The goal of this conference is to consider how artists, designers, and practitioners in a myriad of design disciplines are engaging and responding to the tensions and opportunities brought about by globalization and cross-cultural exchanges and how such changes are being preserved as a study of cultures around the world. 

This third of three international and interdisciplinary conferences will examine, document, and preserve the influence of diaspora (or immigration) and diaspora culture on design due to globalization.  This conference builds upon two prior conferences that explored the relationship between culture, especially power, privilege, wealth, identity and values, and design (especially fashion).  This third conference expands the scope of this discussion to other design disciplines and also serves to further our long-term goal of developing a virtual diaspora museum.

Major topic areas will include the following:

Influence of diaspora/immigration on design cultures (local and/or global).

Diaspora Design and (Institutionalized) Identity

Diaspora Identity in a Homogenized/Hybrid world.

Interactions between diaspora designers and global markets

Historical (Generational) perspectives in diaspora design and culture

Designing a Virtual Diaspora Museum

Partial List of Confirmed Conference Speakers include:

Hirochika Nakamaki, Professor, National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan

Sheila Levrant de Bretteville, Professor, Yale University School of Art

Hesung Chun Koh, Chair and Founder, East Rock Institute

Joel Towers, Dean, Parsons New School for Design

Diana N’Diaye, Curator, “Will to Adorn” Project, Smithsonian Institute

Lowery Stokes Sims, Curator, Museum of Arts and Design

Toshio Asakura, Director, National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan

Hwajin Shim, President, Sungshin Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea

Clive Dilnot, Professor, Parsons The New School for Design

Christina Moon, Asst. Prof, Parsons The New School for Design

Erin Cho, Assoc. Professor, Parsons The New School for Design

Mi Sun Yum, Professor, Sungshin Women's University

Chen Ten-shenshi, Assoc. Prof, National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan

Kang Sung-sook, Assoc. Professor, Tezukayama University, Nara, Japan

Haruko Takahashi, Professor, Osaka Shoin Women's University, Osaka, Japan

Jeffrey Kim, Professor, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea

Young Ju Rhee,Professor, Sungshin Women’s University, Seoul, South Korea

Siobhan David-Carter, Ph.D. candidate, Indiana University

The Conference will be held the same weekend as a companion event, “Fashion Diaspora: Wearing Your Culture On Your Sleeve”.  Taking place on Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, 7.30-10.30pm, at the Yale Club of New York City, this international Fashion Gala will be hosted by East Rock Institute with participation from the Will to Adorn Project of the Smithsonian Institute, Sungshin Women’s University, the National Museum of Ethnology of Japan, the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts, the Korean Cultural Service, and the Metropolitan Arts League.  The evening will be a celebration of the world’s rich traditions, histories, and cultures through fashion, attire and adornment. The goal of Fashion Diaspora is to foster appreciation of the various cultures that make up New York City’s rich diverse population and the cross-cultural influences of these ethnicities expressed through fashion. Fashion Diaspora will comprise of two runway segments: 1) an exhibition of traditional and historical garments from various ethnicities representative of New York City’s current immigrant population, and 2) a show of contemporary garments by both internationally renown and emerging designers from diasporic communities within the United States, particularly New York City, the fashion melting pot of the world.

For more information about the Conference, please contact Christopher Y. Park, M.D., Ph.D., President of East Rock Institute, at cypark@eastrockinstitute.org (646) 888-3199, or email East Rock Institute at eri3@yale.pantheon.edu.  

For more information about the Fashion Diaspora event, please contact Jeanine Jeo-Hi Kim, Co-Chair of Fashion Diaspora, at jeaninejeohikim@gmail.com.

Schedule of Sessions*:

Friday, Novemeber 11, 2011

Saturday, Novemeber 12, 2011

*Program topics, times, and participants are subject to change. Please check back for updates.

The Smithsonian Institution | National Musem of Ethnology, Japan

Sungshin Women's University | Korean Cultural Service New York | Metropolitan Arts League