Burks (photo at left) continues to use every project as an opportunity to bridge the gap between the luxury brands he works with and his passionate commitment to design with a conscience, a theme that will be reflected in his presentation: Are You a Hybrid? Design as an Agent of Social Change.

He will speak at Direct Energy Place on Friday, 25 September at 4pm.

As, founder of the New York-based Readymade Projects, Burks believes technological advances paired with rapidly changing economic realities demand that design rewrite its own rules. His cross-disciplinary approach and his collaborations with artisans in the developing world are the hallmarks of his hybrid practice.

As he puts it, "the excesses of the last two decades, resulting from the proliferation of goods, continue to have disastrous consequences for the planet." This global crisis offers an opportunity for design practitioners of every stripe to interact meaningfully with visionaries in business, science, the arts, social work and public policy, and to play a powerful new role in the transformation of our shared reality and emerging future.

Active internationally with Aid to Artisans and the Nature Conservancy, Burks studied architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology, product design at IIT'S Institute of Design, and attended Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture. His clients include Cappellini, Moroso, Boffi, Coty USA, B&B Italia, Missoni, Calvin Klein and Audi. He is a member of the Cologne Furniture Fair's international trend board.

IIDEX/Neocon Canada is this country's largest conference and exposition for interior designers, architects, facility managers and other building professionals. Owned the Association of Registered Internatior Designers of Ontario, the exposition will be held 24 and 25 September 2009.

More information is available at its web site www.iidexneocon.com.