Popular designer, Ji Lee, creative lead at Facebook and former creative director at Google Creative Lab – is coming to Australia for the first time in February to speak at the inaugural DESIGNerd Presents event.

Born in South Korea, raised in Brazil and educated in New York, Ji is known for his work with Manhattan’s best creative agencies, including Droga5 and Saatchi & Saatchi, as well as his personal art projects.
 
He famously posted comic-strip speech-bubble stickers anonymously on advertisements across New York City, so anyone could add in their comments and thoughts in the blank spaces.
 
The subversive and humorous ‘Bubble Project’ created an unprecedented live dialogue with the public and caught the media’s attention in a big way. In 2006, Ji documented the project in his book Talk Back: The Bubble Project.
 
He has also done personal illustrations for Time Magazine and The New York Times, as well as exhibitions at Museum of Art and Design (MAD).
 
Ji will share his extensive experience and knowledge as well as insights from his personal projects with the Australian design and business communities in Sydney and Melbourne. 
 
DESIGNerd Presents – the brainchild of internationally respected Australian-based designer Kevin Finn – will bring the world’s best designers, entrepreneurs, innovators and thinkers down under for exclusive events.
 
In contrast to other design-focused events, DESIGNerd Presents will take a wider look at how design affects every aspect of our lives, how personal interests can positively impact your career and how everyone can learn from the principles of design thinking.
 
“I am fascinated by how design intersects with social, cultural, political and economic issues,” said Finn.
 
“As such, my design and publishing initiatives have brought me into contact with some of the world’s most impressive thinkers including Ji Lee, Edward de Bono, Noam Chomsky and Alain de Botton, among many others.
 
“It seemed obvious that we should begin focusing on exclusive live events with some of these people so they can share their incredible stories, passion and ideas with the community here in Australia.”
 
The inaugural events – at UTS in Sydney on Monday 23 February and RMIT in Melbourne on Thursday 26 February 2015 – will start with a one-hour presentation followed by a 45-minute interview on stage with Kevin Finn.
 
DESIGNerd Presents Ji Lee in association with University of Technology, Sydney and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
 
All tickets are $45. Visit www.designerd.info to purchase tickets and for more information.