Rick Valicenti is the founder and design director of Thirst/Chicago, a firm devoted to art, function and real human presence that has been influencing the design discourse internationally since 1988. In October 2006, Rick was awarded the prestigious AIGA Medal - the highest honor of the graphic design profession - for his sustained contribution to design excellence and the development of the profession.

Valicenti's lecture focuses on how designers often boast about being good problem solvers, but sometimes the extent of their problems deal only with issues like: "What typeface? What color? How can it be done by Friday?" Rick Valicenti provides insights into the responsive and inventive thinking he directs within the Thirst studio in an effort to make a difference by design.

Reading List
Suggested materials by Rick Valicenti can be found here.