Panel Designed to Inspire Positive Cultural Change

The time to be the change you wish to see in the world is now. And an event in New Haven on Saturday is designed to help make meaningful change a reality, both at home in our communities and in countries around the world.

AIGA, the professional association for design, has partnered with Yale and presenting sponsor Mohawk to bring The Living Principles event to the university’s School of Art’s Design Atrium from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12.

The discussion will feature four prominent social thinkers, including moderator Julie Lasky, editor of Change Observer. The other panelists are: Eric Benson, assistant professor of graphic design at the University of Illinois and founder of Re-Nourish; Neil Brown, associate creative director at Barnum Design in New York City and founder of Salt Space; Aaris Sherin, assistant professor of graphic design at St. John's University and author of SustainAble.

With The Living Principles (http://www.livingprinciples.org/), AIGA chapters across the country are inspiring local communities to create positive cultural change through purposeful action. The Connecticut chapter believes the state’s residents have all the elements necessary to become a part of The Living Principles community: creative thinking, generosity, smarts and hands-dirty constitutions.

As part of the event, AIGA is asking guests to bring something that they can shed and that will be a gem for someone else. Maybe that cool book that has been collecting dust on your bookshelf for seven years? That ping-pong paddle that lost its partner?

Yale’s design atrium is located at 1156 Chapel St., New Haven. The cost to attend is $25 for AIGA members, $35 for non-members and $15 for students with a valid ID; price includes continental breakfast. Reservations are recommended and may be made by visiting http://www.connecticut.aiga.org/events/2011/02/55545989