Are you a specialist, generalist, or something else altogether? A designer, musician and entrepreneur who builds his own instruments, Haig Armen demystifies the debate on their value, and through a brief history of instrument creation and an alluring performance with the audience, emphasizes the underestimated value in being a polymath.
Armen's research explores the intersection of design and programming, focusing on data visualization, gestural interfaces and music technology. He works in design-led entrepreneurship and creating new musical instruments using emerging technologies. He has led the Interaction Design Major at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, designed interactive work for CBC, BMW, Chanel & Nokia, and received international design awards including Webby Awards, Prix Italia and Art Director’s Club of New York as a producer of CBC Radio 3′s online magazine. Haig Armen is a Professor and Designer living in Vancouver, Canada. For the last 6 years Haig has lead the Interaction Design Major at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. His research explores the intersection of design and programming, focusing on data visualization, gestural interfaces and music technology. His most recent efforts are in design-led entrepreneurship and creating new musical instruments using emerging technologies.
Haig's background is in music and architecture with an extensive career as a professional musician and composer. Over the past two decades Haig has designed interactive work for prestigious clients like CBC, BMW, Chanel & Nokia. As a producer of CBC Radio 3′s groundbreaking online magazine during 2001-2005, Haig has received international design awards including Webby Awards, Prix Italia and Art Director’s Club of New York. When Haig's not teaching or hanging out with his family he can be found playing jazz guitar, hacking instruments and coding. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx