Conclave Recap: Press Conference

The DREAM:IN Conclave that will take place this week from February 16 – 19 was formally introduced yesterday by founders Sonia Manchanda and Carlos Teixeira at the Dream Center, Bangalore. Bruce Nussbaum and Kishore Biyani joined them at the panel.

Hosted by Idiom, the project is spearheaded by Spread, Idiom’s own design education initiative, and a global network of design thinkers united by a focus on innovation and inclusive growth. DREAM:IN aims to equalise the futures of individuals by tapping into their dreams and potential – creating a massive open network for a progressive and sustainable growth path.

The genesis of the project was sparked by Sonia Manchanda, co-founder and director of Idiom and Spread, who dared to ask: “Why should needs, ambitions, mere economic growth alone be the basis and measures of development? How can individuals not be victims of social, political, economic or religious systems? Systems we ourselves have helped create! Could we possibly devise a framework for equal futures, a world without divides? So, what would these dreams be, how would they be captured?”

This week the DREAM:IN core team welcomes local and global guests to participate in understanding and interpreting thousands of dreams collected earlier in January during the Dream Journey. Dreamcatchers made up of students from design, communication and film institutes had traveled across India to interview and capture individuals’ stories which will take center stage over the next four days.

“[DREAM:IN] will offer a first of its kind transformative experience to the audience who will absorb the dreams of the common Indian and our leaders, to channel dreams into big, inclusive ideas that will in turn translate into workable projects – leading to setting up networks to realise future scenarios,” stated Sonia on the goals of the project.

Carlos Teixeira, Director: Networks of DREAM:IN and Director of Academic Affairs, School of Design Strategies, Parsons The New School of Design emphasized on the value of the conclave: “DREAM:IN is reverse globalisation – bringing global talent to local opportunities. This conglomeration of young talent (Dreamcatchers), seasoned global and Indian design thinkers (Dreamcatalysts), CEOs, thinkers, leaders, policymakers (Dreamvestors), designers and managers (Dreamleaders) presents a cauldron of experience that is poised to transform the fabric of design research, management and production not only in India but also in Brazil and other centers across the world.”

As leaders and visionaries from India, Italy, Brazil, USA and Sri Lanka join the conclave – India’s own Kishore Biyani, Founder & CEO of Future Group expressed; “The Dream Index could be an interesting measure of progress. Innovation, creativity and imagination are critical to growth and development”

With the conclave about to launch, Sonia summed it up best – “Let’s dream big dreams. Let’s believe in them wholeheartedly. Then let us work towards realising a new world.”

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