Design and Health World Congress Singapore

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General · 10 July 2009

6th World Congress and Exhibition.
24 – 28 June 2009 The Ritz Carlton Millenia Hotel, Singapore.

After designing promotional material and marketing the event for the last two years it was great to get the opportunity to attend and see the proceedings first hand. The congress was held at the Ritz Carlton Millenia, a stunning hotel offering amazing views (see image below), art, food, architecture and of course a warm Singaporean welcome… not quite as warm as the outside temperature of 44º.

View from Ritz Carlton Hotel Singapore

Delegates from across the globe turned out for the opening night and enjoyed delicious local cuisine and watched a fantastic dance display. The food and show was great, though it seemed that catching up with old acquaintances was top of most peoples agenda. Where else do you get a room full of some of the world’s best architects, researchers, health advisors, product manufacturers, Doctors, Professors, Ministers and Parliamentary Lords? …Oh and me, a designer from sunny Essex… yes I did feel the odd one out.

The four days saw some fantastic speakers with a few highlights being Professor Arthur Lim, Lord Nigel Crisp, John Ting and the Singapore’s Minister for Health, Khaw Boon Wan. Even though I wasn’t directly part to the sector of design and health, it was hard not to be absorbed by inspiring speakers and the thriving atmosphere of the occasion.

Marc Sansom and I

As well as lending a hand with creating various presentations and stuffing delegate bags, I wanted to get feedback and generate interest for World Health Design Magazine, a title Graphic Evidence produce for The International Academy for Design and Health. There were hundreds of issues eagerly taken from the exhibition stand and the feedback we received was exceptional.

On many occasion I found myself sitting back and looking around the room and discovering many of the most influential people, in my generation, from the health sector discussing new ideas and concepts, it was a privilege to watch. To be at such an event, but not directly part of it gave me a unique and interesting perspective. No I couldn’t sensibly contribute to conversations regarding ‘designing environments for children’ or ‘humanistic achitectural responses in health design’ but what I did comprehend is that here were a group of intelligent and passionate people speaking and debating with the sole purpose of striving to develop a positive difference to the global health and wellbeing – which surely is a good thing, a very good thing.

I would like to thank Marc Sansom and Alan Dilani from Design and Health for entrusting Graphic Evidence with their marketing and publication design and inviting me to a great event in Singapore – I look forward to the next congress in two years time in Boston, USA.

Adam Arnold

Delegates during seminar

Awards night