About this project

A 35 city, design promotion tour that is shared online and will later be compiled into a hardcover book. It seeks to understand how creativity is reshaping American city-scapes, transforming people and places and defining what it means to be unique.

The Day to Day of the Trip We're building, with limited resources, a robust website and social networking presence to take in suggestions, comments and recommendations on who to talk to and what to see in each city in anticipation of our trip. This crowd sourcing combined with our own research will guide the journey.

In each city, we plan to interview as many designers as possible to understand how they participate in their city's brand, life and economy, among other things, then we upload all the data and move to the next city. At the end of the trip we'll select the best content and put it all together into a promotional book on design led change in the US.

What we need We are obviously trying to cram a lot into 62 days. We have considered extending the journey but there has to be a sense of urgency about what we are doing. There is no better time to start imagining the future of American cities and there is no community better placed to do that than the creative community. We desperately need creatives thinking about the future.

We also need financial support. We are passionate about what we do but we do have to eat, pay for gas, stay in hotels and cover basic expenses. We have budgeted the trip at a bare bones $10,000. We have a dream budget but we think we could get it done for that amount.

How can you get involved?

Students If you are a design or creative industry student that lives in one of our destination cities we would love to hear from you on our Facebook Page and Group. You can also donate in one of the categories on the right.

City Officials We would love to talk to City Officials who are pursuing enlightened urban policies. Join our Facebook Page and Group and let us know you exist. We would also love to give you a little more publicity if you would like to donate in one of the categories on the right.

Professional Designers and Creatives We believe in you. After working more than a decade in global governance we came to the realization that all hope lies in your creative minds. We want to promote the work you are doing to make this earth a better place. You are, of course, more than welcome to donate to the cause and receive the benefits as listed on the right.

General Public Have you fallen in love with this idea? Does a promotional website and book about the future of American cities seem timely and worthy at this moment in history? If so show your support by joining our Facebook Page and Group or donating in one of the categories on the right.

Website : http//:citiesxdesign.com

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Why are we doing this?

We believe creative people have the unique ability to view problems and find solutions that can change the world. This tour will demonstrate just a smidgen of what designers are capable of if given the opportunity.

The current plan is a 35 city stock taking design tour of the United States in 62 days. The tour starts on 1, July in Miami, Fl and ends on 31, August in Savannah, Ga. It's goal is to understand where and how the creative economy is taking shape in the USA. Through interviews, studio tours, podcasts, videos and photos the website and then a book will highlight the opportunities, threats and needs of creatives who are working to change perceptions of their communities, create employment and earn a living.

By making a clear link between creative people, designers in particular, and the cities they live and work in it becomes easier to understand the city's culture, history and future. It demonstrates to city officials the importance of investing in their creative industries, it serves as a point of pride for local populations, its a way to better understand a place for visitors and it will hopefully create momentum and more opportunity for creatives to become entrepreneurs and change makers.

The book and website will argue that it is time to trust creative people with our future.

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$340

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Design Explorers

Miami, FL

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The Producers

The traveling team are international experts in the field of design, design promotion, social and urban studies, cultural heritage tourism, and events management. Their unique experience in managing, initiating, creating or planning cultural and creative events positions them well to author an informed, intelligent and visually stunning overview of the state of the American creative economy.

Sali Sasaki

Sali Sasaki, born in Yokohama, Japan and raised in Paris, France, is the former manager of the creative cities program of the United Nation’s only cultural agency, UNESCO.

Sali is a founding partner at FCI, a design consultancy focused on the creative transformation of places through design. As a design researcher and practitioner, she positions herself at the crossroads of communication design, urban development and socio-cultural studies.

Her ongoing research “Retail Therapy” on the role of design in the souvenir industry led to the 2008 Design DNA workshop which took place at the International Design Center in Nagoya. Sali holds an MA in communication design from the Royal College of Art, London.

Jay Corless

Jay Corless, born in Miami, Florida and raised as a cultural nomad, has just returned to the USA after 15 years of living abroad. He held several positions with UNESCO in Paris, France in web development, communication and cultural diplomacy fields. Jay is author of the UN’s 2002 International Year of Cultural Heritage information kit and developed the cultural diplomacy communication campaign that lead to the United States return to UNESCO in 2002.

He has most recently provided consulting services to the London Design Festival and Design Miami, both internationally respected design fairs. His MA study, Creative Revolution, How British Creative Industry Policy is Changing the World, received a distinction of merit from the UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. He is founding partner of FCI. Jay is also a feverish photographer, writer and painter.