Makers Meet Thinkers

First of all, I must give a thank you to our incredible Paul Sahre, Dan Covert and Andre Andreev, Kate Bingaman-Burt, Bobby Martin and Emily Pilloton for opening the conference with an amazing Student Symposium this afternoon. You were inspiring and energetic, sobering and silly and so, so generous with your time and we were all honored by your presence.

Paul Sahre and the “Are You A Graphic Designer” test

And now we’re in the opening session! AIGA executive director Ric Grefé points out how Make/Think is more relevant than ever in these trying times, as we have to keep making, and thinking, to prove the value of design. He introduces our fearless moderator Kurt Andersen. “I like design because I’m a word person,” says the astute cultural commentator. Because unlike art, “design comes directly out of conversation,” says Kurt. “And it can sustain and support conversation.” Kurt compares the Make/Think theme to the Large Hadron Collider , where 350 physicists and scientists live together underground and their practices are divided into theorists and the experimenters. One group is the thinkers and one is the makers. But they have to work together in order to produce results. Makers & Thinkers unite!

Richard Grefe kicks off the conference

As chairman of Stax Records and president of Motown Records, Al Bell tells us that Memphis has creativity with courage, a place where art has literally driven the economy of the city. Sure we know this is the home of soul, and the birthplace of rock’n'roll, but did you know that it’s also the fertile grounds of so many types of music, an insane list that ranges from Muddy Waters, to Otis Redding, to Justin Timberlake, to Three 6 Mafia and the fact that the city has been responsible for a whopping 240 hits on the all-time top 500 Billboard chart. And, of course this gem, he notes: “Who’s Making Love to Your Old Lady While You’re Out Making Love.”

Al Bell tells about the relationship between creativity and Memphis

Even while recording moved to LA and NY, Memphis has remained home to music innovation, creativity and ingenuity. And he acknowledges the unique relationship that music and graphic design have together, in that design has always been the engine pushing albums to cultural “the power to persuade: “You have creativity with courage.” At Stax , he says, the creation of albums was high art. “They make you think, with anticipation of what you will get. Make. Think.” And no, the veteran of the music industry does not think today’s music is cutting it: “Sorry, CD covers don’t give you the glory that our album covers did.” Agreed, especially when you view the genius that he puts up on screen: The Complete and Unbelievable Otis Redding Dictionary of Soul. But, being a true innovator, the 69-year-old has decided to join Twitter: “If we follow each other and keep communicating, good things could happen.”