The British Institute of Interior Design (BIID) has announced the details of its annual conference, entitled “Design Invention: Art and Science Collide,” taking place at RIBA’s London HQ on Thursday, June 27.

This year’s event will explore the synergy between art and science and discover how new technology and materials are playing an increasingly important role in the work of interior designers today.

“Our sector is constantly evolving,” said Sue Timney, BIID President. “The 2013 conference will explore fresh thinking in approaches, techniques and materials and how they impact on the changing creative landscape of interior design. Our audience will learn and draw inspiration from the experiences of global experts and practitioners. It promises to be a thought-provoking, exciting and, above all, an inspiring day for everyone who attends.”

The speakers include Ab Rogers, Professor Penny Sparke, Jason Bruges and Josef Hargrave as well as a round table discussion, chaired by Aidan Walker with panelists Daniel Charny, Helen Storey and Timney.

Penny Sparke

Professor Penny Sparke will examine some of the ground-breaking changes in design, driven by materials and manufacturing innovation in her presentation which offers a historical perspective on the collision between art and science. Sparke is Pro Vice-Chancellor at Kingston University, a Professor of Design History and a Director of the Modern Interiors Research Centre.

Ab Rogers, the globally-renowned interior designer and BIID member, will use his experience and insights to explore how science and technology are changing the interior design practice. Rogers founded Ab Rogers Design in 2004 and his established studio works with a variety of high profile clients including: Tate Modern, Capital Museum Beijing, Selfridges and the Pompidou Centre Paris.

Josef Hargrave will be considering where the building and interior design industries are heading in the future with his talk. Hargrave is a Senior Foresight and Innovation Consultant at Arup, a world-leading firm of designers, planners, engineers, consultants and technical specialists making a positive difference in the world. Hargrave is responsible for future-looking activities and consulting services across the European regions.

Jason Bruges

Jason Bruges, founder of Jason Bruges Studio, will be sharing his thoughts on how technology impacts the creative process in his presentation. Bruges’ architectural training brings environmental awareness and technical skill to the direction of all the studio’s creative projects, which embrace interactive installations across three key sectors—architecture, art and brands.

Finally, the round-table discussion will look at design craft and ask how compatible such traditional skills might be and how they might change in the environment we work in today.

Daniel Charny is an independent curator and co-founder of creative projects consultancy From Now On, and curated ‘The Power of Making’ at the V&A. Most recently Charny co-founded Fixperts.org, a creative social design education project. Professor Helen Storey MBE is Professor of Fashion Science at the University of the Arts, London and Co-Director of The Helen Storey Foundation. With a keen interest in science, Storey has also worked on a series of projects exploring the fields of biology, neuroscience and chemistry.

James Dyson and Thomas Heatherwick

The conference will also include the presentation of this year’s BIID Honorary Fellowships to Thomas Heatherwick, Sir James Dyson, Angela Brady and Deyan Sudjic.

Tickets for “Design Invention: Art and Science Collide” can be purchased online here.

Established in 1966, the BIID is the Institute for professional interior designers in the UK.