By Frank Antosiewicz
CORRESPONDENT
Published: September 11, 2014 3:26 pm ET
Updated: September 11, 2014 3:30 pm ET
The Industrial Designers Society of America will organize a conference and staff an “IDSA Design Center” pavilion at the upcoming NPE 2015, according to a press release from the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc., the trade show’s producer.
NPE 2015 will be held March 23-27 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. The IDSA district conference will run concurrently on March 26 and 27.
“IDSA’s presence at NPE 2015 will sharpen the focus on the role of design in advancing the practical value of plastics, their consumer appeal, and their contribution to sustainability,” said Gene Sanders, SPI’s senior vice president of trade shows and conferences in a statement.
The IDSA Design Center pavilion will be located on the exhibit floor in the South Hall of the convention center and will feature booths for companies that provide the design services to the plastics industry.
The IDSA’s 2015 Southern District Design Conference will kick off on the morning of the 26th with two panel discussions. One is on improving communications between designers and manufacturers during product development process, while the other is on the role materials can play in creating a more sustainable plant.
The panels are being organized by Robert Grace, president of RC Grace LLC and former editorial director and associate publisher of Plastics News.
The conference also will include a wide range of talks by designers as well as Student Merit Award presentations for the district. Winners of the 2014 International Design Excellence Awards will also have their entries on display. SPI will present an award and scholarship to an outstanding student winner. | 
