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settembre 21, 2017 - thonik

AGI Open to kick off in Paris

AMSTERDAM/PARIS – It will be a few more days until #paris kicks off a major #design #event: AGI Open [18 – 22 September]. The Alliance Graphique Internationale is founded in 1952 to assemble graphic designers from all corners of the world. Annually the AGI hosts an #event in countries like Switzerland, Korea and now France to debate the relevance of graphic #design in this day and age. A subject that is dear to the heart of Nikki Gonnissen, the current president of the Alliance. "Graphic #design is an art-form that is uniquely equipped to form a dialogue between the messenger, the message and the audience."


"This year's AGI Open will have the central theme of 'borders', a very topical subject but also one that underlines that the AGI is not afraid of taking its social responsibility." To Nikki Gonnissen this is a fundamental topic for she is no stranger to the civic side of Graphic #design. A graphic designer herself, Nikki is an important part of the Amsterdam "school" of freethinkers that have taken it upon themselves to guide social change through their work.
 
Dutch Design
In the nineties Nikki and her partner Thomas Widdershoven became an important part of what is now known as Dutch #design. Together they started #thonik. The studio has done a lot of critically acclaimed work, among others for the Dutch Socialist Party. "It provided us with a unique opportunity to operate at the forefront of how the political debate is being shaped." This same sense of engagement guides Nikki's presidency of AGI. Themes such as education, social issues and heritage are at the forefront of her agenda. "I want to make sure that democratic values such as freedom and the ability to express oneself are guaranteed, especially in countries where this is less obvious." Nikki talks about her experiences with young designers in Russia who can only dream of having the same liberties that she has. "That is why it is of critical importance that AGI continues to appeal to future generations of designers. I want to make sure that they feel welcome, that they understand that there is room for their ideas and vision, their way of working."
Adapt or Die
"In The world of Graphic #design is a rapidly changing one. Nikki sees proof of this both on an international scale as at home. "Although some people have already predicted the demise of graphic #design, I'm in no hurry to agree with them. We have seen many examples of how visual communication forms an important part of our current lives. Language can create barriers due to the fact that we don't all speak the same language, but a well-chosen symbol speaks to everyone, no matter the differences in culture, age, country or sex." It is adapt or die – one of the reasons that many graphic designers have schooled themselves in new ways of designing, such as motion #design and virtual #design. "The basis of it stays the same - it is the start of a dialogue - but the platforms have multiplied. We communicate both in a physical and virtual world and by embracing this we have found new ways and techniques to blend those two together."
"In #paris AGI Open will be a mix of lectures, debates, statements and a show and tell of the latest in graphic #design throughout the world. AGI has work from countries that have a long tradition of graphic #design such as the United States, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, France and the Netherlands, but also provides a platform for AGI members from emerging countries such as India. It really shows that AGI is the living, breathing proof of a borderless society."
Note to the editor
About Nikki Gonnissen
Nikki Gonnissen studied graphic #design at the University of the Arts in Utrecht and together with Thomas Widdershoven she co-founded studio #thonik in 1993. The studio specializes in graphic #design, interaction and motion #design. #thonik has its roots firmly planted in society, willing to actively engage in the dialogue of what is right and what is #fair. They work for a wide variety of cultural institutions and organizations in the public domain. #thonik has had several international solo exhibitions and their work is in the permanent collection of various museums. As a designer, Nikki belongs to a group of engaged creatives that hold values such as empowerment, democracy, social justice and sovereignty in high regard. She is actively involved in the #design debate about these values and initiates projects that touch upon these topics. For example, the project 'Flag Stories' consisted of a workshop with Turkish graphic #design students that were asked to #design personalized flags for refugees. Nikki is the international president of Alliance Graphique Internationale (AGI). She is also a guest lecturer, jury member and #design educator. http://thonik.nl