Germany: Creative Lateral Thinkers Meet at World Innovation Co…

POTSDAM, Germany and PALO ALTO, California, June 29 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -

Cross reference: Picture is available via epa european pressphoto agency and
can be downloaded free of charge at:
http://www.presseportal.de/story.htx?firmaid=22537 -

Cross reference: Additional information can be downloaded at:
http://www.presseportal.de/story.htx?firmaid=22537 -

Several hundred innovation experts from all over the world will be meeting in
September with Design Thinking pioneers in Potsdam near Berlin to discuss
future-oriented models and methods. Innovative solutions for the fields of
management, research and education will be a further focus area. The
"d.confestival" is taking place from September, 20th-22nd. In its form
combining conference and festival, a unique working atmosphere is created
synthesizing creativity and productivity. Online registration is now possible
under http://www.hpi.dconfestival.net

The event format will bring together for the first time managers, trainers and
researchers who focus on innovation and innovative team work. Prominent
participants will be, among others, the founder of SAP and Hasso Plattner
Institute (HPI), Prof. Hasso Plattner, as well as Design Thinking pioneer David
Kelley. Also present will be Oliviero Toscani, the mind behind the
much-discussed Bennetton campaign. Companies such as Metro, Deutsche Bank and
Deutsche Telekom will participate as well. Interactive presentations and
workshop formats, a global innovation task as well as an exhibition area
provide an international atmosphere and multiple opportunities for networking.

Host of the d.confestival is the HPI School of Design Thinking, at Hasso
Plattner Institute (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de). This is the first
innovation school in Europe for university students and is based on the model
of the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford University in Palo Alto
(http://dschool.stanford.edu). The needs of the users themselves are the focal
point of Design Thinking. It goes beyond traditional innovation methods by
synthesizing the interdisciplinary strengths of many problem solving
strategies, thought patterns and communication cultures.

"Creative lateral thinkers and innovators from all over the world and from
completely different fields of activity will together create something new and
exciting," Prof. Christoph Meinel, Director of the Hasso Plattner Institute,
said. Prof. Ulrich Weinberg, Director of the HPI School of Design Thinking,
added: "The d.confestival is the beginning of a collaborative event format
combining the seriousness of a scientific conference with the lightheartedness
of a festival."

Press Contact:
Hans-Joachim Allgaier
d.confestival-presse@hpi.uni-potsdam.de
Tel. +49-331-5509-119 or -175 or -124, Fax -169 or -128

SOURCE: HPI Hasso-Plattner-Institut