Lidewij Edelkoort, renowned futurist, joins the new school as dean of hybrid design studies

Lidewij Edelkoort speaks at the Parsons Paris commencement ceremony in May, 2015. Photo by Puxan BC.

NEW YORK, June 18, 2015— The New School announced today the appointment of Lidewij Edelkoort, internationally recognized design forecaster, strategist and educator, as Dean of Hybrid Design Studies, a role that will be based at Parsons School of Design in New York and at Parsons Paris, as well as create opportunities across The New School’s curriculum. Edelkoort will begin this role in September 2015.

“The New School and Parsons School of Design are thrilled to welcome Lidewij Edelkoort to our university,” said Tim Marshall, provost of The New School. “Her intuitive thinking and ability to identify emerging social-cultural patterns and directions will help us develop curriculum for the creative economies of the future.”

Edelkoort will be involved in developing hybrid design and liberal arts programs, creating joint projects and curriculum for freshman, strengthening Textile Design and developing a new approach for the design of Costume and Couture.

“I can’t wait to be part of Parsons and The New School to create innovative ways of teaching between the different creative and scientific disciplines as well as the performing arts,” said Edelkoort. “I have spent my life developing creativity and recognizing emerging social shifts that designers and industries need to understand. The opportunity to share my experiences with these talented students is an exciting next experience for me, and I look forward to working together to design a better world.”

As the creator of Trend Union, the Paris-based forecasting agency, Edelkoort works with many of the world’s most leading brands. She also creates coveted trend books that address societal changes expressed in sensory experiences. Edelkoort created the cult magazines, View on Colour and Bloom, which have become valuable tools for strategists and designers at international brands. She has co-founded the foundation HeartWear (1993) to help artisans in developing communities, encouraging fair trade and sustainability.

“Lidewij Edelkoort brings a way of thinking and of using design that will be an inspiration for both faculty and students,” said Susan Taylor-Leduc, dean of Parsons Paris. “Her unique vision of the future of design, and the role designers, and entrepreneurs will play, will be instrumental as she helps to build our curriculum.” Lidewij Edelkoort will be leading a course on trend forecasting and color at Parsons Paris in spring of 2016.

Previously, Edelkoort was chairwoman of the Design Academy Eindhoven and established the DesignHuis, a cultural design institution in the same city. She co-founded and established the School of Form in Poznan, Poland for design students in Eastern Europe and created Trend Tablet, an interactive online forum that teaches about the power of design, technology and craft to shape our lived experiences.

Edelkoort actively curates exhibitions around the world, including the current “Oracles du Design” at the GaîtéLyrique in Paris, in partnership with the Centre National des Arts Plastiques (CNAP) that invited Edelkoort to curate a show from it’s prestigious international design archive.

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About The New School

Founded in 1919,The New Schoolwas born out of principles of academic freedom, tolerance, and experimentation. Committed to social engagement, The New School today remains in the vanguard of innovation in higher education, with more than 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students challenging the status quo in design and the social sciences, liberal arts, management, the arts, and media. The New School welcomes thousands of adult learners annually for continuing education courses and calendar of lectures, screenings, readings, and concerts. Through its online learning portals, research institutes, and international partnerships, The New School maintains a global presence. Learn more atwww.newschool.edu.

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Media Contacts:

Joesphine Parr,
The New School
212-229-5667 x. 3094
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