation to the countryʼs reconstruction plans, designers, academics and design students,
as well as experienced developmental workers are encouraged to join the discussion and become a fan
of the ʻUniting Designers in Disasterʼ page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Uniting-
Designers-in-Disaster/260831422646.
Designers have a strong desire to support the relief effort. This forum is intended to help identify
tangible opportunities and empower the design community to contribute to the cause. “As an
international non-governmental organisation with over 50 years experience implementing projects of
global appeal, Icsid is poised with the strategic understanding of the processes required by NGOs to
develop and implement result-driven and effective initiatives,” stated Icsid President Dr. Mark
Breitenberg and Provost of California College of the Arts. “What we aim to do with the forum is engage
designers to exchange information about initiatives and opportunities where they may contribute their
design and problem solving skills. In addition, we are hoping that the dialogue between the design
community, development workers and representatives from international agencies will subsequently
facilitate relief efforts, such as those currently being prepared by the UN to help the people of Haiti meet
long-term stabilisation and reconstruction objectives.”
Among its key mission statements, Icsid strives to provide an international platform for the design
community to be heard as a powerful voice. Although active participation and contributions will continue
on the Facebook page, in an effort to take immediate action, all information posted via the forum by 27
January 2010 will be actively reviewed in order to select opportunities for immediate international
activities.
“This is a call to think in order to act,” stated Breitenberg. “Our immediate goal is to gain a better
understanding of the relief efforts needed in order to facilitate the development of design-led solutions
that impact Haitiʼs quality of life.”

For more information, please contact:
Andrea Springer
t: +1 514 448 4949 ext. 232
e: aspringer@icsid.org

About the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) www.icsid.org
The International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (Icsid) is an international non-governmental organisation
for professional industrial design. Founded in 1957, Icsid currently counts over 150 members in more than 50
countries, representing an estimated 150,000 designers worldwide. Icsid members are professional associations,
promotional societies, educational institutions, government bodies, corporations and institutions — all of which
contribute to the development of the profession of industrial design.
Icsid facilitates co-operation and interaction among these societies and supports a global network through which
design institutions worldwide can collaborate. Through shared interests, experiences, and resources, Icsid provides
an international platform for its members to be heard as a powerful voice.
Icsid also holds consultative status with UNESCO, UNIDO, ISO and WIPO to support and highlight design in
international forums.