The 2013 Design Research Conference “Exploring Creative Balance in Design” hosted by IIT Institute of Design will be held Tuesday, October 8 through Wednesday, October 9 at The Field Museum in Chicago.

Ego, empathy, technology, and humanity. In an increasingly dynamic world, professional designers are often agents of change. Designers must creatively balance many forces. They must assert confidence to advance new perspectives yet maintain a sensitive understanding of users. They must embrace and employ technology while carefully considering the impact of pervasive technology on human beings.

The conference, now in its 12th year, will explore design’s role in mediating these forces: Are they opposable? Synthesized? Unified? Practicing designers, artists, scientists, engineers, educators and entrepreneurs will present a variety of perspectives on balancing multiple creative forces amidst complex systems and issues.

Follow @drctweets for news and updates. Please click here to register for the conference.