Dear epda Member, dear epda Partner: The last two years have done something to all of us. Whether on a private or professional level, home office, homeschooling, e-shopping, food delivery and all the restrictions of 3G, 2G, 2G+ and lockdowns, we have had and will have to cope with many challenges. We all long for more normality and lightheartedness in our lives again. We thirst for meeting our pals and we need the personal exchange so badly.
The epda board was hoping to offer at least one international offline event 2021 and had planned it “in theory” long since. – In the meantime, we have elaborated our offer of digital events and tried to make these online sessions as diverse, accessible, and useful as possible. Together with a professional partner, we created new formats such as the broadcasting of our local event in Germany or our hybrid event in Nice. We incorporated polls into the presentations of our speakers and cultivated discussion formats as the ‚Love’it or Leave’it‘, during which participants enter a lively dialogue and exchange of – partly contrary – opinions for mutual inspiration. – I can say from the bottom of my heart that the conference in Nice was this year’s epda highlight for me. We had excellent contributions form a very diverse set of speakers, a “cosy” venue in the middle of a vibrant city, enjoying good food and, most of all, the exchange between us.
We are an organization made for members and partners. And we are nourished by the active involvement of members and partners. It was a proof of concept when we invited you to help define the epda archetype and our beliefs. With your input and the professional help of Shortlinks (part of Team Créatif Group) we developed the association’s positioning, and the results are exciting.
An important next step is the documentation of our key beliefs – we are currently working on a book, which brings together the expertise and experience of many experts in the brand & packaging design business, from in- and outside epda. The book will share our convictions with all those who are looking for inspiration to boost their design business. We are lucky to have Dalim Software as a partner to realize this project, and thanks to that the output will not only be a digital version. Looking forward to presenting you your copy next year!
We are also in the process of reworking our visual identity according to the defined brand idea, Thanks to our board member Jane and her team at Depot from Moscow for their committed support here. We will enroll all facets of the identity during next year and are looking forward to presenting it to the full when celebrating our 30th anniversary in spring.
It’s my personal pleasure to let you know that we have new members (Touch agency/UK, Flächenbrand/GER, Ingegrity/GER), we have a new German representative, Christian Prill and are looking forward to finalizing our talks with Pantone/esko to become a new industry partner. Our sincere thank you goes to our longstanding partners Stora Enso, Sleever and Kurz, who have continued cooperation in difficult times – a very important pillar for epda.
Together with Sylvia, Malgosia, Jane, Rob and Vincent and for sure our General Manager Claudia we have tried our best to get things going. A wonderful experience to work in such a great team. A big heartfelt thank you to all of them for committing so much of their time voluntarily for epda.
We may not have overcome the global crisis, but we are looking optimistically into the future and will not stop working for a change to the better.
I can’t wait to be ‚together again‘ – as said in Nice, the motto of the last conference and the next ones to come: Please save the date: Our next event is planned to take place in Bologna from 19 – 22 May 2022!
Looking forward: Let’s talk, hug, discuss, eat and drink together and – share our opinions about the most beautiful business in the world, about design.
Wishing you all the best, stay healthy and safe,
yours,
Uwe Melichar
epda President
