Distinguished speakers include Mitchell Gold, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams; Jason Phillips, The Phillips Collection; Robin Wilson, Robin Wilson, Robin Wilson Home
Chapel Hill, NC — The Sustainable Furnishings Council and North Carolina’s Elon University will present the latest thinking in sustainability in a one-day program that charts the future of responsible design. Thought leaders from the home furnishings industry and pacesetters from academia will convene Friday, Sept. 20, at Elon University for "Innovations in Sustainable Furnishings: The Road Ahead.”
Programming will include a keynote from Dr. Jonathan Chapman, a professor of sustainable design at University of Brighton’s School of Art, Design & Media. Chapman’s talk, titled “Emotionally Durable Design,” will draw from his 2005 monograph, Emotionally Durable Design: Objects, Experiences & Empathy, which has been embraced by professional designers at leading corporations such as Sony Corp. and Samsung.
Other highlights of the event will include “Life at the Core of Furnishings,” a session led by Mitchell Gold of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. Robin Wilson, Robin Wilson Home, will discuss marketing strategies in talk titled “Marketing Sustainability: The Research and the Story.” Mike Italiano, president and CEO of The Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability, will offer a tactical short-course on assessing environmental impact in “Forest to Foyer: An Overview of Life-Cycle Analysis.”
“The planning committee has put special focus on ensuring that the day is practical and useful for all segments of the industry, with ‘news you can use’ for manufacturers, retailers, designers, students and members of the general public,” said SFC Executive Director Susan Inglis,
Additional speakers will include: Jason Phillips, vice president and creative director, The Phillips Collection; Hilary Pope, marketing coordinator, Carolina Mattress Guild; and Mark Hord, vice president of manufacturing, EJ Victor.
A pre-conference Life Cycle Assessment workshop led by MTS’ Italiano, will be held Thursday, Sept. 19. Also, attendees can enjoy a post-conference tour of eco-friendly homes in Chapel Hill, NC, on Saturday, Sept. 21. The showcase will present innovative homes and building projects that embrace the principles of minimizing environmental footprint.
Registration is required for the day-long event; reserve seats for the can’t-say-no price of just $15. Register Here!
Calendar listing:
"Innovations in Sustainable Furnishings: The Road Ahead”
Date: Friday, September 20, 2013
Time: 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: McKinnon Hall, Elon University, Elon, NC
Sponsors: Sustainable Furnishings Council and Elon University
About the Sustainable Furnishings Council:
Acting as a bridge between manufacturers, retailers, and consumers, the Sustainable Furnishings Council is dedicated to providing the most comprehensive information on environmental, safety and health issues in the industry and championing initiatives that improve products and processes. The SFC and its qualifying members respond to environmental and social issues and offer specific information to consumers, the media, and other partners. The SFC is the authoritative source to help companies “green as they grow.” Be sure to follow SFC on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sustainable-Furnishings-Council/156054884466978
About Elon University:
Elon University is a selective, independent university renowned as a national model for engaged learning, along with excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and professional programs. Elon's beautiful and historic campus in central North Carolina is designated as a botanical garden. In its 2013 "America's Best Colleges" guide, U.S. News & World Report rates Elon the #2 Southern University and among the top colleges and universities in the nation "with an unusually strong commitment to undergraduate teaching."Newsweek-Kaplan has named Elon the nation's "leader in engaged learning" and Princeton Review ranks Elon among the nation's 377 "best colleges." Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine and the Fiske Guide to Colleges both name Elon one of the nation's "best value" private universities.
