Digifest 2008


digifest is a three-day biennial International Festival of Design and Media Culture presented by Design Exchange in partnership with Harbourfront Centre and Ontario Science Centre. digifest 2008: WATER'S EDGE will examine themes of catastrophe, trauma and possibility through a series of presentations, exhibits, performances and workshops, dedicated to unraveling a better understanding of how catastrophe may touch our lives – as cause, effect, renewal and relief.
WATER'S EDGE features:
Thomas Homer-Dixon, Author - The Upside of Down presenting "CATASTROPHE, CREATIVITY, AND THE RENEWAL OF CIVILIZATION"

Peter Robinson, CEO - David Suzuki Foundation presenting "LEADERSHIP IN THE FACE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE AND CHALLENGE"

Artists including:
	AA Bronson	Ingo Günther	Filiz Klassen	Rebecca Belmore

Toronto Catastrophe Slam Join others to examine scenarios of Natural Disaster, Health Crisis and Security Crisis in Toronto * Ontario Science Centre March 30th. Pre-Registration required *

Curatorial Statment: Design Exchange, Ontario Science Centre and Harbourfront are collaborating on DIGIFEST2008. The event will focus on aspects of catastrophe: Technology and digital media have been instrumental in our transformation from an age of deconstruction to an age of connection. Our preoccupation in recent years to analyze and understand is now shared with the goal to adapt and sustain. Innovation in the connecting of people to people, people to things and people to cultures continue to alter our understanding of the meaning of things and events. The modality of Digifest itself has shifted over the 6 years of its existence from a LENS on the impact of digital media and technology to a PRISM through which science, art and design can add dimension and meaning to important issues in our lives. We are most familiar with the popular view of catastrophe as an unpreventable event. Water’s EDGE examines catastrophe and its aftermath as part of a larger system; a system that challenges us with inevitability and powerlessness on one hand and selfdetermination and opportunity on the other. For this reason, the knowledge and preparedness of the individual is as critical a consideration as catastrophe on the level of global debate. Water’s EDGE is a forum, a performance and a workshop dedicated to unraveling these tensions toward a better understanding of how catastrophe may touch our lives – as cause, effect, renewal and relief.

The festival encourages excellence in interactive and interdisciplinary digital media design and technology, and supports the creators of new applications and content that will provide lasting economic, cultural and social benefits to Canadians. At digifest, audiences learn about the impact of design, science and art in all disciplines, including web, interactive, animation, gaming and 3D environments, through designer and artist-led installations, presentations and workshops.

digifest is the only festival of its kind in Canada and gives Canadians access to artistic experiences in the realm of digital media, as well as direct access to the artists/designers through presentations, question and answer periods, workshops and informal communication. It fulfills in part the Design Exchange’s mission to promote the value of Canadian design, through engaging and enriching programs, with a vision to establish Canada as a design leader worldwide.

Contact / Get Involved: Catherine Molnar, Professional Programs Coordinator, Design Exchange Claudine Crangle, Director of Marketing, Sponsorship, and Public Relations, Design Exchange	Digifest Directors: Paola Poletto, Design Exchange Ana Klasnja, Ontario Science Centre Patrick Macaulay, Harbourfront Centre Allison Bottomley, Harbourfront Centre

digifest 2008 Advisory Team: Jeremy Bailey Allison Bottomley Pablo de Ocampo David Girolami Nornert Hoeller Mark Jones	Ana Klajna Patrick Macaulay Catherine Molnar Michael Pereira Paola Poletto Gabe Sawhney	Renn Scott Alok Sharma Robin Uchida Greg Van Alstyne

Festival Partners:

Festival Sponsors:

Exhibition H2O nuovi scenari per la sopravvivenze supported by